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iamgoingtoscreamstuff · 3 months ago

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Chapter four :0

Pollux tugged the study guide close to his chest. He already knew all of the materials of course, he was the top of his class, study was not something he took lightly. Chances were she also already knew the study guide by heart. Her father had endless resources at his fingertips, she was guaranteed the best from birth. That didn’t matter though, he was still excited to hang out.

He ran a hand down his shirt as he knocked on her front door. His mom had ironed it per his request before he had walked to her house. He could have taken the train, but the idea of sitting next to sweaty men with their robes infringing on his space was not something he wanted to do.

There was a slight ruckus behind the door as she gently told her dog off before she threw open the door. “Hey!” she said slightly breathless, her hand on the dog’s collar, “ Come on in, my room’s upstairs.”

He walked into her house, removing his gray slippers and gently placing them next to hers. She waved her hand, guiding him to her room. Practically skipping down the hallway to her room, he ran over the topics of the study guide. He couldn’t make a fool of himself in front of her.

Her dog followed them, its nails clicking noisily along the floor. She pulled back the sheet to her room and turned back to him. “Sorry, there’s no door.” she mumbled sheepishly, “ I maaay or may not have broken a rule a while ago.”

“Hey, I get it. One time Kastor stayed out past curfew. And like even though the sentinels didn’t catch him, my mom and dad threw a huge fit.” He smiled at the memory as he set his things on the floor. “ They grounded him for like two weeks, and took away all of his shoes after dinner so he couldn't go outside. Didn’t want him to get eaten before he could save the world”

She laughed as she took out her notebook. “ Where should we start?”

“The beginning of the unit?”

“Ok, yeah that makes sense.”

He pulled his phone out to send a quick message to mom letting her know he had made it safely without being dress coded by any of the sentinels or yanked away by one of the Councilman for another impromptu meeting. Flipping through his textbook he found the unit they were on. Unit seventeen it read, The Rise Of The Counsel. Why the school spent so long on the time before the Counsel, he had no idea. They had all but erased traces of life before the Counsel.

It was to keep them safe, they said. To keep them away from the harms of the dark ages. Back when people fought over what political party to lead their country. Now it was the Counsel. Simple and safe. The Counsel was a savior for the nation, just like him. There were no differences, because there was nothing to oppose. The Council protected all the citizens of Arcadia.

His head snapped up as Cas jumped up and ran out the door.

“Hang on, my dad is calling me downstairs.” Cass shouted over her shoulder, running down the hallway.

He lowered his head back to his textbook before gritting his jaw and smoothing his paper. ”I’ll be here.” He mumbled.

He was here to study. He wasn't here to think about his problems, this was an escape from that. She was here to grant him a break from his worries. Did she know that?

Maybe not, but she was doing it anyway.

Cass bounded into the room seconds later apologizing profusely and sinking into her chair. She set out her pens and pencils before sitting up straight and turning to face him. “ So Jenna in history is dating James.”

“Wait seriously?” He laughed, slapping a hand over his hand, “ I thought that they like, hated each other.”

“Ok, me too!” She screeched, “ But I saw them making out in the training closet. So like,” She shrugged, “I don't even know anymore.”

“Wait wait wait. There's actually no way. They hate each other so much.”

“Dude I know it’s insane.” She leaned in a little closer, “ Want to know something better?”

“Duh”

“Mrs Baker and Mr Jarvis are always in each other's classrooms after school…”

“They’re both MARRIED!”

“I KNOW”

He shook his head, running his hands through his scalp. “ No way. No way.”

“Yes way.” She said seriously. “ OK, we really don't need to be talking about that. So, what do you want to do in college? It’s senior year man, big decisions and a whole life ahead of you.”

He paused, thinking for a beat before answering. “ I think I want to do something mundane ya know?” She looked at him, her eyes piercing his soul as she searched his expression. Her own face twisted into an unfamiliar profile. “ I mean, it's just that being who I am means that my life is super crazy all the time. I want to be able to settle down somewhere and do what I love and not what I was “born to be”.”

He sighed as he placed his hands in his lap. That might have been a bit too much to say to her.

“I get that.” She said after a moment. “ But I want something more than what I am now. I’m the daughter of a Counselman, of course I’m destined for greatness. It’s only natural that I follow in his footsteps.”

“It’s only natural.” He repeated quietly.

He sat silently thinking about what she had just said to him. She sucked at her tooth, absently tapping her pencil against her notebook. Maybe he too is destined for greatness? Maybe he too is meant to make a mark in the world outside of his destined one? Or is he just Pollux? Everyone else in his family had a place and a power. He was an outsider in his own home. If he was destined for anything, it was to be a good member of society.

“I don’t know yet though.” She mumbled quietly. “ Is that bad you think?”

No, he thought, perhaps in the quest for greatness, they have lost sight of what is in front of them. Too lost in their endeavors of a greater world, they have forgotten to live in it. Too afraid to stain their future that they have lost the color of the present? “ I don’t think it’s bad at all,” he says instead, “ I actually think it's great that you think that what you want to do at seventeen maybe isn't what you’re meant to do.”

“ I guess that makes sense.” She mumbled again. “ It’s just hard not knowing I think. It’s like part of me is screaming that I’m destined for something great, but the other part is screaming even louder that I’m not enough you know?”

He nodded, he felt the same way.

“ Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!” She blurted suddenly. “ I'm totally dumping all of my problems on you right now.”

He threw his hands up, “ No no no! You’re all good! It’s really nice having someone who gets it. I feel the exact same way, but it feels weird talking about this to my parents or siblings.”

“I don’t have siblings so I’m not sure about that part, but the parents I get completely.”

“Let’s change the subject again?” He ventured carefully, twisting his hands together in his lap.

She nodded vigorously, reaching over his head to grab a small box. “ This is pretty cool.” she said, turning it around in her hand. “ It's a replica of something in the Consel hall building. My dad won’t tell me what it is, but it's pretty so I don't really care. He said I’ll get to know it personally in the coming years if I play my cards right, which- sorry I know we agreed to talk about something else- but it's why I want to be a Counsel leader.”

He held out his hand to hold the box. It was light, the wood painted with small purple flowers and an intricate lock on the front. He turned it over a few times, inspecting each nook and cranny as if staring at it would make the box release its secrets. “It’s pretty cool, yeah.” He finally said, handing it back to her.

“Oh wow. Alright Mr fancy pants over here isn’t impressed with my most prized possession.”

He froze. “ No, I think it’s great! I just- It’s”

“ I was just kidding man, relax.” She laughed. “ But if this didn’t impress you then I’ll just have to take you to my favorite place to see cool stuff. The Museum of Counsel history. It’s so cool.” She scribbled something down on a piece of paper before handing it to him. “ Here’s the address. Would next week work for you? At maybe around four on Saturday?”

He took the paper dumbfounded, nodding slowly as he stuffed it into his backpack.

“Perfect!” She beamed. “ My dad won’t let you stay much longer because he’s mean. That was a joke, he's awesome, but it’s getting close to curfew so you should probably leave.”

He nodded again, mumbling under his breath a few half hearted thank yous and see you soons as he left her room. She waved from her seat, still beaming as she watched him leave.

He ignored the way his heart was beating just a little too fast and shuffled down the sidewalk to head back home.

He finally had a friend. Someone to talk to and take comfort in that wasn’t his family. And he loved it. They’d set up a time to hang out again in two weeks so they could finish their discussion and so she could show him her favorite pieces? His body practically thrummed with excitement as he thought about it.

He walked down the hallway to his room, feeling floaty. He had a friend. And she wanted to meet up with him again. Him! Again!

His head reeled as he all but skipped down the hall. He opened the door to his room to find Kastor sitting smugly on his bed. “Get off.” he barked, all floaty feelings falling away.

Kastor raised his arms in retreat and climbed down to his bottom bunk. Pollux set his things away, gently placing the address to the museum on his bulletin board. He smiled despite himself when he saw it hanging there. He finally had a friend.

He turned around again, only to find Kastor giving him a look. He rolled his eyes and jumped to the top bunk. Kastor immediately poked his head out from under the mattress and grinned up at him. He waggled his eyebrows a few times, making stupid faces until Pollux finally snapped.

“What on earth do you want?”

Kastor grinned wider and brought his fingers together in a flat o, smashing them against each other. He made kissy noises as he did, making direct eye contact with Pollux the whole time. “Are you still a virgin?” He finally asked, eye lit in amusement.

He wanted to barf. His brother knew that he had just gone to study with her. Sure they hadn’t actually ended studying, but they hadn’t done anything like that. He made a small gagging noise and threw his pillow at his twin’s face. “ Ew dude. Ew. No. Absolutely not. We just talked.” He shrugged.

“Ohoho, so you’re talking now? I’m so proud of you, my twin. Talking to girls.” He laughed wildly. “You don’t need to lie to me dude. You were gone for literally forever.”

He groaned, “ How are we related? Her house in the Counsel square idiot.”

Kastor just stared.

“In the center of the city?”

His twin’s face was blank. He could practically see the gears turning behind his eyes.

“ We live close to the outskirts and I walked.” He finished.

Pollux watched in mild amusement as his face lit up in recognition.

“Doesn't mean you didn’t do anything.”

“ Shut up or I’m telling mom you were the one that ate the last of the cookies last week.”

He gasped and quickly retreated back to his own mattress, muttering something about bro code. Pollux sank into his own bed, taking out his phone and sending a message to Cass.

I had fun tonight

He stared anxiety at his phone as the other side of his messages lit up with three small dots. He watched as they bounced up and down for what felt like an eternity before a simple massage popped up.

Me too :) I can’t wait for the museum night!

He smiled as he typed his next message.

Same here! Continue this class tomorrow? I've got to go to sleep hahaha.

She sent a thumbs up and he set his phone on his shelf, hugging his spare pillow to his chest.

giggling coz I hid something important here :)

#beginner writer who is terrified #screaming noises #writeblr #oc #midterms are killing me #anyway here's this

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