Chapter Seven

For it being night time, people were out and about. It makes me realize how much time must have passed with all the excitement. The nest is alive even at night. There are stands with people getting ready for business hours. It is lively. People are talking to one another with smiles on their faces. Most of the people here are wearing colorful clothing but most of them had on camouflage plates and a black shirt. The nest is nothing like the city. The city was dull, gray, and dead. This place is alive.

The second Jasmine steps off the elevator, a girl in a red dress with black dots, comes out of nowhere and jumps on Jasmine, wrapping her arms around Jasmine's neck before kissing her on the lips. Jasmine wraps her arms around the girl's waist pulling her closer. They kiss for a few moments before Jasmine pulls away. I feel like I should look away.

Jasmine smiles at the girl. "Hello to you too, Gabrielle,"

The girl giggles. "I missed you." The girl, Gabrielle says, smiling up at Jasmine. Gabrielle is about half a foot shorter than Jasmine. She stands on her tippy-toes just to kiss Jasmine.

I am not sure why Jasmine let Gabrielle kiss her. In the wall, girls just hugged and giggled together, never kissing, maybe on the cheek but that was it. I'm sure this is normal for girls all the way around.

What caught my attention more is a male just a few feet away. He looks around before looking at his feet waiting to be noticed. When he is, he grins ear to ear as Mr. Holland walks over to him. Taking his hand and pulling him closer before gently kissing him. I watch them for a moment, hearing all that was said. They whisper sweet things to each other.

There was nothing like back home. No one of the same sex kissed or showed passion to one another. I look around, no one is phased by them. I have to remind myself that this isn't the city, it was a rebel nest. The things they fought for aren't taught in schools. They never said if it was bad or good.

"You have a lot to learn, young man." I look up to see the Seeing Eye looking ahead. He looks down at me slightly before smiling. "Come." He nods his head to the side and starts to walk away.

I follow him without a word, waiting for him to talk first before I say anything. The Seeing Eye leads me to a small place that smells of sweets and coffee. He pushes the sheet hanging to the side letting me go in first. Wooden tables outlined the side walls with four in the center with enough space to walk. There are only about six people here. To the left, after just walking in there is a counter with a young woman behind it. Her hair is in a tight bun and has glasses that sit upon her head.

"Grandfather," The woman smiles, seeing the Seeing Eye, coming around to hug him.

The old man smiles as he hugs his granddaughter. "Liz, can you get me and my friend here something to eat?" He asks.

The girl nods. "Sure thing, Grandfather."

As Liz left, the Seeing Eye led me to a table in the corner. He takes the seat against the wall. He looks around before speaking. "This must be strange for you, being in a rebel's nest after hearing we are gone your whole life."

I thought for a moment. "Yeah. It is." I nod. "Only the military is allowed outside the wall. And no one questions it but a few people but no one is willing to say." I reply.

The Seeing Eye nods. "Yes, I know. There is a lot you don't know. I know the city is different from the nest in many ways."

"Yeah, like Jasmine kissing that girl or Mr.Holland kissing that man," I say, confused.

"Here, we believe love is blind and genderless." He answers with a chuckle. "That girl is Jasmine's girlfriend of a few years now I believe."

"And the man who Mr.Holland kissed?" I ask the girl from before to come over with small cake-like things and two mugs of coffee.

The Seeing Eye smiles at the girl "Thank you, Liz." The girl nods before leaving to take care of another customer. The old man picks up the mug, brings it to his lips, and takes a sip. "The young man's name is Carlos, he is Zac's husband." He says, taking a sip of coffee.

"Husband? As in they are married?" I question. The Seeing Eye nods as he cuts into the small cake in front of him. "But how? That's unheard of in the wall."

The Seeing Eye glances up at me with an old smirk. "Kyle, there are things here you have never seen or heard of. You will be here for a week, I suggest you experience the things we have to offer. Live a little." He told me before taking a bit of cake.

I think about what he said as I cut into the cake. Things on the wall are different. I know that. If I was going to be stuck a week here I might as well make the best out of it. To see what I can learn here.

The Seeing Eye said he needed to wait for the other's return and it was far past his bedtime, so after he made sure I met up with Mr. Holland and the Seeing Eye went home. the sun made its way into the bright colored sky. Carlos and Holland sat at a table outside of a nice, small cafe. I walk over and take a seat.

Carlos' foot taps against the ground, his lower lip is pulled between his teeth as he chews on his lower lip. Zac just holds his husband's hand and messes with his fingers. It was kinda sweet to watch them, Zac eyes at him before looking at me. "This is Carlos, Kyle. Carlos, this is Kyle Riggs. The kid I told you about." Zac smiles. My teacher's happier here, with him. He isn't uptight with a serious look on his face.

Carlos looks at me for the first time. "Hi, It's nice to meet you. Zac told me how good of a student you are." Carlos says with a soft voice. This man didn't seem like Mr.Holland's type, Carlos is soft-spoken while Zac is the take-charge type. I guess they are good together.

"You too," I smile at him. "I can't say I heard of you. But I know there is a good reason."

Zac rolls his eyes. "If I could I would." He kisses Carlos's cheek. "You know that," Zac reassures as Carlos's face turns a dark pink. It's nice to see a different side of my teacher. The way he smiled at Carlos and held his hand freely. Why isn't the city like this?

"Why don't you live here? You have a nephew and a husband here." I ask before I realize what comes out of my mouth.

Zac takes a minute before answering my question. "It's a long story. One for another day." He tells me as I hold back a yawn. "Let's get back to Co's and charge your Ivy so you can call your mom and tell her what's going on."

I can't say no to that idea. I am beat, I haven't slept since I was woken up by Mr.Holland when he called me to try on hoodies. The same hoodie I'm still wearing. I put it on when it got cold in the subway. I nod sleepily as I rub my eyes. "Okay. Sounds good." I agree as I yawn.

Zac leads the way to Co's, I want to fall onto the closest thing I could sleep on. Zac takes my bracelet and hands it to Co. "Find a way to change this," Zac tells his nephew before yawning.

Co holds out his hand as Zac places it in his hand and Co turns it over in his hands. "It's old, but I think I have something. Don't worry." Co waves his hand at Zac. He glances over at me as I just stand there gently swinging side to side. "Hey, Wall boy, there's a guest room upstairs to the right. The only door without a sign on it. You can crash there." Co walks off into a different room.

Zac nods to me. "Go ahead. I will wake you up once we get it to charge. If you need anything, just let me know." Zac takes Carlos's hand and leads him downstairs.

I nod my head mindlessly before making my way upstairs, finding the room. The room's walls were light brown with one window that was above the head of the bed. Photos of sunsets line the other walls.I kick off my shoes and pull my hoodies over my head placing them on the doorknob. I crawl into the bed, it's softer than I thought it would be. This place was nothing like I thought it would be. My body hurts and it doesn't want to move once I am comfortable. My eyes become too heavy for me to keep open, I allow myself to fall asleep.