MATTHEW

The next Holday, Matthew met Eleni and Madam P at the north-east entrance of the Atrium. They found a place on one of the grassy islands, a good distance from any of the other lounging people and set up a picnic with food Eleni and Madam P had picked up that morning. Then the dance teacher surprised them.

"Children, I have decided to go and run a few of my usual errands now. You two can enjoy the Atrium while I do that." Eleni's eyes went wide, and Matthew felt a spike of betrayal and nervousness from her. He ignored it, thoroughly pleased with the situation. Then Eleni's eyes narrowed at the woman who had taken her in. Madam P, however, was already waving her goodbyes and soon they were alone.

Eleni eyed him. "Well, let's eat?"

Reluctance aside, Eleni seemed to accept the situation. They ate, and they talked, and soon her annoyance evaporated. Matthew learned that Eleni had come to the Atrium twice since moving in with Madam P, and she already seemed to know more about it than he did.

"The gardens are all self-sustaining." She was very impressed with that. "They do tend them of course, but even if they didn't, the plants wouldn't die off. There is a whole irrigation system built into the base apparently."

"Wow." Everyone knew about the fruit trees in the Atrium. He had never considered what it took to sustain all that, even with his experience at the vineyard. "That must take a lot of water. It's a constant issue at the vineyard." Eleni nodded.

"It must." She cocked her head at him. "Do you actually go and tend the vines?"

"No, not really. We've been taught the basics, and can tell if a plant isn't doing well, but we don't do the day-to-day tasks."

"Who does?"

"Mostly people from the DownMountain." She nodded, unsurprised at that.

"No one from the UpMountain?"

"Some." Managers.

"So, people from the DownMountain do all the work," she glanced at him sideways, "but I bet they never get to taste of the results of their labors." Matthew became uncomfortable.

"My dad has some celebrations he holds for the workers," he answered defensively.

"So, he throws them a bone. Do all owners do that?" Matthew bristled further and didn't voice that he knew his father's generosity was rare.

"That's the way it's been for centuries," he answered instead. "They work the fields, the factories and other production units."

"What do they get in return?"

"They get paid. And the Montagne keeps them safe. And alive."

"In the DownMountain. None of them can come up here."

Matthew stayed silent. Anyway, it hadn't really been a question, and he didn't like the feeling that he was being attacked for something that he had no control over. Not knowing what to say, his eyes lingered on a rickshaw driver pulling a couple through the paths of the Atrium. Finally, he spoke again.

"My dad makes sure the people who work at the vineyards get what they need. He knows them and tells them to come to him if they are having any kind of issue." Eleni nodded.

"G mentioned your place was one of the best to work at." Matthew was mildly surprised that kind of knowledge was common in the DownMountain.

"But, what about…where you came from?" Eleni gave him a sharp look, even though he had lowered his voice. "What? You're sitting here criticizing my home. I'd like to understand your point of reference better."

"Someone could hear!" Matthew glanced about. No one was close.

"Elle, I'm whispering." She raised her eyebrows.

"Aren't you the one who grew up in this place? What about super-hearing?" Oh. Matthew actually laughed. "What?"

"That's one of the more unfortunate abilities. They usually go crazy." Or wore a collar.

Eleni's look turned flat at his failure to explain, but she nonetheless asked the logical question. "And why was that?"

"They can hear everything. All the time."

"What, they can't filter out a single conversation and focus on that?"

"No. In ancient times there were people who had that level of control, but no one like that has been born for centuries."

"Oh." Matthew lowered his voice to an exaggerated whisper.

"So what about my question. They need people to grow the food, man the production units and everything, right?" Eleni shot him a look of annoyance but answered in a similarly quiet tone.

"But it wasn't like this. We could all expect a decent life, and respect, regardless of where we lived or what we did. For instance," she searched for an example, "the food we got was simpler than that of the elite, but it was still good and good for us. I'm not even sure what that stuff they give you at the cafeterias DownMountain is! Also, the elite and everyone else lived in more or less the same places. And people could join the elite. Some worked hard in school and got a higher paying career, others through business, but it wasn't completely out of reach. Not like here where it depends on your arbitrary mutant ability."

"What about someone like Hulio?" Matthew countered. "He might make it through his singing."

"Could he move UpMountain and live here?"

"If people like him enough. He might even marry into an UpMountain family!" Eleni looked at him for a long moment after that comment.

"What are his chances of doing that? And what about someone who lives DownMountain but has no special talent like Hulio or myself? If they work hard, can they make their lives better?"

"I…I don't know," he answered honestly. "They should be able to." He added after a moment of thought. Eleni laughed a little, looking around the garden.

"Do you really believe that? Or that regardless of where they were born, they have a right to a decent life? To good food and homes that aren't coming apart?" He looked at her, hurt.

"I do!" That caught her attention, and her eyes turned to his. She studied him.

"Maybe you do," was all she said. They fell silent.

"Not everyone there was accepted. You told me that. And mutants were doomed." He was just pointing out the facts.

"True," she acquiesced. "But even those who were not accepted could live a decent life, so long as they played by the rules."

"Who were they?" She shrugged.

"Bastards like me." He sensed it wasn't the full answer but let the issue drop. There was something else he wanted to ask.

"Were there any…issues with mutants? Did they really catch every single one?"

"Occasionally one was found in the population. The blood tests they have are extremely accurate, but somehow they sometimes slipped through undetected."

"Unicorns." Matthew stated. He suspected Eleni had been one.

"What's that?"

"A mutant who is born with no abilities, and nothing in their genetic make-up to suggest a mutation. Then their abilities manifest, usually around puberty. Like all the original mutants, the Brotherhood, the X-Men and the like. They tend to be very powerful." Eleni's forehead wrinkled.

"How does it work for other mutants? Non-Unicorns?"

"We have some form of mutation present at birth and that the ability will manifest in full sometime between birth and puberty. In those cases, the sooner the mutation manifests, the more powerful it is."

"Mutations that appear later are weaker then." Matthew nodded. She opened her mouth to ask another question.

"Get a room!" The raucous call came from a group of people walking along one of the paths that defined the grassy area they were on. Matthew's head snapped up, and he felt indignant at the tone.

"It's not worth it to get angry, Matthew." Eleni's voice was soft, and patronizing, and completely unsurprised. Matthew, his jaw clenched, watched the group, who were joking and laughing amongst themselves as they glanced back in Matthew and Eleni's direction, disappear around a turn. Then he shifted his attention back to Eleni.

"Is that the reason you objected to my coming today?"

She shrugged. "My situation means I am going to be the subject of abuse. I learned long ago not to go out of my way to invite more." Then she bent to eating, signaling an end to their conversation. Matthew did his best to follow her advice but found it difficult as more vitriol, inspired by the first group, peppered their meal.

They finished and after clearing away the remains of the picnic, they relaxed in silence. Matthew was getting better at ignoring the occasional remarks and was enjoying just being with Eleni. He glanced over at her, taking in the lines of her face. She had leaned back on the grass, propped up on her elbows. Her head was tilted slightly back and her eyes were closed. He realized that she seemed oddly distant to him.

"Where have you gone?" he asked softly. Her eyes opened slowly, and she turned her head towards him. Her blue eyes looked sleepy. She smiled slightly.

"It's just being here. It does this to me."

"You really like this place." She nodded.

"You don't come here very often?" she asked him. He shook his head.

"They have festivals and events here from time to time, and I sometimes come to those. But I don't really out of my way just for a visit." He took in the small trees and flower beds that were nearby, and the distant walls of more formal gardens. "It is lovely," he added quietly.

Eleni moved the picnic basket, then rolled over on to her stomach so she was closer to him.

"It reminds me of the Veil," she said quietly. He lowered himself on his elbows so he could hear better, and she told him of the massive structure that covered the Citadel.

Nearly entirely transparent, she started, the network of windows was supported by a spiderweb of thin material that was nearly invisible but incredibly strong. The technology was prized and had apparently been developed by a company known as Stark Industries; Eleni was slightly surprised when Matthew didn't recognize the name. Massive poles, wide at the bottom, but narrow at the top, held the entire thing up. Matthew had to admit it sounded impressive.

"You could enjoy the sun anywhere in the city, not just in special places like here. When we had Rest Days on the same day, my mother and I almost always spent them at the parks, enjoying the light. It was wonderful."

"Was it one dome over the entire city, like this?" He gestured upwards to the Atrium.

Her eyes lingered on the peak for a moment before responding. "No. There were several sections, called Blocs. Each could be closed off from the others, although it was only done in extreme cases, disease outbreaks…mutant incidents..." Her eyes met his, but she went on before he could say anything. "Each section is similar to this, though, but much larger. The central section is the highest."

"What was the city like?" Eleni described wide boulevards and tall buildings. Matthew was shocked to learn that the highest point could hold a building up to 25 stories tall.

"That's why you called the UpMountain quaint, huh." He laughed sheepishly to himself, and she chuckled at his embarrassment. He caught her smiling eyes with his and held them for a moment. Then she looked away.

"Let's walk some." They collected the basket and then slowly circled the Atrium. There were more comments thrown their way. Matthew gritted his teeth each time.

In order to distract himself, Matthew decided to ask a question of Eleni he had never forgotten. Her opening up about the Citadel made him think he might get a straight answer from her this time.

"Elle, how did you get here? All the way from the where you grew up?" he said quietly. Eleni stopped for a moment, and he felt annoyance and chagrin through the bond.

She started walking again, taking a moment to consider. He felt some hesitation from her, but nonetheless she did eventually respond.

"Their technology is more advanced, right?" She looked at him, and he nodded. "I had a protector, who was in a position of power, and had access to resources. He trained me on equipment that helped me get away."

"So, you used some kind of machine?" Her hesitation grew, but she nodded.

"Thanks for telling me," he said, deciding not to press further, though a fair amount of mystery remained. He was glad she was finally opening up to him.

Eleni started pointing out her favorite parts of the Atrium, probably to distract him from any other questions he had been holding in wait. He found there were a couple things he could show her that she hadn't yet discovered. One was a small garden which was filled with roses in the summer. Eleni seemed enchanted with the idea, but then quickly suppressed a wave of sadness. He didn't ask why, thinking it must have triggered a memory of her mother.

Shortly after walking through that garden, Madam P found them. The dance teacher explained she had eaten elsewhere. Matthew saw Eleni's gaze turn flat at that, and suspicion colored the bond, but then he caught her eye.

"Was it so bad?" he said quietly, feigning hurt. He was rewarded with a small laugh.

"No, it wasn't."

"Maybe we could do it again sometime." It had been a near perfect date. Eleni's face went smooth and her feelings went opaque.

"We'll see."

A few days after their visit to the Atrium, Matthew was assailed by a feeling of deep horror in the middle of his first period math class. He had never felt anything like it from Eleni and was disturbed enough that he made himself late to his next class in order to hunt her down in biology. She sat alone at the table closest to the door, though everyone else was paired or in a group of three. He only had a minute before the class started.

Ignoring the looks the other students gave him, he went straight to Eleni.

"Elle, what is the matter? And don't tell me everything is fine!" he whispered. In spite of his efforts, the student closest to them perked up at his tone. Matthew pasted a smile on his face.

"I'll tell you later. Later." The second she emphasized with a widening of her eyes. He relented.

"Later," he said, making it a promise, and ran to his next class.

'Later' turned out to be much later as Travis Lensherr was waiting with Eleni after school and joined them on their walk to the dance school. Worse, the young lord's two-person entourage, his near permanent shadows in the Montagne, kept pace two steps behind. Matthew wondered if they would enter the dance school. The bodyguards didn't enter Pryde, or the Towers when Travis went DownMountain, according to G they had always loitered at a nearby shop, so there were exceptions.

Matthew wondered if Eleni had invited the young man on purpose. He wasn't comfortable with their association, even though Eleni claimed the boy was actually being helpful. Travis was relaxed and friendly on the walk, but Eleni was keeping her usual distance which Matthew thought was wise.

They arrived at the dance school to find G there with Bright.

"Travis! What a pleasant surprise!" G's smile was wide. Matthew gave his friend a warning look, not wanting to encourage the boy's presence, but G seemed not to notice. Matthew settled for his relief that Travis' entourage hadn't entered the building with them.

"Eleni mentioned you come up sometimes," the young lord replied. "What brings you to the UpMountain?"

"Mutant power evaluation," Bright replied. "But you need to have a mutant power to find these places. I've spent the last two hours walking around what I thought was the military complex, but it turned out to be the university. Who knew?" They looked accusingly at Travis, who held up his hands in defense.

"That happened to you, too?" G said to Bright as if he could barely believe the coincidence. Then he shook his head at the tragedy of it all. "That was me last week. So much time wasted, I feel bad for those people, waiting all that time for nothing. But it's not our fault this place is designed so ass backwards. Too bad I wasn't here sooner to help you with that." He sighed, even though Bright waved aside his responsibility. Matthew watched Travis through this exchange, wondering if the boy picked up on the subtext.

Travis' brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't show any sign of afront or anger.

"Hulio comes up sometime, too," G informed Travis. "He's got a music deal and will start recording soon."

"That's great news!" Travis commented. "I'll look forward to seeing him at the Hellfire Club."

Bright blanched.

"Don't they do some sort of weird rituals there?"

"What?" Matthew asked, confused, before he realized the source of Bright's concern. "No, the Cult and the Club haven't been associated for over a century."

The DownMountainers looked dubious and were pointedly not looking at Travis.

"Um, where is the bathroom?" Travis said and left after Matthew gave him directions.

"Oops," Bright said. "I didn't mean to scare him away."

"Don't worry about it," G reassured, though he kept glancing to the door from which Travis had exited. "I had a talk with Travis when he started coming to the Towers, and he knows we won't treat him any different than anyone else. I think he appreciates it. Anyway, what is the deal with them and the Cult, Mattie? It's never come up before. Are they there every weekend so people can gaze at them in wonder?"

"No. It's all formality now. All bark and no bite. I've heard the Lensherr's only attend the more formal events, The Phoenix's Fury and the Rememberance, that stuff." G nodded, and Matthew took control of the conversation. He turned to Eleni.

"It's 'later'." G and Bright looked to them, curious at Matthew's firm tone. Eleni sighed, resigned, and cast an incredulous look at their friends.

"Prophecies," she spat. G's eyebrows went up and Bright looked confused. Matthew cringed.

"What's that?"

"They have prophecies. And Matthew is in them. And they believe them!" Eleni's face was a mask of horror and disdain. "These people are clinically insane!"

G's face registered surprise. He looked at Matthew, who nodded reluctantly.

"The Cult, and now this. I'm going to have nightmares tonight," Bright muttered

G glanced at his friend, and his eyes turned mischievous.

"C'mon Bright. Prophecies about Mattie? Let me guess. 'Super human lover will—'"

"G!" The man grinned but didn't go on thanks to Eleni. She grabbed the large man's arm to focus his attention.

"G, this is serious. It's all about the Telepath. Something like 'The Telepath belongs only to the Montagne.' They were talking like he was the crown jewel of their collection!" She hadn't gotten the line quite right, but Matthew didn't correct her. G started to get serious.

"Elle, I've lived here 14 years now, and there is little you could tell me that would be a surprise. These UpMountain fluffs believing in prophecies? Sure, why not? They think Magneto farted out the Montagne alone." He threw the words out casually, and Matthew was glad Travis was in the bathroom. "Them acting like they own Matthew?" At this his brow darkened. "That's an old story, and definitely true." Matthew tried to interject, to stop the conversation, but Eleni beat him to it.

"What? This doesn't bother you at all?" G pinned her with a look.

"It bothers me a hell of a lot, Elle. But what can we do about it?" She just looked at him. Matthew tried to end the conversation.

"Eleni, it's not a big deal. They talk it up from time to time but it's really just a foolish way to spend their time. They like that stuff." G raised his eyebrows meaningfully at Eleni.

"Elle, we're not going to start protesting against the powerful and amoral society that keeps us alive in this dead world." Eleni looked away, frustration registering in the bond. G's eyes went distant. "I do what I can. I focus on the things I can change. I promise myself that I will never buy into their shit. Beyond that…" He focused on Eleni again and shrugged. Matthew was distinctly uncomfortable and didn't like feeling he wasn't part of the conversation happening in front of him.

Travis returned and joined G and Bright. Eleni and Matthew were called and stood to go change. She glared up at him as they entered the aisle.

"It really doesn't bother you?" He shrugged.

"It's a bit weird, for sure, but what am I going to do about it?"

"You're supposed to 'change the world'," she stated pointedly, quoting the prophecy in question. Matthew quirked up one side of his mouth in a half smile.

"Well, they can sit on their asses and wait for it so far as I'm concerned." He was rewarded by a small laugh from Eleni, accompanied by a shake of her head. Giving up, she turned away to go to the stage side door, but Matthew caught her arm gently at the elbow, stepped close to her and spoke quietly.

"Uh, Elle. Don't mention this stuff to Madam P."

"What? I wasn't going to, but why not?"

"Well, she's a seer." Eleni's brow wrinkled.

"I thought she could just see a few seconds into the future. She always knows when someone is about to arrive, and stuff like that." As she spoke, he became increasingly aware of their proximity.

"Yes, but that is often the case with people who can prophecy. They occasionally have a far-reaching vision, often in the midst of an intense experience. Madam P made hers after what is considered the best ballet performance of her career, in front an audience of witnesses. They all heard what she proclaimed, and my dad says it was a big deal for a while." Eleni went still at that.

"Do you believe that it was a prophecy?" Eleni was intent upon him. Matthew shook his head.

"Elle, it was all about swans and firebirds and jeweled cities. I mean," he gave her a significant look, "she is a ballerina. That's the stuff she grew up with." He took a deep breath, getting to his point. "The thing is, everyone thought that it was about Madam P's daughter, Katyana." Eleni paused, taking that in.

"She has a daughter? There are no pictures or anything in the house." Matthew nodded, sadly, when she said that. Shifting his stance slightly, he moved his hand from her elbow to her back.

"No one talks about her. I'm sure Madam P has pictures somewhere, but she probably keeps them to herself." Like his father. "Anyway, that's why you shouldn't talk about this stuff with her. It will just bring up painful memories."

"What happened to her daughter?"

"She died." Eleni waited. He didn't offer any more information. "So, don't bring up the prophecies, ok?"

"OK."

He waited for her to step away, but she didn't and the moment lengthened. They looked at each other.

"Eleni…," he started. All he wanted to do was kiss her again.

"What? Can't even wait for 'dinner at Madam P's?" Dwayne's voice echoed rudely across the auditorium. Eleni's face snapped closed, and she pulled away from Matthew to go get changed.

Matthew glared in the direction of his peer, angry that the moment had been ended so disgustingly, but also feeling oddly hurt. As his eyes searched the group for Dwayne, they came to rest on Jenna's face, pain clear upon it. He ignored that, and giving up on his search for Dwayne, left the auditorium.

That night, walking home from Madam P's with Adam, Matthew's thoughts lingered on the comment. He kept trying to convince himself that it was just par for the course, and that was the sort of stuff his peers had always pulled, but somehow it felt different to him.

He was saved from his thoughts when Adam took advantage of the fact that he had his son cornered.

"So, it's about time to look into your options at university. You'll need to declare by December, and if you start now you can interview at the departments to get a feel as to whether they'll be a good fit." Matthew shrugged.

"I don't know. I guess I always thought I'd do business."

"You don't have to. You know what you need to know about managing the vineyard, so if anything law would be more useful there. Remember, though, the vineyard doesn't have to be your only occupation."

"Well, yeah, I'd do dance, like you."

"You can do that, of course. But, if you find something else you are interested in, this is an opportunity to pursue it." Matthew nodded but didn't respond. University felt like more of a chore to him than an opportunity.

They hopped on the close car and rode down to their section of the UpMountain, and the conversation paused for that duration. When they got off and were again alone, he asked a question that had occurred to him in the meantime.

"Do you think Eleni could attend the university?" She hadn't indicated an interest but was proving to be a serious student. Madam P was impressed with her dedication.

Adam took a long breath in before responding.

"Mattie," Matthew tensed at his father's tone. "You need to be realistic about this situation. Don't push her into something she's not showing interest in. It could just make things…more difficult for her."

"But if she wants to go, she should have the chance. And living with Madam P, I can't think of any solid reason they could find to refuse her." Adam was silent for a moment.

"If she really wanted to, I'm sure we could find a way. It might not be pleasant for her, but she would get an education. But," Matthew had started to relax, and now tensed again. "don't put these ideas in her head because you are trying to keep her close to you."

"What? Keep a good opportunity from her in the name of, what? Chivalry?"

"No! I don't know. But Matthew, the way you look at her…I'm worried you're getting in over your head. She is friendly towards you, but she doesn't appear to return you interest. I don't want either of you to get hurt!"

Matthew strode ahead, angry and not wanting to listen to his father try to talk him away from Eleni.

"Mattie. Mattie, wait! I'm sorry! If it should work out for you two, you know I would support it. I'm just looking out for you." Matthew felt his father's hand on his arm and slowed then stopped. Adam searched his face. "I was surprised…when you didn't go back to Jenna. And, seeing how much you care for Eleni, like I said, it makes me a bit nervous, but if it works out then I will be happy for you."

Matthew nodded curtly, more wanting to stop the conversation than anything else. They turned to walk the rest of the way home. As they reached the house, Adam spoke again, hesitantly this time.

"There's another reason your situation, with Jenna and Eleni, has been on my mind. And probably another reason it makes me…uncomfortable." Matthew started to grit his teeth, but then his father surprised him. "And it has nothing to do with you, really. It's just that…it reminds me of Kat and myself. How we broke up. Or, what happened after we did." Matthew listened, a little wary, as they entered the back door. "I screwed up, sleeping with Maddie. They were best friends, you know. But I always thought she'd come back to me. She never did." The last few words were a whisper, and sadness was clear in Adam's eyes.

Matthew looked at his father and felt badly for him. The man still loved this woman, even after everything that had happened, and all the years that had passed.

Adam looked at him.

"Why? Why didn't you go back to Jenna? Everything about you two was perfect."

Matthew looked at his father. The intensity with which the man posed the question indicated it had been preying upon him. Matthew didn't think he could shed light on why Katyana, mythical in her absence and the efforts to erase her existence, hadn't gone back to Adam. But, sympathetic of his father's pain, he decided he could share what he had learned from his experience with Jenna.

"Let's sit."

They settled at the table by the kitchen, and he shared the same story he had told G.

"What I came to realize is that they didn't think I deserved an apology, and that they thought I was stupid not to go back to her whatever she did. Because she was from the UpMountain and no matter where I lived, I had originally come from the Wastelands. She was better than me. She thought it, too. Still does, I imagine," he finished.

Adam looked at him for a long minute, then abruptly got up and walked away. Matthew, taken aback, feared that he had misjudged his foster father, but Adam returned a minute later with an old tabloid. He sat down and gazed at the cover before handing it to his son.

Turning it to face him, Matthew saw that the profile of a woman dominated the front page. She was looking back over her shoulder, her expression serious and suspicious. Her hair was black with a hint of red highlights, and it stood around her head in a cloud of tight woolly curls. Her skin was a dark brown, and the one eye that was visible was also brown, a couple shades lighter than her skin. It was hard to get a sense of her whole look, as only half her face was visible, but from her profile she was very beautiful.

At the bottom of the cover written in bold letters, it said: WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER?

Matthew let out a mirthless laugh. "Well, I guess they do it to their own as well." He mumbled.

"No," Adam said, "You are right, and I am so steeped in this place I didn't understand it until you told me your story. Katyana also came from the Wasteland. She was about 6 months old when they brought her in. She had just come in when Madam Pietrovich went to the adoption center; apparently Madam P saw her and declared that she was to be the baby's mother. There was no arguing with her." Adam laughed slightly at his dance teacher's antics from the past but fell sad as he continued. "We never talked about it but I, and everyone, knew it. And," here, Adam dropped his head into his hands in weary grief, "yes, it made a difference. I felt that being with me was the best thing that happened to her at the Montagne."

Matthew let those words wash over him, and he once again stared at the woman on the cover. Her eyes now appeared hurt, wondering as the people she had trusted turned away from her. Matthew felt no desire to dwell on feelings that had led him to waste months of his life. He put the magazine down by his father.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I wish there was something I could do." Adam just shook his head, looking up. Tears shone in his eyes, although his voice was controlled.

"Helping me finally understand it was more than I could have expected. Thank you, Mattie." Matthew nodded, then excused himself, unable to deal with his father's guilt and grief in that moment.

CITADEL 3020.09.20

DAVE

Dave strode through the law school quad with purpose. It was another visit to the Blocs today, and he didn't want to be late.

"Where are you off to, Dave?" Sahira's voice piped up and he had to suppress a grimace of annoyance as she fell into step beside him.

"Just got some errands to do." Now that classes had started, he had less flexibility about when he could meet families. Today was a Rest Day and provided the most opportunity, and as such he had a morning appointment and one in the early afternoon.

She nodded. They had chatted a few times since the beginning of the semester, and the friendship he had started a few years back seemed to be redeveloping.

"I was just heading off campus myself. Are you going to Bloc 7?"

"Ah, no. Different direction today."

"Well, I'll see you bright and early tomorrow, then." Her forehead furrowed in mimed agony. The first-year students had lectures early in the morning every day save for the Rest Day. Dave agreed with Sahira's sentiment and laughed wryly as she turned away. As he watched her go, he recalled his reason for seeking her out a few years earlier and came to the same conclusion he had back then: they would have been good together.

Turning back to his path, he made it to the edge of the gated campus where he ran into another person from his past coming around a corner. Their eyes met and the woman's expression turned to anger. Her brown eyes flashed, and her olive-hued face flushed. The ugly emotion clashed with the neat school uniform she wore and her curled and coiffed brown hair.

He was renewing a friendship with one former acquaintance from the girl's academy, but the young woman in front of him, a former classmate of Eleni's who was now in her final year of high school, was one he would have rather avoided.

"Dave Kelly," she spat. The feeling was mutual.

"Heather DesJardins," he said, trying to stay civil. They had dated briefly, and it had ended in disaster. More so for her than for him. He pushed that thought away and began to move on. Heather blocked his way.

"No apology, even now? I should have known. You're just as cold as your ice queen bitch of a mother!" No matter what issues he had with his mother, he wouldn't let an insult to her stand.

"She defended me. Your mother would have done the same, if you'd given her anything to defend!"

Heather's face flushed red.

"You're a pathetic mama's boy! I should have known you were hopeless from the way you kissed. I still think you prefer boys." Dave gritted his teeth at the hissed words and looked around to make sure no one had heard her quip.

He got a grip on the situation; it had been years since they dated. Was her bitterness so deep that this still ate at her? He decided an apology was a small price to pay to avoid a scene.

"Look, Heather, if it makes you feel better, I am sorry about how it all came down in the end." She had been out of line, but the price she had paid had been dear.

The young woman blinked, clearly taken aback by his response. He started to say good-bye, but she cut him off.

"I really liked you, you know! You were the one I wanted. I was so happy when you asked me out." Her face was red. He didn't understand why she was so emotional. "After…after the boys who dated me expected one thing." Dave's stomach went cold. She looked like she was about to say more, but then squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. "I hate you. I hate your mother and I hate you!" She glared at him for another moment, her eyes shining, then turned and walked away on the net of paths leading deeper into the university campus.

Dave went on, unable to shake the sick feeling in his stomach, and tried not to think of his past with Heather.

I really liked you! In retrospect, that was clear. It had all started so innocently. Long before Heather's downfall, her crush on him had impacted him in ways she would never know.

Dave looked over at Eleni as he talked, wishing it was a night they could be alone. It wasn't. He was instead regaling her with the latest escapades of the student council. The school year was coming to a close, and the end-of-year dance was coming up.

"So, J.J. wants to get these special lights at the dance. The teachers and the administration are against it. They think it will make the room too dark." They probably would; that was kind of the idea. "But Dean Hassin is good friends with J.J.'s mom, and he's going to get her to work on him. Plus, since Shan's uncle runs the company that manufactures and rents the lights, we can get a deal that the school won't be able to refuse." Dave was fairly happy with their chances of success. Eleni gave him a look that told him she was only tolerating this conversation.

"And what would you all be doing in this dark room?" Dave frowned. Eleni never came to these events, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what it was about.

"Dancing. It is a dance." He was one of the best dancers in the class, and all the girls wanted to dance with him. Of course, that was thanks to Eleni and her lessons. "And the adults are right there anyway. It's actually kind of boring." He tacked the last on as an afterthought, but it was true. Getting ahead of the administration in any way possible, that was the fun part. That's why he had told the story. "Come on, Elle. It's kind of funny, right?"

"Sure." Apparently, it wasn't. He let out a breath in exasperation. They sat in silence for a minute, then Eleni spoke.

"Dave? You know how you hang out with your friends in the courtyard after school gets out?"

Dave went to an all-boy school, Baybrook Boys Prep, attended almost exclusively by children of the elite. Eleni was enrolled at the all-girl counterpart, Keio Girls Academy. The two schools were adjacent to each other, and the entrances let out onto the same courtyard. Dave's group of friends congregated there every day after classes to hang out before extracurriculars and other activities began.

"Yeah. Why?"

"You know how some of the girls join you?" They did, Janelle, Suri, Heather, Xing and a couple others had become regulars. It had caused some excitement among his male peers when they'd started coming over to hang out, and an increase in a certain kind of story being shared when the girls weren't around. Dave was finding it very educational.

Suddenly Eleni's presence beside him was charged and he felt himself blush. He hadn't shared those stories with her, but part of him wanted to.

"Yeah, they're fun."

"Hm. Are they?" She paused. "Have you noticed that Heather sits next to you…a lot?" He only had to think for a moment to acknowledge that the girl did sit next to him on occasion. Heather was pretty and funny and he enjoyed her company there. Did she sit next to him a lot, though? He wasn't sure about that. Anyway, they were just sitting.

"Um, sometimes she sits next to me. So?" Eleni cocked her head at him, her eyebrows up, her eyes wide.

"She ALWAYS sits next to you." Dave opened his mouth to counter that assertion, but Eleni went on. "I overheard them talking. She likes you."

"Well, OK." He felt himself blush again, and his voice cracked. "That doesn't change anything because I don't like her. Not…that way. Anyway," he pointed out, "we are just sitting."

"She was hanging on your arm the other day." Now he started getting annoyed.

"Someone told a funny joke and she lost her balance when she was laughing. Elle, I don't like her!"

"Then you can get up and move away." He rolled his eyes.

"That would just make things awkward. And there is no need anyway. This is stupid." He thought about getting up and moving away from Eleni until she calmed down. Anger flashed in her eyes.

"Dave, I don't like it." He didn't respond. It was a stupid argument about nothing. "Dave." She was more insistent now, "I wouldn't like it if things were normal for us. But, it really bothers me because," she hesitated for a long moment before continuing in a quiet voice, "because of our parents."

He looked at her sharply, and then looked away, uncomfortable. They never spoke of their parents' relationship. Dave didn't see how it had anything to do with them: her mother was his father's mistress. It was public knowledge.

"Elle, what are you talking about?"

"I see how people treat my mother. And what they think of m-," she cut off, glancing at him for a second then looking away. Air whistled through her nostrils for a minute. "I won't be that," she finished in a calmer voice.

"You won't be-? What? You think I'm trying to make you into my-?" He looked at her, incredulous. She glared back at him, and he was surprised to see tears in her eyes.

"Stop being close to her! To Heather!"

"She just sits down beside me. What, I can't sit next to a girl anymore?" Eleni looked at him for a long moment.

"Not like that. Not if you want to be my boyfriend. I won't be your mistress." He flinched as she said the word out loud. She stood up then and stormed into the adjacent room. He followed her, only to find she had locked the door. Angry and indignant, he left, and stayed away from his father's office building for a few days.

At school, Heather continued to sit next to him but nothing else happened. He hoped Eleni was noticing that.

Missing her, he went back to the office building one evening, thinking she would have calmed down. He found her doing homework at the desk. She ignored him and eventually got up and left when he continued to try to get her to talk.

He came back again the next day. She was dancing, and again ignored him. The third day he realized she had taken his bracelet off. He stopped coming again.

At school, the sitting continued. One day, on a whim, Dave put his hand down on the stone bench behind Heather. The response was immediate, as she moved in closer and turned to smile at him. He just looked back, and then stubbornly stayed where he was watching for Eleni to emerge from the school. She trailed out after the small group of Humanist girls who never hung out with the boys. He thought she stiffened a bit as she walked and felt satisfied.

The school year ended, and the sitting with it. And, he realized belatedly, the only opportunity he had to see Eleni without having to confront the issue she had placed before him.

The memory didn't help. He may have avoided thinking of what eventually happened with Heather, but instead was now dwelling on what an idiot he had been.

Wasted time. It had all been wasted time. Dave went on his way, bitterly wishing he could have been a wiser 14-year-old.