HEEEEEEYYYYYY!
First things first, thanks to Wadawa, who reviewed: it made me squeal like a fan girl (but, to be perfectly honest it doesn't take an awful lot to make me squeal like a fan girl, since I fan girl squeal about nearly everything) but anyway, thanks!
And to every other person: review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review reviewreview review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review reviewreview review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review reviewreview review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review reviewreview review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review review (Desperate? Pushy? Who, me?)
So this chapter is in Ayden's POV, just for funsies… and, as we Irish say, the crack… and also multiple POVs is fun…
Disclaimer: Today I walked into a door frame, I think I'm going to have a black eye, which is just great. On a completely unrelated subject, I don't own Matched…
Matching. Some say its more for the girls than boys. I agree, I suppose, we don't care about the dressing up, we don't gossip about it for weeks, we don't fantasise about the mystery girl or have to take the green tablet. We're… not indifferent about it, but we're definitely less excited than the girls. We're excited, of course, but we're not screaming and squealing and jumping all around about it.
Even so, I couldn't sleep last night at all because of it. Its weird, knowing your life will change in less than twenty four hours. Really weird.
A couple hours before the banquet, my mother told me to get ready. Who on earth need hours to get changed into clothes? Turns out, I did. How was I supposed to know that a tie would be so damn hard to put on? It took me about an hour to figure it out, because we don't wear them with out plainclothes. Alec and Austin had a good laugh over that. They have a good laugh about anything their "baby brother" does, to be honest. I can't believe Austin is getting married in a year, he is about as mature as my six year old cousin.
So with the burnt-orange coloured tie finally tied properly, we left the house to get the air train.
'Well aren't you handsome?' My friend, Louise joked, playfully shoving me. She finger the tie.
'Brings out your eyes,' she commented, referring to my orange brown eyes.
Atypical, like the girl two years behind myself and Louise in Second School who was born with Albinism. Her eyes are pinkish red and her hair and skin are white as snow. Things like that usually don't happen in the Society, but accidents happen.
I have my mother's eyes, Alec and Austin have my father's brown. The three of us are built like our father, though, tall and broad. I'm six feet four, an inch or two smaller that my brothers. And don't they love to bring that up?
So I'm in the appearance categories, height: 6"4', skin tone: tanned, hair colour: blond, eye colour: Other.
I kind of like the sound of Other. In a world where everything is regulated and perfect, its nice to be different.
Right now, I'm in the City Hall, watching my friends get Matched. I have no idea when I'll be called out, because I don't know when my Match will appear on screen. Any girl on screen, the blonds, brunettes, red-heads, blue eyed, brown eyed, green eyed, tall, short, tanned, pale or Other girls could be my future wife. Weird thought.
Its Louise's turn, she puts on her best smile and stands.
'Louise McCarthy, your Match is…' they draw it out, making her wait, she fidgets slightly. Impatient, like always.
'Norman Lawrence,'
A boy with flaming red hair and freckles stands up, grinning cheekily.
I glance over at Louise, who is fluttering her eyelashes. I remind myself to tease her about that later.
Two of my other friends, John and Sam, are called out, and they both seem happy with their Matchees.
I start strumming my fingers on my leg, nervous. Why am I nervous? I shouldn't be nervous.
Another girl is called out, from the Farmlands. She is pale, her hair pitch black. Her glasses, which make her look intelligent and interesting, can't disguise her eyes, which are the oddest shade of teal, that blue-green colour that reminds me of one of the Hundred Paintings, I just can't put my finger on which one. They contrast beautifully with her pale skin and dark hair, making her look striking. Another Other.
I feel my heart beat faster as the girl smiles, so a dimple pops in her left cheek.
'Clara Young your Match is…'
I can't help but think how lucky the boy who is Matched with her is, then I blush at the thought.
'Ayden Hughes,'
I blink. This girl is meant for me? My shock is quickly replaced with joy. This girl is my Match. My Match.
I can't help but think about how great the Society is at their job, because I'm pretty sure I fell in love with Clara before I knew she was mine.