I checked my watch. 6:26 PM. The good news was, Devan was nowhere in sight. But we all know whenever there's good news, there's bad news as well. Neither was Jack. It was four minutes until dinner started and she wasn't there. It was probably nothing.. but-
Jack crashed into me, breaking my train of thought. "Dex, follow me. Now." I would have protested, only she dragged me into a new room.

"Jack? What are you-" A hand clasped over my mouth and my voice was muffled. I couldn't see anything so I assumed we were in some sort of closet. "Quiet, Dex!" I pushed her hand away. "Where were you?"
"Snooping around." She replied casually. "I found something out!"
"What? You know you shouldn't be out there alone."
"I know, keep your voice down! Anyway, they were talking about it again."
I shook my head. "I said I didn't know if they were taking about the rejects or not."
"The aliens, Dex."
I blinked. "What?"
"They were talking about the aliens they took captive." I froze. I mean, sure, aliens. Why not? But taking aliens captive? That's crazy.
Okay, you got me. Sarcasm.

"There's no such thing as aliens, Jack!" Then the door creaked open. "What are you two doing?"
"Discussing the meaning of life." I answered without hesitating. Yup. The only time I don't think about what I'm saying is times like these... The guard raised an eyebrow, but gestured for us to come out. Good thing that guard didn't know who we were... that may have been a little awkward.

"I'm telling the truth." She whispered to me over supper. I looked at her. "I believe you, but do you believe them?"
"I don't know. They were in private, and they were talking nervously."
"And....?"
"I don't know. Why would you lie in private?"
I shrugged. "Maybe because they knew someone was out there eavesdropping last time?" Jack rolled her eyes. "You're so stubborn, Dexter Marshall."
"Don't call me that." I snapped.
She laughed. I crossed my arms and scowled. She raised her hands in defeat. "Fine, I get it. I'll stick with Dex."
I nodded. "Thank you." I said as I took a bite of the lukewarm soup.

After three straight hours of sitting in a lecture for the sixteen year olds who weren't rejected about Storm training, I ran into Seth. [You remember him, if not, skip back a few pages.] He was wearing a muscle shirt that was striped, the colors alternated between peach, blue, and mint green. He also wore skinny jeans with mint green converse. He must've really liked pastels.
He greeted me happily. I waved in response. I thought that would be the end of our exchange, but he pulled on my arm.
"Dex! I can't believe I found you again!" He exclaimed. "Likewise." I said without much emotion. "Have you decided where you're gonna go yet?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Aureola City." He said simply. "You?"
"Storm training." I decided. "I'm waiting until next week, though. That's when my friend, Jack, is going."
"You should introduce me to him sometime." Seth smiled. I mentally face-palmed. "Um.. her."
"Oooh, he's a girl. Is she cute?" I gave him a look that said 'really?'. He shrugged, turning a little pink. "Anywaaaay," Seth began, obviously wanting to change the subject. "I was thinking about what you said after the test." I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"About us being cooped up together, giving them privacy." I involuntarily groaned. "You and Jack would be great friends." Seth grinned, then bit his lip as if debating if he should've smiled at my remark. "Is that a good thing..?" I chuckled, ignoring the question.

I spent most of the rest of the day with Seth, which was surprisingly fun.

"So that was seriously your excuse?" He had asked as we ate our hotdogs. "You're kidding."
I shrugged. "He put me on the spot!" Seth put his hand on my shoulder. "I feel so embarrassed for you right now." Despite his words, he was doubled over laughing, until his dog slipped from his bun onto the floor. He frowned. "Humph." He stuffed the rest of the bun in his mouth nonetheless.
"That's what you get. No one laughs at me without misfortune." I said. I was the one laughing now, keeping a firm grip on my hotdog.

Then something strange happened. My back burned. Like it did during my test. I flinched, but it went away after a second. "You okay, Dex?" Seth asked, his mouth full of the bun. I blinked. It must've just been a crazy realistic flashback or something. "Fine." I replied. "Just.. a little dazed from the long lecture earlier. You know how that goes." Seth nodded in understanding, but said; "I actually found it quite intriguing."
"Then why aren't you going to Storm training?" I inquired. He shrugged. "Family and stuff. You know." I furrowed my eyebrows. I didn't know. Barely any of the youth here had family. "You mean.. you have parents?" I asked.
"Yeah. Why?" I bit my lip. "It's nothing. I hope you have a great time in Aureola City." Seth smiled brightly. "So, when do I get to meet this mysterious Jack?"
I opened my mouth to reply, when someone else did for me;
"Right now." A soft female voice came from off to the side of us. I smiled at my best friend. "Hey Jackie!" She clicked her tongue at the nickname. "Who's this?" She asked, gesturing to Seth. Before I could respond his hand darted out from behind me. "Seth Charleston."  He said. "You must be Jack." She nodded and accepted his hand. "I am." 
"I've heard so much about you." Seth grinned, crooking his eyebrows upward. "Really?" Jack replied, sending me a look. "No." He admitted. "Just trying to make a good impression."  

"Why on Storm would that make a good first impression?" I inquired. "Isn't that the kind of things you lesser folk say?" He grinned teasingly and winked.
I sighed. "No, and we don't use the word folk either."
"Well, I do. If you don't like it, you can go cube yourself." Seth crossed his arms. I raised my hands in defense. "Use whatever slang you want, but I'll stick with people."

                                                                                                  *  *  *

The three of us went to Seth's dorm later that day, and well, calling it beautiful would be an understatement. Compared to me and Jack's single-roomed ones, it was huge. I immediately knew he had to have parents to get this sort of treatment. And he was in the third section of Haventown, which is pretty dang nice. I'm in section two, along with Jack.

The outside alone was a sight. The building was silver, brimmed with rose gold tinted windows. It was shaped like a half moon, the curve being against the ground. The roof had bright green plants draping down the sides of the building, which are not very common here on Storm. I glanced at Jack, who stared in awe. I also noticed the smug look on Seth's face.

"Wont you come inside?" He asked as he pushed the door open.  Jack and I nodded eagerly, and stepped through the doorway. "Wow.." Jack whispered.
"Meh, it's just not as impressive as the outside." I teased, earning an unpleased look from Seth. "Lackey shares this room-" He pointed to a large white door, "with a boy named Henry. Susanna and Gemma share the one across from them. Gemma is Henry's girlfriend..." Seth rambled, then continued down the hall, saying names and pointing at doors. I wasn't paying attention. I was staring at the ceiling as we walked. It had a weird sort of pattern, that moved as you stepped foreword.

"Aha! Here's my room." Seth exclaimed, literally dragging us in. "Hang on.. I want to show you something. Stay." He pointed at a couple of chairs then darted back out into the hall. Me and Jack exchanged glances. "What? Does he think we're some sort of dog?" She asked, and I couldn't help but laugh quietly. "I don't think dogs would even be allowed to put their paw in this sort of place." I said, taking a seat. "Fair enough. What do you think he's bringing back?"
"A Ferrari?" I offered. Jack laughed, "Somehow, I wouldn't doubt it. I didn't know there was this big of a difference between sections. I mean-we only live a section over, but we don't get our own personal kitchen."
"I think we should protest-make signs that say, 'WE WANT A KITCHEN!' and parade into Aureola Hall."
"Yeah, get ourselves cubed."
"Worth it." I replied casually. She rolled her eyes. "Dex, you'd really give up everything just to get a kitchen?"
"Depends, does it come with never-ending supply of mystery flavored Peeps?" Seth's voice interrupted. Me and Jack both looked over. He had a stack of packages of Peeps.                                                      "That's no Ferrari." Jack whispered to me.
"True, but it's better." I remarked as he walked over to us. He handed both of us a package and ripped open his own.

And after spending awhile with Seth, I don't understand how he's so thin.                                                                                                                                  "So Jack.. Try and explain the flavor of these Peeps." Seth said. "Me? Okay, I'll have a go." She took a bite and thought, her nose wrinkled. "Sour grapes-no no no.. Not sour, bitter. Bittersweet. That's the word." I snorted. "Bittersweet grapes? I personally thought they tasted like fruity Oreos."
Seth and Jack both burst out laughing. I furrowed my eyebrows. "What?"                                                                                                                                                             
"Those things are so gross!" Jack said, and Seth echoed her. "They are not!" I protested.
"Whatever man, it's orange and chocolate-not a good mix." Seth said. "Haven't you had those chocolate orange thingies?" I offered.
There was a sudden ear-piercing beep that rang through the building before either of them could answer. "Subjects 752 and 908 please report to the Auxilium Center. Subjects 752 and 908 please report to the Auxilium Center. Thank you."

Jack and I were completely unfazed by this, but Seth seemed unnerved. "Morgana.." He whispered. "More who?" Jack asked. "Morgana! That's her number." He got to his feet and went to the door. "I need to go see what she got herself into this time... and help her to the Auxilium Center..." I exchanged a quick glance with Jack before following after him...

"So tell me again why they're calling an eight year old, disabled girl to the Auxilium Center?" I heard Jack whisper from off to my right. We were in the usual bus, riding to the Auxilium Center with Seth and Morgana, who-as Jack said, is disabled. Blind. And on top of that, she's a mute. She can talk she just doesn't, according to Seth.                                                                                 
She has a full head of long black hair, and pale red brown eyes. Her olive skin hangs oddly on her small frame.. in an almost baggy sort of way, even though she was extremely thin.                                                                                                               "For the hundredth time, I don't know!" Seth replied, exasperated. Morgana only stared silently ahead. I looked at her. "Morgana?" I asked quietly as Seth and Jack continued to whisper behind me. Morgana turned her head slightly, as if to look at me but her head wasn't turned enough for her to actually see me, if she wasn't blind. She nodded as if to acknowledge me.
"Do you know why they called you?"                                                                                               She nodded again.                                                                                                                                                                                                        "Why?" I inquired. Her lips changed to form a frown. She raised her hand up and pointed at her eye.                                          

The bus came to a stop. Morgana stood up. Seth got up as well, exiting the bus with her but one of the guards pushed him back in. "Alright, alright!" Seth growled, pulling out of their grasp and sitting beside Jack once more. I turned around in my seat to face them, something dawning on me as the car sped up. "You know.. I've never seen a disabled person over ten."

///AN///

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Also I made an aesthetic of Dex if y'all would want to see it, it's on my aesthetic book.