Chapter #2A friend's new job. by: Ëtalfni   "So where are you working now, Aaron?" I asked while taking a seat on top of the book he was reading. "What's the big secret about it?"
Aaron was a pretty well built guy, in fact if sports were still around he'd probably have been on a football team. His red hair was kept shaven and his facial hair neatly cleaned which added to the blandness of the black and white suit all students were expected to wear. The only noticeable difference between him and another male student was the pale yellow neck tie, students were permitted to wear their own neckties and not the plain uniform black ones given to them.
"I told you, man, I can't talk about it. Especially not in school."
"Why? Is it illegal?" I smirked, eyeing the robotic teacher at the front of the class that was programmed to monitor everyone in the room.
"No!"
"Then what's the problem?"
"Just-"
"Attention male students: Eric Vandervale, Aaron Shywater. Volume levels in this perimeter have exceeded general ambiance levels. Reframe from creating obstructive distractions. Be advised: failure to comply will result in expulsion from class and two demerits on your respective student records." Announced a mechanical voice from the front of the room.
"Great..." muttered Aaron, hiding his usual beet red face behind his book. I just rolled my eyes. We knew we both could afford another two demerits on our student records, but I decided to drop it.
Since last week, when Aaron had gotten his supposed job, he had been extremely quiet around me. Normally we would always hang with each other after class and find some way to cause trouble to entertain ourselves. After he had been hired though, he rarely even had time to speak. He always said he was "busy working", though he never did go into much detail after that.
I had made it my mission to discover where it was he was working so I could hang out with him more, Aaron seemed to think I was doing it to pester him though. But really it was because I was concerned about the line of work he might be doing. He was the only guy I had as a friend, most of the other "male students" as the robotic faculty called us hated my guts because I was a womanizer and was the crush of many girls in our class.
I should probably have given a brief introduction to myself though. My name is Eric Vandervale. I'm currently in my sixteenth year of schooling here in 0028 Institute, meaning I'd be a junior in high school if I translated it to pre-jump times. 0028 isn't a random number, it's a ranking. The school is the twenty eighth best institute for high learning, according to the government. It's pretty high up there, considering the numbers go into four digits. My family was part of the more influence members in the corporations when the technology jump happened, so we're very well off and were able to get me into this school. Though I'm considered somewhat on the thick side by my parents, both my brothers had gone to 0002 and 0004 schools respectively while I never cared much for school.
"Perfect," whispered Aaron. "Eric, can you spare a pen?"
I waited for the robotic teacher to scan in another direction before tossing Aaron one of my spare pens. Aaron was a good guy, if shy. He was certainly a lot smarter than me, but he'd never admit it. His biggest fault was that he was always a perfectionist, meaning he'd spend hours working on one math problem until he got it spot on even if he'd never get to the others in time to complete a test. Unlike my family, Aaron came from a generally poor family that struggled to even keep him here which was why I was somewhat relieved to hear he had found a job after school.
As I fiddled around with my other pens while Aaron continued to take notes, what sounded like an air raid alarm rang out in the halls outside the classroom. The usual mechanical voice of the robot teacher blared out.
"Time period 'Study Hall' concluded. Students are required to vacant the room. The Board of Education seeks to remind students that any illegal activity after school hours that may deface the reputation of the Institute will-"
But the poor robot was quickly overwhelmed by the sudden rush of students trying to push their way to the door to escape the dank dark cell of a room. I tried to keep my eye on Aaron as we made our way to our lockers. It was usually during this after school rush that I lost him while he made his way to work. This time I tried my best to keep an eye on his shaven red head but eventually lost it under the crowd of similarly shaven heads.
"God dammit..." I muttered, kicking my locker when I came to it.
I didn't think Aaron would have the guts to do something really illegal for a job, no matter how desperate his family was for money. He knew he could always ask me for help after all. But he certainly was hiding something and his behavior was only getting more awkward by the day.
As I threw my bag into the locker, I slammed it shut not caring if it locked or not. I then headed outside to go home.
Though the bus was still there and loading up with other students, I figured spending a few hours cramped in a flying metal tin can would not be the best thing to improve my mood. The weather seemed to be reflecting my attitude, clouds and darkness matched the unvarying skyscrapers as flying cars buzzed around the tops like a swarm of bees. A walk through the lower city might help clear my anger.
That's when I saw...   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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