“It’s a dress, a beautiful dress.” She sniffles, her eyes shining with emotion. She passes it to me. Softer than any material I’ve ever touched and in a color that matches the blue of a forget-me-not patch I once saw in the meadow by our cave, the dress makes my insides flutter strangely. I raise it to my face, inhaling the flowery fragrance that seems to be woven into the fabric. June’s voice drifts toward me. “These are the shoes that go with it.” She holds a pair of delicate shoes that will barely cover my feet. “And there’s a note, too.” She bends and retrieves a small piece of paper. “It’s from Sully.” She looks confused momentarily. Her smile quivers as she begins reading. “It says ‘This is for you to wear tonight.’ Avery, he wants you to wear this on your date with him tonight.”
I do not miss that she says the word “date” with a degree of anger. “Date, June, really? Trust me, it’s not a date.
“Well it sure sounds like a date to me, she huffs heatedly.” Her cheeks are scarlet and her nostrils flare. She’s jealous. It’s obvious, and confirms my suspicion that she has affection for Sully.
“He’s meeting up with old friends of his from Washington Central and wants me there as a buffer.”
“A what?” June scrunches her features in confusion.
“A kind of cushion, you know. His friends don’t understand why he left, why anyone would want to leave here. But I do, and he wants me with him for support.”
June takes her lower lip between her teeth.
“June, we’re friends. I’m going to make him feel a bit more comfortable. That’s it.”
My words appear to calm her somewhat. Her complexion returns to normal and her features relax.
“Oh,” is all she says.
“I won’t be gone long, and while I’m out, Jericho said he’ll look after you. You can hang out with him.”
“Jericho? Why would he need to look after me? I can just stay here by myself.”
“By yourself?” I ponder the idea. “I don’t think so.” I frown.
“Avery, we’re safe here. No one’s coming—no Lurkers, no Urthmen, no bad guys. I’ll be fine alone.” She rolls her shoulders back and straightens her posture. “Besides, I have a lot of homework.” She points to a small pile of books she dropped on her bed without me noticing. Among them is a small paperback with a rodent on the front. “I’m reading a book about a hamster that goes on all sorts of adventures. It’s a type of work called fiction. That means the events written about didn’t really happen. It’s just a book that’s fun to read.” She bobs one shoulder. “I’ve never read a book before. I’m kind of excited to get started.”
Hesitantly, I agree. “Fine. You’ve persuaded me. You can stay by yourself.” I don’t like it, but I suppose her staying here all night is far safer than spending the day alone at the cave when we lived in the forest. It, too, was inhabited by scary creatures, only the ones in the forest were easier to identify than the ones here in New Washington.
June smiles warmly. “Good. I’ll get a lot of work done that way.”
Dinner is announced via the television screen mounted on the wall. I go to the cafeteria with June and choke down the unappetizing slop spooned onto my tray. Will and Sarah arrive later than Tom, Oliver, Riley and Jericho. I’m growing acutely aware of their connection with every encounter. They seem to exist in a world that doesn’t include anyone else, least of all me. Though the knowledge of that doesn’t make me happy, the dull ache is lessening little by little, replaced with acceptance. I’m resigned to endure it for what it is. President Sullivan’s threats fill my thoughts enough to crowd out much else.
With President Sullivan in mind, I wonder where Sully is. Just when I’m about to ask Jericho where he is, I see him stroll into the room. He casually picks up a tray, is served his food and joins us. He doesn’t mention the gift or how it got inside my room. I remain silent, as well, and reluctant to bring it up in front of the others.
We eat quickly then return to our rooms. Before I enter mine, I look over my shoulder and glimpse Sully smirking. I shake my head at him, fighting the grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. I look away and he disappears inside.
Once in my room, I shower. When I’ve finished and am dry, I eye the dress Sully left for me. Swallowing hard, I lift it then pull it over my head. The material feels like the silk of a spider’s web. Gauzy and light, the fabric hugs every curve I have and falls only to the middle of my thighs. I feel as if little stands between my naked self and, well, the world. I wonder whether I look indecent as I slip the shoes onto my feet and marvel at how lightweight they are. I squeeze my damp hair with a towel and allow it to spill over my shoulders and down my back, and then step out of the bathroom.
“Well, how do I look?” I ask my sister.
June looks up from her book for a split second then returns her gaze to her work. I’m momentarily crestfallen that she didn’t give a reaction one way or another. But when her head whips back up and her jaw drops, I’m left wishing things had remained as they’d been seconds ago. I clear my throat and fidget nervously.
“You look . . . wow . . . I mean . . . wow.”
“What, June? What’s wow?”
“You, you’re wow,” she exclaims. “You look amazing, Avery. You’re so beautiful!” She stands and bounces up and down while clapping.
Blushing I smooth my hands down the front of my dress. “You think so?” I ask nervously.
“I know so.” Her smile collapses abruptly. “And so will Sully.” She flops back down onto the bed and covers her face with both hands.
As I move toward her bed to comfort her, there’s a knock at the door. I glance at the numbers in the bottom left-hand corner of the television screen and see that it’s exactly seven o’clock. He’s right on time.
“Oh just answer it. You don’t want to keep him waiting,” June mutters from behind her hands.
With a trembling hand, I reach for the door and twist the knob. I pull it inward and there, framed in the doorway, is a man I barely recognize. Dressed in a dark shirt that buttons down the front and highlights his broad shoulders and tapered waist with its fit, and dark pants and shoes, Sully looks striking. His hair looks shorter and neater than I’ve ever seen it. I realize I’m staring at him with my mouth agape and snap my lips shut. “Hi,” I barely manage.
A long pause passes between us. His wide-eyed gaze travels the length of my body appreciatively, his lips parted. He shakes his head, almost imperceptibly then blinks before his eyes lock on mine. Pink colors his cheeks. “Hi,” he says, and for the first time since I’ve met him, he seems nervous.
“Hi Sully!” June shoves past me.
“Hey June,” he replies without tearing his eyes from mine.
“Are you going on a date with Avery?” she asks loudly.
As if waking from a dream, he shakes his head again and focuses on her. “What?” he asks with a tiny tremor in his voice.
“Are you taking Avery on a date?” she asks again.
Clearing his throat and shifting his weight from one leg to the next, he replies, “Date? What? No! No way.” He rumples his face as if he’s smelled an offensive odor. Then he smiles down at her and touches his index finger to the tip of her nose. “I just have to meet with some boring old friends and need a pal with me. I’d bring you, but you have to be at least seventeen to get into some of the places we’re going. Are you seventeen yet?” His eyes sparkle with charm.
“No.” June twists her lips to one side.
“Darn it.” Sully snaps his fingers and frowns. “Well, maybe next time then, okay?”
“Okay.” She grins and seems appeased.
“In the meantime, make sure you study hard and read your books. Be beautiful and smart.”
“You got it,” she says before she zips past me to her bed. My hearts feels as if it’s tripled in size when I watch their interaction, how he treats her with such consideration, such tenderness. “Bye, guys! Have fun!” she calls out to us.
I look
over my shoulder at her. “Be safe June. Do not open this door for anyone. Understand?”
“I understand.” She nods solemnly.
“Okay. Love you,” I tell her.
“Love you, too,” she replies. Then she silently mouths, “You look beautiful,” and gives me a thumbs-up.
I return my attention to Sully and my heart stumbles like a clumsy runner. His strong square jaw is free of stubble and looks soft and inviting. I have to consciously keep from reaching out and tracing my finger along it. The smoothness of his skin draws attention to his lips, how wide and full they are.
As if reading my thoughts, he licks his lips and smiles his signature half-smile. “Ready to go?” he asks.
“Yep,” I say and step out into the hallway. I’m immediately greeted by the scent of soap and mint and another spicy note I can’t place. I don’t know what it is, but it’s coming from Sully, and I find myself drawn to it.
“You look, uh,” he scratches the back of his head then splays his hands at his sides. “You look beautiful.” I do not miss that he’s a tad breathless, a fact that makes my insides buzz like a hive of bees.
“Thank you,” I say and feel my own breathing hitch, heat blooming in my chest. “And thank you for the dress. It it’s stunning. Where’d you get it? How’d you know this one would fit me?”
“I got the dress at a shop in Washington Central. And got my hair cut.”
“I like it. Your hair, I mean. I like your haircut. And I like the dress, too. I like them both,” I fumble my words. My insider continue to hum and shiver.
“Thanks,” he replies. “I saw the dress in a window, by the way, and I thought of you.” He jams his hands into the front pockets of his pants and dips his jaw, watching his feet as they take turns hitting the stone floor. “I liked the color and thought it would bring out the flecks of blue in your eyes. I just guessed the size.” He clears his throat and steals a sidelong glance at me. “I skipped the last class of the day and put it on my dad’s account.” He chuckles. “I think it looks much better on you than it would on him, though.”
Heat creeps up my neck and I’m sure my cheeks blaze. “Thanks, I think,” I say with a nervous chuckle.
We continue along in the tunnel until darkness and dankness transitions to brightness and warmth. Four times along the way, we are stopped and asked to show our passes. The fifth time it happens, I comment to Sully, “Wow, they’re really paranoid that people from our side of the city will sneak into Washington Central, huh?”
“What would ever give you that idea?” he asks and rolls his eyes. “They’re terrified of it. You can see why. I mean, look around.” We’ve turned down a side street amble along a cobbled pathway glittering under the lamplight above. Impressive stone structures with skillfully carved windows glow, and people wearing clothes like ours stroll at a leisurely pace.
“It’s so different from the other side.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. In GenPop, no one has time to slow down and visit eateries and shops. They’re too busy working so their kids can go to school, and so their measly room isn’t given away to someone else.”
I shake my head sadly. The disparity is glaring, and painful. By now, the people of GenPop are in their rooms. There aren’t any shops or eateries to visit. And because we’re required to rise so early, being out as late as we are already will guarantee exhaustion the next day. From being kidnapped in the middle of the night and the current late hour, it’s a wonder I’m still standing. Adrenaline and excitement are the only factors fueling me.
“We’re here.” Sully’s words make my pulse rate skyrocket.
We’re standing outside a smooth building composed of sleek, buttery stone so glossy and golden I can see my reflection in it.
“Are you serious?” I ask incredulously.
“Dead serious.” He opens the door and says, “After you.”
As I cross the threshold ahead of him, he lightly places his hand on the small of my back, reassuring me that he’s still with me. Fingertips that barely graze the gossamer fabric of my dress cause a wave of tingles to whisper across my flesh. My insides are suddenly jittery, my legs wobbly. He appears beside me; his hand still barely brushes my back, and leads me inside through an arched doorway. My eyes widen. The interior is breathtaking. Iron sconces with candles hang from beams, and decorative fixtures with branched parts that hold candles dangle over covered tables filled with fruits and vegetables, meats, and glasses filled with ruby-red liquid. The clink and tinkle of plates and utensils is a background melody to the rolling hum of conversation. The buzz and jingle is as lovely as the décor, which is gold and white and matches the exterior.
A part of me feels as though I’ve stepped into an alternate universe. I’m about to say as much when Sully says, “There they are.” He clips his head to the right to where a group of three young men and three young women sits. They see him and begin waving.
“Sully!” a woman with chin-length hair as shiny and smooth as volcanic glass stands and squeals. “I can’t believe you’re here! You look great! How are you?”
“Whoa, Kim, calm down,” a young man with the palest skin I’ve ever seen comments with a chuckle. His black hair is slicked back and appears wet, and contrasts his pallid complexion. “Give the man some space.” Eyes that are nearly as black as his hair land on me. “And let him introduce us to his friend.”
The hand on my back settles with more weight. “This is Avery,” Sully says.
A series of greetings come my way. I smile and acknowledge them with an uncomfortable wave.
“I’m Kim,” the girl with the jaw-skimming hair says. “And this is Aiden,” she gestures to the pale man with the slicked back hair. Kim takes both of my hands in hers and gives a gentle squeeze. They are extraordinarily soft, and I notice that her nails are colored a gleaming shade of red.
“Wow, your nails,” I say, and as soon as the words leave my lips, Kim begins speaking so quickly I have to focus to follow what she’s saying.
“Oh my gosh. Thank you so much for noticing. I got them done today. I used to get them done at a place over on Gilded Street, but the girls there were, I don’t know, there was a vibe, you know? The place was all drab and dull and so close to the border, near the tunnel that leads to—”
Aiden clears his throat loudly and interrupts Kim’s rambling. “Kim, why don’t you introduce Avery to the rest of our group and let them sit down?”
Rosiness touches Kim’s cheeks and she steps back. “Sorry,” she says. “This is Jared,” she gestures to another dark-haired man with hair that brushes his collar, “And his girlfriend Denise.” Denise gives a limp wave before brushing a length of chestnut hair off her shoulder. “Ugh, her and that hair,” Kim leans in and whisper to me. “She just bought it a week ago and she can’t stop flaunting it.” I turn to face her, but she’s resumed smiling and pointing. “And this is Tanner and Cynthia,” she points to a couple dressed in matching shades of blood-red with nearly identical porcelain skin and sable eyes.
I’m still reeling from the lavish furnishings and overabundance of food. Associating six new names with six new faces and committing all to memory challenges me more so than usual.
Kim gives Sully a quick peck on the cheek and says, “It’s so good to see you,” before returning to her seat beside Aiden.
Sully pulls out a chair for me and I sit. He sits beside me, so close our legs brush.
“Let me order you something to drink,” Tanner says and smiles complacently. With his brow furrowed and a small frown creasing his mouth, his eyes dart among the tables arranged throughout the room. I wonder what he’s looking for and turn around, searching for something out of the ordinary. To me, everything’s out of the ordinary. All I see is a sea of people dressed in brightly colored clothes seated at tables that fairly overflow with food. It is nothing like the cafeteria in which I eat, and the rainbow of colors are a dramatic departure from the all-white jumpsuits we wear. “Avery, please tell me if you se
e one of those white jumpsuits,” Tanner says. For a moment, I’m startled and certain my thoughts are echoing out of my head. “I guess our server must’ve gotten lost or something,” he adds with mild annoyance.
“That wouldn’t surprise me,” Denise adds and tosses her head back. Her tone is not bitter, just matter-of-fact, a detail that makes me bristle.
Suddenly, Tanners eyes widen. “Oh, there’s one! Excuse me!” He snaps his fingers impatiently.
A young man wearing a white jumpsuit identical to the one sitting on my bed right now comes to our table. He lowers his head submissively. “Yes, sir? How can I serve you?”
“I would like two glasses for our new guests and another bottle of red wine, the most expensive bottle you have.” Tanner beams, his smile triumphant, though I can’t understand why.
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of that right away,” the server replies with a dutiful nod.
“Oh, and make sure the glasses are clean, okay? No spots,” Cynthia calls out.
The young man turns and bobs his head, his demeanor docile.
“Even in a place as nice as this, you have to make sure to remind them of the small things,” Kim says and shakes her head with what can only be described as pity. Then she claps her crimson tipped hands together and says, “So Sully, Aiden and I are engaged!” she announces and thrusts her left hand forward. A band of gold with an enormous sparkling stone at its center occupies one finger. “Ack! Isn’t that exciting?”
Several squeals peal from the other two women at our table.
“Wow, that’s great news, guys. I’m so happy for you both,” Sully replies. His enthusiasm is forced, but only I appear to notice. Everyone else is just chattering at once.
“And you know Tanner and Cynthia got married two months ago, right?” Kim says to Sully.
Aiden speaks before Sully answers. “Uh, babe, remember? Sully wasn’t here,” he tries to remind Kim in a low voice.
“Oops,” she covers her mouth and scrunches her features. “Sorry.”
The Underground City (Book 3): Planet Urth, no. 3 Page 19