Plot: Jordan and Tom live in an isolated city away from any other normal civilization. Any love not formed together by the government is prohibited. They decide to break the rule along with a few others.

Tom's POV:

Slowly. Unsuspectingly. Quietly. The three ways I can actually meet up with him. There's no other way to meet up with him. I can't allow either of us to be eliminated either. I can't loose him.

I move through the crowd of people in the busy streets. Everyone is so focused on where they need to go. They just seem like... robots almost. Controlled by one group: the government, who are always telling us what to do and watching our every step.

I turn into the dark alleyway, the only place without cameras or security officers. The mysterious darkness surrounds me as I slip my way down the ladder hidden under a movable wall. The place I escaped to in my childhood after finding it randomly.

"Jordan!" I cry as I see him sitting on the arm of the couch. We run over to each other and wrap our arms in a warm embrace. A feeling I never get to feel.

"Oh god I thought you would never make it or you would had been caught. Don't scare me like that Tom," Jordan says relieved.

"There's my clone in room who knows my routine. I can stay here as long as I need now. Your clone got sent to your place as well."

When we were gathered for the Receiving of Jobs ceremony, I was given the job of an engineer, a scientist. Secretly I have been working on a clone of us both, programmed to know our every normal reaction.

"I can't live like this anymore Tom. I can't be unable to love you secretly and hide it. I want to run away, to a place far from here where we can love each other."

I look at him surprised. Jordan never wants to break rules, except one but still. He was even nervous about us being together in secret at first. Now he has gotten used to it though, even though he still gets scared.

"Are you sure about this Jordan? You never liked breaking rules." He nods his head. I look at him and sigh.

Soon enough we start forming a plan. We will sneak out together during day. That is the one time the forcefield isn't up. We have a friend who works as a Gather out beyond the forcefield. He will help us.

Then we are free to love. Free to be together.

I place my hand on his cheek and rub my thumb against it. He leans in for a quick and light kiss. My heart still beats ten times faster when he kisses me. It's like falling in love all over again.

----------------

Over the next week we start packing. Tomorrow we leave for good. I will never see this goddamn awful place ever again. Probably the second best thing about it.

I stand pacing in the secret place waiting for Jordan to come. He is never late! Wow I sound like him now. Then I hear the quick, light footsteps coming down the ladder.

The second Jordan's eyes meet mine they are filled with fear. Something has gone wrong. He hands me a slip of paper then shows me one with his name on it.

Oh no. I open the envelope and read the message quietly to myself.

Dear Mr. Thomas Casell,

We are delighted to inform you that tomorrow night you will be put in the yearly Pairing ceremony. We will send a team to prepare you that morning. Your suit will be there when you arrive. We hope you are happy with your new life partner.

Sincerely,

Alice Queer
Head of Pairing Committee

"No! This can't happen!" I yell. Jordan looks down and shows the letter identical to mine. I hug him tight. I can't be separated from him. He is mine, not some random girl off the street's!

"We need to leave tonight," I declare.

"But how! The forcefield is up. There is no way out."

"There's still time left today. The forcefield is down. We can make it now if we hurry." He sighs and nods. There is still light left, we can escape now.

I drag him out the place. The place of our firsts. First time I knew l liked him, the time he asked me out. Then the rest of our relationship. First date, holding hands, kiss, 'I love you', things like that.

We run through the crowded streets as we find the outer area of the city. All it is out here is trees for farther then the eye can see. Well I guess we just keep running.

As I look behind me I can see Jordan a bit behind me out of breath. He keeps pushing himself to go even though he is out of energy. I stop for a second to help him.

A while later we reach the border. I run through but it comes up before Jordan gets out. I looked at him panicked while banging on the forcefield.

He tries saying something to me but I can't hear him. "Jordan I can't hear you!" I shout. He looks at me confused as well. Neither of us can hear each other.

I place my hand on the forcefield and he places his where mine is. The invisible glass like wall that separates us continues to make a faint buzzing sound.

"I love you," I mouth to him.

"I love you too Tom," he says in return. Suddenly his eyes widen and he grabs something from out of his bag: his laptop.

He starts typing like crazy. I look at him strangely while he continues typing. Then suddenly the shield goes down for a few seconds.

I pull him through and hold him close. He catches his breath while we look out at the rest of the distance we have to run. Well we better get going.

We run for about ten minutes until we reach the farm. I knock on the front door. I see the familiar sandy hair and dark blue eyes peep through the window.

"Colby! It's us! Let us in please!" Jordan says. Colby opens the door and hurries us inside.

"What the hell are you two doing out here at this time!" He shouts. He's messy haired and half awake while in his pajamas still. Oops.

"Well... we are escaping the city. Both of us are sick and tired of this place and we need our freedom. We need to be together."

Colby scans us and then sighs. He is the only person who knows about us being together. We both trust him and always will. Also he has a boyfriend as well.

"Ok, I'll help you with your lovey shit so you can escape. I want to escape too though. Andy has to come too though."

Right after Colby finishes talking I see the red highlighted hair and deep brown eyes peep out from behind a wall. He too is in his pajamas.

"Jordan? Tom? Why are you two here?"

"Escaping the city. But first we wanted to come here to rest. I'm tired from all that running," Jordan says half awake.

Colby moves out the way for us to walk inside. Jordan walks over to the couch and lays down. Seconds later I hear the light snoring from him. Cutie.

"There's a guest bedroom upstairs you can use. Or both of you if you can get Jordan to move." I nod my head and Colby walks back upstairs to go to sleep.

Carefully, I pick up Jordan to bring upstairs. He is kinda adorable when he sleeps. At least Colby allowed us to actually stay here for a night.

I walk into the guest room and place Jordan on the bed. I lay down next to him and he snuggles into my arms. I smile and lay my head on his. This kind of moment rarely ever happens. Soon enough I drift off to sleep, ready to escape for good tomorrow.

I wake up with Jordan snuggled up against my chest awake. "Morning handsome," I say as he looks up to me.

"Good morning to you too. Looking pretty nice as well."

"My little geek boy seems to be growing into a manly man I must say." He blushes after I say that. "Nope still my little dork."

"I'm just trying to act tougher right now to hide the fact that I am incredibly scared about what could happen out there. I mean what."

"Awww," I say as I sit up and put my arm around his shoulder. "I'll protect you. I'll even hold your hand if you're scared." He punches me in the shoulder. It's fun teasing him.

Andy runs into our room and shuts the wooden door behind him. His face is filled with fear as he is panting and shaking. He drags us to the closet where he moves a bit of clothing to reveal a door. We get shoved in and he closes the hidden door.

"Sir are you sure they are not in here?" A mysterious voice asks.

"No sir," Colby replies. "I have not seen Mr. Cassell and Mr. Maron since I last visited the city." There are guards searching for us!?! Oh crap.

"I'll be the judge of that," the guard says. I can hear objects being moved around and then he opens the closet and shuts it. Thank god he didn't see them.

"Well I don't see them. Sorry for interrupting you at this time of morning Mr. Colby. If you ever see them though report them immediately."

"Yes sir. You're welcome sir." The door slams shut then Andy lets us out the closet. Jordan and I keep looking panicked at each other then the two.

"Why the fuck was a guard searching for us?" Jordan exclaims.

"Wanted for escaping the city. We have to go though. Now." Jordan and I grab our bags and meet with them at the front door. They have bags ready too. Now we can escape for good.

Days pass as we continue to run. We all are extremely tired and dirty. Luckily though we all have grown stronger physically and as a team. I look out in front of us and hear a slight bit of noise.

As we get closer to the nose we see roads and buildings. Cars drive through the streets and people walk along the sidewalks. It looks nothing like our town in the way people act. It's like heaven compared to what we have lived with for over twenty years.

"Boys, welcome to paradise."

~~~~

I know it's been FOREVER since I last posted. School is just crazy though. Luckily the holidays are here and the damn exams are over. I will be attempting to write more often. If anyone has any suggestions then just leave a comment.

~ V