"Aira!" my mother cries.
I run to her room and say, "Yes?"
"Aira I need you to fetch me some tea," she says, her voice hoarse. "I have a sore throat. Go to the store and buy me some."
"Okay," I say as I walk away.
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"Fancy seeing you here," a voice says from behind me. Just by listening I can tell that this is a guy's voice. I turn around and realize that it's Eli.
"Yes," I say.
"What are you here for today?" he asks.
"Tea for my mother, you?" I reply.
Eli pauses shortly and looks like he's trying to remember. He tells me, "Milk."
"That's nice.." I mumble. I glance across the store when I see the person I dislike the most at this moment Mr. Derek Iver.
"Hide me!" I tell Eli.
"What?" he questions.
"Hide me!" I whisper shout. Oh look how great his daughter is with him too.
"Hiding wouldn't be very effective, you're like an inch and half shorter than me." he explains. "If you want to get away from someone follow me and drop your stuff." I do as he says and follow him out of the store successfully avoiding an awkward moment with Derek.
"Now what was that about?" Eli asks. We sit down on an old creaky bench.
"Um," I hesistate. "Well.."
"Come on," he coaxes.
"My dad is trying to set me up with the guy that we saw in the store but I don't like him that much. Plus I don't want to talk to him," I blurt out.
Good oversharing, Aira, I tell myself.
"The guy with the little kid?" he asks.
"Yes," I respond.
Eli looks flabbergasted. "But... but... but..."
"I know awful, huh?" I say.
"You're seventeen, what do you know about raising children?" he says.
I feel better knowing that someone else shares my views. "I don't. I'm a child myself."
"That's just..." he stammers. "I can't even comprehend why."
"I know," I say sadly.
"Speaking of set ups, guess who my parents are trying set me up with?" Eli says, trying to change the subject, even if just a little bit.
"Who?" I ask curiously.
"Janet. You know that one girl who's always really mean to everyone?" he tells me.
"Janet?!" I shout, maybe just a tad too loud but I don't care.
"It's awful," he says. "When she talks to me, she always ends up insulting someone."
"That's horrid!" I say.
"Look," Eli points. "That guy is leaving, you can get your things now."
"Yay!" I cheer. "Thanks for helping me." I walk away and look back at Eli who's still sitting on the bench, alone.
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A/N
Sorry for not updating in awhile. I've been at camp. Anyway I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Until next time!
YOU ARE READING
The Search
Science FictionIn the distant future, everyone must be married by the age of nineteen. If you are not married by your nineteenth birthday, the government chooses your spouse. This is a fate Aira is dreading. She's also dreading her parents choosing her husband. Bu...
