The Sidekick.

nove

           The Unmatched, or as the Government called us the Undeuced, were the first to the City Center. Ostten singles were seen as a low ranking in the class system, so they would always be first to any ceremony. This was so the privileged families and couples could make a greater entrance to the ceremonies. Ceremonies were a blessing to the structured world of Ostten. The first of the year's ceremonies was The Marching of Spring. The Marching of Spring honored those who founded Ostten 158 years ago. There was a great war that was destroying the world, families who wanted to escape the chaos marched across deserts to a safe base named Ostten. Ostten soon became a populated city. The war ended with death and only Ostten and others like it remained.

I searched the welcoming garden for Harry, for he was supposed to deliver information to me. Among the swarms of Undeuced, he was nowhere to be found. For a tall boy, he seemed to blend in so well.

"Sandrine!" I turn to find my sister behind me, her hair was sleek and pin-straight, cascading down her back gracefully. I quickly embraced her at the moment, I hadn't seen her since receiving my job at Hydra. Though, I am positive she has heard of my achievements in the Sottos.

"Cass!" I mimic her high pitched squeak, my eyes falling to her elegant dress. We were only to where such stunning outfits to ceremonies. The one that shaped her body looked like a hand-painted landscape of flowers that danced along the hem. Long ago, when families fled to Ostten, they brought these dresses with them. Over years they are repaired and fitted to be used in ceremonies and remember the original story. Out of Ostten's traditions, this was my favorite, it connected us to a culture that could not be forgotten.

From the corner of my eye, I catch a group of four approach Cass and myself, my family and Harry. The boy wore a ruffled top that brought light to his face and made his rosy cheeks dance in brighter circles. The light skinned boy reminded me of something I was trying to keep off my mind. Complex 24, our complex, would be taking out the final test of matching. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but my insides felt like bursting.

"Sandrine, my dear, you look stunning." My mother coos as the group crowd into a circle.

"You as well." I grin, embracing her in a quick hug.

The older woman looked into my eyes with sympathy, "Don't be nervous, it's just a test." I nod, listening to her words like they could mean something else. I whip my head around when the signaling bell rings throughout the welcoming garden. The millions exit to the City Center where drums rumble the song of the rebel founders. It was ironic how Ostten was founded by rebels, but just below our feet, rebels worked to crumble a structured city.

When the city was finally sound, puffs of colorful smoke shot into the air filling the sky with a powdered rainbow. Small lily flowers glided down to us, almost tangible. My eyes filled with awe as so much was captured in seconds. A voice came on overhead, unknown, but we heard it every year. "Welcome, Ostten, to the Marching of Spring." The heavy voice booms. I can see Harry from where a stand, he doesn't stare at the colors in the sky like everyone else. He looks at me with a devilish smirk.  He squeezes his way to me, trying to not catch the attention of Government workers.

"You are quite a distracted person, aren't you?" The brunette chuckles, looking at me with all his attention.

"You're quite mysterious." I comment, attempting to look like I am listening to the same speech we hear every year, but he was so captivating. His eyes were like the globe we would study in our history classes. The feelings that bubbled inside my gut were like none other I had felt before. Yet, he was so comfortable to be around, his ideas were like the ones I was raised with.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" He cocks his eyebrow as I still glare into his eyes.

"Shouldn't we all be? This is technically the last step to matching and in eight months we will stand in this very Center again to be deduced. It took me four years to decide what career I wanted for the rest of my life. You think a month will be enough time to become comfortable with the person I will spend the rest of my life with?" I begin to ramble, a habit I pick up when nervous.