Verita

by Tracy Rozzlynn

  “Yes, and let me guess: you’re a botanist,” I say, coyly.

  “Guilty. Sorry if I sounded like I was lecturing you. I’ve been walking the perimeter, looking at all these strange plants, and wondering what qualities they possess. I really was just worried for you.” He shrugs his shoulders apologetically.

  “Thanks, Ryan. I’m sorry I was short.” The embarrassment over my reaction is setting in. “I’m just frustrated that the creature ran away before I could get a look at him.” I gesture awkwardly toward the fence.

  “I guess I’d be short too if someone messed with the plant I was studying. Well, I’ll let you get back to your reading. Maybe the creature is just as curious as you and will find his way back again. See ya around.” He waves and starts to turn away.

  “Maybe. See ya.” I look up as I say goodbye. He smiles as he turns to leave. Now that I’ve calmed, I finally notice his face. He is devastatingly handsome, with neatly combed, short but thick brown hair; the kind that just begs someone to mess it up. A strong chin and strong cheekbones nicely define his face without either being overpowering. He actually still has a slightly boyish quality to his face; I guess he has several years before it will be entirely lost. His amused smile goes all the way to his eyes – vibrant and green his most notable feature. I could get lost in eyes like those.

  My stray thought makes me blush. He notices and smiles even more.

  I shove my face back into my handbook and concentrate on not watching him walk away. I’m so furious with myself. How could I let a stupid boy get me so riled up like that? He has no business scolding me as if he knows more than I do. And now he must think I like him – ugh. I only reacted that way because he’s the first boy I’ve seen in, well, centuries. There is nothing special about him. Stupid boy. Okay, time to concentrate on the book and forget about him.

  My first assessment of the handbook was right. There is a rule for everything, even when we sleep. Curfew is at 10pm, and breakfast starts at 6:30. Eight hours to get our optimal amount of sleep, and a half hour to get ready for the day. Exceptions to the sleep schedule will be determined by field managers. I wonder who decides who the field managers will be. As I suspected, leaving the base at will is not allowed. Departures must be job-related. The supply store will provide us with whatever standard issue items we need. If something beyond standard issue is needed, a field manager’s authorization is required. The rules continue like that, on and on.

  The sun feels nice and warm. Soon I doze off, and begin to dream.

  In my dream, I am walking through the forest. It’s dark from all of the overgrowth. Ahead of me, I see a shadow of a person, and I quicken my pace to catch up. They match my pace, walking just ahead and out of sight. As soon as I get close enough to see them, they disappear around another corner in the path. I keep following, until there is a break in the canopy. I find myself standing on the edge of a rocky cliff. I shield my eyes while they adjust to the brightness. Across the way, there is a beautiful waterfall cascading down. I listen to the roar of the water crashing into the rocks below, and find it soothing.

  I hear a noise behind me and quickly turn to see a pair of vibrant green eyes looking at me from the edge of the forest. The eyes move towards me, and I realize it’s Ryan. He reaches out to me and grabs my hand in his. He runs his other hand up my arm, along my neck, and then rests it on my check. I close my eyes and breathe him in. He smells like lilacs mixed with fresh-cut grass. His touch is warm, soft, fuzzy. He begins tracing my face with his hand, and I realize it is covered in fur. I open my eyes and see that his eyes have turned from vibrant green into beautiful violet. I draw a quick breath in with the shock of it, and shake myself awake.

  A dream. Only a dream. I console myself as I try to shake the eerie feeling away. I’m still sitting on the rock, but the handbook has fallen to the ground. The dream had just been so vivid. I search around me, looking for the set of violet eyes – but there are none.

  My stomach grumbles. Time to visit the dining hall. I stretch and reach down to pick up the handbook, but as I reach, I notice something on my shirt sleeve. I take a closer look: small hairs, purple and white. A shiver runs through me. My entire dream hadn’t been imagined.

  I gather up the hairs and place them in my shirt pocket. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to look at them under a microscope soon.

  Chapter 4

  The main entrance of the dining hall leads directly to a cafeteria-style serving area. I fill my tray and head out the other side, where it opens up to a large room filled with an assortment of differently sized and shaped tables. Some tables sit only two; but others are large enough for twelve. There are small half walls placed strategically throughout the room to give diners a sense of privacy.

  I quickly realize that I’ll pay the price for my antisocial behavior. Everyone is already paired up in groups. In high school, dining alone is a social death sentence; it was better not to eat than to be seen at a table by yourself and get labeled a loser. I consider turning around, but my stomach protests, and I can’t just grab something when I get home anymore. So I decide to take my chances and dine alone. Just when I am about to sit down at a table for two, I hear a familiar voice shout.

  “Brett, over here!” the welcomed voice beckons.

  I look up and see Andi, my roommate from testing, waving over to me. I can’t suppress the ear-to-ear smile on my face. I was wondering when I’d get to see her next.

  I join her at her table. Andi introduces me to everyone else, even though she knows how horrible I am remembering names. Wendy, a petite dark-haired girl with gorgeous copper skin is wearing hunter green. She’s a nurse. Her sugary-sweet voice gives her a childlike quality. Zachary is in gray; he is in mechanical maintenance. He proudly informs me that he’s responsible for putting together and maintaining everything from the lights to the solar panels. As he talks with his drawn-out southern accent, I can’t help but picture him in a pair of farmer overalls, with his shaggy brown hair waving in the wind. It turns out he was one of the original construction crew members, but as the need for construction was fulfilled, he was retrained in the pods and reassigned.

  Troy is actually the farmer. I feel bad for his luck in uniforms. His bright orange hair totally clashes with the olive-green, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He smiles broadly as he informs me that he works in the greenhouses. He, like Zachary, was also part of the original construction crew. Jeremy, a tall, lanky dirty-blonde, is wearing all black, just like Andi, but is too busy staring at her to tell me about himself.

  “So what kind of scientist are you, Brett?” Andi asks.

  “Biologist. What about you two?” I gesture to Jeremy and Andi.

  “Biologist, nice. I can totally see you doing that. We’re research and development. We get to invent stuff.” Andi smiles; she’s obviously pleased with her assignment. From what I know of Andi, it is a perfect fit.

  As happy as I am to see Andi right now, it’s hard to imagine that I didn’t like her when we first met. She was way too perky for my taste. She was tall and thin, but muscular. Her tan skin balanced out her short, spiky platinum hair. I assumed she had grown up on a California beach, afraid to break a nail and obsessed with clothes. Worst of all, I had incorrectly assigned her all of Jenna’s attributes. Fortunately, she was persistent and determined to be my friend. And so, eventually, I got to know the real her, and just how wrong my snap judgment had been.

  She was from Idaho and from a family of farmers. She’s the second youngest of seven kids. Andi is genius smart, but she has never looked at it as an advantage. She didn’t fit in on the farm. Her book smarts were viewed as a nuisance by her family. Farming was a family tradition, and as such, they were more than reluctant to change a thing about it. Whenever Andi suggested a better, more efficient way to approach a task, her family reacted as if she was causing trouble.

  School wasn’t much better for her. There was no gifted program in her school system. When she was younger her teachers even questione
d putting her in special education because she wasn’t able to complete her work. They never realized that she had mastered the material years before, and would rather read new material than drone on doing boring, pointless worksheets. When she was tested and it became apparent that she was gifted, her parents were given the option of letting her skip ahead a few grades. They decided against it. They didn’t want their daughter to be more of a freak than she already was. So she spent most of her school career bored. In the end, it was up to Andi to negotiate with her teachers. Every year she had to convince the teacher to allow her to teach herself. In return, she promised she would not disrupt the class, and she would complete any tests necessary. If she didn’t get 90% or better on the tests, the teacher could put her back to studying class material, and she wouldn’t complain. Eventually the teachers would give in; it was easier for them that way.

  Her only fear was that her parents wouldn’t let her go to college, regardless of if she got a scholarship. They claimed they needed her on the farm, and she couldn’t leave them shorthanded. Her fears came true – but worse than she had imagined. Not only were her parents not going to let her attend college – they weren’t even going to let her finish high school. They wanted her to quit school and help with the farm more. If she didn’t, she would be kicked out of the house.

  So Andi chopped her hair off to make recognition harder, and ran away. Her plan was to get several states away and get into foster care. Best-case scenario, with a new alias, she would complete high school and then work her way through college, maybe even get a scholarship.

  She did manage to get into foster care, but then she was approached about the Verita project. The way she saw it, even if the project didn’t work out for her, at least she got away from the farm permanently.

  Despite her upbringing, Andi is bubbly and optimistic – a sharp contrast to me, but we help balance each other that way. Besides, she is quick to pick up on the irony of things and is skilled in the use of sarcasm. It’s an unusual balance in a personality, but once I got to know her, I decided I liked it.

  “So how come this is the first we’ve seen of you? Have you been hiding all day?” Andi jokes, breaking into my thoughts.

  “No; I just found a quiet spot to read through the handbook.” I shrug.

  “Always the bookworm.” Andi smiles, knowing she’s just as guilty as me when it comes to books.

  “Well, not today. The handbook is pretty dry reading; rules on top of more rules. I actually fell asleep,” I admit sheepishly.

  “Well at least you’re here now. You haven’t missed much. Most everyone is hanging out in the recreation halls. There’s not much to do until tomorrow, when the recently awakened start their jobs.” Andi’s face shows her frustration. She doesn’t like waiting any more than I do.

  “We were planning to go over to recreation hall B and go swimming after lunch. Do you want to join us?” Jeremy asks. I’m touched by his effort to include me, but I suspect it has more to do with pleasing Andi than me.

  “Sure, but I need a bathing suit first.”

  “Same for us. We’re going to stop by the laundry center on our way over.” Andi smiles, knowing I couldn’t refuse a chance to swim.

  The rest of the afternoon goes by quickly and easily. Andi’s friends immediately adopt me as one of their own. They show me the supply store, laundry center, and all the different recreation halls. Entertainment won’t be an issue here; it’s just a matter of deciding what you feel like doing. I’m surprised at how easily I fit in with everyone, but at the same time, I’m hesitant to let myself get too comfortable. I know it’s because I’m afraid of getting hurt again.

  After dinner, there’s a social mixer in rec hall A. Back in high school no one would have gone, but it seems like the whole base is there. Probably because there isn’t much else to do besides hang out and get to know everyone. We wander our way through the special game areas they have set up. They’re mostly silly games, like picking the rubber duck with the red dot on the belly, or throwing rings at bottles, but they prove to be a fun distraction. Eventually, we make our way to the dance floor. It’s crowded, but luckily we have excellent timing, and we grab a table just as another group leaves. Everyone else in our group leaves to dance on the dance floor, leaving Andi and I by ourselves.

  “Hey, Andi, if you get your choice on what inventions you want to work on, you might want to invent a better fence,” I suggest, knowing I’d pique her interest.

  She bit, of course. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, earlier today when I fell asleep, some kind of creature must have climbed the fence. I don’t think it meant any harm. Probably just curious, but curious creatures can cause a lot of havoc.” I try to act as nonchalant as I can.

  “Whoa, I’m glad you’re okay.” She hesitates, then: “Not to doubt you, but how do you know something was there if you were asleep?” She proceeds to crunch the ice left in her glass.

  “It woke me up. I didn’t actually see it, but it left some of its hair on me. I’m hoping to get a chance to examine them tomorrow.” I pat my pocket.

  “I’d keep it quiet; they may want to place you in quarantine just to be safe,” she whispers cautiously.

  “Hey! Time for dancing!” Jeremy grabs Andi’s hand and drags her to the dance floor, laughing the entire way. I’m left staring at my water, feeling decidedly alone despite the crowds around me.

  I have to laugh watching Andi and Jeremy dance together. Andi is carefree enough that she doesn’t care what anyone else thinks of her dancing. Jeremy, on the other hand, must have had some formal training. I have never seen a boy dance the way he does. I wonder whose idea the dance lessons had been. If Jeremy gets his way, they’ll make a nice couple.

  For the second time today, I have the feeling that I’m being watched. I look around and find the pair of eyes I’m searching for. They’re deep brown and staring intently at me. I look away, pretending not to notice. I pretend to watch everybody on the dance floor, but can’t help stealing another look. The deep brown eyes are attached to a nicely chiseled face – a face that is smiling at me. He has wavy blonde hair the color of wheat, broad shoulders, and well defined muscles that show through his black and tan uniform. He’s a soldier. I must be imagining that he is staring at me. I don’t know him, and there are so many other people around me. He could just as easily be looking at one of them. Besides, he’s definitely not my type. I don’t go for the big, burly and tough type. I don’t like the type that looks more likely to wrestle a gator than crack open a book. That was Jenna’s type.

  Being watched makes me feel uncomfortable, so I decide to get some fresh air. I get up and make my way to the exit. I take a sideways glance, then bump into a large, broad chest. I look up and find my path blocked by that same pair of deep brown eyes.

  “Hi,” he greets me, sending an unexpected wave of excitement through me.

  “Hi,” I manage to respond. I feel fire rising in my cheeks, but it’s not from embarrassment.

  “I’m Brody.” He holds out his hand.

  “I’m Brett.” I reach out to shake his hand and note the effect his mere proximity has on me. I have the sudden urge to pull him close and press my lips to his. I shake the impulsive thought from my head, and manage a weak smile.

  “How about a dance?” Instead of shaking my hand, he bends and lifts my hand to his lips, giving it a gentle kiss. I should be annoyed by his flamboyant gesture, but instead I only feel a wave of butterflies take off in my stomach.

  “Um, okay.”

  I should say no, run the other way – but I’m so unsettled that my mouth betrays my mind. Right on cue, a slow song starts, and I manage to suppress a groan.

  We don’t really dance. Instead, we sway and slowly turn in a circle, but I don’t mind. I don’t think I could handle anything that requires more coordination. The close intimacy of our bodies is overwhelming. I inhale the spicy, musky smell of his skin and tighten my grip around his neck. My mind feels numb.
I can’t think past the moment or the current breath. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem interested in conversation; He just continues to stare into my eyes, smiling.

  The song ends and he releases me. “I’ll see you tomorrow for diner. Dining hall B, six o’clock.”

  “Six o’clock,” I repeat, more to myself than to him. My mind is still numb. I should be mad that he didn’t even bother asking, that he just assumed I’d accept. He smiles once more at me, turns, and disappears into the crowd. It takes me a moment to realize that I’m standing in the middle of the dance floor, alone, looking stupid.

  As soon as I reach the table, Andi asks, “Having fun?” Plastered across her face is an amused expression.

  “Yeah, I guess,” I answer absentmindedly. My mind is still focused on Brody and my strange reaction to him.

  “Are you going to make me ask what that was about on the dance floor?” Andi crosses her arms and gives me a stern look.

  “I was just dancing,” I respond innocently, but my cheeks betray me, and I blush bright red.

  “That wasn’t just dancing – not the way the two of you were looking at each other and holding each other. Just watching it made me feel like I was intruding. Who was that, anyway?”

  “His name is Brody.” I give a bashful smile. “Was it that obvious?”

  “Obvious is an understatement. You never told me that you met someone. I’m a little hurt.” She pushes her bottom lip out, feigning a pout.

  “I didn’t tell you because we just met. I can’t explain it. We barely even talked, but there was just something about him.” I sigh dreamily. I know I’m acting like a silly schoolgirl with her first crush, but I just can’t help myself. It’s a bit unnerving. After Brad, I had sworn off dating for at least a few years – but now I have a date, and in less than a day, too.

  “So when are you seeing him again?” Andi prods as she smirks at me.