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/incrediblemeatza/savior-mixtape

Chapter 1: Growing Up

The lights were way too bright for such a small area. I know that the vaults lighting systems were supposed to mimic sunlight but none of us even know what sunlight looked like. None of us even knew when grass looked like in person. Was there even any grass left in the world?

"Turn the lights on slower, you blinded the poor kid." Apparently there was a surprise birthday party for my tenth birthday. Not much of a surprise. I overheard dad talking to Amata last week about a birthday cake. What else would a birthday cake be needed for?

"Happy birthday, kiddo. Already ten years old. My, have you grown. Your mother wou..."

"Hey there, young lady," interrupted the Overseer. "It's your tenth birthday. You know what that means: your very own Pipboy 3000. You'll be getting your first job assignment starting tomorrow." He laughed at his own joke. "I'm just kidding. That will be according to what you make on the G.O.A.T."

"Thank you" I said as I fumbled with the Pipboy.

"Here, let me help, sweetie." Dad said, reaching for my arm.

"No, no, no, I got it. I'll figure it out." He sighed as he watched me drop the device on the floor.

I heard Stanley yell "Hey, missy, be careful with that. I programmed that myself!"

"Thank you for the Pipboy!" He grumbled in response. Dad sighed.

"Just as stubborn as your mother." I stared at the ground. "I'm sorry, daddy."

"Sweetie, I didn't mean it as an insult. I'm sorry if it seemed like one." Amata came over and asked if I enjoyed the party and if I was surprised. Dad looked at me for an answer and I didn't have the heart to tell them I knew, so I swallowed the truth and said "not at all."

"Well, here's another surprise. Guess what I got you for your birthday. Go on guess."

"Is it a date with Freddie Gomez?" Officer Gomez chuckled from behind us. He knew I liked his son. I wonder if he told Freddie. Oh gosh, I hope not.

"Ew, I didn't know you liked boys! And no, it's Grognak the Barbarian issue #1." She said in disgust.

"What's that supposed to mean, Amata?" She looked at me in surprise. "I thought you liked girls?" she replied.

"Why would you think that? Is it because I have short hair?" I spit out with narrowed eyes.

"Well, yeah. Everyone thinks that." I hate when she acts like this. To be honest, I don't even like Amata. The only people I like my age are Paul and Freddie.

"Whatever." I said, blowing it off. I'll deal with it later. It's my birthday party. Old Lady Palmer seemed to be wanting my attention.

"Yes, ma'am?" I asked politely.

"My, you're getting so old. Believe it or not, I was ten once. That was so long ago. Back when I was a girl, the vault was practically crowded. Not like today. I was surprised when the Overseer let you and your dad... Oh my, look at me rambling. Here's your present: one of my very own, homemade sweetrolls. And because it's your birthday, you don't have to share."

"Thank you Mrs. Palmer." I said and walked over to the counter with the cake. Andy was about to cut it when a clunk noise was heard and his saw crushed the cake.

"I am mortified by the cake mishap. Simply mortified." Andy said sympathetically. That makes two of us.

"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry about the cake." Dad looked so depressed.

"It's okay, dad." I said trying to see if that would make him feel better. I think he was more upset than I was.

I turned around to come face to face with Butch, the Vault Asshole. "I'm hungry, and that stupid robot destroyed the cake. Gimme that sweetroll that Old Lady Palmer gave you."

"I'm sure your hungry. I mean, who wouldn't be if they're mom drank all the food rations away. Go soak your head, Bitch... Oh, I'm sorry. I meant to say "Butch"."

"You're gonna regret that. No one talks about my mom like that except me."

Next thing I know, Butch and I were in a full out birthday brawl over a sweetroll. I was pinned to the ground and he was swinging at my face. I kneed him in the groin and slipped away and threw my elbow down on his back. Dad and Paul intervened grabbing and pulling us apart.

"What has gotten into you, Eleanor?" I was still shaking with the adrenaline.

"It was Butch's fault. He tried to take my sweetroll!"

"She's lying! She just hit me for no reason.!" Butch yelled.

"We all saw you hit first, Butch. And this was all over a sweetroll?" Dad scolded.

"She was talkin' smack about my mom!" Butch reasoned, pointing a finger at me.

"Is that true, Eleanor? Did you say mean things about Mrs. Deloria?" I stared at my feet in shame. "Answer me right now."

"Yes, sir." I said barely above a whisper.

"What was that? Say it louder."

"Yes, sir, I said mean things and I'm sorry. I shouldn't said them." I whined.

"Don't apologize to me, apologize to Butch."

Butch looked so full of himself. I should have hit him in the face instead of the back.

"I'm sorry." I said flatly.

"Like you mean it, Eleanor Rose." I can't stand it when he uses my middle name. It only means I'm in trouble.

"I'm sorry, Butch." Dad didn't look convinced.

"I think you two should hug it out. Don't you agree Overseer?"

"That seems like a reasonable resolution."

We both looked at each other in horror.

"Well, go on." We hesitantly shuffled closer to each other.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" I asked, trying to take the advantage of making him uncomfortable. He looked pissed. I held my arms out and smiled smugly.

"I'm just waiting for you, Butch."

Dad swatted my arm ,"stop that, you're not supposed to enjoy this."

Butch fell into my arms stiffly and put a tense arm around me. I wrapped my arms around him uncomfortably.

We let go and Amata, Wally, and Paul burst into laughter. "I can't believe you did that."

"Me neither. I have to go. Dad wants me." I walked over to Dad near the intercom.

"That was Jonas, we have a surprise for you down in the Reactor Room."

We were walking downstairs when Beatrice stopped me to hand me a poem. What's a better gift for a ten year old than a poem? We went met up with Jonas and Dad handed me a BB gun.

"Where did you even find this, Dad?"

"Jonas and I spent months finding the parts and putting it together. All we needed left was a spring. Thank God Butch "misplaced" his switchblade." He laughed.

I took a few shots at targets and a rad roach crawled out from a box. I screamed and Dad calmly said

"Just aim and shoot. Think of it as target practice." I missed the first two shots. The third shot hit in between the head and torso and the head rolled off. I had to struggle from throwing up. Dad just laughed.

"Good work, sweetie. Keep it up and you can help with the rad roach problem. Now come see. We're going to take a picture to save the moment."

I walked over with BB gun in hand and smiled.

"One. Two. Three. Say 'cheese!'" And with that , a bright flash blinded me yet again.