* * *
Throughout the day, Paivi followed her new rules, sitting at the designated table at the front of the room. Her teachers looked relieved that they didn’t need to ask her to move. Sometimes she sat alone, sometimes with one other student. She tried to busy herself by taking notes, or looking at her textbook, if only to avoid the stares. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her. None of them appeared to be paying attention to anything but Paivi and her glowing button.
It was with a groan that Paivi entered her sixth hour class. It felt like an eternity since she’d last spoken to Jason. She put her head down and went to her new seat.
Jason reached out and grabbed her wrist as she walked by.
“Hey, Anderson, too good for me now that you’re a big star?”
Paivi pulled her hand away and headed to the table she knew had been set up for her. Another boy in the class, Tyler Matthews was already sitting there. She threw herself down into the chair and started to cry. She buried her face in her arms, but didn’t much care if people saw her. The tears poured out, hot and angry.
Jason rushed to her, putting his arms around her shoulders.
“I am so sorry, I was just kidding! I swear! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean anything by it. I…I don’t know what to say. Please!”
Between sobs she attempted to get out a few words.
“I’m…not…allowed…to play…anymore.”
She began sobbing harder than ever. The floodgates had opened. All of the tension of the past few days, the shame, the embarrassment, all came rushing out.
“Oh my god! I am so sorry Paivi! I didn’t know!” he hugged her in vain, unable to stop the tears.
At that moment, Dr. Hasenpfeffer burst through the door. She dumped her usual pile of books and papers onto the desk and went straight over to Paivi, who was still sobbing uncontrollably.
“Oh you poor thing!” Dr. Hasenpfeffer pushed Jason to the side. She pulled Paivi into a hug, patting her on the back. “There, there sweetie, go ahead and let it all out.”
The bell rang. The rest of the class sat awkwardly in their desks, whispering to each other.
“Jason, fill me in,” Dr. Hasenpfeffer ordered.
“I, uh, all I did was make a comment about basketball and she started crying. I was able to get only a little of the story out of her. She said something about not playing anymore.”
“It’s okay Jason, it’s not your fault. I’m sure it has to do with this.” Still holding Paivi, she grabbed a booklet from the top of her messy pile and handed it to Jason.
He looked at it, slightly bewildered. The title read ‘EOS School Policies: How to deal with EOS students.’
“Basically,” Dr. Hasenpfeffer continued, “these students, like Paivi and Tyler, are considered Enemies of the State by your future president.”
The class sat silently and stared blankly at Dr. Hasenpfeffer.
“Seriously, you guys watch television sometimes, don’t you? This past Sunday, December 7th, President-elect Stevens gave a speech. Anybody?” She looked flabbergasted by their silence. “Come on kids, you have to know what’s going on around you! Get informed! Okay, Paivi, I’m going to have you sit down, no, in your normal spot please.”
She guided Paivi to her desk.
“Tyler, back to your original seat as well. Crystal, close the door. Okay, so no one saw the speech the other night? Well, here’s what you missed. This new organization, set up by the government, known as the Anti-Terrorism Coalition, announced that they had knowledge of people suspected in helping the terrorists of the Righteous Front. They released the information in the newspapers yesterday and all of those listed had to show up to a given location to register. They have made these people wear these silver badges to identify them.” She gestured to Paivi and Tyler. “They have rules to follow in their daily lives, and according to this booklet, they have even more rules to follow here at school, such as sitting at special tables in their classes and at lunch. They’ve also been dropped from all activities and sports because of the new, strict curfew laws.”
The students remained quiet, taking in the information. A hand went up in the back.
“Dr. Hasenpfeffer,” asked James Boggs, a tall, red-haired freshman, “why are they considered ‘Enemies of the State?’ I mean, what did they do? They must have done something bad.”
“That’s a fair question, James. That’s exactly what they want you to think. Tyler, Paivi, did they tell you what you were charged with?” asked Dr. Hasenpfeffer.
“No,” Tyler answered curtly.
Paivi shook her head.
“They said we had to go to some interview, so I guess they will tell us more then. Maybe,” said Tyler.
“This, class, goes against these students’ constitutional rights. As does being forced to follow these ridiculous school policies,” Dr. Hasenpfeffer threw the booklet across the room, banking it off of the wall and into the garbage can. “In this class, I will not make my students subject to rules of these, these…Nazis.” She spat out the word. “That is why I have asked them to remain in their usual seats. For your own safety, you may want to keep your little silver buttons on, but I’m not going to turn you in if you don’t. We are going to get on with our lesson, but please, more than ever you all need to get informed! This is your life we’re talking about here. Wake up people!”
Dr. Hasenpfeffer then turned to the day’s lesson, which was something about the Middle East. Paivi was too distracted to pay attention. She could feel the other students’ eyes boring into her back the whole period. She could only stare at the clock and will it to move faster.
By the end of the hour, there were doodles in her notebook that she had traced over so many times that she had pressed them into the pages underneath. At long last, the bell rang. Paivi snatched up her things and bolted for the door. Jason was just as quick, catching the back of her backpack.
“Slow down, speedy!” He pulled her backwards as they entered the hallway.
“I wasn’t sure you’d want to walk with me,” she mumbled.
“Come on, Paivi, I don’t really understand what’s going on right now with all of this,” he gestured to her EOS badge, “but I’m not going to allow some idiot to choose my friends for me.”
He grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to his side. Her fingers tingled, making her forget everything for just a moment before she came rushing back to her all too terrible reality.
“I just feel like such a freak,” Paivi whispered. She noticed an ATC agent up ahead that had not been in the group earlier in the morning. She looked at him in disgust.
“It’s like they’re multiplying,” she muttered.
“Who?” Jason asked, and then noticed her staring at the man dressed in black, his badge glowing, silver and bright. “Oh, these guys? I know! It’s like they came out of nowhere. Listen, let’s just go get some lunch, my treat. I think it’s hot cookie day,” he tried to make it sound enticing.
Paivi felt like crying for the second time today, remembering the policies. She wanted nothing more than to enjoy a nice lunch with Jason.
“I can’t,” she sighed. “According to my new rules, I have to sit at a lunch table with the other freaks.”
“Stop it, you’re not a freak. I guess I’ll just have to walk you to your new table and pick you up after lunch is over. In fact,” he added, as they entered the crowded lunch room, “why don’t I just be your personal security?”
She cracked a smile at the absurdity of it all.
“Aha, there’s a smile,” he laughed. “No, really, I’ve always wanted to be a Secret Service agent, well, until Senator Stevens got elected. He’s on his own. But in the mean time, I can practice on you!”
“Whatever! You’re crazy! I have to find my table.”
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, she thought, if it meant she would get to see him between every class.
Paivi spotted the lone table — it was at the far end of the cafeteria. An ATC guard sat on each end, gu
arding the four students already sitting there. She could see Christian’s blond hair — he was seated in the middle, the furthest he could be from the two guards. At least she wouldn’t be alone. As they neared the table, Michaela came running up to meet them.
“Paivi, what are you doing? Are you guys sitting together today?” she smiled.
“No, actually, I have to sit there,” Paivi gestured towards the table ahead.
“But why?” Michaela seemed a little annoyed by the information.
“It has to do with this whole thing,” Paivi pointed to her badge. “Trust me, I’d much rather sit with you.”
She could see one of the agents eyeing her.
“Look, guys, I better go.”
Michaela threw her arms around Paivi.
“This sucks! I’ll miss you!”
“Don’t worry P, we’ll come get you at the end of the hour,” Jason reminded her.
Michaela unlocked her arms, releasing Paivi from her grip. She gave one last sad look at Paivi and stepped back. Paivi turned without another word and headed to her new table as Jason and Michaela looked on.
Paivi walked by the agent at the end of the table. He looked at her, checking her badge, even though he had already seen it from across the room. He didn’t say a word, and didn’t offer so much as a smile. She passed by him, her head held high, and chose a seat next to Christian. From there they could see the whole cafeteria. Christian looked up as she sat down. His chemistry homework was spread out in front of him.
“Hi.” He didn’t sound pleased.
“Hi,” she answered. It didn’t seem like he was very talkative and she didn’t want to push him. She pulled out her paper lunch bag from her backpack. Luckily, she had remembered to bring some food today. Who knows how long it would be until the agents would let them go get lunch.
Paivi opened her bag. Peanut butter and jelly. Bag of chips. Apple. The only thing she hadn’t brought was a drink.
“Do you want some of my lunch?” she offered a half of her sandwich to him.
“No thanks,” he responded. He shoved his book toward her. “But I could use your help with these chemistry problems.”
“But I don’t…,” she began to protest, preparing to explain that she hadn’t had chemistry yet when she saw what was on the notebook paper sitting on top of Christian’s open book. In the middle of his homework were the words PAIVI PLEASE JUST READ.
Paivi looked at him.
“Uh, sure I can help you,” she glanced back to the page.
“Well, I am mostly having trouble with this number,” Christian pointed, touching it with his pencil. The writing jumped to life, like a swarm of ants, rearranging across the page into a new message.
YOU CAN JUST THINK, DON’T SPEAK.
She looked at Christian, and for the first time that day he smiled. She understood. He could read her mind. He touched his pencil to the paper, the words dissolved and re-formed.
THEY KNOW ABOUT US.
“These two things go together,” she pointed at the paper, trying to keep up the guise that she was helping him with his Chemistry. She glanced at the end of the table, checking out the ATC agents. They were looking around the cafeteria in utter boredom.
What do you mean ‘they’?
The message changed again.
ATC.
How do you know that?
She made a face.
I KNOW OTHERS ON LIST.
I don’t understand. We’re not criminals.
MAYBE.
He smiled again.
“What about this problem? Number three?”
Paivi gave him a dirty look.
Well, we aren’t terrorists.
NOT US. MAYBE OTHERS.
By why mess with us. We aren’t bothering anyone.
NOT SURE.
“Well, I think you’re just kind of dumb. This problem is easy,” Paivi tried not to laugh.
MAYBE WE ARE DANGEROUS.
Us? Dangerous? Come on!
Christian shrugged his shoulders.
WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER.
I suppose. But now you can’t blackmail me anymore. It seems that everyone knows my secret thanks to the ATC.
OKAY YOU WIN.
One of the ATC agents suddenly turned around, facing them. Paivi’s heart jumped into her throat.
“EOS students,” he addressed them. “There will be no lunch for you today.”
And with that, he turned back to surveying the lunchroom.
The three students at the other end of the table grumbled to each other. One of them had a lunch that they split. Paivi handed half of her sandwich to Christian.
Here’s to sticking together, she thought.
“Thanks,” said Christian quietly.