Beyond City Limits (Under Revisions)

Chapter 4: INNERCITY TRAINING FACILITY

Andrew fettled with a tablet-looking, plastic object. I watched on the floor of his room as he studied the object, turning it over and over. His blue eyes sparked with excitement and fascination. A smile threatened to overcome me, but I suppressed it. Pride bloomed inside me as he gave me a toothy grin.

I thought my gift was appropriate for his thirteenth birthday, and we were both finally teenagers.

"I can't believe you found one of these. They're practically ancient." Andrew mused.

"Couldn't find one that worked," I couldn't help but scowl myself.

"Are you kidding?" Andrew's voice cracked a little.

Giggles started to climb up, and I buried my face in my hands, trying to hide my reaction, but I couldn't stop the shaking in my shoulders.

"Stop it!" He threw a pillow at me. "I can't help it!" His voice rose an octave, his voice cracking on the last word.

The pillow smacked me in the head. Unable to control my giggles anymore, I burst out laughing and fall backwards, holding my side. Tears blinded me, and I gasp for air. I knew Andrew, unamused, was staring down at me with a wicked grimace. But just picturing his face made me break out in more laughter.

"That's it!" Andrew yelled.

"N-no! W-wait—" I squeaked. Andrew ignored me as he pounced on top of me, tickling my sides. I squealed and batted away his hands.

We wrestled until Andrew finally gotten both of my hands. My smile still pinched my cheeks as we paused to catch our breath. Andrew still had mischief glistening in his blue eyes, but then there was something else.

His hands heated against my wrists. I became aware of how close he was, and how his eyes glided around my face. Then he caught my eyes and was frozen. My heart beat at an uncomfortably fast rate.

The silence stretched like a rubber band. I wasn't sure if I liked the silence, or how he stared at me. But for the moment, something changed. His familiar smile that greeted me every morning for school was gone. The dark eyebrows used to mock me and make funny faces in the mirror was pulled in confusion.

I wasn't sure why he stopped tickling me. I'm not sure if I want to know. For now.

"So, you like your gift?" I whispered, not daring to look away.

"Yeah," He breathed.

The band broke, and Andrew snapped back. He let go of my wrists and sat back on his knees. I exhaled.

"Where did you find an iPhone anyway?" He asked, grabbing it off his bed.

"Emma's sister had one. She said that I could have it so..." I shrug.

Andrew wrinkled his nose. "Ew. She touched this?"

I scoffed and gave him a light smack. "Be nice." He pouted and looked up at me through his eye lashes. "I wiped it off before I gave it to you."

Andrew snorted.

I picked at the carpet and tried to ignore the growing silence again. It made me want to wiggle, shiver, or something to fill the it.

"You know what people did before the Great City?" Andrew asked.

I let out a sigh of relief and climb on his bed with him.

"Tell me all your photographic knowledge, enlightened one." I say, my voice deepens, and I pretended to bow.

Andrew sat up straighter and puffed his chest out. "At least you know who I truly am."