The connection on the mi-transchip is supposed to take place at exactly 7:00 AM. I close my eyes, hoping; hoping its someone I can get along with. Hoping he'll be easy to work with. I kind of want it to be Trey to be honest. He's the only person who's been easy to get along and open upto.
It's 6:58 PM. Just two more minutes of private thoughts, and then there'll be someone to invade them. It's not like I won't be able to hide the from 'the person', it'll just take time to conceal them way back inside my head.
The digital clock beside me strikes 7. Any second now. And then it happens.
"Hey person"
No, this can't be right. This isn't supposed to happen. That voice. That arrogance. This just crossed the impossible.
"What just crossed the impossible, may I ask?"
Shit! Of course, we share the same mind now.
"Yep, happy realisation"
This isn't Zachory, right? It can't be you.
"Well, hate to break this to you cupcake, but I am him"
Nononononononononoooo.
"Wow, you must really be disappointed"
YOU. HOW IS THIS HAPPENING!? IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE TO YOU!? THIS YOUR WAY TO ANNOY ME!? UGHHHHHHH!!! NOT ZACHORY MORON.
"Woah would woah, hold your horses, it gives me a spilling headache when you internally scream at the top of your inner voice all of a sudden like that, and it's Zachary Monatague, thank you"
"Wait, hold on a seconds. EMLYN CHEAPCLIFF? HOW IN THE DAMAGED WORLD!?" He exclaims, finally realising the situation.
"HEATHCLIFF, THANK YOU. AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE WHO SAID IT HURTS WHEN I SCREAM LIKE THAT. WELL IT HURTS HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL, YOU DIMWITT." I argue.
"WELL I DON'T GIVE A CRAP IF YOU'RE THE ONE WHO I'M SCREAMING AT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IM GONNA SCREAM MORE" He threatens, giving ME a splitting headache.
"OH NO YOU DON'T."
"WATCH ME CHEAPCLIFF. OR HEAR ME. OR WHATEVER. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHABLGHGHGHAHAAAAAAAAAAA"
"So mature of you Moron,"
"But seriously, THIS ISN'T HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS. THIS IS ALL WRONG."
"Why don't we calm down first and clear our minds first idiot? It doesn't help you having panic attacks at the moment." I stated, annoyed at everything in this world.
"Whatever"
We stay silent for about 15 minutes, each hearing each other's opinion about the other, which I'd say was our way of calming down I guess.
I've decided to report this to my mom first thing in the morning.
"Yeah sure, and I'll ask my dad"
"Wasn't conversing with you"
"Oh shut up already"
I decide to ignore him cause if we start, the bickering is going to prolong for a lifetime. So I decide to get some sleep before the house wakes up.
I don't understand how this just happened. The system doesn't work this way as Zachory implied. Two individuals from the same Level are supposed to be paired. I'm a Level-C whereas Zachoay is a Level-A, both from different backgrounds. And I could never, ever imagine working together with him. I need explanation. I need answe. . . .
I wake up to the sound of my alarm. I turn it off and groan. I can't face that nutthead; I don't want to face him.
"Face who exactly may I ask, Cheapcliff?"
"Your brainless self of course"
"I'd say the one without the brain here is none other than you miss, because clearly you keep forgetting we share minds now"
"Like you're any better. I could hear you thinking about Rachel all night" I tease him, quite pleased with myself.
"I-I dint think all night about her" I could tell he was flushed.
"Suuure. You've already planned everything, I see. The venue, the rings, the dress, the invitations, the-"
"Shut up! No more from you. Fine, sorry. We're both new to this so I should've understood" That was quite surprising.
"Okay, wow. Did you just, apologise? I think the whole Mind-Pals thing is having a side-effect on you. Or are you trying to be nice so you could just murder me later?"
"Just shut up already"
I get up and freshen up. Today's the day of all the 15 year old's first training session together. I don't know how this is going to work out. This would be the first time anyone's heard about the situation me and Zachory are in. I'd better inform my mom about all of this.
"Good morning Lyn, how did it go? Who'd yoi get paired with?" She asks, excited.
"Good morning mom. I don't think you'll be happy hearing this, but, something about the pairing wasn't right" I reply.
"Why? What wrong? Aren't you satisfied with who you were paired with? Don't tell me it's that rude Johnny kid across the street" she said, concerned.
"Even Johnny would've been better mom. The person I've been paired up with is just not someone I despise. He's from a different Level" I explain, hands covering my face in annoyance.
She doesn't say anything so I look up, only to see her shocked.
"Mom? What's wrong?" I ask, curious yet afraid of what I'm going to learn. She takes hold of my hand and cups them with hers.
"Listen Lyn, honey, don't let anyone know about this, yes? And who exactly is this person and what Level is he from?" She asks, rubbing her hands on my hands, a thing she does when she's worried about me.
"Uhm, it's Zachory Montague from Level-A"
"Not Montague, dang it. Now, tell him to not inform anyone about this whole situation, yeah? Tell him you'll explain by midnight"
"Sure, gonna do that. But I'd like an explanation right about now cause you're terrifying me with those unspoken words"
"I'll give you all the explanation you need right after your first Training session."
"Right" I reply, nothing else to say.
I quickly tell Zachary about what just happened and you wouldn't believe it, that dimwitt just wouldn't listen.
"I'll have to at least let my dad know about it" he says after my failed tries of convincing this fool.
"Please, just this once, please listen to me"
"Emlyn, fine. But I'll be expecting for an explanation by midnight and it better be a good one" He finally says, frustrated.
"Thank you" I say, as relief takes over me. I make my way to the door.
"Have a great day sweetie."
"Thanks mom" I reply, still dazed by my mom's reaction.
What could be so bad that's terrified my mom? Will my family be safe. . ?
I wait for Trey at our usual meeting spot. This guy's always late.
"Sorry for making you wait Lyn. Something came up" I turn back to see Trey, but I could tell he wasn't his usual self.
"No problem, I'm used to it by now. But, how are you today? You don't seem like yourself"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you" He says, scratching his neck.
"Ha, with what happened to me these few hours, anything is believable"
"I got paired with a Level-A. The worse thing about it is that it's none other than her. Its Rachel Langley."
Me getting paired up with someone is one thing. But someone else pairing up the wrong way on the same day is another.
"You've.got.to.be.kidding.me. Not you too" I reply after a while.
"What do you mean 'not you too?' Who else got paired the wrong way? " He asks, confused.
I sigh. "You're looking" I finally reply.
"Oh.my.god. No way. This is just absurd. This whole thing is just absurd. With who? Bet its better than that witch"
"Well, yours might be a tad bit better than mine Trey."
"Oh"
"It's Montague" I tell him, shoulders slumped.
"OOOOOOH" He exclaims.
"Yes, OOOOOOH"
"Deyang, that'sactually quiet depressing. I feel much better knowing that" The idiot. "Well, we should go on our way to the training institution right now" I remind him. I ask him to warn Rachel not to disclose about our situation. I explain how mom reacted to the whole thing in the morning.
"Hey dimwitt, you there?" I mentally call out to Zachory.
"Yes cupcake? How may I help you today?" The audacity of the jerk.
"Guess what? Your princess is in the same situation as you. And do not, call me Cupcake. Ever"
"Rachel as well!? With who? From what Level is he from!?" He asked, frantic for an answer.
"Trey from the same Level as mine"
"Oh, that guy who's always stuck upto you like glue"
"Treat him with some respect, yeah?" I grumble.
"And why would I do that all of a sudden? Just because we're Mindpals for the time being, doesn't mean I'm going to be nicer" I mentally roll my eyes.
"If we're going to share minds, then I'd be expecting that. Imagine me saying awful things about Rachel. Wouldn't it get you worked up as well?" I try to explain him the whole point.
"Makes sense. Alright, I'll try my level best" He agrees.
Huh, that's something new. Zachory agreeing to something.
"Lyn? Rachel isn't agreeing." He announces from beside me. Of course she wouldn't. Why would she listen to some lowly Level-C beings anyways?
"Hey Montague"
"You're really starting to annoy me right now. You know, it's as if you're obsessed with me." I can literally picture that smug expression of his.
"Its not like I have a choice. Anyways, why I Mind Reached you. Could you please ask Rachel to be a little hush hush about the whole situation? I promise I'll explain it to all three of you as soon as I get to know what's going on." By now, I definitely sound desperate. Desperate for a positive reply.
He sighs (mentally). "I don't know why you're asking us to not disclose it to anyone yet, but there ought to be a reason, so sure."
One thing I realised after this whole mess up. Involve Rachel, and the lovesick boy agrees.
"Everything's taken care of. Let's head over to the institution" I assure Trey. He puts an arm around my shoulders like he usually does and we walk our way.
There are three Levels in our society. Level A, Level B and Level C. So, how are people categorized?
Like this:
Level As- Privileged
Level Bs- Lessers
Level Cs- Underprivileged
As you've noticed by now, me and Trey are from the poverty stricken level, i.e, Level C. Zachory and Rachel are from the richest and flourished level, i.e, Level A. The Level As and Level Bs are mostly welcomed and considered in our perfectly ran society. Whereas the Level Cs are considered trash. We're nothing but worthless humans who don't deserve anything to the other two levels. They may pretend to like us, but anyone could tell what their true feelings are towards us by the looks and glances we receive as we walk by.
That's why I worked hard to go to school. To show those disgusting people that we're worth a lot more that what they think.
Trey and I finally reach the training institution.
Our campus consists of three huge glass domed buildings. One on the right was for the Newlings (aka amateurs, newbies, beginners. What people in the old days would call elementary school), the other on the left was for the Advanced Elites, and the one on the centre which was the tallest dome out of the three and stood our was the Training Institution, where pupils go to train and work on their skills along with their partner, side by side. And my partner turned out to be none other than Zachary. How exciting.
Not.
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