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35

I stare down at my digital notebook. English class doesn't feel important to me. Not after all that has happened. Not after James was taken by the government because I went to ask Herold for help. My head won't stop swimming with worries and questions. In fact, I'd rather bang my head against my desk than complete this five hundred word essay. I understand why school is deemed important, but to me, it's just an obstacle. I have other things to worry about. For example, Leane, Jeremy, their army, and their plans to take control of the city. I also need to rescue James, to see what's going on with the government now. James tried to help me, now I need to help him. Help everyone.

Not only this, but I need to get my hands on Leane's Chips. Hailee said it was too dangerous, but how else can we fight against people with them? All the people at Leane's base have probably figured out more about the Chips. I place a hand to my forehead, squeezing my eyes shut as I force myself to calm down. Opening my eyes, I catch Jared's glance from across the room. Eva isn't in this class with me, but Jared is. He's been avoiding us all day, but I haven't missed the glances he's been risking in my direction. Something is up with him, and that's just adding more to my plate.

My chest feels like it's being crushed by my anxiety and worries. I gulp in a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on my stupid essay. It'll distract me, and boy do I need a distraction. I glance down at my watch. Twenty minutes left of sitting in this silence classroom. The sounds of breathing around me have done nothing to calm my nerves. Making sure my senses are normal and not heightened, I glance back down at my digital notebook. I have to write about how I think society got to this point. The topic is interesting, seeing the events of the past year.

Society has been on a downward spiral, I begin, ever since perfection wormed it's way into the mindset of everyone. I'm not sure when it started to take such a hold on the population, and I don't think anyone really does. Actually, our history classes don't tell us much at all. Just the usual thing about riots, and how our previous leader used Chips to calm people down. I guess he did that, but he also started a perfection- craving nightmare while watching us every step of every day. Why were people rioting? Who knows. Maybe because they were tired of things being the way they are. Maybe they got tired of perfection, or maybe the government wasn't so perfect before Jeremy came along. Either way, we need to realize that we're human. Not only that we can't be perfect, but we're in the middle of a fight for all we hold dear. Perfection doesn't matter that much anymore. I can tell by the faces and actions of people around me. Chips were removed. Things have changed.

I gulp in a deep breath. Glancing down at what I've typed, I realize I began to rant. Maybe I even started to rationalize. The bell rings, saving me from my overwhelming thoughts. I turn off my notebook and shove it into my bag, intent on following Jared out of the classroom. I need to figure out what's going on with him. It's destroying his girlfriend, and even his cousin. It's even destroying me. Letting out a sigh, I push past my classmates rushing for the door. Jared has already exited the classroom. I increase my pace, muttering apologies to people I accidentally elbow as I make it out the door.

Through the throngs of people piling into the hallway, I spot Jared heading towards the bathroom. He'll probably hide in there until everyone's gone, as the school day has now ended. Well, he's planning to, but I won't let him. People try to talk to me, but I politely mutter that this isn't a good time. After a good amount of weaving, shoving, and running, I'm able to slip into the bathroom after Jared. We're the only people in here, and I don't really care that it's a boy's bathroom. I just care that it smells disgusting.

I grab Jared's arm. He tries to yank it away but I hold firm, channeling my Chip-given strength.

"Let me go!" He barks, turning around to face me. His eyes go wide, then narrow.