Another Way

~Chapter 11~

My head feels like an explosive and my eyes feel droopy and tired.
I sit up in my bed and in a daze I stare blankly out my window. Groggly and slowly do I make my way to the bathroom to get beautified for the day ahead. The reflector I stand in front of mirrors my exausted and imperfect freckled skin, my bloodshot sky blue eyes, and my ruffled bed head hair. I sigh as once again thoughts of the following day and what will become of today fly around under my skull, pounding and refusing to disperse into the Zaul atmosphere.
"What will this day bring..." I murmur under my breath.
"I have no idea." My entire body, literally, jumps from one end of the bathroom to the other as Nixon leans against the door frame.
He laughs as I say,"What the heck was that for?! You scared the living daylights out of me, and it is not funny!" Even though I try to sound serious I can't help but laugh too.
"Sorry, but I thought I would come and say good morning before I am no longer allowed to interact with you and the others."
A pause before I ask through a giggle,"What?"
His facial expression turns gloomy and serious. "As soon as you and the others are paired, I am forbidden to speak or be seen alone with any of you."
"Why? Did I do something to upset The Council?"
"Oh, no, no you did nothing wrong. It was me that made The Council angry."
"Angry? Why? Wait..." I squint my eyes and look down at the tiled ground, thinking hard until something pops into my head,"The seed. It's a real maple tree seed and when The Council found out-"
"Like I said earlier, Jillian, that seed is NOT a maple tree. It is Quar tree seed." His voice turns hard as stone and his stare cold but not unfriendly.
Before I could respond, he waves to me with his now warm smile on his face and then takes off to the front door. I stand there frozen to the spot as I process what has just happened. He has been one of my good friends for these three years and he knows more about me and humanity as none of the other Xileons have before. He can't just walk out of my life, I won't let him.
I break off from where I stand and sprint off after him. He's opening the door with his back facing me as I yell after him,"So you're just going to walk out of my life and forget every laugh, smile, sad, and amazing moment we have had together, for three years?" Desperation is in my voice as I practically beg for him not to leave.
His eyes are soft and asking for forgiveness as he turns to say,"That's exactly what I have to do."
Then, he is gone.
~~~
All five of us girls shuffle and hurd around in a dressing room backstage of the The Pairing ceremony auditorium. Dresses line racks in all different colors and designs, mirrors with florescent light bulbs around the perimeter, the scent of fake hairspray and perfume tickle our nostrils, and squeals of excitement coming from the others as they constantly check the clock all take me away from focusing on Nixon. I should be happy today like everyone else, but I guess I can never have a happy moment again in my life ever since Ender.
I sit in front of a mirror with an Xileon woman fixating my makeup and styling my hair. This is the one day we can gussy up and make ourselves look like models on magazines from earth. Xileons do not think makeup or high end clothing are not respectable of what the universe as given and created us with, and I don't disagree or agree with that.
Aavet is seated next to me and also has an Xileon woman doing her makeup and hair. She gives me a thumbs up in the mirror and a gorgeous smile. I try to look the part by mimicking her grin and thumbs up gesture, but get yelled at by the Xileon woman for moving.
I may not be glad for The Pairing ceremony, but I do know that I am nervous. It's not a swarm of butterflies that are tickling my stomach but a flock of seagulls, hungry for food.
"Finished," the Xileon woman says in a robotic tone. She spins the chair around to face the mirror so I can see the outcome of the makeover. My ginger hair is draped in large curls; my eye lids are a light smokey eye; my cheeks are faintly peach color; and my lips are slathered with a shiny light rose gloss. I stare at my reflection in complete awe. Never have I ever seen my face so... perfect. Only photo shopped models look as beautiful as I do now on earth, but... wow... even they don't look this amazing.
I catch the Xileon woman grinning shyly but when she falls on my gaze she immediately turns back to her formal and robotic appearance. Before I can say thank you she hurries off outside the dressing room. I guess all Xileons are stiffs.
After, all of us are bedazzled we are escorted into a dressing chamber where our one-time-use dress awaits.
"Is this really necessary for... The Pairing?" I ask Aavet as we wait for a dressing chamber to open up.
"On earth no, but here, finding your mate is a HUGE deal. It's almost as big of a deal as giving birth here." I cringe at her response. First, how does she know so much? Second, giving birth? They expect us -me- to be with child? Really?
"I just want to get this done and over with."
"What- why? Aren't you... never mind. I already know the answer."
We're silent for some time before I end up questioning,"Do you remember the world -earth- before everything changed?"
She scowls her look as she ponders over what I just said. Worry crosses her face as she turns towards me fast.
"I... I... I can't. There's... nothing there."