I'm in my first skills lesson today and everyone in this room is in either the black or the blue sector. It doesn't surprise me but I thought maybe there would be an anomaly in the system like Chloe being a level 10 in the white sector.

'Today we are going to learn about hand guns as in our previous lesson we learnt about the origin of guns and its history' the teacher spoke quite softly and he was quite young, perhaps late twenties or maybe it was his glasses that made him look younger.

I'm going to have to catch up on the lesson I missed, I make a mental note but at least we're onto hand guns today.

'A handgun is a handheld firearm made to be held in one or both hands. The main two types of handguns are the revolver and the pistol' the teacher talked as he wrote key points on the board. 'I will pass an empty one of both types to the front row and they'll pass them along when they've had a look'

About halfway through the lesson I finally got the German semi-automatic pistol; it had a good grip. I've held a gun before but I've never shot one. It's part of the training later in my skill level and eventually they'll teach us in combat class. Hopefully, I'll put my skills to the test and be selected for the mission to Russia. I held the gun forward with my finger stroking the trigger; it seems strange to me that these are used to kill. Their sole purpose and reason for invention was to kill or maybe it wasn't – I did miss the origin lesson.

'145, pass on the pistol please' the teacher instructed me.

'Oh of course, sorry sir' I passed on the gun to 110 on my right.

After the lesson I walked 110 to her room which she shares with 120; theirs is one of two girl's rooms in the black sector. 110 is the highest ranking girl in the black sector and overall third in total rankings for the black sector; her skill level is eight. She has dark brown hair which she likes to keep tied up; I suppose it's for practicality. We've always been really close friends, some say we act more like we're dating but I've never really seen her in that way.

'I love your new tattoo by the way; it's badass' she joked. She always learns these new phrases and words from the black sector's secret television. It's a room in The Master's Quarters and it has a television which we often use to watch shows and play games. There aren't any televisions in our quarters and this television is only known to the black sector so most students here have never watched television in their life. Although, I'm sure The Master knows that we go there leisurely but I guess it's a black sector privilege.

'Thank you' I said smiling, 'it's called 'the two deadly ends' or something like that'

'That's cool bro, scary stuff' she smiled as we reached her room.

'You should get a tattoo, it doesn't hurt as much as people say' I suggest.

'People will always try to freak me out about getting a tattoo. I've already got a lip piercing and that didn't hurt, although I'm thinking of taking it out'

'Why? It looks really nice' I smiled thinking back to Chloe saying that I can't compliment.

'Well 120 nearly took it out with her right hook, it scared the life out of me' 110 joked.

'I'm sorry, girl' 120 said from inside the room.

'I think someone's been listening to our conversation' I joke. 'I better go, I need to catch up on the last skills lesson we had'

'Okay, bye' 110 said and then pulled me back into a hug. This is something that is uncommon in the black sector but it was still nice; awkward but nice.

Back in the classroom my teacher was giving me the notes for the previous lesson and talking about the history of guns starting with the discovery of gun power in the 9th century in China. At the end of his quick lesson I bowed and picked up my books. When I was almost out of the door he stopped me and said, 'so you're supposed to be the toughest in the third year, is that true?'

'Yeah, I guess' I shrug.

'Your reputation precedes you, 145' the teacher smiled.

'So it does' I head towards my room.

130 is doing sit-ups on the bed but stops when I enter the room.

'I'm going to my skill level training in a minute; I'm hoping I'll pass this level and get onto ten' 130 sounded optimistic.

'Nine's a hard level to pass, 130' I braced him, 'I can always help you during our extra time if you want my help that is'

'150 seemed to pass it well enough!' 130 scorned in jealousy.

'It took me a year to pass and you've only been doing it for six months' I patted his shoulder, 'don't rush through it'

'Okay' 130 sighed, 'you should use your extra time to work with 150. You two have to work together if you want to get on the Russian mission.'

'That's a good idea actually' I agreed, 'but we worked well enough to kick your arse today so I suggest you work more with 147 in your extra time'

130 glared at me but gave in and a small smile formed on his lips, 'arse? Well you've been spending a lot of time with 110'

'We're just friends' I laughed and started changing into more appropriate evening attire.

'147 and I are already spending our extra time working and training actually' 130 said advancing to the door.

'Yeah I saw what you were working on before but it didn't look like training' I joked.

130 looked embarrassed but composed himself enough to say, 'agility counts as training too'

I laughed and grabbed my evening shirt from my wardrobe. My skill level training isn't today so I have the rest of the evening as free time. I decide to take 130's advice and head towards the white sector to find Chloe.

I've reached the white sector floor and it seems foreign to me, I've never been on this floor before. The white sector floor resembles ours but it seems brighter from the light reflected by the white of their clothes. I had no idea where to look for Chloe so I stood awkwardly just outside the lift glancing from person to person. I didn't exactly blend in so nearly everyone was staring at me and I didn't like it. All the attention was distracting me but then my eyes met Chloe coming down the corridor and I sighed with relief.

I strut towards Chloe, weaving my way through white shirted students until I was near her and her friends. One of them looked at me and then looked to Chloe and whispered quite loudly, 'go on, your black sector boyfriend is waiting for you'.

I awkwardly turned away and waited for Chloe to approach me instead. Why did they call me her boyfriend and why did it matter that I'm in the black sector?

'Hey – er 1…4…5 or whatever' Chloe said robotically.

'I can physically see how much that hurts you to say' I roll my eyes.

'Well you should just let me call you Max' Chloe smiled and her friends giggled in the background.

'I'm not your pet' I retorted.

'Fine, you pick the name' Chloe crossed her arms and by this point more people were watching us.

'I don't want a name' I turned my body to block out the invasive eyes on us but by doing so halved the space between us.

Chloe took in a quick breath as if she had forgotten to breathe in that moment and muttered, 'fine but you suit the name Max'

'Okay, call me whatever you like' I gave in, 'I'm hear about training anyway'

'And I hear I thought you just wanted to catch up' she smiled.

'We need to get on this Russian mission and to do that we have to train and practice together during our extra time' I explained.

'Do you mean all of our extra time?' Chloe moaned.

'Yes of course I mean all of it!' I rolled my eyes as I thought this was obvious.

'So, I'm guessing we start now?' Chloe asked but again she already knew the answer.

I nodded and she twirled round to say goodbye to her friends. After a few hugs and giggles she returned and said, 'okay, I'm ready'

'Dressed like that?' I grimaced at her white shorts and loose top.

'It would help if you tried to be nice' Chloe looked hurt, 'you're hardly dressed for battle'

'I have my combat gear under my evening wear… obviously' I mused.

'Of course you do, let me just get my combat clothes then' Chloe strutted towards her room and left me facing the wall.