Seventeen Days
In this world where only the Cured are safe from Amour Deliria Nervosa, I am one of the most hated creatures in my city. Not me specifically, just people like me all are. I am uncured, unclean, and unnatural.
All those under 18 are uncured and unclean, but we unnaturals are hated because of our attraction to people of our own gender. The moment my parents realized my unnaturalism, they began counting down to my 18th birthday, my procedure and my Cure. They cannot wait until they can freely say that their only son is safe from the danger of the disease and the shame of unnaturalism. I count down too, dreading the day I will be thrown into the cloud of indifference that accompanies the Cure.
"Mitchell! It's September third, first day of senior year. Get up!" my mother yells from my door. I don't even care that it's six in the morning because I get to see my best friend, and secret boyfriend, Scott Hoying, today for more than just few moments.
As I walk into the school, I see the tall, thin frame and blonde hair that mark Scott and I have to force myself not to sprint over, throw my arms around him and kiss him right there. Instead, I put a hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn and see me.
A grin breaks over his face that makes my heart jump. "Hey, Mitch," he says casually.
"Hey, Scott. How was your summer?" I ask, mimicking his nonchalance.
"It was fine. It would have been better if we could have hang out more, but, you know your parents don't like us being friends." He answers. Its code for "You're parents know we're both unnatural and they don't want us anywhere near each other if there's not going to be supervision."
"Yeah, but it's not like we'd be breaking the segregation laws. If it were me and Kirstin or you and Esther, it's be different. But it's just two guys hanging out," I joke.
Scott frowns upon hearing Kirstin and Esther's names. Neither one of us wants to acknowledge the fact that after we're cured and we've finished our educations, we'll be married to our pairs. His is a girl that we've known for years, Esther Kaplan. She's our friend Avi's little sister, which is the only reason we've ever met. She's just shorter than me and she's nice enough. I'd like her well enough if I didn't know she's the one who will be taking Scott once I can't have him anymore.
Mine is a tiny girl named Kirstin Maldonado, she told me to call her Kirstie. Her head barely clears my shoulder, and I'm only 5'9". She's already be one of my best friends if that sort of thing were allowed. But the laws keep uncureds of opposite genders separate.
"I don't even want to think about them until we're both cured," Scott whines. Then his face brightens as he remembers something. "You are still coming over tonight, right? After we meet Avi and Kevin at Avi's?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I ask.
"Well, your parents..."
"Right, don't worry about them. My dad's going out of town for the next two weeks, my mom's job is getting super busy and Rachel just moved out, she's not letting me stay with her. Besides, I got special permission for the next few days. I convinced them that if they gave me until your cure to spend all the time I want with you, then I'll go willingly to my procedure in July. If they didn't I was going to force them to get the tranquilizers. You'd be amazed what I can make them do if I promise my cooperation in July." I laugh.
"Wow. Impressive." We arrive at our first class and take seats next to each other.
The school day dazes past in a flurry of curriculum run-downs. After it's all over, Scott and I walk the few blocks to the Kaplan house.
Avi and Kevin are waiting in the family room for us. The only reason we still spend time with them even they both finished high school last year, is that neither one is Cured. We think that Kevin's parents are sympathizers, people who disagree with the Cure, and that's why he hasn't had his procedure yet. Avi, on the other hand, is special, incurable. No matter how many times he has a procedure, he will never be cured.
We listen to music and talk about school and work. After an hour, Avi and Kevin head back downstairs for snacks, leaving Scott and I alone in Avis room. That's when the self-control we've been using falls away and we crash together, kissing like it's the only thing keeping us alive. Our arms are wrapped tightly around each other, clinging to our lifelines.
Not long after, Scott and I are headed to his house.
"Hello, Scott. Nice to see you again, Mitchell. Did you boys have a good day?" his mother asks as the door flies open.
"Yes, Mrs. Hoying. It's only the first day back to school, so there was nothing challenging to do. Also, we had a good time at Avi's. He and Kevin said to say hello for them," I answer politely.
"What's for dinner? When's Dad going to be home? Where is everybody?" the words come tumbling out of Scott so fast the words almost run together.
"We are having spaghetti. Your father will be home in about ten minutes, then we are going to eat. Katy and Miranda are in their room and Eli and Jacob are in the family room. Will you boys help me set the table?" Mrs. Hoying's voice is always clipped and neat. The one time I met her mother, she had talked about how Mrs. Hoying always rambled and talked so fast you could never understand her. It's one of the things that changes with the procedure; you become more like the perfect citizen the government wants you to be. You become easier to understand and always, more compliant with everything you are told you have to do.
"Yes, of course, Mrs. Hoying." I agree and Scott and I begin laying out the light blue plates and cups and silver forks at the enormous wooden table. I've been over enough times to know where everyone sits and what drinks to pour in whose glass.
Eli strolls in from the family room with the youngest, Jacob, trailing behind him. He notices me and scoffs. Eli and I have always disliked each other. There's just something about him and his dark hair that doesn't match the rest of the family that just rubs me the wrong way. He reminds me of a rat. Which is odd, considering the fact that aside from his dark hair and steel-colored eyes, he looks exactly like Scott did when he was 14.
Mr. Hoying waltzes through the door, proclaiming, "I'm here and we can eat!" Mr. H is one of those guys who, even Cured as he is, has never lost his fun energy. They said it was just an odd defect of his procedure, but that it didn't appear to be dangerous. "Oh, hello, Mitch. How have you been, son? We've missed you around here."
"I've been good, thanks. What about yourself? You look good." I say lightly.
"I've been fine, work's getting a bit tough, but it's nothing we can't handle." His smile is genuine, if a bit tired. Nothing can temper how bright Mr. H is. "Well, Anne, where's the food?" he teases just as Scott's little sister's come running down the stairs.
"DADDY!" Miranda yells, flinging her tiny body into her father's arms.
"How's my little Mira doing today?" Only Mr. H is allowed to call Miranda, "Mira".
"Great! I got to see all my friends today!" she chirps in her excited, nine-year-old way.
"That's great, honey." He sets her down and turns to look at Katy. "And how's my favorite young lady?"
"I'm fine, Dad. Eli got in trouble though..." she laughs the last part. This, right here, is one reason that Katy is my second favorite of the Hoying siblings, Scott being my favorite. She's just so sassy sometimes and I think it's great. She's also the only one to know about Scott and me.
"Really now?" Mr. Hoying asks, cutting a glance at his son.
"Yes, he did. We can discuss that after dinner though, Richard." Mrs. Hoying says dryly. Her blue eyes glare down at Eli and I have to fight a smirk as we all settle into our chairs and pass around the bowl of spaghetti.
I always love being at Scott's house where almost everyone likes me well enough and Scott and I can hold hands under the table. Thank god I'm left handed. Back at home I would be getting icy looks from my parents and smirks from my sister, Rachel because we both know she's the favorite, well, back before she moved into her college dorm two weeks ago.
As it is, I'm sitting surrounded by people I like, and Eli, and Scott's fingers are tracing patterns on the back of my right hand. I look up and see that everyone is looking at me expectantly.
"I'm sorry, what? I dazed off for a second there." I admit, blushing. Eli and Katy snicker. Scott shoots them a look that quickly stops their laughter.
"I asked how your family is doing, we haven't seen them in months." Mr. H clarifies.
"Oh, well, Rachel is doing well, she started college this year at St. Mary's. My father's work is fine, nothing too strenuous right now. And my mother's hair salon is taking off finally so she's busy a lot of the time." I recite, sounding like a Cured parent rattling off their children's achievements. You know, "Timmy just started preschool. Mary can walk now. How exciting," all in a flat voice full of indifference.
"That sounds nice." Scott's mother says and the conversation turns to what Eli, Katy, and Eli are taking in school this year.
After dinner, Scott and I excuse ourselves to his room in the basement, which is all his own. When Jacob was born five years ago, Scott said he wasn't going to share his room with two little brother's and moved all of his things into the spare room in the basement. Now, he can play his (government approved)music as loud as he wants and it won't bother anyone and he's generally left alone.
When his door closes behind us, our mouths meet almost instantly. I kiss him roughly, pushing him down onto his bed. I begin unbuttoning his blue shirt while his long fingers slip into my dark hair. My lips travel down his neck, kissing the soft skin, careful not to leave any marks. Of course, this is when Katy opens the door.
"Oops, sorry boys," she laughs sarcastically. "Hi, Mitchie."
"Hi, Kitty," I tease back, using the nickname she has long hated, but I regularly use anyway.
"Scott, Mom needed to talk to you." Katy states. And when he gets up to walk out the door, she snaps, "Fix your shirt. If you need concealer tomorrow you know where it is."
"Thanks, K," Scott says, after fixing his shirt and then walks out the door.
Katy plops down on the bed next to me. "So, how are you dealing with the whole 'less than a month' thing?" she asks, leaning against Scott's pillows.
"Honestly, Kitty, I don't know. I mean, we only have seventeen days left, well, more like sixteen now but you get my point. I don't know what I'm gonna do without Scott after that. He means so much to me and...and I don't know," I sigh. She wraps her slender arms around my waist, squeezing me.
"Have you told him?"
"How much he means to me?"
"Yeah, have you?"
"No," I breath, "Not yet anyway. I keep meaning to and then never do."
"You should tell him, tonight." Katy urges.
"Alright, alright, I will. I promise. Don't you have shit you're supposed to be doing?" I ask, wanting her to leave before Scott comes back.
"Yeah, I guess so. Goodnight, Mitchie. See you at breakfast." She says, teasing in her voice.
"Goodnight, Kitty." I tease back.
Once she's left, I lay back on the bed stretching out the full length of my short body. I start up at Scott's ceiling where it meets his blue walls. I stare and stare and soon my eyes drift shut.
A weight on the other side of the bed wakes me, but I keep my eyes closed, knowing it's Scott.
A light kiss is pressed to my lips and I hear Scott's deep voice whisper, "Sleeping beauty, wake up. Your prince is back." I can't help but grin and open my eyes. Scott is stretched out right beside me on his side, blue eyes gazing down at me. I tilt my head up and kiss him again. It's the kind of kiss that screams, "Never leave me. I can't lose you."
We break apart. I open my mouth to tell him, but the words won't come. Nothing I can think of is big enough to explain what I feel for him. I close it again when I give up. I simply lay my head on his chest, enjoying the feeling of rising and falling with his every breath.
Scott and I just lie there like that for a while. I think I missed this as much as I missed his kisses. I missed the sense that this, just him and me together, is how things were supposed to be. I just wish I knew how to articulate that fact.
"Mitch?" Scott's breath is warm on my forehead.
"Yeah?"
"Are you scared?" he asks.
"Of what, baby?" I inquire.
"The procedure. Are you scared of it? The whole deal with being strapped down and sedated while a doctor removes part of you." The fear is evident in his voice and I scoot a little closer, if that's even possible.
"I'm not scared of the procedure; I am scared of the Cure. I could wake up afterward and not be myself anymore. I know that it's supposed to make things better, to take away the pain, but it steals most of what you enjoy as well. I'm scared to wake up someone I'm not. I'm scared to see you come back to school as someone other than the boy that I've come to care so much for."
"I'm terrified, Mitchie. I don't want any of it. I don't want the so called relief if it means I lose myself to a surgery. I don't want to lose who I am. You know what else scares me? The idea that in July, if you put up a fight about your procedure, I'll be right there, telling you that everything will be better after it's over. That I'm going to lose the way I feel about you, Mitch. I don't want any of it to happen to me and yet, I have barely more than sixteen days until it does."
"I just hope you're like Avi, incurable. I hope I am too, but even if I'm not, we'd have months left together. Months until we really would be done. I don't ever want to lose you, but if I have to, then not so soon."
If I could, I'd ask Scott to run away with me. But to where? To the wilds where there has been nothing for over sixty years? Not a chance. I just wish.