Exchange (DD/LG)

One.

In the beginning, there is a confused buildup of excitement. Smart Aviation was a new company that began testing their newest gadget on my small town. We were their guinea pigs because of our small compacity, no one would ever stop and think about what could happen here.

We were supposed to be testing out their Aeroawl chips, which apparently is not a big deal to the government or – anybody else really. Half of current population, 538, will be flown out to Redwood, California from our town in Falls Village.

I've never been on a plane before, but it seems as if I would be gathering up my first experience. I pulled out my old suitcase that I've had for 5 years, the stickers peeling off and the fabric pulling itself up. I packed what I could, including my small number of books, hoodies, leggings, jeans, thigh-high socks, and my other necessary clothing needs.

I pushed myself down onto the suitcase, willing it to close while I tried to zip it up. My blackish-brown locks of hair fell into my face while I attempted to apply all my weight onto the force of the suitcase. One of the stickers peeled off and I gave up.

Just as I was about to reach over and pull some of my excess mess out of the suitcase, my faded blue backpack caught my eye. I walked over to it, pulling it from the chair that it sat in. I gave the pack a quick one over before setting it down on my bed next to the suitcase.

After five minutes, I could fit some of my excess clothing and other items into the pack as well as my toothbrush, facial products, and a few necessary hair products. We weren't given a lot of information, but from what SA told us we were going to take about 200 members of our community and be taken to California to test their chips.

I know what you're thinking. No, I am not going willingly. I am a nineteen-year-old female who should have her own rights, right? Well no, we do not get the choice to choose whether we go. Our names were pre-picked.

Our mayor was sent the list of names and had a town meeting to make sure that everyone knew their fate. My name just happened to be on that list of names. It felt as if fate was my enemy and would be for many years to come.

The airplanes are supposed to be picking us up this afternoon and we were told that we could take whatever we could fit. Essentials only they said, which I hope that after this experiment I will be able to come home. I will miss my bed and doing my college classes online which reminds me...

I wandered over to my desk and grabbed my mini-tablet to stuff it inside of my pack. I walked outside of my room and down the grungy hallway towards the door. I sat my stuff down beside the door so that I would not forget anything. My dad did not know how to act about this situation because he was not picked to go.

My dad was furious once he figured out that I was chosen, and all by myself at that. He didn't trust these people and their ability to test gadgets on us as if we were animals. But this was mandatory, and I couldn't escape that fact.

He sat on the couch with his head in his hands and his tan hands running through his curly brown locks of hair. I gave him a sympathetic look as I sat down and sat a hand on his shoulder. "Dad... I'll be fine, I mean I am old enough to leave whenever I want," I realized that this was probably not the best thing to say now.

But I couldn't figure out any other way to console him. This was out of his hands and his parental authority had no say in this situation. I just wrapped my arms around his tense frame, to wish his shoulders slumped and softened up. "Just promise me that you'll be safe," he whispered in a groggy voice. He had been crying, which I have never seen him cry other than when mama passed...

I sat my head down onto his shoulder and rubbed my hand over his back, mostly for my own comfort. "I'll be safe, I promise." I spoke in a whisper and hugged my father for a bit longer before I gathered myself up and looked at my phone screen. The white letters of the screen told me that it was 2:30 P.M. which meant that I better start leaving.

I walked over to the door to sling my pack over my shoulder, while I grabbed my suitcase with my left hand. My father was standing now, and decided to head over to me with his arms outstretched.

He gave me a tight hug and squeezed my shoulders protectively. He pulled away and stared down at me which such confidence, but of course I could see the sadness in his eyes. Dad would be alone, completely without me or mama. It physically killed me to see him like this and I would give anything to change this.

I leaned up and pressed a small kiss on his cheek and waved before heading out the door. I pushed the screen door out of my way and rolled my suitcase down the small step on my way out.

I wandered out onto the sidewalk and followed it up towards the fields on the edge of town. I saw the rest of the community gathering up their things and heading over to the planes. Once I neared the planes, lines were formed but I noticed that they were separating everyone by age.

The line that I had joined seem to move at a slow pace, as a small girl was being separated from her sister. She looked to be about eleven years old, but she belonged on another plane. I closed my eyes and let out a breath, not wishing to see such agony take place. Once I was near the front of the line, I noticed that people separating us were wearing such formal attire.

The man in front of me wore a crisp blue shirt to which he had tucked into his dress pants. He had a serious expression on his face and his brown eyes did a once over on me. "Age?" I was taken aback by the small question and at the moment it seemed to be quite personal.

"I-I'm nineteen..." My voice wavered as I told him my age to which his eyes narrowed. He did another quick once over and pointed far off towards the middle of the field. "You are to go to the third plane, seating is optional," he said in a serious, yet bored tone. I couldn't help but wonder how he possibly be so emotionless about this situation.

Did this not bother him even a little bit? How can a human being possibly not care for the well-being of other humans? I trudged my way over to the third plane, my suitcase is tow. The rows of other people being herded into different directions made me realize just how animalistic we truly looked.

We looked like sheep being herded into different directions to keep us in small groups. I shook my head and just wandered over to the plane for people my age. The line was at a perfect amount to fill up the entire plane.

The staff took our luggage and took them to the back of the plane while we were ushered inside. I pushed my pack up onto my shoulder once I stepped inside. I scrunched up my freckled nose at the loud and noisy environment that I had walked into.

Everyone seemed to be seated in a mixed fashion, which meant that everyone knew someone. I glanced around at the rows of three seats and cubbies at the tops above the seats. I slowly walked down the aisle, glancing at everyone in sight.

A paired group with a boy with dyed silver hair and a blonde headed girl both smirked up at me as I went by. I pushed past and found an open seat at the back with the window seat open. I stared down at the girl sitting on the end seat, she had black hair that looked more like a raven colour. Her head was buried in a book, which looked to be a sort of sci-fi novel.

I tilted my head at the girl, "Hey, may I sit here?" I spoke slowly but confidently, a little afraid that she would lash out at me or possibly ignore me. I was ready for either. She looked up from her book and regarded me passively, but she stood up and allowed me to get by. I opened the top cubby and shove my pack inside after taking my headphones out of the front pocket.

I sat down in the seat, not realizing that I had been holding my breath. But I felt as if this was going to be a long flight. 

  A/N: This my spin on a DD/LG story. I know that it doesn't make sense now, but it will later on. I hope that you enjoy! The picture above is Kaya. 

Word Count: 1,556