Chapter One - "Truth or Dare?"
"As denizens from various districts continue to be lulled into the illusions of Katniss Everdeen and her District 13 benefactors, our noble boys and girls in white alongside a cadre of loyalists prepare to defend Districts 1 and 2 from the incoming Rebel onslaught. President Snow urges calm, citing that our Capitol has been in this particular position before:
'Capitol citizens, loyal people of Panem, holdfast in the belief that the desire for peace and order will prevail over the running riot that is the mockingjay rebellion.'
In a superb show of interest in keeping our Capitol safe, our magnanimous President continues his tour of the Capitol's 'Armored Hand' air defense systems..."
A queasiness settling in my stomach, I furrow my brows toward the scene on my holovision of President Snow and his party of officials visiting the anti-air cannons located in the Capitol's mountain range. I'm not sure how to feel about President Snow. Especially after what Finnick Odair said. Mother said the Rebels will spread many lies to gain the upper hand over 'impressionable' people. I think I agree. The President wants to protect us, he only punishes people fairly. Although I wonder what'll happen now that most of the victors were executed.
On the holovision, rows of Peacekeepers present their arms as he inspects the giant guns nestled in various bunkers that ring the Capitol City Region. I even see my Father, Colonel Melvin Smithson of the 10th Static Infantry Brigade. He offers the President a thin-lipped smile as he describes the various measures his unit has to ward off the Rebel forces. I raise my wrist to my mouth, the mere movement activating the communicuff latched onto it:
"15 November, HG 75. The Rebels are getting closer. Though the Capitol has had it much worse in the past, this was now. What should happen to us if they break through this time? Look what happened in District 5..."
I hear Mother's heels click against the hardwood floor of the living room.
"Emery, quit spouting that defeatist nonsense," she scolds. "People like your father are working day and night to stave those ruffians off, so how about we focus on the now, hm? Are you ready for Dawn's party?"
What type of question is that? Of course I'm ready. I've been ready to help celebrate the twelfth birthday of my bestest friend - Dawn Fong. I would walk there myself if it weren't for Mother. The party was also a social call for the grown-ups. For someone who constantly harps at me about manners, Mother was being a bad example.
I roll my eyes at her, replying, "I should be asking you that question."
"Touché," Mother replies with a wry smile. Her maroon poplin dress is unzipped, revealing her collarbone and her stockings are at her ankles, not fastened to her garter belt. She's usually faster than this, as she is really big on fashion - as am I somewhat. She usually throws on the latest recently-bought fashion trend. The problem was that there haven't been any seasonal trends for months...Not since the 'end' of the Quarter Quell. "Now is not the time for gluttony! Make do, or do without!" I recall public announcements would often say. If Mamie were still alive, tending to us, we would've been out the door already.
Mother notices my annoyance at her state of unpreparedness, sashaying over to pinch my cheek. It doesn't make me feel better in the slightest. It only annoys me further.
"All I need to do is zip myself up, collect the wine and gift and we'll be on our way!"
...
Hand in hand, Mother and I waltz across the street over to the Fong residence. Dawn lives right across from me on Mountain View Road in the same identical, two floor limestone house with black shingles. Sometimes, if I'm lucky enough, I'll see her in the window of her room across from mine and we'll exchange waves among other things.
"Come, come, we're going to be late Mother!" I chastise, tugging her by the elbow.
"Emmy, we're right here, it makes no difference," Mother replies dismissively.
I express my annoyance by sighing deeply. I prefer being at places first to avoid being that person who everyone stares at while they're all settled in. So my stomach flutters when I see that the driveway is already packed with cars, most noticeably a black one with two tall and burly men in leather coats standing around it smoking cigarettes. They're friendly enough, nodding as Mother bids them a Good Evening. We then move to the front door and ring the bell. I put on my brightest smile when an Avox receives us at the door and bows, allowing us to enter the Fongs' lovely, neatly-decorated foyer.
It doesn't take too long for Mrs. Fong to come teetering down the hall in what I believe is oriental clothing - a red dress decorated with designs of white lilies and green branches and a opening that goes up to her waist. I grin as my eyes trail up from her foot to her waist to her chest where the motif ends. I find it so interesting - her beauty. I wonder to myself if when Dawn grows up would she be just as pretty if not more? Would I be?
"Hello Gloria, Emery, it's so nice of you to come," Mrs. Fong greets, swiveling her head toward the Avox who remains by the door with his head bowed. "Avox, quit standing around and get Mrs. Smithson something to drink!" Mother and I startle at the anger in her voice. I could see the strain on the Avox's face as he nods and quickly makes his way towards the kitchen. "And make sure to send up another platter for Emery and the girls to enjoy!" Mrs. Fong cranes her head back towards us and scoffs while shaking her head. "Cicero needs to get it replaced ASAP." She seethes.
"I have it on good authority that they're going to sell some off on the cheap," Mother trills in reply.
"That makes doing it all the more tempting," Mrs. Fong spits. She eyeballs the Avox as he serves Mother a cocktail of sorts. The glare is replaced with another warm smile as she glances toward me.
"Darling, Dawn and the girls are downstairs waiting for you."
The jokes on her, my flats are by the door and I'm already scrambling down the hall towards the Fongs' basement. I barely step foot on the landing and I can already hear the light jazz and giggles coming from the basement proper. I spend a minute grappling with uncertainty before going all the way down as I hear footsteps coming from up the stairs. I smile as all heads turn towards me like cows grazing on a field. I find myself ignoring all eyes except Dawn's. The other girls cheer my name in greeting but I barely manage out a 'hi' in response, focusing my attention solely on Dawn.
"Emmy, you made it!" she cheers, her brown eyes twinkling.
I was rattled to see her and even more rattled when she rises from her spot and wraps her arms around me in a hug. She looks like a doll with her long black hair and bangs that shroud her forehead, coupled with the same style dress as her mother with slight differences.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," I reply, my eyes roaming her from head to toe. "Your dress looks absolutely lovely."
"It's called a 'qipao'..." Dawn smiles while cupping her hands in front of her. "Mother says its tradition to wear it."
A wonderful tradition, I'd say. My attention towards Dawn is broken when Victoria DeWynter rises from her spot, her ringlets bouncing while she marches over to me and rakes her paws through my coarse, curly hair.
"What's up with your hair?" She inquires aloud as our other friends giggle quietly. "It's like an overgrown bush - a plant mutt!"
Heat rises to my cheeks as their giggles intensify. With the War raging on throughout the Districts, the various shampoos and gels used to tame my curls are as rare as a District 12 finalist. My hair was straight as a straw months ago, now it's a curly blow out secured with a headband. Even when it was straight it wasn't as great as Victoria's golden blonde ringlets or Dawn's midnight black long hair. I wish I had their hair. I clutch Victoria by the wrists and pry her digits from out of my hair.
"Maybe for my birthday you can find me some shampoo," I quip in reply.
Victoria shrugs, shifting her eyes to the Avox who delivers platters of finger food onto a nearby table. "Maybe, though I don't know of any type that'll sort that out!" She says, pointing to my hair.
Adjusting my circular eyeglasses, I blow a sigh through my noise as Victoria turns around and joins our gaggle of friends as they surround the food table. Oh sometimes I wish I could slap her across the face! Unfortunately doing so would make me as toxic as Katniss Everdeen, for she is daughter to Richard DeWynter - known to many as 'Minister of Everything' for him being involved in dozens of projects even though he was only officially the Minister of the Capitol, a fancy way of saying he's our mayor like the districts have mayors. This makes Victoria queen of our friend group and me a lowly follower.
"I think it looks unique," Dawn chimes. She runs a gentle hand through my hair and I let her, "And very soft."
I smile so hard my cheeks begin to hurt. "Thanks Dawn. And uh," I pick up her present from off the ground and present it to her, enjoying the way her face lights up. "Happy birthday - I know how much you like art so I thought this would be the perfect gift."
It seems that it is the perfect gift - a black and gold pencil box with her name etched onto it in cursive. Inside were hundreds of pencil crayons with her name embroidered on them. She squeals, wrapping her arms around me as she spins me around. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you so much, Emmy! You're the greatest."
Oh my cheeks hurt so much. "I'm glad you like it, Dawn," I chirp back in reply.
"Come, let's eat!" she says, tugging me along toward the table decorated with food.
The evening goes great, with plenty of food and cake to go around. I can't help but feel concerned given the rationing that was going on. Even one of the adults in attendance wonders aloud about the chronic shortages and how the Fong's will be affected.
"On top of it being my snookum's big day, we all could use a little respite from all the doom and gloom," Mrs. Fong explains, caressing the neck of Dawn. "And besides, we have a full emergency pantry. All will be fine!"
Still, I couldn't help but think back to the status map behind PBC news anchor Chad Blakely as he delivers his updates, the black of the mockingjay rebels that was slowly enveloping the crimson until the Capitol and some pockets of those loyal to us remain. Sitting next to Dawn all the while kind of put a stop to my worrying for a little while.
...
It doesn't take long for us to retreat back down into the basement. We gather around the holovision to tune in for an episode of Panemian Bandstand. I think we're all in agreement that Clarke Dickson chose the wrong year to take over from his father as host of the popular music show. The stupid War has seeped into everything! The live studio audience only now has one column - there used to be three whole columns full of kids. Not to mention that new songs have all but dried up, as even singers have more things to worry about now that the Rebels were getting closer. Thankfully no rash of 'propaganda wars' were playing out between us and District 13. It makes watching HV unbearable.
"I wish someone would come out with something new for once..." Dawn grumbles.
"The LaFontaine Sisters joined the Peacekeepers, that's new?" I reason. Though I very much prefer the girl group's regular music over the patriotic stuff they do to aid in the war effort. Still, anything Minnie LaFontaine sings is gold in my mind. We dance along to various tunes as they're played, sitting down to sing along to the last one. As the music number finishes and the dancing kids return to their seats. A sad-looking Clarke moves from behind his desk and makes his way to the center of the stage while the cameras zoom in on him.
"And that was "Little Star" by The Dreamers. How those clouds hold them aloft, I can't say...Before we conclude tonight's episode I would like to inform you all in the Bandstand community that this will be our last broadcast for an indefinite period of time," the handsome host says as he turns toward the cameras, gazing at them with his light blue eyes as if he were having a direct conversation with us. We take the news like those in the live audience do, chattering our annoyance that yet another show will be gone. "I would be foolish if I didn't take the time to inspire you all to do all you can in order to preserve our way of life. Donate scrap at your local drive, make do with what you have, report any peculiar activities to the Peacekeeper Forces. Remember - our grandparents have faced similar struggles and look where we are now. We're all in this together! The Capitol has overcome shifting landmasses and rising seas, we will most certainly overcome this. Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever."
And just like that, the credits roll and Bandstand is off the air. I wonder what will take its place. Probably reruns, like every other show as of recent. Victoria lurches upward, glaring hatefully at the holovision as it transitions to a commercial about victory bonds.
"How could they do this to us?" she hisses.
"Who?" I ask her.
"Katniss, Peeta, most of the victors!" Victoria continues in her shrill voice, rising to her feet. "After everything we've given them they go ahead and do...All this!" her voice is trembling. She notices it, taking a deep breath as she says "I hate that bitch! I hope they catch her. Father says if they do, they're going to make her a real girl on fire. I wish so bad, you don't even understand. The Rebels are a bunch of no-good mutt bastards!"
Victoria had us on the word 'bitch' and 'bastards', judging by everyone's gasps and wide stares. I wasn't even allowed to say 'stupid' in company until recently. But no, I did understand her anger. Her brother had died in District 8 flying hovercraft for our Air Force. I was at the 'funeral', which was basically a very sad party because there was no body to bury. Her sister Viondra is in District 2 defending right now. If Father died, I'd be pretty upset too.
...
"Guys, how about we play Truth or Dare?" Dawn chirps, her eyes scanning the room until they land on Persephone Johnson's. "Persephone, Truth or Dare?"
"Hmm...Truth," Persephone replies.
"Who do you think is the cutest boy in our grade?"
Her face scrounges with thought as she tugs one of her plaits. "Hmm...Evan Morrissey, he's my pick!" and as expected, we all break out into giggles and chatters of debate at the thought of the raven-haired, blue-eyed boy. I had to sort of agree with Persephone, though most of the boys in our grade are certified mutt-for-brains so I find it hard to think of them as attractive people.
"What about Morpheus Chambers?" Dawn proposes.
"Morpheus is a dullard. I'll never forget the time he put his wad of gum into my hair," Helen Klaas grouses.
My stomach becomes warm with anticipation when Persephone locks eyes with me.
"Emmy, truth or dare?" she asks.
"How about dare?" I reply. I don't want any of my truths to be exposed!
"I dare you to...uh..." she snaps her finger in an attempt to conjure up something that I hope isn't too farfetched. "Stuff your bra!"
My brows furrow as I take a moment to glance down at my chest. "Hmm, I...I don't get it?" heat rises to my cheeks as Victoria leads the other girls in a round of giggles.
"How else would you get boys to like you?" Victoria drawls at me as if I were a fool. "That's what they like most."
My eyes briefly drop down to her chest before I turn my attention back toward Persephone.
"Get some toilet paper, roll it into a ball and..." Persephone explains, drifting off while bursting into giggles. I turn toward Dawn, who smiles in return. Unlike Victoria's, it's not a teasing smile and I swear I can see redness appearing on her cheeks. I smile back, shrugging as I rise to my feet as I make my way towards the bathroom. A dare was a dare after all, even if it was incredibly stupid.
I give myself a once over in the mirror, wondering to myself who in their right mind would do such a thing? They were so unnatural - uneven! I can't help but giggle myself. The boys would eat you alive if they found this out and of all the things they attack you for, I wouldn't want this to be it. Still, I return from the bathroom and present myself to my friends.
"Well," I say aloud in a seductive voice, striking a pose like the girls in my brother Clancy's Capitol Couture: Vixens magazines. "Notice anything...different?"
My show is met with laughter as I sit down on the sofa beside Dawn, who briefly entwines her hand in mine and lays the side of her head onto my shoulder before moving away. I wish she had stayed.
"Up, bup bup," Persephone waggles a finger as I reach into my nightie to retrieve the tissue. "And you have to keep yourself that way until the end of the game." She says.
"Why not," I reply, removing my hand from my chest as my friends giggle away.
Dawn says, "It's your turn, Emmy!"
"Hmm..."I grumble. I scan the group of my grinning friends before my eyes are set on Victoria's. "Victoria?"
"Yes?" she replies while picking at the platter of food.
"Truth or dare?" I ask. Please say dare, please say dare, please say dare... A singular finger playing with her ringlets, her blue eyes shift in contemplation before focusing squarely on me.
"Truth please," She answers, taking off her aligners and then tossing a dumpling into her mouth.
Drat. I was looking forward to making her lick a doorknob or pick her nose and eat it. Truth will work, though. "What do you know about the war situation?"
She was a DeWynter after all, "Panem's most dutiful family" at the right-hand side of President Snow. So certainly she must've heard something from her father's circle. Dawn, Persephone and the others seem interested as well, scooting towards Victoria ever so slightly while murmuring in approval. She swallows her food, rolling her shoulders as she takes her place on the couch once more.
"You guys promise not to rat? If you do, I'll get father to avox you all myself." she warns. I nod eagerly, as do our other friends. "Fine, I'll tell you something I heard while eavesdropping around father's parlor." one by one, Victoria's ice blue eyes scan our faces before her lips slowly rise into a wolfish smirk. "You remember the Kaplan family, don't you?"
We all nod and murmur in acknowledgement. The Kaplan's were district by birth, emigrants from District 6. Lexus Kaplan was in our class, her father being high up in the transportation department. In September, while we were in arithmetic, she was called down to the office. By lunchtime, we had seen her being escorted away by Peacekeepers.
"Well, with many of the districts being traitors, we can't trust them to live among us anymore, right?" We nod. We can't have district people living with us - that's dangerous. Victoria's grin grows so wide, it takes up the entirety of her face. "Soo...They took all the district people and put them in detention places!"
We all gasp. I take of my eyeglasses and ask with wide eyes, "What will happen to them, with the war going on?!"
She waves me off like I'm an insolent avox. "Hopefully they're mutt food now. Like I said, they're ungrateful traitors - the districts. From what I'm hearing, it's going to be very, very bad for them when we win again." Victoria turns toward Nevaeh Langstrum, her anger all but gone now as she smiles. "Nev, truth or dare?"
...
The night continues on with various truths and dares. Victoria is the first of us to have kissed a boy. Apparently everyone else has, too. Except for me...and Dawn.
"Oh well." Victoria shrugs. "Once you grow up a little bit and maybe fix that hair of yours, you'll have plenty of boys."
I pay it no mind, pushing my feelings aside for the sake of Dawn's special day. Persephone surprisingly balances a hula-hoop throughout the entire duration, Dawn screams on top of her lungs, causing some adults to come scrambling downstairs, Nevaeh transfers an ice cube from her mouth into Helen Klaas' mouth, Dawn sat on my lap, not before I had the misfortune to call an avox down and ask him "What's the matter, cat got your tongue?" to bellowing laughter. Victoria decides to kiss Dawn, marry Helen and kill Persephone.
I feel so warm holding Dawn. Even though the game is over and we end off the night watching a spy movie with Hunger Games Victor Kaiser Neumann of District 1, Dawn still remains squished by my side. My heart races. If I could get closer I would!
The basement lights dimmed, we find ourselves drifting off to sleep. Well, not all of us. Nestling in our sleeping bags, Dawn and I are just inches away from one another. It seems like it's been eons since we started gazing into each other's eyes, grins on either of our faces. I feel like taking my hand and running it through her dark hair, but I don't. Just simply looking at her at a quiet time like this is okay for me.
"Emmy," Dawn says. "Why are you still up?"
I feel something jab into my knee, turning to see Victoria rustling in her sleep before returning my attention back to Dawn. "I dunno," I answer. Usually, I'd spend my time at night reading or making an entry into my audio diary which is probably why I'm not asleep.
"Do you wanna play truth or dare again?" She asks over quiet snickers.
"Hmm...Ok," I reply back.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Tell me something that no one knows."
"Can it be about anything?"
"Sure," Dawn chimes.
"Well..." I think about what I want to say and wonder if I should say it. Dawn is great, she'd never hurt me. So, I inch a little bit closer and whisper into her ear, "I think you're a really beautiful person...and I like you."
We both grin widely at that.
"Truth or dare?" I ask.
"Truth," Dawn replies.
"Tell me something no one knows," I ask, inching in closer so that her hands cup the ear closest to her.
"Well, I think you're very smart, smarter than just about everyone, really." She tells me, her breath tickling my ear in a way that makes me giggle. Hearing those kind words and what she says next causes to almost laugh out loud "And, I really like you."
"...Thanks Dawn," I reply, grinning so hard my cheeks start to tingle.
"Truth or dare?" she asks me.
"Dare," I answer. What would she get me to do? Pour water onto Victoria's lower half to make it so that she thinks she peed herself?
"I dare you to kiss me."
Did she say what I think she just said?
"Uh..." flustered, I shuffle from out of my sleeping bag as Dawn does as well. "Are you serious?"
We're sitting on our bottoms now. My eyes watch the still bodies of our friends. Everyone is as dead asleep as an outlier tribute on Launch Day.
"Don't you want to know what the big deal is about?" She whispers, grinning from ear to ear with a devilish look in her eyes. "I do. Now we can both know."
I feel heat rising to my cheeks. Of course I wanted to know what the big deal was about but with Dawn and for the first time? My audio diaries know I've been thinking about this for the past few weeks but now that it's happening for realsies I feel so stuck! But it's Dawn, my greatest friend in all of Panem. If I wanted to do this, it would be with her no doubt.
"Ok...ok..." I breathe, squaring myself so that my back is straight and my knees are touching against Dawn's. I could barely look her in the eyes now, I find myself shying away from her gaze indirectly. "How do we go about this...?"
"We can do it like the movie, just like how Kaiser Neumann did with Loretta Layne," she says as I nod. She takes my hands in hers and places them so that they were on her knees as she rests her hands over mine.
My stomach is rolling with anxiety. We pause when Nev grunts in her sleep, only to turn and face away from us.
"Okay," she whispers. "And now we lean forward." And I do, meeting Dawn halfway until our faces literally collide, my nose mashing against hers and our lips barely touching.
"Oops..." Dawn hisses, covering her mouth while she giggles.
"Sorry..." I say, giggling along with her.
I quickly recall every movie and romance novel I know. Heads craned ever so slightly, closed eyes...supposed fireworks. I adjust my hands over her knees. That alone ties another knot in my stomach.
"I think this is how we're supposed to do it..." I say, readjusting myself. "Follow my lead."
Together, we slowly close the space between us. Dawn's head tilting one way while mine tilts the other way, our eyes close part way and this time it works. I immediately feel a tingle of sorts as her lips press against mine. I can't help but grin into it. I like it. It's exactly as I thought it would be.
"Umm...Excuse me, girls!?"
I pull back from the kiss, gasping as I see Mrs. Fong stomp over to where we were situated, her feet sounding like bombs exploding as they collide against the hardwood floor. Her hair is put up by rollers and her body is shrouded by a silk shawl.
"What were you doing just now?!" she snaps. Placing her hands on her hips, Mrs. Fong whips her head towards me and then back to Dawn. "Well, explain yourselves?"
"N-Nothing," I babble. I launch onto my feet and secure my glasses back onto my face. "We weren't doing anything!"
Everyone is stirring awake now in a chorus of "what's going on?", "Huh?", and "Is everything okay?" Any feeling of joy or tingling is all but gone now as Mrs. Fong glares at me and then toward Dawn and then toward me again.
"Emery, gather your things," Mrs. Fong commands, folding her arms. Her scowl deepens when I make no move to gather my sleeping bag. I'm simply too shocked to move. "Now please."
I do what she says, avoiding the concerned gazes of the other girls as I begin rolling up my sleeping bag.
I hear Dawn shuffling around above me, "Mother-"
"Not one more word out of you, young lady," Mrs. Fong snaps, pointing a skinny finger toward her. "Emery..."
"I'm ready," I say quietly, gasping sharply when Mrs. Fong takes me by the arm and guides me upstairs to the front door. I barely see Dawn's long frown before rounding the corner.
"I'd get the avox to escort you over, but I feel that I need to make my feelings known," Mrs. Fong says, shaking her head as she slips on a pair of tennis shoes. "I don't know what Gloria teaches you over there, but this cannot stand."
And so, in a quick motion Mrs. Fong swings the front door open and escorts me through the brisk November air to my home. As I'm tugged along, I try to figure out exactly what I did wrong. She rings the doorbell and raps on the front door for extra measure. I'm partly relieved when Clancy is the one who answers the door, grinning widely at the sight of me in silk navy pajamas.
"Hi Mrs. Fong, is everything alright?" he asks, his grin faltering when I avoid his gaze.
"Good evening, Clancy," Mrs. Fong answers, glancing down at me with a disappointing gaze. "Not quite. Is your mother around?"
I gentry pry Mrs. Fong's hands from off my bicep, pushing past Clancy and rushing up the stairs. About halfway up, I cross paths with Mother, who stares at me with concern. I don't bother saying a word, continuing my rush up and sitting down on the landing as she continues her descent down to meet Dawn's mother. I wish I had my cat, but she's nowhere to be seen. I try to steady my breathing to get a read on what they're saying to each other.
Mrs. Fong says, "Now I'm not sure what...'ideals' are taught here-"
"I'm sorry?" Mother replies.
"My daughter is free to pursuit whatever lifestyle she wants, when she's older and out of my grasp, I won't allow your daughter to be an undue influence on mine."
"Minerva, could you spit it out? What are you talking about?"
"Well, I'm walking down the stairs to check up on the girls when I caught..."
Before I could hear any more, I flee to the safety of my bedroom, shedding my jacket and flats before crashing onto my bed and using my pillows as muffles. "Lifestyle", "Ideals"... "Undue influence"...What was Mrs. Fong talking about? I don't get it. It doesn't take long for my sliding door to hiss open, Mother's feet stomping over to the left side of the bed closest to the window where I currently lie. I turn over when she flings the pillow off my head. I don't think I've ever seen Mother so angry before. The darkness of the room only makes things worse in my eyes.
"Emery Marie Smithson what has gotten into you, young lady?" Mother hisses. "Why would you go and do that?!"
My eyes drift off toward the window, across to Dawn's house. I don't get it, why are they so angry? Her nails dig into my chin as she forcibly turns my face to meet her eyes. I force myself not to tear up.
"I didn't do anything bad, I swear!" I finally answer her.
"You don't do that. You're far too young to be engaging in that sort of activity! Far too young," she replies, jostling my jaw. "Do you have something to share with me? I'm ready to hear it."
"Share what? I don't know-" I say, shaking my head as she releases me from her grip with a huff.
"Go to bed," Mother orders, making her way back to the door. "We'll be dealing with this shortly and I'll be telling your father as well."
The door slides closed and I find myself sitting in the darkness confused as to why the grownups were acting this way. The confusion gives way to a notice of sorts. Bringing my wrist to my mouth, I activate my communicuff:
"16 November, HG 75. Something wonderful has happened! I kissed Dawn, my most closest, dearest friend...Though we got caught by her mother and now my mother knows. I found that their reactions were too angry and I don't get it. My mind gets all jumbly thinking about it so I'm deciding to push it out as best as I can. My only regret is that I may not be able to see Dawn anymore. That and the fact that I wish I was more careful so we could try again."
Coming up next...
"What have we got here then," an odd, distorted voice says aloud. "A bunch a rebel spies?"