Gary was working three times as hard as usual. He pinched and pulled multiple signals at a time, searching for signs of any possible Alphas on one and looking for Red Flag-namely Stanton Parish-on the others. He felt safe with the signals, they were always there, never let him down.
Natalia can't see signals. He thought, stating the fact to himself, only I can see signals. Gary didn't like this Natalia, and he didn't like that movie, so he did what he always did when he didn't like something. He pretended it never existed, that he had never seen it. Still, the problem of being treated differently was still there. Gary glanced at the clock and realized that it was nearly 1:30, lunch time.
He wandered to the staff room and found Bill rifling through the refrigerator.
"Bill, He called, "Bill, my lunch is in there."
"I know Gary," His coworker answered, not even bothering to look up, "I'm just getting my own out." And with that he emerged with a brown paper bag. Gary frowned. Bill was tough, everyone always relied on him. Strong. Gary could be strong, he knew he could.
"What's on your mind?" Bill asked, eying him carefully as he took a seat at the round table. He had developed a sort of sense when it came to his young friend, and his Gary senses were tingling. "Nothing's on my mind, there's something in my mind-and it won't go away."
"Well, what is in your mind, then?" Bill demanded, taking a big bite of his sandwich.
"I want to drive." Bill nearly choked.
"Gary, we're not going anywhere right now." He clarified, "And you always want to drive."
"No, Bill! I want to drive everywhere, all over the place, all alone."
"Gary, you don't have a license."
"Then I want to get a license." Bill was silent a moment, trying to think of the best possible way to put it. Unfortunately there was no nice way to say it.
"Gary…I'm not so sure that's a good idea. "
Why? You drive Bill, and sometimes you do a really bad job. You park all crookedy."
"Gary, you haven't taken any real Driving Classes."
"Classes?"
"Yeah, like school, lots of people and you have to listen to a teacher." Gary fell silent, staring blankly at the table top. Why couldn't it be easy? Other people his age can drive, and some of them were terrible at it! It was frustrating, he was finally trying to grow up and no one was helping him!
"Then I'll go to class!" Gary yelled, whipping around and making his way out the door, "I have to talk to Doctor Rosen. Doctor Rosen will understand."
Rachel stepped aside as Gary brushed by here, staring after him hollowly. She hadn't quite meant to eavesdrop, but it was nearly impossible with how loudly they'd been talking. Gary wanted to drive? Sure he'd frequently ask to but…Rachel couldn't picture him driving alone. Or driving at all, really.
"Gary…" She murmured as he strode away. She had a feeling that things wouldn't turn out in her young coworkers favor.