Page 53 of The Commons

Using my golden comb, I glide it through the middle of my scalp in a single straight path. She takes the right side while I focus on the left, running fire through the dark ocean, smoke rising through the darkness, spiraling heat through my skin and rising on the top of my head like clouds. Oh my gosh. She’s burning my hair! I direct her hands, splitting the section into two. She stares, confused, seemingly snapping out of a daze.

“Oh, sorry!”

“You’re distracted. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” She flips her wrist, spinning it around to stretch. “I was just remembering the last time Zavish and I hooked up. He’s been denying me ever since. Urgh, I want him so bad! I would do anything to have that Lumiere last name, that’s all.”

“He should be the one doing everything to have you. He doesn’t deserve you.”

“I don’t deserve him. Do you know how powerful the Lumieres are? They only bow to Patrons. That’s how inconceivably powerful they are.”

“Not everything is about money and power.”

“It actually is. That’s what we’re here for—to be the greatest in the world, to literally rule the world. Everything is about money and power.”

“I guess… not to me though.” My eyes drift down, lost in contemplation. “Whatever, that’s all you were thinking?”

“Yeah, that’s it. I was just thinking about how hot Zavish is and my game plan to secure him. Per usual!”

“You had me worried there for a second.”

“Shantavia, you always worry too much, especially about other people. That’s your problem. It’s everyone for themselves in The Commons. Don’t forget that.”

“Whatever! Are you sure you’re not gonna burn my hair again?” I deflect with a smile.

“Yep, I mean it’s not rocket science.”

“No. It’s not rocket science. It’s more like the Chemistry Test. A death sentence.”

She bursts out in laughter.

“Shh,” I whisper, noticing the girls around us turn in their beds.

“I’m shutting up, sorry. Stop being funny. Stop making me laugh.”

“Okay, okay. I can’t help it, it’s in my DNA.”

“Shantavia!” She shoves me as our eyes collide in the reflection of the mirror. Behind us, the girls wake up and begin getting ready for the day.

Spritzing hair spray around my hair emits a glowing sparkle, like stars falling in the night in perfect unison. Zia rubs her hands through the silky shine of the glowing night of my hair and smiles like I’m her work of art. Morning announcements jar her head to the right, and she rushes into the shower. I stay silent. Steps surround me. But I’m silent. Shower sounds precede. But I’m silent.

Zia was right. This moment reminds me of my sister too much, but I can’t afford to let myself be this emotional… I... A drop of rain drizzles down my cheeks. Who am I kidding? I miss my sunlight. I miss Levon.

I tighten my jaw in sudden anger upon remembering why I did this to myself, and my reminiscing turns to feeling trapped. I grit my teeth, curling my hands in a tight fist, and a cloud of dread consumes my chest. I am afraid of who I am becoming. I hate being forced to do things, especially to myself. To me, taming my curls is like taming a powerful woman to be weak or taming a lion in the wild: It is like training a parrot to shut up or forcing the sun to stop shining. And that’s exactly what The Commons intends to do to me. But I am not going to let them. Sure, I will straighten my hair, but deep down within me, I know—they will not straighten me.

“Let’s go, Zia. Ready for the next Observation Test?” I comment as I slip into my pants.

“Hmm, let me see, why is your hair so curly still?” she responds sarcastically.

“Shut up!” I joke, then recall: Observation Test Four where I had to fight human robots. “The test with the mirots was crazy!”

“Oh, please don’t remind me.” Zia shudders, walking away.

I proceed back to the library to rush through the book I started reading in the morning, before my next Observation Test. The librarian’s eye cuts mine with a wary look just as I am leaving. I really hope she’s not suspecting that I’m up to something.

Tosh strikes 8:80 a.m. in the dome shaped hallway surrounding me.

8:80? This Observation Building must alter the time. Tosh must be playing mind tricks on us. Probably to test which one of us would be observant enough to notice it.