Chapter 2: The G.O.A.T.
"Say 'ah', sweetie." Dad said as he shoved a depressor on my tongue and an otoscope in my ear.
"Ahhh," I replied obediently. I didn't brush my teeth this morning. I really hoped it wasn't noticeable.
After a routine check up, Dad put the equipment up in a hurry. "As far as I can tell, you're a perfectly healthy 16-year-old girl. You'll be fine. Now go brush your teeth and get to class. You don't want to miss the G.O.A.T."
He gave me the "I know what you're doing" look I got so often. Sometimes I wondered why I even try to get away with anything. Then I remembered that I have to get all my rebellion out of my system before I had to be an adult and be "responsible."
"But Daddy, I really feel sick." I coughed to make it more convincing but he wasn't buying it.
He gave me a sympathetic look."Honey, I know you don't want to take the test but you have a life in here. You need to make sure you have a job. A purpose. Trust me, it's much worse outside the doors."
I never knew why Dad knew so much about the outside world. We were born in the vault like everyone else so how would he know what it's like? I had asked him before but he always found a way to change the subject. I was about to ask him again when Jonas walked in the room.
"What are you still doing here, Missy? Don't you know you have a very important test to take?" His glasses gleamed in the florescent light of the clinic. He smiled brighter than the bulbs and instantly made me feel calmer.
"I was just about to leave actually, I just need to brush my teeth. Bye Dad. Bye Jonas."
I didn't stop to brush my teeth. I was already late enough. I rounded the corner to see Amata surrounded by Butch and his friends. Their black leather jackets squeaked quietly in the mostly quiet halls.
I often wondered where they even found the jackets. It's not like we made leather here or they could sneak out to the outside just for some jackets. I always came to the assumption that some of the first generation vault citizens kept them as reminders of life before.
"I'll show you a real Tunnel Snake, Amata." Butch said smoothly. His greasy hair was shiny and looked gross to wash out.
"Leave me alone, assholes." Amata whined, pushing him away. She was cornered by the whole gang and looked at me for help.
Paul was the closest to me so I tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, what's going on here?"
"Tunnel Snakes rule!" he bellowed out.
I jumped back in fright. "Uh, okay. That doesn't answer my question."
"This is Tunnel Snake business. Not yours. Tunnel Snakes rule!"
My eyes shifted to Butch and then back to him. "I got that already. Butch, what are you guys doing?"
He looked over. "What, you want some of this Tunnel Snake for yourself? Maybe after the test. I'm sure I can make room in my schedule," he said with a shit eating grin.
"Oh, you wish, you Trouser Snake."
"Yeah, I know you think of dick all the time." He made an exaggerated stroking motion near his crotch and closed his eyes. He started moaning in a high pitched voice as the others laughed. "Oh, yeah, Butchie! Harder, daddy!"
My face grew hot as I felt the blush cover my face. I slapped his arm and pushed him away from Amata.
He chuckled and brushed me off. "Come on, guys. Let's go take that damn test.".As they waltzed into the classroom, he blew me a kiss and Paul whispered "Tunnel Snakes rule." I don't know what they've done to that poor kid.
Amata huffed loudly and crossed her arms. "Thanks for getting rid of them. Assholes think that just because my dad's the Overseer that I must get some kind of special treatment. Well, I don't!"
I shook my head briskly. "Dude, we have to go take the test. Don't let them get to you."
Brotch greeted us as we walked in. "I see everyone managed to find the classroom today". Everyone knew he hated the G.O.A.T.. It wasn't much of a secret.
I sat in the front desk in front of Wally Mack. I was too busy trying to get comfortable to feel him grab my ponytail until he yanked so hard that my head hit his desk.
"What the fuck was that for?" I yelled.
" Wally, Eleanor! What is going on? And Eleanor, watch your language. Do I have to have a parent teacher meeting with your parents?" Brotch scolded.
"He pulled my hair! It was involuntary!" I tried to reason.
"Detention for three days, Mack. Now, if we could please get this test over with without any more interruptions." He passed out the test and started reading out the guidelines and questions.
The questions were ridiculous and had nothing to do with what kind of occupation suits you. It was more of a morality quiz. The last question was the worst of all of them.
"Pencils down, turn in your tests. It's time for the reaping."
I turned my test in and awaited my assignment. I held my breath as he shuffled the papers and took forever to actually read it.
He took one look at the test and flinched in surprise. The suspense was going to eat away at me.
"Well, would you look at that." He looked back at the paper and then to me. "Vault tattoo artist. I hope you don't mind if I don't see you during working hours."
It could be worse. I could be the barber. "Alright, thanks."
Butch turned his test in next to me "Here ya go, Mr. Brotch."
"Well, well, well, Mr. Deloria. I never thought I'd see the day. I've waited a long time for this. Let's see what you made." He took his paper with a smile."Huh, well Deloria, I never would've thought you'd end up doing this." Butch was visibly nervous.
"Come on, Brotch, just tell me what I made, please" he pleaded.
Brotch held the paper down with a hand over the results and beamed at him. "Congratulations, you made Vault barber." Brotch said with a smug grin.
Butch paled at the news. "You gotta be kidding me. Barber?"
I tried and failed at stifling a laugh. "What the hell are you laughing at, slut?" Brotch rolled up his test and slapped him with it. "Don't talk to women like that."
I walked away before it got worse but Butch only followed. He looked more than furious. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed."
"Ya know, you got a real big fucking mouth. You should put it to use sometime." He said as he roughly grabbed my ass.
I turned around to face him and he pushed me against the wall. I gasped in surprise. I didn't make any move to get away. We were alone in the one hall no one really goes down. There was nothing of use down here. His breath was hot on my neck and I was really regretting not brushing my teeth this morning.
"You finally gonna shut ya fucking mouth?" He asked with a tilt of his head.
He slammed his lips against mine. This was what I was waiting for for over a year. This wasn't romantic. It wasn't love. Love just isn't my thing. His hips were grinding against mine as I reached over for the control for the door to the closest room. I felt a button and smashed it and we slipped into the room.
The room was dark and had very little furniture. This was the older section of the living quarters when the vault was more populated. Now it was just empty rooms.
He started unzipping my jumpsuit with one hand, the other on my lower back and his mouth pressed into my throat. My hand was exploring his chest and my fingers grazed the zipper. I felt like I had a little more control over the situation.
I unzipped his suit and he pushed mine to the floor. I slipped my boots off and stepped out of the jumpsuit and he followed. I jumped on to the bed and he crawled on top of me, kissing my throat and unhooking my bra from behind.
I pulled his shirt over his head and he threw it across the room. He practically ripped my underwear off and I yanked his boxers off. He practically stabbed my leg as he was freed. He had a fistful of my hair as he kissed me and slid into me with a moan. It hurt a little but I would live. I just wanted to enjoy this.
He thrust in slowly and pulled out with such force that made my knees weak. I wrapped my legs around him for a more comfortable angle. He pulled his head back and looked at the wall.
Good, I didn't want to look at him either. That was a lie, but I wasn't going to say anything to make it out to be something it's not. Besides, he wasn't going to last long. This was going to be an anticlimactic experience for my. Pun intended.
His thrusts and grunts were becoming more erratic and animalistic. I stayed silent so I wouldn't egg him on. I kind of wanted to see how long he could go.
With a final thrust, he pulled out and finished on my stomach. Disgusting and boring. That's what this whole thing was to me.
He rolled over to the side and I got up and wiped off my stomach with his shirt. By god, I needed to get it off and I was pissed so I was just going to take it out on his shirt. I pulled my jumpsuit on and tied my boots back.
"Leaving so soon, sweet cheeks?" Butch mocked.
"Yeah, and I'm taking your jacket." I didn't want to look at him.
"By all means, you can have it. I'll make another."
I walked back to my room and I didn't leave for the rest of the day. That night, I cried into my pillow. That had to be the worst three minutes of my life. I couldn't even look at Dad when he got off work.
I should have just stayed with Freddie.