Choices

Chapter 1: A Cure

The familiar sounds and smells of puppies fill the air around me and my best friend Jasen. Three little grey and white husky puppies crawl around me, yapping and nipping at my hands and feet. One climbs into my lap and the other two tackle it away, in fear of it getting more attention than them. I can't help but chuckle at their playful protectiveness. They're so distracting, the perfect kind of distracting. The kind that makes you smile and forget all of your pains. All of your guilt. At least for a little while, that is.

"It's been two years now," I say. I can tell by the way the smirk on his face sombers that he knows exactly what I mean. He looks over his sketchbook, pity filling his eyes. But I don't want his pity, I don't deserve his pity.

We sit like that for a few moments, our eyes locked, each understanding the thoughts of the other until I can't take it anymore. His eyes have a way of trying to burn their way into my soul, someplace I don't let anyone see, not even Jasen. I turn away and pet the head of the smallest puppy, who had made its way onto my lap as if it knew I needed the comfort.

We sit in silence a few more seconds until I speak again. "I'm slowly starting to forget the little things. It scares me Jasen; I'm afraid that if I forget, he'll be lost to the world, and it'll be all my fault. Again."

"Tell me about him. What was he like?" Jasen asks. Sometimes I forget that Jasen never knew him. Curiosity fills his ice blue eyes that peek out from his shaggy dark bangs which have a tendency to fall in his face. He's never asked me about him before, always just waited for me to talk when I need to.

"You would have liked him Jasen, you two would've been great friends, I just know it." A smile finds its way to my usually morose face. "He was always so positive, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I ever saw him truly upset. He had this way of reading people, he always seemed to know what I was thinking."

I pull out the picture that I always carry around with me; it's well worn and slightly faded. It's a picture of us from the day he proposed. His arms are wrapped around me, and I remember feeling so at home in his arms. I hand it to Jasen. He gives me a questioning look but takes it from me. "He had such bright blue eyes, a person could get lost in them for hours. I did quite often." It isn't until I feel a tear roll down my face that I realize I'm crying. Actually, I'm practically sobbing.

As Jasen hands me back my picture, he sees the tears and the pity returns to his eyes. "Hey, let's get out of here, my allergies are killing me." He says. He stands up and then offers me a hand to help me up. "We can head across the street to the coffee shop, I'll buy you a cocoa."

I wipe my eyes before taking his hand, and he pulls me to my feet. I bend down and give each of the puppies one last pet before we sneak out the gate, careful to not let any of them out.

We walk in the back door of the shelter building and down the hallway to the lobby. When we reach the lobby, there is a tall woman with blonde hair talking to the lady at the front desk. Her border collie sits obediently at her side.

"I hate to leave him here, but I'm leaving for Westloch next week and I just can't risk bringing him with. He's a good boy, he'll find a home quickly, right?" The lady at the front desk assures her that he will, and continues to ask her questions about her dog and hands her some paperwork to fill out.

Jasen grabs my arm and stops me. "Hey, I'm gonna use the bathroom quick, go grab us a table and I'll meet you there."

I nod and turn and walk out the door, not thinking twice about the fact that he could just go at the cafe. I cross the street as soon as I get the cars to stop for me. I walk into the coffee shop and see our favorite corner booth is open, so I slide in. I watch the baristas as they fill cup after cup of hot steaming coffee and cocoa.

"Alright, I'm back," Jasen says, standing next to the table. "Do you want your usual?" I nod and he turns around to get in line.

A few minutes later he's back and slides into the booth across from me. He hands me my cocoa, and I take a sip, feeling the warmth spread through my body.

"So," starts Jasen, excitement filling his eyes. "You know that lady that was bringing her dog into the shelter when we walked through the lobby?"

I nod, "Yeah, what about her? Her collie was really pretty." I say, smiling at the thought of the beautiful dog.

"Didn't you hear her? She's going to Westloch!"

He must've been able to tell from the look on my face that the name meant absolutely nothing to me, so he added: "You know, the town that Sindikath uses as a base?"

Of course, that's why I don't recognize it. After what happened with Jax my mind kind of blocked out everything that is even remotely related to the rebel group.

"Oh," is all I can think to say.

"I know it's a touchy subject Cal, but you need to hear me out. Actually, I know that deep down you want to hear what I'm about to say."

I close my eyes and brace myself for whatever he has to say, when I open them, I let him know that I am ready with a nod and a small smile.

"Ok, so I know I said I was going to use the bathroom, but actually I went up to talk to her. Her name is Jacklyn. I was curious as to why she was so open about leaving for Westloch, being as it was illegal and all, but she said that the Supremacy legalized travel to Westloch for certain people! She said that as long as you have an above average IQ, which I do, and experience with science, which I also have, you and one other person of your choice can get a temporary pass of exit from the Supremacy."

"Jasen, why would they do that? That's absurd!" I tell him.

"That's the really good news. Cal, Sindikath has almost figured out a cure for the mutation! Isn't that awesome!"

"Jasen, I can't leave again, you know I can't. After what happened, after Jax...." I say. I can feel the tears on my face for a third time today.

"Cal, listen to me, you're not happy here. You've dreamed of leaving here basically your whole life! Jax would want you to be happy, you know that. And no one is going to get hurt this time."

"Promise?" I say meekly.

"Promise."

"Then I suppose we should start packing, shouldn't we?" I say

Jasen's face lights up and in that moment I know I've made the right choice. For now, anyway.