Chapter 478: The Media Room

Tuesday, February 14th, Late Evening

As the middle of The Factuality played, Sawyer looked around the media room. Ellis had emerged from under the blankets but now slept upon them. Nomi was curled up in her beanbag chair, drifting off to sleep. LK was doing LK things, and Keni had also knocked off. Standing up, Sawyer stretched and went over to the bucket to see if any drinks remained.

To her surprise, Sawyer found Alesha still awake and looking at her.

"Wow, I didn't expect you to be up still," Sawyer said.

"I will admit it's difficult to stay awake through this movie," Alesha said.

Sawyer chuckled, "Yeah, even the person that picked it out couldn't stay awake," she said.

"So, what's the story between you and Keni?" Alesha asked.

"What story is that?" Sawyer asked.

"That you're more than friends, that you're a couple," Alesha said.

Sawyer snorted, "Why are people so obsessed with who is with who?" she asked.

"I think it's natural," Alesha said.

"I'm not even sixteen; it's not the Middle Ages where Margaret Beaufort was married and had her son Henry VII before she was my age. We're not royals practicing infant marriage for alliances," Sawyer said.

"But you turn down dates," Alesha said.

"Because I can't date," Sawyer said.

"What?" Alesha asked.

"I can't go out on a solo date until I'm sixteen; I can only go out in a group," Sawyer said.

"That sucks," Alesha said, "But you have a brother."

"Same rule for him, and I don't know why my parents put that rule in place," Sawyer said.

"And Keni?" Alesha asked.

"Her mom put the same rules in place, but I know the reasons," Sawyer said.

"What were they?" Alesha asked.

"Two of Keni's older sisters were a bit wild, and one of them became an addict. Keni's mom wanted to curtail that behavior, and since two of my sisters and one of Keni's were the same age, well, you know," Sawyer said.

"Which sisters?" Alesha asked.

"I'm not going to say," Sawyer said.

"How are you related to Brett?" Alesha asked.

"Her step-dad is my cousin," Sawyer said.

"Small world," Alesha said.

"Small town," Sawyer replied.

"So, that's how this event started?" Alesha asked.

"What is love?" Sawyer asked.

"I don't get the question," Alesha said.

"Hadaway asked what is love, then pleaded, baby don't hurt me. Is love a feeling, a mindset, a state of existence? Is it deep, or is it shallow? Why devote a whole day to love?" Sawyer said.

"Wow, deep questions," Alesha said.

"I watched love turn to pain. I've seen people torture themselves over nothing they did or can change. I've seen love bring tears. I've seen love so shallow it is nothing but lust. I've seen the fallout," Sawyer said.

"I've seen fire, and I've seen rain," Alesha said.

"I've heard that the cruelest joke thrust upon man is free will; I think it's love," Sawyer said.

"Wow," Alesha said.

Sawyer nodded, "Love, love is a joke," she said.

Alesha nodded, "There are boys that say you're gay," she said.

Sawyer sighed, "Christ," she said.

"What?" Alesha asked.

"Do you know the rules of attraction?" Sawyer asked.

"No," Alesha said.

"Yeah, because there are no rules, and I'm fifteen," Sawyer said.

"Okay?" Alesha asked.

"One of my sisters is a lesbian," Sawyer said.

"A lesbian?" Alesha asked.

"Yeah, as in likes women," Sawyer said.

"I know what a lesbian is," Alesha said.

"In high school, she dated guys," Sawyer said.

"Oh?" Alesha asked.

"Not everyone knows right away," Sawyer said.

"Okay?" Alesha asked.

"I have another sister who is celibate," Sawyer said.

"A nun?" Alesha asked.

"Doctor," Sawyer said.

"Oh," Alesha said, "Who are you attracted to?"

"I don't know," Sawyer said.

"You don't know?" Alesha asked.

Sawyer shrugged, "I don't," she said.

"How don't you?" Alesha asked.

Sawyer shrugged, again, "I just don't, or I've not discovered who or what, and it's not like I've put it to paper," she said.

"The rules of attraction?" Alesha asked.

"I don't know," Sawyer said.

"There are many guys at school who are attracted to you," Alesha said.

"I know, but well, I don't want to be a trophy either," Sawyer said.

"What does this all mean?" Alesha asked.

"I just don't know; I could be attracted to guys like Noah, Dex, Jackin, or Gar. I could be attracted to girls like Shannon, Wendy, Joce, you, or Keni. It could be any combination of those as well. I don't know; it hasn't come clear to me," Sawyer said.

Alesha nodded, "What is with your backpack?" she asked.

"My Tardis?" Sawyer asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Alesha said.

"Keni's brother used to watch us a lot; he loved all this sci-fi fantasy stuff and got us into it," Sawyer said.

"Oh, cool," Alesha said.

"I, Keni, and sometimes LK cosplay as well," Sawyer said.

"Wow, cool," Alesha said.

"You should do it with us sometime," Sawyer said.

"I wouldn't know what to do," Alesha said.

"It's easy," Sawyer said.

"Okay," Alesha said, unsure.

"I know a few characters you could go as that you'd be sooo cute as," Sawyer said.

Alesha nodded, got a drink, and dropped the subject there.