Behind Locked Doors

Chapter Two: Unlikely Alliances

A/N: Thanks for sticking around to the second chapter :) We really appreciate all those who take the time to read, comment, vote, and share our story to others. All the constructive criticism really helps us become better writers. We love you all and hope you enjoy this next chapter. 

Dakota's POV:

 I had never been much of a complainer, but the food here was absolutely terrible. Not to mention someone had found out about the fact that I am a konrope, and that person was a Rebel. I had seen the symbol, just a glimpse of that penny around Rolin’s neck, and I knew it to be true.

 It was hard concealing the fear in my eyes that night as I laid on the bed beside hers. She didn’t seem like much danger, not that she seemed all that friendly, but from what I had heard, Rebels were bad news. If only I could get to James, my boyfriend of two years, but he was on the other side of the building. Not to mention, talking to boys was forbidden. I wondered if the Union had thought that rule out. The girls were going to be paired with boys in all their classes. What were we supposed to do, mime? That rule was going to be abolished soon, but I didn’t want to wait until then. I didn’t want to get in trouble, but I just had to see him. 

  That was when I did something so incredibly stupid that my own boyfriend would have thought I was high. I grabbed my flashlight from under my pillow and tip toed to the door of our dorm room. Grabbing the handle, I said a silent prayer to God begging that it was not locked. I turned the bronze door knob but didn’t get very far; it refused to budge. No way I was giving up that easily. I reached to the back of my ponytail for the small bobby pin that held that one stubborn hair in place. I had never picked a lock in my life, but now was as good a time to start as any. I got the tiny bobby pin stuck and sighed with anger. I could always try and break the down the door.

  "Need a hand?" a voice asked mischievously. I let out a gasp and turned around to see Rolin with a weird tool thing that spies would use in movies. How did she get that through security?

    I nodded moving away from the keyhole. Of course it had to be the Rebel; It could not of been Natalie or the one with the attitude problem. I was positive I could not trust her, but here I was letting her in on my secret mission.

  "First tell me where you are going, then I'll help you," Rolin said making a deal. I wanted to yell that it was none of her business and that her bed was waiting for her, then I realized she was my only hope of getting the door open. It was mind over matter at this point.

   "I'm going to see my boyfriend," I stated without emotion.

  "When was the last time you saw each other?" Rolin asked suddenly all interested.

  "Last month,"

   "So he hasn't seen you in a month, and you want him to see you in your pj's with a bad case of bed head?" Rolin carried on trying to talk me out of it.

  "You're right," I said handing her my flashlight, "You pick the lock while I go change."

  She gave me a protesting look, but then reluctantly bent down to eye level with the keyhole. I heard the rattle of the lock and then a small click. I turned around to see the door swung wide open and Rolin peering outside probably checking for cameras. It looked like all that Rebel training had done her well. 

   I smiled in satisfaction and strutted off to my closet. The wooden doors creaked slightly as I opened them. I gave a quick glance in the other girls' direction making sure all was well, then turned back around. The closet was small and old, but it held all my clothes and necessities quite easily. I pulled on a light pink ruffled tank top and comfortable jeans with the black flats my mom had bought me a week before I left. Even though I was addicted to high heels, I had worn these ever since the day she got them for me. Pushing the memory of my loving mother aside, I fixed my ponytail and walked to the door where Rolin was standing with the door open, a triumphant smirk pulling at her lips.

   "You mind if I tag along?" she asked.

  "Not at all," I said grabbing the map of the Union building. Honestly, I did not care if she came or not; I needed the door open, and now it was.

   Rolin slipped on a pair of plaid shoes that really didn’t match her flower pattern pajamas. It was kind of interesting seeing her in those pajamas to begin with, since they were a bit of a personality clash. I was going to mention it to her, but that would ruin the fun of her actually being out in public dressed like that. Well, 12am public that is. 

   I handed her my spare flashlight and marched out of the door heading in the direction of the boy's dormitories. She clicked it on and focused it ahead of us. A long dark passage way could be seen. This place during the day creeped me out, at night, it terrified me. The only thing standing between the James and Dakota reunion was the long walk to his dorm and having to listen to Rolin talk about security briefs and junk. I could do this, maybe. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   We reached the hallway of the dorms in under 20 minutes. It was exactly like the girls, except their doors were made off steel instead of wood.

  "Do you know his dorm number?" Rolin asked scanning the other hallways for teachers or guards.

  "815," I replied without hesitation and started walking down the hallway in search of James's dorm. Rolin stayed behind to be lookout or give us our privacy. Either way, I was grateful.

   I knocked quietly on the 815 dorm and whispered James's name. I heard the grunt of someone getting out of bed, the slight click of a lock being picked, and the door swinging up to reveal the shaggy brunette still in his jeans. 

  "Dakota, what are you doing here? Are you crazy?" he said bringing me into a hugging embrace. His dark gray shirt smelled of his cologne, the one I had bought him for his last birthday. I breathed it in never wanting to let go.

  "Yo James, shut the door. I need my beauty sleep," a guy's voice called from a bed inside the dorm. Moment ruined. I looked out of James' s shirt to see a dirty blonde squinting into the light.

  "In a minute Justin," James whispered irritatedly at Justin.

  "Oh, so is this the little Dakota you've been telling me about?" Justin asked looking me up and down, as he moved his blonde hair out of his eyes. I gave him my signature glare and watched him squirm. Justin started muttering something and then eventually fell back asleep. I walked in and sat on the empty bed; James followed in a like manner.

 We talked about life back home, the adjustment to life here, our roommates, and everything under the sun. It seemed only minutes, but when James looked at his watch, it had been hours. I leaned into his chest, not wanting to return to the unfamiliar bed and people that waited in my dorm.

 “You better get back and try to get some sleep,” James whispered in my hair, giving me a gentle kiss on the back of my head. I looked up at him lovingly and sighed.

  “Okay, we’ll do this again soon, but next time you come to me,” I said giving him a hug around the waist and standing up. We said our goodbyes, and I exited the room, shutting the door quietly behind me.

  "Took you long enough," Rolin said startling me. Rolin was still alert as ever leaning up against a wall, ready to signal me if any trouble showed.

"Wow, you waited. You’re a good friend," I said giving her an apologetic look. She waved it off and popped her knuckles.

 "So we're friends now?" she asked in a curious tone.

"I believe that's what I said, but it might be the hour of morning talking," I replied, which got a chuckle out of Rolin.

  "Yeah, I think we are," she responded as we made our way back to our dorm. I smiled. I had never really had a friend that knew I was a konrope and still wanted to be friends. Not even James knew I was a konrope. I had been meaning to tell him, but the opportunity never seemed to present itself. I couldn’t tell him tonight, because it would have spoiled our first night back together. I was going to wait it out; I couldn’t just spring something like that on him.

"Thanks Rolin, for helping me," I offered trying to be friendly.

"No problem," she said still walking.

"I don't suppose all Rebels are as nice as you?" I asked unexpectedly. Rolin stopped dead in her tracks.