The Future isn't Bright

Three

"I was... Um... Just getting some fresh air!" I fumbled.

"That tree you just climbed," he said, ignoring my failed attempt at lying, "You did that in record time."

I shrugged because I didn't know how to respond. I saw him holding my sandals.

"Give me those!" I snatched at them but Oslo yanked his grasping hand out of the way before my hand reached them. He snickered.

"Are these designer? Aw, too bad." he said sarcastically. I needed those sandals. Returning to the garden without them would surely stir some suspicion. I thought of a plan.

I kicked my foot into the dirt as if something were there. As soon as he looked down at what I was doing I grabbed him by the wrist and yanked him behind me. With my other hand, I grabbed one of my shoes back. Now for the other one…

Oslo stood there in a state of shock but quickly regained his rebellious attitude. I then remembered what he said about being a pyromaniac. I had every reason to fear him. He took notice of my hesitation and raised his arm as if about to snatch my shoe back. I blocked his hand mid-thrust and twisted his arm behind his back.

“Oslo, what’s your damage?” I hissed into his ear.

"Gah, stop!" he cried. I quickly untwisted his arm and stepped back from him. The last thing I wanted was to hurt anyone.

"Are you alright? I'm so sorry... I don't know what got over me..." I stammered. As he stood there rubbing his arm, he gave me a smile of approval. I raised an eyebrow at him. He was certainly a strange character. Why would he smile at me? I'm pretty sure I dislocated his arm. I wasn't aware I was capable of truly hurting someone. When I wrestled with Ethan, we mainly just goofed around. I even tended to go easy on him because he was a year younger than me.

Oslo reached his arm out in my direction, my sandal dangling on his finger by the strap. I snatched it quickly, forcing a tough look on my face. As I was putting my shoes on, I almost fell over when he surprised me by stepping toward me.  

"Scared?" Oslo asked, as if reading my thoughts. I swallowed hard and looked him in the eyes. One of them seemed to be watering. He quickly looked away to another direction, his hair flipping. He was rather pale. Too pale, by Government standards. It was as if he completely disregarded the law. I decided that he definitely needed to be kept at a distance.

"I should get back..." I said, turning toward the path to the garden.

"Wait until the Government hears about this." I froze in my tracks. I could get in deep, boiling trouble with the Government if they found out about my little escape from the Gathering hall.

"You wouldn't." I replied quietly. He would put himself in danger too. I didn't need to turn around to know that his icy grin was plastered upon his face. I turned around anyway. He was standing just about a foot away from me. He certainly didn't respect the concept of personal space. I took a step back.

"You and I... Are a lot alike." he said quietly. I shook my head sporadically.

"We're nothing alike." I spat, "You're crazy."

With those last words, I sped off into the direction of the garden. I looked back only once. I looked back at him chuckling with the kind of laugh that sent chills to every nerve in your body. That did it. Oslo Ripley was officially a psychopath.

My mind was reeling with questions. Had Oslo followed me to the forest to scare me? Why was he so eager to pick a fight? We barely knew each other.

I didn't stop running until I reached the outskirts of the garden. As casually as possible, I walked over to one of the numerous benches and regained my breath. Lots of girls were already chatting freely with the boys. I looked to the opposite side of the garden, where a girl I recognised to be Hanna Regrouse was whispering excitedly with a boy whom she was holding hands with. The sight disgusted me, they barely knew each other. Not to mention that Hanna was wearing such a small piece of fabric on herself that it could hardly be considered a dress. I shook my head pitifully and turned my gaze to the large clock. It was currently 1:49. Eleven more minutes until lunchtime. I might as well have gotten situated.

I strode back to the Hall, pushing all of today’s previous events to the back of my head. I forced a smile on my face and walked back inside.

In the dining room, some Lows were setting out our lunch. There were only three of them setting a table for at least forty. There was no way they were going to finish in time. I walked over to one that was setting down silverware.

"Let me help you." I smiled at her.

"Thank you." she said gratefully. I reached into a basket filled with silverware and set it out by each of the plates. As I worked, I noticed a boy standing in the doorway from the edge of my peripheral vision, observing us. I looked for a moment and tucked my bangs behind my ear. Just walk away, I thought.

The other Low ladies shifted uneasily under his gaze. He walked away quickly.

"Do you mind helping me bring in the food?" she asked shyly. Before I could agree, Hennessy walked in, trailed by the boy I saw in the doorway.

"Desiree!" she screamed at the Low lady, "Did you just ask her to help you? What do you think you’re doing?"

Before I could defend her, the boy stepped up from behind Hennessy.

"It's not her fault." he started.

"I offered to help!" I explained further. Hennessy obviously recognized me from my previous misdemeanors and glared at me. If looks could kill, my dead body would be burned and my ashes stomped on. I swallowed hard and looked her in the eye.

"I'm aware of the fact that I was breaking the rules," I said, "but had it not been for me, the table would not have been prepared in time."

Hennessy directed her gaze at me and the Low women.

"Nonetheless, dinner will start in a matter of minutes. Please wait outside of the dining room next time." she opened the door for me to leave. I scurried out as quickly as I could, and so did the boy. As soon as we stepped into the other room, she slammed the door shut on our tails. The boy started walking uneasily back to the garden but I stayed, my ear right by the door. The boy must have noticed what I was doing because he came up right next to me and listened for any noise. I heard the sound of Hennessy's heels clicking on the tile floor.

"How dare you ask of help from someone of a higher class?!" I heard a slap and a moan of pain. She hit her. Hit her. And it was all my fault. I slowly backed away from the door, my body shaking all around. I sat in a chair at the opposite end of the room and pulled my knees to my chest. The boy walked over with a confused look on his face.

"She hit her. Physically!" I said, my eyes watering. "And it's all my fault..."

"If it’s anyone’s fault it’s mine… I saw you helping them and I wanted to help, but I saw her coming so I ran off, which probably drew her attention to the dining room in the first place,” said the boy.

I looked straight into his eye. They were a soft green.

"My name is Rory,” he held out his hand. I slowly grabbed it and let him pull me up, off the chair.