Outside everyone stood in a perfectly straight line at the schools front doors, a few late students stumbling to get out of their parents cars to be at the entrance in time. The bell chimed, releasing the locks on the glass doors. 

The students filed in quietly, going to respective lockers and classes. Within the last year, I opted out of my arts classes for ones in communications. It sounded cool to be able to communicate and initiate trades and information to the foreign countries. In communications we can learn how to speak and understand them, the closest we can get to knowing what it's like over there. Traveling was forbidden. 

"Reia," Phoebe said, her hand on my shoulder, "Great to see you. It's been a while." 

I turn to look into the soft green eyes of hers, "Yes, the break has felt like it took some time, don't you think?" We kept our public appearance simple and polished. It was as if we weren't just sneaking away from our homes late last night. 

"Have you heard?" She said rather quietly, "On the information channel this morning. They caught two males a couple cities away breaking the bond law. They're in Violet Eye restraints now." 

My attention peaked, but I shoved the interest down. "No way, the biggest law? How old were they?" 

"Our age, I think. It's crazy." 

It was easy for me to tell that she was uneasy about the situation. It wasn't the first time something like this happened, but it's certainly the closest the law was broken around us. Any closer and they would have put our schools on Surveillance for a month. Every little detail would be compromised. 

We walked into the classroom side-by-side, the perfect picture of a strong friendship. Though to us, we were much more. A presentation was placed on the screen, a recap of the system of our country. 

"As most of you may know," Mrs. Track had said stiffly, "There was a code blue down in Oregon Past last night. In cases like this, protocol must be enforced to refresh the information that seems to become dull in adolescence's minds these days."

She clicked on the projector, playing images of same-sex relationships, stringing along long lectures of how the thought alone was shameful. "Males and females are both built for the opposite gender, and that's just how it is to be. The Presidents have shown us in our Bibles that even the creator proclaims that homosexuality is a sin. The world was not built to sustain this."

The Bible-Final Testament was the book the Presidents had drove up into the rebirth of Greyfall. After the chaos and the destruction of the decade long battle, people young and old, forgetting all the old world was, let themselves be brought together by new leaders that made their ways out of the old. A new world.   

When the Presidents changed the Bible, they changed everything. There were rumors from my parent's generations and further on that claimed the Bible was different, rules by the Creator that people could chose to follow if they wanted. There was a choice in believing and following. The laws, called 'Commandments', they weren't as wild as people make them out to be now. There are more in our book, and the world isn't as easy anymore. 

"Only a male and a female can produce offspring, therefore allowing us to live. Gender to gender relations are just a waste of time and space, using our resources and leaving nothing productive behind." 

I could feel Phoebe's gaze burn into the back of my skull, knowing full well she could sense my oncoming anger at such words. She was mentally begging me to stay calm. 

"Since you all were children, you were taught that only the anything that was of no use is to be discarded, am I correct?" The teacher stood straight and firm, the red curls of her hair blowing in the slight breeze from the ceiling fan.

"Correct, Ma'am." 

"Small things such as play toys were granted, for entertainment and such forth. Games to allow people to have imagination and creativity, blasting the Nation with colorful emotions." Her hand pointed to the chalkboard, the lists of the pros. There weren't any cons on that board. "We give freedom of speech, to a certain extent. The people can voice their thoughts and opinions as long as they refrain from breaking and rules. Men can have a choice in their brides, and females can have a choice in their grooms. Here we can be who we want to be, and live happily."

But we can't be who we want to be. I thought, There's always a fine print on the contract our birth signs. 

"The Presidents will be assigning new lessons and activities to help you all remember the systems more clearly." 

With a tap of her heels she was out of the room, and the class of students released a breath of annoyed air. 

"We're not stupid enough to break the damn rules," A boy grumbled from across the room, "It's suicide." 

"They deserved to get caught. Even the Man above says it's wrong to be a gay, so why do people do it and get us in trouble?" 

Many other people in the classroom voiced their opinions and everything on the matter, ranting on how they thought the guys who got caught were foolish and disgusting because of what they felt inside. I wanted to stand and yell, my knuckles gripping tightly onto the tablet case that they had screwed into the tilted desk for our data pads. 

"Would they ever shut up?" Geoff had said as he sat next to me, "Someone got caught breaking the law, it's done and over, they don't have to keep trashing them about it." 

I looked up at him and smiled timidly, Geoff was my next biggest friend. He didn't exactly agree with the whole homosexuality thing, as saying so would probably get him in serious probation, but he didn't go against it either. Were as most would say it's revolting, he would go on as if it was an everyday thing. I wish everyone could think that. 

"It's giving me a major headache." I replied, scrolling through the newest news feeds on my data pad screen. There was an article about the case, along with several notes from the president and my school's daily assignments. "We have about thirty minutes before regular classes start. It's probably a good idea to get a look at todays work ahead of time." 

"Yeah, not a bad idea."

"Pardon the interruption." The speakers on the walls suddenly announced. The voice was unrecognizable. "Phoebe Arthur, report to the office immediately."