Christine hurried up into Matthias' room.
She snatched the notepad from Matthias' hands and wrote furiously: Jason has been demoted down a few ranks and has lost the privilege of having a servant.
Matthias gaped at the note.
'I'll give this to Nina,' Christine mouthed.
Matthias nodded. Christine put the note in her pocket. She handed Matthias the notepad quickly.
Trey wants to meet you in the side bathroom, Matthias wrote rapidly.
Christine nodded as Matthias tore up the note. She left the room and hurried into the bathroom. She locked the door and knocked on the vent. Trey came out slowly.
"How are you doing?" Trey asked softly.
"Fine. Jason told the commander that they might never get the ID papers in order. The commander got angry and hit Jason before leaving. Jason tried to beat me up, but he didn't get far because the commander found out what was going on. Jason recognized me, but I wormed my way out and now Jason has been demoted down quite a few ranks and he's lost the privilege of having a servant," Christine replied quietly.
Trey gasped and whispered quickly, "That's perilous! You could be caught any day! Any time! And him without the dispensation of having a servant; we can't keep an eye on him!"
Christine smiled, "that's alright. He'll achieve back a few ranks. Probably enough ranks to have a servant again. That's Jason for you. One time Father took away his favorite toy and Jason worked really hard to get it back."
"You're really reckless, aren't you?" Trey commented.
Christine laughed lightly, dismissing Trey's words, as she handed him a note, "perhaps. Give this to Nina."
Trey looked at his watch as he took the note, "I better get going. Bye."
And with that, he crawled into the vent and took off. Christine walked out of the bathroom quickly.
First Person View (Maria's View)
I thought it was strange that Trey would comment that I was reckless. I thought of myself as a person who would not stop even though there are many trials to get to a thing she promised to do properly. Reckless seems too… inconsiderate. Perhaps, I am just exaggerating. But I do not know why Trey said that I was reckless. I know Jason. I am confident that I know what his next move would be. I am sure. I am sure…
Third Person View
Christine bumped into Matthew when she was walking through an empty hallway, trying to go over to the kitchen.
"I'm sorry, sir! I'm so sorry, sir," Christine said quickly.
"It's alright," Matthew said with a smile, "what's your name?"
"Christine O'Donnell, sir. You can call me Christine, if you like," Christine replied, glancing around nervously.
"Hmm. I'm James Roberts. Officer James Roberts," Matthew said softly.
Christine nodded, not knowing what to say. Matthew bit his lip, wondering how to say what he wanted to say.
"Perhaps we can get together for a while. Where do you work?" Matthew asked quickly, but conversationally.
"I'm the servant for the commander and Roger Symmes, sir," Christine replied quietly.
Matthew blinked.
"I was a servant for Officer Jason Barstow, but he failed the commander with the ID papers and so he was demoted and now he no longer has the privilege of having a servant," Christine said, trying to fit the information in without sounding suspicious.
Matthew winked. Christine smiled.
"Well, meet me at sunset in this hallway, Christine," Matthew said quickly, glancing around.
"It would be a pleasure, sir," Christine answered with a curtsy before hurrying to the kitchen.
The thin lady walked up to her and announced in a squeaky voice, "Roger Symmes will have his dinner in his room. He wishes for you to attend to him, Miss O'Donnell. We have made his tray."
The lady reached to the left of her and picked up a tray. Christine took it from her quickly with small smile. Christine hurried off. She knocked on Matthias' door slowly. Matthias opened the door. He smiled at Christine who bit her lip. Matthias' face dropped. Christine stepped into the room and let Matthias close the door after her. Christine set the tray on the table quickly. Matthias drew out a notepad and wrote. He handed the paper to Christine.
It read: What's wrong?
Christine sighed and wrote: Nothing.
Matthias rolled his eyes at the note.
Matthew wants to meet me at sunset. I'm not sure I should. It's dangerous. We bumped into each other in the hallway when I was going to get your tray. His name is Officer James Roberts, Christine replied quickly.
Matthias' eyes widened.
You better start eating, Christine reminded him as she shoved the notepad into his pocket.
Matthias blinked and nodded. He sat down and quickly started eating. Christine glanced around nervously. Matthias finished his dinner. Christine picked up the tray and left. She brought the tray to the kitchen and hurried back to the hallway. Matthew was already there.
"There you are, Christine! I've been waiting for you!" Matthew smiled as he held out his hand.
Christine raised an eyebrow at it. Matthew leaned forward.
"The only way we can get together is to act as if we're lovers," Matthew whispered into her ear.
Christine sighed, rolling her eyes, as she took his hand. Matthew strode down the hallway. Christine was surprised that quite a few other officers had servants for girlfriends. Matthew smiled and winked at a few of the officers.
"Got a girl on the first day, eh, James?" a boy of Matthew's age asked with a grin.
Matthew nodded with a smile. They walked outside where no one was around. Matthew stopped and turned to face her.
"The way that one boy casually said it, I felt like a whore," Christine said quickly, but softly.
"Sorry," Matthew apologized.
"It's not your fault. I'm sorry. I'm just used to saying things like that to my family. They kind of knew why I said things like that," Christine said quietly.
Matthew nodded.
"How's your brother?" Matthew asked, glancing around.
Christine smiled, "he'll be back soon."
Matthew blinked and commented, "really? I thought he'd stay down there. Pathetic and whining."
"No. I know him very well. He isn't like that. He'll be back soon. As soon as he can," Christine replied confidently, then she laughed, "I'm not sure if I should be upset or happy, though."
Matthew nodded, "so, have you talked to 'T'?"
Christine raised an eyebrow, quizzically. Matthew glanced around nervously before he answered the unasked question.
'Trey,' Matthew mouthed quickly.
"Yes. He thinks I'm reckless," Christine smiled.
"And are you?" Matthew asked.
"I think of myself as a person who would not stop even though there are many trials to get to a thing she promised to do properly," Christine replied sharply.
Matthew blinked, surprised at the sharpness in Christine's voice. Christine stared at him coldly.
"Look. I'm sorry if I offended you, Christine, but I was just joking around," Matthew apologized bluntly.
Christine sighed and nodded, "I'm sorry. Things have been going quite quickly for me. I apologize for my offensiveness and my appalling conduct. I will desist from doing such like things in the future."
Matthew laughed, "You should hang out with 'T', Christine."
Christine grinned at Matthew's words as Matthew led her back to the kitchen slowly and thoughtfully.
"Tomorrow, same time?" Matthew asked quickly before he left.
Christine nodded. Matthew winked and hurried away.