Me: Hi peoples!
Nudge: Hello everybody else!
Me: Woohoo, chapter two! This is, I think, the only fanfiction I had actually planned to a point.
Nudge: You mean to the next chapter?
Me: Psh, no. Of course not. I got till, like… a chapter with a number planned out.
Nudge: Soooo descriptive.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Except that doughnut…
Dedication: The random people of the world! And exclamation points! !1!
We pulled up at the research facility, which wasn't too spectacular. It was boring beige and kind of blocky like architect was inspired by Lego blocks in the desert. The teachers quickly herded us into the building because the school bus was starting to block the early morning traffic in the downtown.
The lobby was decidedly more interesting. It had spring green wall and was decorated with sleek modern furniture. Colorful pieces of op art hung on the walls at regular intervals. On either side of the reception desk were hallways disappearing deep into the building. Behind the desk sat a brunette woman who immediately got up at the commotion of my class entering. For a small class we could be really loud.
"Okay then, students! Welcome!" she chirped. "Let's all head this way to the conference room, where you'll be briefed on everything you'll be doing today."
Once everyone had entered said conference room and calmed down, a lab-coated man started speaking about our day. He said that they did genetic research on birds and we'd be seeing a few of their labs, along with explanations of what they were doing. But the part that intrigued me the most was that we'd be seeing their very large aviary! The man concluded his speech and we set off to the aviary.
We were lead to the center of the building and all crammed into a tiny room with a mirror on one side.
"We will now be entering the aviary," the man said. "This room is so none of the birds escape into the offices. Please do not touch or feed the birds." He pushed open the fogged glass door.
Inside the aviary, tall trees ruled the ceiling and ivy climbed up the walls. Sunlight filtered through the sunroof lighting up the vibrant flowers and plants were spread across the ground. Gravel paths wound their ways around the huge open room. Above all, birds of all types flew hither and dither, their cawing and squawking the only thing you could you could hear.
I wandered the paths admiring all the birds until I reached a dead end at a small waterfall. There I sat playing with the water until a bright bird landed on my arm.
"Well hello there, little guy," I said to the bird, who cocked his head at me.
Another bird, a wren, alighted next to that one, chirping what seemed a hello. Soon after yet another slightly larger bird landed on my shoulder. I was petting my little avian crowd and grinning happily when someone cleared their throat behind me. My jump sent all the birds into the air before they once again perched on my arm.
"Well, aren't you popular," Tomy said jokingly, walking over.
A few more birds settled on me while I replied, "Yeah, or maybe I've mistaken me for a coatrack." I stifled a giggle when a blue jay decided to rest on my head.
Tomy chuckled as four or five hummingbirds carefully landed on my glasses' rims. "It looks like they've made you an honorary bird."
I rolled my eyes in Tomy's direction though I couldn't really see around all the bright feathers and laughed. "Maybe they think I'm one of their own." I wouldn't be surprised since my hair now probably looked like a messy bird's feathers what with all the birds' pecking curiously at it.
Tomy held his fingers out to the hummingbirds on my glasses. They paused for a second before moving onto his hand. Free of feathers blocking my vision, I could see Tomy grinning widely at the birds causally hanging out on just about every part of me.
"They really seem to like you, but it's still strange how they're so comfortable around people," he said as the hummingbirds took off in favor of some colorful flowers.
I cautiously observed the parrot on my shoulder who had found a sudden interest in my flower hair clips. I shrugged sending the bird flapping and said, "Maybe is something with the research they're doing on them."
Just as I finished my statement, a scientist man we hadn't seen before came around the bend in the path. He stopped, looking shocked, then glared at me. He marched up to Tomy and me, shooing away the birds.
"Don't touch the birds, please," he said annoyed.
I, equally annoyed now, said "Well, it's not like we were tackling the birds; they decided on their own to land on me."
The man eyed me suspiciously before muttering, "Interesting." He cleared his throat and continued. "Your class is grouping to move on. Please go meet them at the door." He turned on his heel and promptly left us, presumably to gather up any other wandering pupils.
"Well," I started, brushing off feather of various size and color, "They sure pride themselves in friendly service here, don't they?"
"He was probably jealous that the birds liked you more than him," Tomy joked and stood up. He held out his arm and said, "Shall we?"
I took it and said, "We shall indeed!"
For the next couple of hours, our class was shown several labs and given lengthy descriptions of what was going on in each. Tomy and I talked and joked all the while if not just to not fall asleep during the boring speeches that seemed to drag on. Actually, Tomy managed to make everything much more interesting and funny.
Our group was heading to the cafeteria for lunch when I heard a bit a very curious conversation echoing from down a hall. Since we were at the back of the crowd, no one noticed when I tugged Tomy into the other hallway, though he gave me a funny look. I mimed for him to be quiet and listen.
"…new subjects for the project."
"The new research would prove most effective if only we could test it…"
"Just think! We could make even better avian-human hybrids than…"
Right then, I was overcome by a sneeze. Tomy and I just managed to dart around the corner out of sight when someone pushed open a door.
"Just leave it, Rosa. It was probably those kids going to another lab."
Whoever was at the door paused for a second before laugher erupted from the room. With that, the person let the door go.
"What, did you think it was your subjects to put wings on?" someone's tease escaped from the door still ajar.
Without a second thought, I burst into that room, only thinking maybe they can give me my dream… Maybe they can give me wings…
Me: Yay! Another good chapter! If not a bit strange, but that's fine.
Nudge: Yeah. Let's hope the next one comes out as good.
R&R?