UnFateful

2 - Nadia

The smell of pasta raided Nadia's nose as they entered the dining hall. Pro-Unwind posters were hung in nearly any viewable place, attempting to indoctrinate anyone around. Unfortunately for them, it fooled no one but the tithes, teens raised as their parent's 10%. As for anyone else, they'd rather stay whole.

"Spaghetti!" May exclaimed, "So much better than last night's pizza. It was practically cardboard!"

"Tell me about it," Nadia said, grabbing a plate. They each dumped a clump of noodles and sauce on their plates. They sat together at an empty table. Without even the chance to start eating, someone else joined them.

"When do you think they're sending the next batch of us downtown?" he asked.

"Hopefully never," May responded, "we barely made it alive last time."

"Well, I've heard next week — or sooner."

"Austin, did you break into the office again?" May asked.

"The door wasn't locked, it was barely breaking in."

"At this rate, I'm surprised they haven't taken you yet," Nadia commented.

"I've... got my ways, but back to the point: I found the list this time," he paused for effect, "You guys barely missed the list again. Nadia's only one slot away."

Nadia sighed a breath of relief, "Good riddance."

"Let's just hope no one breaks anything... or worse," May said.

* * * * *

Nadia passed the soccer ball to Austin, who shot it right into a winning goal. Cheers were heard by everyone, especially May, who was screaming her guts out.

"Woo hoo! Go Austin!" She screamed. Austin turned to beam at her, while Nadia attacked him with a bear hug from behind.

"It's the last game of the season, and you just scored the winning points," Nadia told him. Their coach came by and patted him on the back, "Show some sportsmanship before you celebrate your win," he said. Nadia and Austin joined the mandatory line of high-fives and 'good game's. 

They walked over to the bench, and Austin drank some water.

"There's my two champions," May said, holding out her camera. They smiled, and she took a picture.

"Why polaroids, anyway?" Austin asked her.

"I dunno. Helps avoid facetune fraud, I guess." She said, chuckling a bit. She sat down beside them, looking ahead. From the other team, Nadia could see kids talking with their parents. Mothers cheered and hugged, fathers congratulated and patted backs. Everyone wasn't happy, but not exactly sad either. It was a good season for the Running Rivers team. Nadia looked into all of the parent's eyes. She couldn't find a single set of eyes that didn't carry a tiredness of their kids or a longing that they could be somewhere else. Nadia never saw such a thing in the Ward adults. She only saw a hard tolerance. Nadia tuned in to Austin and May, hoping to be cheered up a bit.

"I'm telling you Austin, penguins need sweaters."

"But they aren't freezing, they have warm coats. How do you think they made it this far in the Arctic?" He reasoned.

"Well, maybe some penguins want to go out and explore."

"And get lost?" Austin stressed.

"You two..." Nadia said, shaking her head, "how about we head back in and try to beat May at Just Dance?"

"Ha! You're funny, Nadia. I'd like to see you try."

"I'm up for the challenge," Austin said, getting up from the bench. "Come on." They walked up to the door, and Austin started to get a bit worried. It was the "Trouble Trio," a pairing of complete idiots joined by a skinny smart kid, kept around to make them seem more intimidating.

"Austin, Austin." The one in the middle, visibly the strongest, taunted. "Running inside with his girlfriends after a victory."

"At least he has real friends!" May shot back, "go pick on someone that's at least as dumb as you."

"But short kids are weak, too weak to resist." He told her, not breaking intimidating eye contact with Austin. Angered beyond a burning fury, Austin punched him as hard as he could.

"I'm not weak!" He yelled.

"Pffft, you're weaker than I thought." He said.

"You're worthless man, can't even throw a punch," the guy to the left said, laughing as hard as he could. The guy in the middle cocked his arm like a gun, making a loading sound, and Austin's eyes widened. Terrified, he ran for his life.

"Austin!" May chased after him. Nadia stood her ground.

"Go run away with your puny little friends, you lesbian freak," the middle guy taunted. Nadia stared him down with angry eyes.

"Oh look, the little princess is angry," the guy to the left said.

"Shut up Tom, it's my turn to pick on kids."

"No, you did it last time... Jenny," Tom complained.

"What did you just call me?" He threatened.

"Guys — maybe you can just arm wrestle this out?" The kid on the right suggested. Nadi guessed he does their homework just to stay alive. 

"Shut the fuck up Mark, don't tell me what to do," 'Jenny' said. 

Nadia loosened her shoulders, knowing they're too dumb to remember she's even there. Mark looked down, and Nadia took the chance to go find May and Austin. She ran to the left and searched the yard for her friends.