It was a slow morning. That was okay because dad made some great pancakes. Buttermilk and extra eggs, which seems a lot more duisgusric then it actually sounds, as if it would be too rich to think of. Just thirty minutes after I woke up ready for school - and those pancakes.

I knocked on the door outside my own and just to the right. It opened and a face appeared below me.

"Good morning Rain," my little brother said, rubbing his eyes.

I stooped down and hugged him. "Morning Robin. You look so handsome in your school clothes."

The elevn year old smiled up at me with his hazel eyes. He was wearing khaki shorts and a orange polo, like mine, except I had khaki pants.

"I'm too old for that Rain," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Let's go eat some pancakes." I suggested.

He nodded sleepily in response.

Robin was that kind of brother everyone would love to have. He was the sweetest child alive, and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for him.

I listened to my footsteps padding down the stairs as I made my way to the kitchen.

"Good morning Rain. Good morning Robin." chorused both my parents as I sat at our round, wooden table. Mom was already sitting and had a tablet out in front of her. She was most likely working on Food Distribution work. My mother did very well in Mathematics and was awarded Food Distribution Supervisor as her job. Mom chose who got what food and when - she was good at it too.

"Good morning mother. Good morning father." Robin and I replied, echoing the words I said every morning, everyday. Dad was already dressed for his job too. Shiny black jeans and a light weight tank top, just like everyday. Unlike Mom he worked in the fields. Picking and planting corn, all day long, every season. I remember my parents once told me that you couldn't grow corn all year round. Field work wasn't frowned upon, but it wasn't shameful either. My parents worked together a lot, since they both dealt with food.

Dad brought the pancakes over and we all started to eat. I wanted to tell them they were good, but couldn't until they addressed me. Some rules we had bugged me, but the Senator said it was for the best. It was for the best. It was chaos before we established the System.

I got up and put my cream-colored plate in the sink. I swung my standard-issue bag over my shoulders and looked at my parents expectantly.

"Have a good day at school Rain." Mom said, not bothering to look up, keeping her dark brown eyes intently focused on her work.

"Be good and stay out of trouble Rain." Dad didn't look up either, but instead kept shoveling pancake bites into his mouth, preparing for the energy consuming day ahead.

"Thank you mother. I will father." I mumbled, pushing the door open and letting it swing close behind me after I waved goodbye to Robin. We start school when we're twelve, so Robin would stay at home.

I walked to school alone, wanting to get out of the cold. It was the middle of winter and it was almost sixty outside, the coldest it had been in a while. As soon as I saw the school I dashed inside, still cold and barely noticing how faded the letters that read 'SCHOOL' in bold print looked.

"Morning Rain." Hudson matched his step with mine in the school foyer.

"Morning Hudson." I replied.

We turned left through the hallway where Quinn joined us. He was panting and a flurry of red hair and freckles.

"You won't believe what happened," Quinn tried to tell me.

"You'll have to wait until after morning creed to tell her," Hudson whispered as we entered Creed Hall.

It was a long hall, hence the name, and had a ceiling that arched into itself. It was already half full, filled with students in khakis and orange polos.

Quinn nodded and we filed in. I glanced at my watch. Exactly five. My head snapped up, staring forwards.

"We believe in the Senetor, the System, and the Match. We believe in respect for those older than we, and we believe in teaching those younger. We believe that one one person, our Match is to be loved, and we believe no one could threaten a Match.

We believe in punishment of those who cannot follow our rules and we believe that the Disruptors should stay far from our peace.

We believe in the happy lives we lead."

Everyone repeated the words in a monotone, proud of the happy place they lived.
.                                 .                               .
I closed the locker after exchanging my flash drive for a lunch card. My best friend Ally caught up to me, and gently flicked me on the shoulder, and we walked together in silence.

"It's Tuesday." she said, breaking the quiet. Ally was almost as tall as me. Her black hair that was slightly lighter than mine was always pulled up so you could see her deep brown eyes, that seemed to calmly stare everyone down. She was quiet, but always watching, listening. Ally was the kind of girl who would never step out of line, unless it was for her friends.

"Yeah. It is. Did you finish the history homework?" I replied, knowing how she was going to respond, a smile started to creep into my face.

"Homework?" she asked, in mock surprise. "What homework?"

I grinned. "I know you have it Ally."

"You never fall for anything." she groaned and continued walking.

We reached the large cafeteria building and sat down at a long benched table.

"Hello peoples!" Quinn said, introducing himself. "You will never believe what happened this morning!" Lukkas and Hudson were grinning behind him.

Lukkas was short, compared to Hudson, but that was were the differences ended. Asides from height, Lukkas had bleached hair, almost white, and steel blue eyes that blinked rapidly. Hudson's were also blue, but his hair was brown. Both had long faces and structured noses. Their ears were almost identical, too. People always guessed they were brothers, but they were really cousins.

"You woke up from The Dream?" I guessed. He nodded, then started saying my words with me when continued talking.

"And now you'll be doing this all day. Just to annoy me. Because you can." we said together.

"Of course I will!" he beamed.

"Well?" Ally asked. "Who was it Quinn?" her eyes were still watching him, flicking around the room at every motion, but mostly staying on Quinn.

"He won't tell us." Lukkas said. "I think he's trying to be more annoying than I am. Good luck with that buddy." Lukkas playfully shoved him.

"Everyone ready?" Quinn asked, standing up.

"Now? Its happening now?" Hudson questioned.

He nodded. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck," we all murmered the old phrase.

We all watched him march down the cafeteria. He turned to the left then took another left. One more left, and then he stopped. Doof, always doing more than necessary to throw us off.

A girl looked up at him and stood. I think her name was Rose. They stood awkwardly and laughed. They were only ten feet away from us so we heard their conversation.

"So...hi." we heard Rose say.

"Uh yeah. So..."

"Is this where the dream ended for you?" It was a pointless question. Everyone's dream ended right before the first person spoke.

"Yeah." Quinn said, inspecting his shoes and rubbing his neck. Normal teenage awkwardness.

She held out her hand with a smile.
"Are you ready Quinn?" she asked.

People were now looking their way, some cheering. It was an everyday thing but still a beautiful moment. Across from me Lukkas pulled out a pair of shades. We all laughed.

He held out his hand. It felt like they moved towards each other as slowly as possible.

They finally touched and a brilliant orange and yellow light filled the room. When it disappeared, everyone was clapping and Rose and Quinn were hugging. We could see Quinn's tears of joy slide down his face. I was blinking, trying to get the flash out of my eyes.

"Go Quinn!" we cheered. The two sat at our table and rolled their sleeves up. On their left forarms was a tattoo, a band surrounding each other's names, just below their elbow.

"I'm Rose." She said intoroducing herself.

Rose was pretty. Her hair was curly and in a bun on her head. Her eyes were evergreen, like a rose stem would be and it matched her earthy skin well. She seemed to love movement and the flow of things.

Quinn looked happy, as always everyone did. My parents were happy when they meet too.

"So Rose," started Quinn. "What wedding theme are you thinking of?" he grinned.

"Oh stop it. And either way, we'll agree on something. But that's a month away Quinn."

You married your soulmate one month after the Match. That's just how it was. It made it eaiser, knowing who you were made for. No divorce like there used to be. Life was easy if you only had one person to love.

Hudson reached out and grabbed my hand. He was sitting to my right.

"Maybe that'll be us someday." he whispered. I couldn't see anything put those bright blue eyes he had. They were determined, but still reassuring. When I looked at them, I always thought how calm they would always look.

I shook his hand off. "Hudd. You can't do that! You'll get an Infraction." I whispered back.

He smiled at me, pulling his hand into mine again. "I'd serve time the rest of my life to be with you Rain."

I smiled and rested my head on his broad shoulder. "I know Hud. I know."

Hey look go me; I made an author's note. I think. I'm pretty sure, at least. One second I'll go check.
(One second passes)
Okay I was right, this is an author's note. I know what you say in an author's note, but why don't you tell me so that I know that you know the same thing I know.
Nevermind I can't hear you.

I think I had some thing to say but I'm not sure now. It's on the tip of my tongue. Which isn't a literal expression. How can something be on the tip of your tongue? We should say back of the brain. Which would make a lot of sense.

If you didn't know, the rearmost lobe of your brain is the occipital lobe, which helps process what you see. (How and why do I remember this. I learned this in second grade.) So saying back of the brain would suggest that it is just out of your eye sight, an easily eluded piece of knowledge that you just can't quite get to.

Why am I writing in bold text?