Population Zero

Chapter Seven

"Oh. No-nothing I swear." I threw my hands in the air awkwardly and froze in place, slouched over with my hand against his bed rail. I must have looked like a deer in headlights because he started to laugh it off.

"Hey, man. It's cool. That's my guitar, Lola. But seriously, don't ever touch her again and we'll be cool." He dropped his bag to the floor and threw himself onto his bed and let out a heavy sigh. As he lay there motionless with his head to his pillow I tried studying him. He was wearing a green jumpsuit just like my own so at least he was a level 4. That explains why he didn't just punch me in my throat. He wore big heavy boots that were caked with mud and he was filthy. He had dusty brown hair that looked greasy and he smelled like sweat and soil. He had very soft features and he looked exhausted.

He took a deep breath and sat straight up after a while to look up at me. "So, you're the new kid then? I'm Lorenzo but everyone calls me Renzo. What's your name?"

"Lucas."

"Ah, Lucas. Yeah, Eric told me about you. Level 4, eh? Impressive. I didn't even enter the wing a level 4. I had to work my ass off to get this jumpsuit." He said as he flicked the suspender until it made a loud snap sound.

"Oh, trust me. I don't deserve it." I felt like a fraud. I was constantly being covered by Dustin and I should probably be a level 2 eating gruel, or worse.

"Bull. All I ever hear is Lucas this, Lucas that. Why do you think your getting roomed with me? It's just the two of us here and there are only about 6 level 4's in the whole wing now. But us?" He rubbed his hands across his sheets. "We get the whole room to ourselves. And I get lil' ol' lady Lola here." He grabbed his guitar case and unzipped it revealing a beautiful shiny acoustic guitar. He strummed a few chords and began to sing.

"God knows I've been through hell
But I looked up and on my kneels I fell
He gave me a gift and I gave him the glory
Only Him and I will ever know my story"

Wow. Just wow. He had an amazing voice. And his guitar sounded so beautiful. I just had to ask.

"Did you write that yourself? That's beautiful, man. How did you get that guitar? Is it brand new?" I felt incessant asking so many questions at once but I needed answers.

"Relax bro. Yeah I write songs in my free time. It really helps me cope. That and my faith, of course. As for my guitar, you have to work for it. Nothing in life is free. I earned her and she's mine. So don't touch, 'kay?"

Geez. I wondered why he was so protective of Lola but I decided not to press him any further. He looked like he could turn cold and callous very easily and I wasn't trying to peeve off my new roommate on the first day. I decided to change the subject quickly before I lost him.

"So what are you doing back so early? Eric said everyone was supposed to be in class."

"Class?" He snickered. "That's cute, Lucas. Very cute, you think all the boys are off learning their manners?" He was getting very condescending and sarcastic and I really didn't like this side of him.

"Well, yeah, Eric said the day started an hour earlier over here than the East wing."

"Oh yeah, buddy. It sure does. We are up at the crack of dawn and hauled off to work on the farm. Where do you think that precious little milk carton comes from?" He gestured toward my empty carton of milk now sitting in the recycle bin. I never really gave much thought to it before but I guess he was right. That milk must have come from somewhere. I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I imagined myself doing manual labor. I'd never "milked" an animal before. I must have had a horrified look on my face because Renzo quickly started in.