so we jump | {aelia/gavin}

gavin {♔} barker

The seventh floor was nothing less than the best. Every corner was spotless and, if at all possible, draped in some expensive decoration. I bet if they would have stood still, even the pair of avoxes standing against the far wall would have been decorated, but they were treated like dust, nothing more than slaves, a burden for everyone they serviced.

For some reason, seeing the two of them standing there made it impossible for me to enjoy the place itself, and it had been that way since the day we arrived. Jacquelyn must have noticed them as well, because she was snapping her fingers at them, waving them over without even looking at them. "Take the tributes and prepare them for their showers, thank you." The thanks didn't sound genuine, but at least she put up an effort, which was more than I could say for most.

A girl that had black hair with bangs and piercing blue eyes walked over to me, refusing to make eye contact with me, but making it obvious that she was the one that would be helping me shower, as if I didn't know how. I led her through the hallway and into my room, where as soon as the door clicked behind me, I grabbed her arm. "You aren't going to do any of that." She looked confused, conflicted, even. "I will do it myself, and when I get back, I want you to still be in here, okay?" She nodded, only slightly, but enough to let me know she understood.

As it turned out, I did need help showering, because the entire thing was rigged with buttons and knobs and key pads and every one brought on a new twist to the watery experience. One moment purple foam covered my entire body, the next, slimy blue water was washing it away, and finally, after wrestling with it for what felt like forever, I got it to where only boiling hot water was raining down on me.

I walked out with only a towel to cover my body, and instantly blushed. I should have gotten clothes and brought them with me. "Um, sorry..." I said to the girl, who quietly stood at the foot of my bed, her hands held together respectfully in front of her, and a blush to match my own. I quickly grabbed a few things out of the top drawer, which was completely filled with pajamas, and stormed back into the bathroom to get ready.

Finally, done with my shower and done with embarrassing myself, I turned to the girl. "This may sound weird, I started, "Well, no, actually, it kind of... is weird, but..." I sighed. "Okay, I have seen you every day up here, cleaning, bringing everyone everything, and I don't even know your name. I don't like owing people things, especially people I don't know, but I want to know you. I'm... I'm leaving tomorrow and I may never see you or anyone in this place again, so can I at least have your name?" For a moment she didn't move. In fact, it didn't even seem like she was breathing. Then, she slowly walked over to a small desk, and wrote on a slip of paper the word "Tansa." I smiled.

"Well, Tansa, it's very nice to meet you," She offered a small, sheepish smile, and I walked over to her. After checking over both of my shoulders, I grabbed the pen and paper from her, writing a quick "they can hear everything we are saying, can't they?" and showing it to her. Another slight nod. "I guess we'll have to be discreet, then, huh?" she looked at me this time. "Can you bring me something to eat, please?" Automatically, she disappeared.

I sat on the end of my bed, and she was back within only a few minutes. She handed the plate to me, and I took it, patting the seat beside me. "Have a seat." She didn't move. "Please." Reluctantly, she took her place beside me, and I pushed the plate onto her lap. "What is this, lamb? It smells delicious!" She stared at the food in front of her, almost like it was too good to be true. What did they do to these people? I nudged her, and she glanced up with teary eyes. "Go on..." I whispered, and she slowly picked up a fork and began to eat.

I could tell she was holding back, not wanting to ruin the fact that she had manners, but she still ate quickly, treating each bite like it was the first she'd had in a very, very long time, until the entire plate was empty. "Thank you," I said. "It was delicious." I laid back on the bed and sighed. Where did she sleep? I bet it was some disgusting room shared with a dozen other people, possibly no beds and only a few thin, old, used blankets. "Oh, one more thing," I said. "I need for you to sleep in here tonight." She glared a me over her shoulder, like she thought this was all a cruel joke and she was waiting for the punchline, but on this one, I was being a bit selfish. This favor wasn't just for her benefit, but my own. "I have nightmares a lot, and I can't really sleep, but I think that maybe... if I had someone next to me..." She laid down next to me, almost completely off of the bed, and I leaned over so that I was only inches away from her. "Tansa, it's okay. I'm not here to hurt you, or anything. You can trust me." She slowly let herself fall back until she was completely on the bed, silent tears now covering her entire face, and we slept.

When I woke the next morning, she was still there, nestled up with a pile of pillows, completely adrift, possibly having the first night of sound sleep she'd had in a long time. She had done me a favor as well, though, because that was the first night I didn't get chased through the dark since I had arrived. I smiled at her, at myself for helping give someone a break, and then there was a knock on the door. "Gavin, it's almost time!" The voice was Jacquelyn's, and as soon as it broke the silence, Tansa shot straight up, completely alert with fear. "It's fine," I said, "She never comes in."

I got dressed and offered her a quiet goodbye, then I left to join the other for breakfast. The last one I would get here, in fact. Today I was going to be shipped off, and today was going to be the time for me to truly show off my skills.

At the table already was Aelia. Sometimes it creeped me out how much she looked like me. I took a seat across the table from her, and we were quickly joined by Jacquelyn, Kenav, and Aelia's stylist, Narvila, and no one spoke. Personally, I was still proud of what I had done for someone that had no hope, but I was sure the others were all a bit more concerned with the fact that today could be the last day Aelia and I lived.

Maybe I should have been the one that thought there was no hope.