Chapter 3

4 brothers. That's how many Haven has. All older. All crude. They have picked on him since we were kids. He was constantly the one who said the dumb thing, according to them. He took all the hits. Everything he did was wrong in their eyes. A mom and a dad. Who dog fight all day and night. Haven's house rarely has dishes because they always end up broken. His mom is frightened of saying no to her sons, but not her husband. Her sons do whatever they want. And his dad. Might as well be mine, he's never home- always working at the school. Howling at people. When I run into him at school he is always outraged about something. All I know is when his dad is home at the same time as his mom, Haven's not home. Haven and I have been friends since I was in 5th grade. Before I knew him I noticed him in the back of the class, with his head down. When he lifted his head his eyes were dead. It hurt me. I have always been able to understand people's feelings easier than most people. Probably given to me genetically; definitely not from my dad. Haven would sit at a table alone. It was killing me on the inside every time I looked at him. One day I sat next to him. I didn't have anyone better to sit next to anyway. He wouldn't look to me at first; he would just nod when I came up to him. That was the only greeting I ever got. For a week we sat there, silent. Then slowly our silence turned into occasional words. I remember the first thing he said to me. I had come up the same and just sat there quiet as usual. No talking. I just thought about my day, then he sat up coming out of his shell and said "No pity parties?" He said his words trembling, you can tell he had been wanting to say it for a while, this as a question and a command. Whatever it was, I understood.

"No pity parties," I say, confirming to him.

He nodded. The next day when I sat down he started to talk. Our silence had turned into conversations. At first, I saw him as a damaged person. Who needed a friend. I felt like I was doing him a favor. After multiple lunches, I saw him as a person. A good one. I was a good reason for him to be out of the house. We made each other forget about our family problems. A few months after he started telling me about his family. I told him about mine. He was honest with me. I told him about Taylor's mom moving out after I showed up, Taylor ignoring me, my dad leaving me. He told me about his brothers and the constant abuse. Taylor gives me very tough love and acceptance, but he gave me just acceptance. Taylor always asks for so much to stay at the top of her list. He asks for nothing. He just wanted my friendship, not something I had or could give him. He gave me someone to care about other than Taylor and my dad. We did a lot for each other. The next year things in his house got better so did he, and that's when he really started to become popular. He made so many friends that year, mostly because I forced him to talk to other people. With that, he discovered his unarguable amazing talent with people. Everyone who meets him can't help but like him. But it does not go the other way around. Even though his social status has raised greatly, he is still loyal to me, and he says if it weren't for me helping in the bad times he would not be the person he is in the good times.

After the elections, I when upstairs to bed pretty immediately. Haven and I both figured that if we talked we would just get more confused. Plus, I was tired and knew I would need to lay for a while before my mind calmed down enough to sleep, so the sooner I went up the better. I was right. It was over 2 hours of tossing and turning before I drifted off, even when I was asleep my mind was still on. My dreams where overloaded, vibrant with thoughts, outcomes, and possibilities. What is the test? What will it be like when I take it? Will it be on paper? What type of questions will they ask? Questions to see how smart I am? What is the new system? Who was that man? Questions demanding my mind for answers that I can't give. Was he just mad or was he warning us? Was he just attempting to get in my head? Our town's head? Everyone who was watching the elections, which is everyone in our country's head? Well if that was the plan, he did an outstanding job. He should be giving himself a pat on the back. Soon enough I feel the sun beating on my body. I open my eyes waking from that middle territory of sleep and being awake I was in all night. I have a dreadful feeling stuck with me. Like the aftertaste from last night. I make out Taylor and Haven talking downstairs. It smells like muffins. I drag myself to the bathroom, throw on a grey tank top, and brush my hair. Haven and Taylor are downstairs. They're cooking pancakes together on our tiny countertops. I forgot Haven was here, the riots were so large and dangerous he had to sleep on the couch.

"Hey, sleepyhead." Taylor is beaming. Which makes me very agitated. Her voice is light again not like last night.

I was shocked they could find all the ingredients for pancakes. "Where did you get all the stuff to make this?" I ask Haven, my voice very rigid since I just woke up.

"Haven did some scavenging for me." Taylor smiles. I was asking Haven though.

Haven sets down a plate in front of me with 2 golden pancakes. "Riots stopped around 3 am. The streets are clear. Everything's safe." He explains to me.

I nod and try to look pleased.

"Dad's staying at a friend's house," Taylor adds. I just bobble my head again.

I do love my dad. He was a good dad but when I was young, Taylor was around 12- that was the year he turned to beer for comfort. I have never asked him why, but I guess it's because the year Taylor's mom moved out. Which is my fault. Or that's what she claims. Now I only see him once a week when he chooses to sleep at his house with his kids, but he usually stays at his friend's house at night. And I have not seen Taylor's mom in years, purposely.

I stare down at the pancakes, slowly cooking. Bubbles forming at the top. Then gradually popping. Then I tilt my head back up to look at Haven. I have to address the elephant in the room. I know they both counting the seconds until it seems appropriate to bring it up.

"So... this test. Do you know what time it's at?"

Haven nods his head "It's at school. They made an announcement on the T.V. They said people will come to get us when it's time. We are not allowed to leave the house unless we are going to the test."

I laugh a little. No one here follows the rules. No one here will care. It's probably a busy Saturday morning. To think people would stay inside their houses is stupid of Jess.

"I was stupid and thought the same thing at first." Taylor pipes in, "I looked outside and-" she opens the curtain and there are guards on the street. Black suits with big machines that I'm pretty sure are guns. We don't have them here but I've seen pictures of them in books at school. This is weird. Ferris being controlled.

"This is-"

"Weird, yeah I know." Taylor interrupts.

"Does your family know your okay, Haven?" I change the subject.

"Well no, I guess not since I can't leave the house but after the test, I will ask to be taken back to my house."

I bend my head up and down "Okay." I start popping the pancakes in my mouth bite by bite. It tastes so good.

After my third bite, I can't hold in my thoughts. "So what do you guys think the test will be like?"

"I bet they will make us take a quiz to see which zodiac sign we are most compatible with and go from there." he grins.

I laugh, "Or there will make us play kiss, marry, kill with the predental candidates," I pause, "but seriously, I think-"

"There is no point in wondering," Taylor interrupts me again her voice loud and stern. "I'm going to go, and if you need to know since apparently, I have to tell you all where I am at all times, I'll be in my room." She starts marching upstairs.

Haven makes a face at me, "Wow."

I close my eyes and shake my head. "I know one second she is delightful next she is your worst nightmare."

Haven and I spent the next couple of hours talking through theories.

"Maybe the test just to see how grades are. I mean maybe she just wants to manage the education better."

I put my hand on my face, "Oh my god, what a let down that would be to go in and it just is a math sheet."

Haven laughs, "Then neither of us would get chosen for sure."

I forgot about the whole chosen thing. I was so caught up on the test I forgot she said something about picking someone.

"I wonder what they are looking for." I speculate.

"I hope to god it's not rude ugly people because I don't want you to leave me." As he says it his lips curve upward.

Another thing I didn't think of in the hours of talking, I never thought- what if I get chosen and not Haven or Taylor? Or just one of them does.

"If I get picked I'll turn it down." I think, say, and decided at the same time.

Haven gazes and me "Same."

Then he makes some joke but I didn't hear it because I'm thinking about what I just agreed to so I just sat on the couch and do a fake laugh.

Around 3 o'clock there is a knock. Haven and I give each other a look, he nods, and I get up to get it. I open the door to 3 police in black.

"It's time for you to report to your test, " says the woman in the front.