I shouldn't have been as excited as I was to go to school. Real school. My first day had been the day before, and I had been absolutely lost. Boys were in a different part of the building, but I was still doing it.

I sat next to Sonnet on the train. I never saw her speaking to anyone. She seemed so alone. Then again, so was I.

The end of the day Monday, she saw me. "Rob, I'd like you to meet my fiancé."

She said that casually as though saying, of course I have a fiancé. Who doesn't?

I nodded. I felt like I was choking up again.

"I bet you'll be getting your assignment soon," the wonderful fiancé told me.

"Assignment?"

"Yeah, assignment. As in your own fiancé? What planet are you from?"

Sonnet laughed at the joke.

"Earth, last I heard," I muttered.

"I didn't mean to offend you. I'm Corey. Nice to meet you, Rob."

"Nice to meet you, Corey."

I made my exit. The device from the government was becoming my go to place for relief. At least someone wanted me.

I hadn't worked up the nerve to actually tell them I'd accepted the invitation. I'd have to soon. There was a deadline after all.

I didn't that night and found myself at school again. I did wonderfully with "ancient history" but the teacher made a pointed note to me that I was the worst student she'd ever had when it came to recent history.

I'd gotten out of that class as quickly as possible. Everyone ignored me with even more fervor after that. I was used to it, but I felt like I wanted to make a dent in at least one world.

I tried to engage with various people along the way.

To a boy wearing mohawk, I commented "Do you recommend a more edgy style?"

The boy looked at me, absolutely terrified. I backed away.

"This food sucks," I said, picking at goop spooned out to me. The guy next to me just grunted cave man style.

"What did you think of the last episode of Space Rangers Range?"

I turned around. The kid that had just spoken to me oozed with desperation. He would not help me socially. I smiled.

"Don't watch it."

"Oh. Well, it was the same as always."

He seemed disappointed.

Someone passed by. "Don't bug the poor guy with whatever it is you were saying, doofus."

"I was just asking him if he'd seen Space Rangers Range."

It was a plump boy that'd come to save me. "Oh God, not that. I haven't seen that since I was six. Don't tell me it's still on."

"It is. They killed off—"

"Two words. Don't. Care."

I followed the new person as they made their way to a table.

There was a free seat I slid into. Seats around me filled up. I felt a rising dread. I'd eaten alone the day before. Every table filled to the brim and no one who sat alone ever banded together. It was the laws of nature.

"Hey, get out of my seat."

I turned around. A skinny guy, skinny like a pole loomed over me.

"I got here first."

I turned around like he'd just said something absurd.

"Ted, tell him that—"

"Beat it. New guy, you're in."

I looked at "Ted" in surprise.

"Now, who's gotten their engagement notice?"

"I did." A muscular boy across the table grinned.

"Who's the lucky girl?"

"Becky."

The whole table cheered, and I felt compelled to join in.

"This whole process is dragging out. I don't like it. They said Friday," Ted complained.

"You're just mad because you haven't gotten yours."

"Shut up, Zander."

"We've all got ours. We could just go and hang out with our fiancés."

"He doesn't have his." He turned to me. "Do you?"

"I don't. But I just transferred. So, it won't be long until I do."

"Let me see your chip."

Ted was obviously the ringleader. I surrendered my chip in a heartbeat.

A hologram of me from the library appeared in the middle of the table.

"Rob. Nice to meet you," the muscular boy said, smiling at me.

"He's not compatible. Dammit." Ted distastefully picked at his food. "If we were compatible, we'd have gotten paired in a heartbeat. I tend to drive people, girls especially, away."

Ted examined my chip for a little while longer before he gave it back to me.

The goo was delicious. Maybe talking about it being gross hadn't been the best conversation starter.

Ted went on talking, but I didn't pay much attention. Sonnet had introduced me to her fiancé because everyone did truly have a fiancé. And I didn't.

I wanted to get back to the train. The rest of the day was just a pretense. School wasn't going well.

"Hey, can we talk?"

I turned around. It was a girl from the manor.

"Sure."

I touched the device. "What's your name?"

"Tyena Luarenz. Most people call me T."

She pushed me into a closet. I'd heard tales of what teenagers did in closets. I squeezed the smooth metal. At this rate I'd call the government on accident before I did on purpose.

"You're the kid from the past."

"You could call me that."

"What are you thinking of the future?"

"It seems violent being honest."

Tyena nodded. "You could say that again. I'm so glad someone's looking out for us, though."

I relaxed. "Yeah, so am I. I really want to help."

Tyena beamed. "Yeah, so do I. In fact, we could really use your help."

"I don't know how much I'll be able to do."

"You just being you will help us."

"Yeah, I was planning to call in maybe later today and accept your offer."

Tyena's face paled. "You already got contacted?"

"Yeah. The guy from the Department of Special people or whatever didn't tell you?"

"I'm not with the government."

I looked at her. No way. She looked like every high school jock ever. Not a murderous terrorist.

"You're... you're rebellion?" I choked.

"Not so loud. You could get us both killed with that."

"But I didn't do anything wrong. I... You're rebellion. What do you want from me?"

My voice didn't shake as much as I thought it would. Maybe I really was the chosen one.

"You have the sole power to change the world. Whoever you pick will win. You could pick the powers that be or the people living under their thumb."

"You... the rebellion attack. I didn't see the government hurting anyone."

Tyena nodded. "You can't make assumptions based on what? A week?"

"What should I do? I have a deadline to sign up with the government."

"You could be a double agent."

"No. I despise you. You and your stupid rebellion."

Tyena nodded. She looked like she was about to either cry or hit me. I wasn't sure which. Her back was against the door. She didn't say anything.

"Can I go?"

"Why? Are you afraid of me?"

Yes. I am terrified of you.

"No. I just want to make it to the train on time."

Her eyes flashed and I could visibly see her biting her tongue.

"Fine, go. And blindly trust the government if you want."

"Like you blindly trust the rebellion?"

"Better than trusting the government!"

"What did they do you?"

"They killed my mother. They kill all of us eventually. Anyone who's bold. Anyone who doesn't fit in."

There was a silence between us. Then, Tyena was out of the closet before I could respond.

"If the rebellion doesn't kill them first," I muttered to the empty room. I felt the device in my pocket.

I needed to call in before I lost my nerve.