The Genetic Code

Chapter 11

Alex

I walk towards the swimming complex on the East side of the school. There are certain facilities that all students in Trinity share, and the pool is one of them. It's enormous, and is cleaned regularly. Clean water for clean people, I guess. Perfects who use this pool can't afford to be contaminated by the germs of too many random Imperfects.

Unfortunately for them, this Imperfect uses the pool more than anyone else, to the point that my essence is probably permanently stuck to the tiles on the pool floor and can't be removed. Twice a day, once in the morning before school traffic starts, and after school until the sun sets and human traffic slows down. Some people call me a swimming maniac, or an aquatic creature in my habitat.

I like to keep myself preoccupied, so I don't have time to think or worry about... things. Things I don't like to think or worry about. Because the more I think or worry about them, the stronger urge I have to reach for the bottle when I get home. And with the Olympics coming up, I have to be in top shape, so I'm staying away from the bottle for a while. Swimming is a convenient distraction, which works out well since I can't drink because I have to swim, and I swim more so I don't drink. It's like the circle of life.

Just as I'm about to reach the doors of the complex, four girls pop out of nowhere and run up to me with small boxes in their hands. I stop in my tracks.

The girls giggle shyly until one girl finally speaks up, "Alex, I was so worried back in the cafeteria during lunch. Your face is too good-looking to be hit like that."

Another pipes in, "That Perfect guy seems like an asshole. Doesn't he know who you are? I don't care about whose son he is. You're Alexander Blackwood! How dare he hit the star of our school..."

"But you seem fine now, you must be so tough," a third girl swoons, batting her eyelashes at me.

"Ah... not really." I laugh uneasily. "I actually have somewhere to be. Maybe we could continue this conversation another time?"

Their eyes light up.

"Oh! Before you go, take these," the first girl says hurriedly. They all shove boxes at me at the same time, I struggle to pile them up in my hands. "Just some little presents from us to cheer you on while you train for the Olympics!"

I nod and smile awkwardly, "Thanks."

As they walk away, laughing giddily, one girl exclaims, "My number's in there. Call me!"

I continue nodding and smiling until they're out of sight, then puff out a breath.

"Yikes."

I take a deep breath, collecting all my thoughts, and fix a stoic expression on my face. I use my shoulder to push the heavy door to the swimming complex open and step inside with a sense of purpose, mentally prepping myself for the conversation I'm about to have.

What's the worst thing that could happen? Well, I could be honest, and tell her the truth about what I've been up to the past two years while she was gone. But that would be too horrible to imagine. Not like she would understand even if I told her. She's a Perfect. This kind of problem is something that only other people like me would understand. She's in the land of Perfect life, Perfect genes, Perfect people now.

What would be the point of telling her anyway? Any moment she could up and go, and not come back for another two years. I could ask her not to go, but seven years of friendship aren't worth anything to her. Not even an explanation. Telling her about my problems would just give her even more reason to stay away from me. This time, I want to be the one who decides that, rather than the one left hanging, wondering where all our years of friendship went.