It feels like any other school day, another regular homecoming carnival except that Drake almost got abducted by the Red Hawks and I almost got knocked out by Robert Vartan. The cut on my cheek healed leaving a mark that is easily covered in makeup. Some good news is that Julia is coming for her first day here at Marshall High, more like the only good news. In two days, the 10th anniversary of Arrival Day and the commemoration in town as well and that is what everyone is talking about. I look to my right and see Julia beginning to speak.
"I can't believe it, I'm here! I'm finally in high school!" Julia exclaims looking around. I look up and see Drake and the others of the Atrian seven coming; Drake wears a black tank top with a necklace around his neck. Both of his arms are revealed showing the tattoos on each of them. Our arms brush as he passes me, I feel the warmth of his bare skin against mine, and a chill runs down my spine. We glance at each other which Roman catches but looks at Emery and Julia right after. I turn around and see Julia and Emery both looking at me.
"I saw that," Julia says with a smug smile on her face. "You just shivered when he touched you."
"It was nothing; I guess the air conditioner is on." Julia shakes her head not falling for the lie.
"I'm going to class." I walk off and hear Julia saying my name bye and look in the direction that Drake went. When I enter, I see Drake sitting with some of the other Atrians and I walk over to my desk, when I sit down I look over and see Drake looking at me until an Atrian grabs his attention. Soon the bell rings and everyone comes in waiting for class to begin. The twenty minutes in here are long until at the end, Gloria Valdez walks in and everyone stares at her attentively. She starts to walk down the rows of desk and begins to speak.
"The 10th anniversary of Arrival Day is in two days. Families of the fallen, as well as human and Atrian students who are part of this integration program are all invited to attend the commemoration which will be held at the base of the Atrian ship." I see Lukas and Sophia, Roman's sister, talking to each other and Gloria Valdez continues.
"The eyes of the world will be on us. People want to see how this exchange of cultures is progressing, so far the Atrian seven have attended human school and human events. The next step is to introduce humans into Atrian society. To that end the human students in this room have been selected to spend a day in the Sector, tomorrow." The Atrians looked startled and some of the human students sound irritated and annoyed t the fact their seeing their 'enemies'.
"It's the first time human students will have access to the Sector, you'll be making history." She finishes before the bell rings and students start pouring out the classes into the hallways. I see Drake leaving and Emery walking up to Gloria with Grayson behind her, someone grabs my arm and pulls me out the classroom. I see Caroline smiling and hugging me shortly after.
"Hey!" She says hugging me tightly.
"Where were you? I thought you were only there for a day?" I ask her.
"Well, my parents heard about everything that happened here at the Sector with Nox and the Trags, so my dad made us stay longer. Was the carnival fun?" She says.
"Yeah, just the same homecoming carnival like every year." I tell her looking at Drake.
"Just before I walked in, I heard Gloria say…" She pauses trying to meet my gaze. I stop looking at Drake and look back at her she gives me a weird look and continues. "Anyways, we're going to the Sector tomorrow!" She says excited.
"Maybe you can meet that Atrian you like." I say. She gives me a playful glare and nudges me on the shoulder.
"Very funny." After that we both start walking to our next class with smiles on our faces.
The Next Day…
I look out the bus window with Caroline beside me on her phone texting her mom. I see the change of how many buildings, when we left Marshall High there were many buildings around, but as we get closer to the Sector in almost becomes like a barren wasteland. I look around the bus and see that Eric isn't here, the last thing we need is someone getting shot because of Eric. In the distance I can see the guards and trucks outside of the Sector's walls.
"We're almost there!" Someone shouts from the back and everyone in the bus moves to look out the windows at the sight of the Sector. Caroline even crushes me to get a view of it as well; fortunately we hit a bump in the road causing everyone to fall back in their seats including Caroline. We both laugh but on stop as the bus starts to slow down, I look out the window and see people with Red Hawk signs banging on the gates of the Sector.
"I didn't realize it got this bad." Caroline says looking at one man as we pass by. The bus stops to a halt and the doors open up to the Sector. We all start getting out in a single file line looking at all the protestors and Atrians alike both of them staring at us. All the human students get into a group and then we start to follow an Atrian and Gloria Valdez inside, we pass the Atrian groups who look at us with expressionless faces only a few manage to smile while some stare in hate. I see Roman and Sophia on my left and Drake and Teri on my right, I make eye contact with Drake and we pass each other once more.
"You've been put into groups of two; each pair must be accompanied by a guard during your visit here." Gloria Valdez says looking at all of us. Caroline gets next to me and I see Grayson go over to Emery.
"Welcome to the Sector." The Atrian says spreading his arms. Automatically, everyone looks around and starts spreading out looking at the vendors and houses. Caroline and I walk around until a certain necklace catches my eye.
"I'm going over here." Caroline points at a vendor and I nod my head still looking at the necklace. It is a small clear blue stone on a black chain.
"Jewelry shopping?" I hear someone's voice and turn around to see Drake standing behind me.
"Yes, I'm just looking right now." I tell him browsing all the necklaces, rings, and bracelets.
"I like this one," He says pointing. I follow his finger and see he is pointing at the same one I saw before with the blue stone. "But I don't know anything about jewelry."
"No, I like that one too." I reply grinning at the necklace. Drake moves in front of me and hands money to the vendor and picks up the necklace handing it to me.
"Drake, you didn't have to do that." I tell him. He smiles and puts the necklace in my hand.
"Think of it as a 'Welcome to the Sector' present." He then walks away to another vendor where groups of kids all gather around. I put the necklace on and it fits perfectly, I touch the stone and fell the smoothness of it. Caroline come running back to me wearing a black colored scarf that almost covers her whole head.
"What is that?" I ask her.
"I liked this scarf, do I look fancy?" She asks showing off the scarf.
"You look headless," I laugh.
"Not cool." She says.
"Well I like it," She states. I look over to my left and see a Sector guard, Officer Beaumont taking Drake away behind a building and disappear. I start walking over to follow him but I'm stopped by a guard.
"This area is restricted for safety reasons." He says with his gun in hand.
"I'm Rachel Whitehill, sir." I tell him he looks amazed.
"Do you know who I am? I'm Jerry and I'm not letting you through." He tells me sarcastically. The guard next to him laughs and I walk away annoyed. I start looking at other vendors trying to distract myself, I hope Drake is okay.