Experiment 1.0

Tuesday, June 12th, 2018 8:32 am

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! "Good Morning Miss Bishop it's time to wake-up." I turn over to my clock ignoring the unknown voice at my door; 8:32. Crap, I gotta get up and make Arty breakfast. I step out of bed, but my feet don't meet the floor instantly like they always do. I topple face-first onto the cold floor and wince as I clutch my head. The room isn't familiar as I glance around. My wooden desk that Dad made for my 11th birthday is gone. Along with my band posters and old drawings I had scattered across the walls. Where's my bookshelf that's only two or three books away from keeling over like an old man? Suddenly I remember I'm not at home. A strange mixture of excitement, confusion, and some other feeling that may or may not be sadness washes over me. God, how could I forget? I'm really at Y.I.E.L.D!

I scramble over to the dresser and pull out a pair of faded jeans and a forest green tee-shirt with a torn pocket on the left side. Sweet, we have our own bathrooms too! I think to myself. I slide the door open to reveal a cool gray bathroom only a few shades lighter than the bedroom. I assume it was cleaned recently because a subtle scent of bleach and oranges still lingers in the air.
I splash water on my face and small drops drip down onto my shirt leaving darker green spots. I look in the mirror and shrug unwilling to change. My black hair hangs freely barely touching my shoulders. A rebellious scar stands prominently on my chin. I guess that's why we listen to our parents, Alex. I shift my hair in front of my face, but when paired with my pale skin it just makes me look like a skunk.
Tick...Tock. Tick...Tock. "Hurry up!" A blue clock on the wall urges me to finish staring in the mirror and get some breakfast. I click the lights off, snatch my phone and key off the dresser, then head for the door.
"Let go of me! It's before noon which means I'm not getting out of bed." A shrill voice shrieks. I stumble back moments before the door beside me swings open as a girl with long brown braids drags a thrashing body behind her. "Margret I said 'let go'. So, put. Me. Down." The blonde girl demands harshly. "Jeez, Lily. Didn't know you were such a morning person." Margret drops Lily with a thud. Man, Lily in the evening and morning is like well, night and day. I think to myself. "Oh, good morning Alex. You headed to get breakfast?" I nod. Nodding always seems like the perfect response. There is no chance that your voice will crack and it's always just a friendly or subtle answer.

"Did someone say breakfast?!" Lily jumps onto her feet with a wide smile creeping onto her face. "Yeah, I've been trying to get you out of bed so we could go to-" Lily cuts her off. "Where?" Margret points down the hall toward the cafeteria that Doctor Wilson showed us to last night. Lily sprints down the hall before Margret can even put her arm back down. "Okay?" Margret turns back to me and shrugs. I follow her toward the cafeteria. Scents of bacon, eggs, pastries, and other delicious treats fill my nose. "Yummm smells so good." I nod again in agreement.

As we enter the cafeteria I see the buffet stands are all filled with pancakes, sausage patties, egg scramble, muffins, fruit...etc. Are they feeding a few students or an army? I choose a red tray on the top and begin to load it up with food. A raspberry muffin, scrambled eggs, and cantaloupe squares. I sit down at an empty table and am instantly reminded of school lunch. "Come on, Alex. You should come sit with us." Margret loops her arm around mine and pulls me over to a table with Lily, Charles, Evan, and another kid I haven't met yet already sitting there. A couple cantaloupe squares fall onto the ground as she drags me over.

"...I'm just saying what's the difference between jam, jelly, and marmalade? Why do we have to divide up our fruit preserves?" A boy with copper-toned skin and a messy black afro rambles on about condiments. Charles looks up and introduces the new kid. "Hey, Alex. This is Elijah, he just got here this morning." "And Elijah this is Alex." He gestures at the two of us as I sit down in an empty spot. "They are completely different things. Jelly is made from whole or cut fruits while jam is only ever made from fruit juice and marmalade is..." Lily enthusiastically joins in while chewing on a frosted donut with sprinkles.

I smile-It feels so welcoming here. To be around nerds like me and friends that enjoy my company. I nibble on my muffin and listen to the two argue about fruit spreads. Once I've finished eating I stand to dump my tray. I turn around and something catches my eye. A boy sitting alone in the corner. "Who's that?" I ask. "That's Keith he got here on Monday like we did. Though he won't talk or pay any attention to us," Margret answers sadly. "Talk about emo," Evan adds. Something in my chest seems to drop. I may not be emo, but I understand what it was like to only ever be on the outside looking in.