Astronomically Antagonizing

Astra met up with her two hours after school had finished. She had a suspicion he was going to appear eventually, so she stayed. He wasn't exactly excelling in subtly, potentially revealing their deviancy. He had climbed over the white half-wall that divided the front of the school from the vibrant, green plants. His black, freckled, skin was scraped and the blood gradually clotting, white sneakers muddy. His curly black hair was cut short, close to his scalp. He was shorter than Chenda, but was broad shouldered and looked like he had actually worked out once in his life. As he strolled over to Chenda, he left a small trail of mud, irking her. She could feel her eye twitch, as he stopped in front of her, hips loose and relaxed.

        "Where have you been?" she interrogated, hands on hips. If he was going to be late he better have a sufficient excuse.

        He rolled his eyes, "Why are you so wary of me? I've done nothing to provoke your petty actions." He furrowed his eyebrows frustrated with how Chenda was acting.

        Chenda scoffed, about to speak, but stopped when she realized that she had no valid reason for hating Astra. She just envied him and thought that he was too dauntless. So brave, that implusitivity had consumed him.

        Unexpectedly, Astra didn't laugh at her when she said nothing. It appeared that her assumptions about Astra were flawed. She was flustered, and had the desire to cross her arms in order to shield herself from scrutiny.

        "What did you want me for exactly?" Astra asked. His eyebrows quirked upward. He used his hands as he spoke, but they were half-hearted and lazy.

        "I wanted to try and figure out whats going on. I don't believe that this filters in with the 'we were born with it' category. There's something more going on here and to figure this out two people are better than one," she elaborated.

        Astra nodded, "Fine with me." He gestured for her to follow and began to briskly walk to the subway station, which was at close vicinity of the academy.

        When Chenda had finished calculating his actions, she hustled to where he was waiting for the train behind the men and women that were heading home from work. They clasped their hands behind their backs seeming to simply be students that were participating in the Work Experience Program. Some participants got off earlier than others, alike with the adults. The workers heading home now were the late workers. The majority usually came into work a few hours later than others. The minority decided to continue working on their projects. Chenda's mother got dismissed with the early workers and her father was unusual in the way he stayed at home cleaning and cooking. It was normal for both caretakers to have jobs. It was seen as a great dishonor to not contribute to society in an essential way. Emotions would get in the way of that.

        The train slid into the station, opening it's doors for the late workers and WEP students. Chenda and Astra settled next to each other on the white, plastic benches of the train car. She was uneasy around these people. Her cheeks were aflame as though their stares could burn holes through her skin like lasers. She was startled out of her paranoia when Astra gently nudged her.

        "They aren't responsive to subtle movements and sounds," He murmured, flicking his eyes back and forth between two workers, a Chinese woman and a Cuban male. They had learned about ethnicity in the academy. Throughout America's early history other groups of people fled from their countries for refuge or a better life. Chenda's family originated in Cambodia and had immigrated to America. She had no idea why they had, she was just told by her instructor.

        It was almost too late when Chenda realized that they were at their stop. She was jolted out of her head when she heard the last call for her stop. She tapped Astra, applying a deathly grip -guaranteed to cut off his circulation-and exited before the metal doors could seal shut. She tugged him along to her apartment complex, Astra watching out for anyone who noticed them.

        She shoved Astra through the front door once she inspected that the living room was clear. Her mother was probably working overtime. Once she saw a glimpse of potential on a project she wouldn't stop until she got the results she craved. He mother had an unnatural thirst for knowledge, that was somehow valued in society. It was a strange double-standard. That made her mother spend long nights at her lab. Chenda's father was probably out buying goods from the public gardens.

        Chenda pulled her companion up to her room, snatching him back from the mirror when they entered. Unfortunately, as soon as Astra saw the mirror he was hellbent on getting to it.

        "Chenda! Let me go!", he pulled his shirt collar forward so he wouldn't choke. Idiotic bull: taking the charge toward the red cloth. He wouldn't be helpful in life or death situations. A scenario played in her mind of him and her being captured, refused water from the captors. Then as soon as they got desperate enough, they would offer water. He would drink it because he's an idiot and then die of poisoning. Great, she had to have him as her accomplice.

        He managed to shimmy his shirt out of her grip while she was putting a command into a keypad beside her door to lock it. "Astra, don't!" She snapped, harshly, loud enough for the neighbors to potentially hear.

        He had already reached the mirror, high with vigor. His giddiness melted away when he met his own eyes. Astra stepped back. He ducked his head, mingling his gaze with hers, like a kicked puppy begging for mercy.

        "You see why now?" A mirror is a cruel object. It does not present mercy, dog, but truth. It leaves nothing for your imagination. As soon as you see yourself, you are forever imprinted in your own eyelids. Torment. The mirror offers you something. A reflection of yourself. And somehow manages to make you your own nightmare.

        "I thought I would be...I don't know...," Astra faltered. He slowly settled himself and her bed across from the mirror, eyes still grazing the edge of his reflection's body. Chenda sat herself down next to him. The room was filled with their slow breaths as they settled into comforting silence.

        The comfort didn't console for long, as good things never stay. Chenda gazed into her own eyes, the dread enveloping her in its overbearing hug, "What does it feel like?"

        Astra took a shaky, deep breath, " I don't like how... weak I look. I'm kind of on the feminine side."

        Chenda knitted her eyebrows, confused. He didn't feel like she did? He didn't have a disdain for himself? All he felt was that he was weak? He didn't feel like he was suffocating on each and every breath? She was envious of how good he felt compared to her. He was just insecure. He didn't feel like Dread was their companion. Following him until his hands would shake and knees, quaking, would give way to the lake of emotion that would make his lungs sting and his stomach twist until his last breath would stutter from his lips, and his last glimpses of dreams would be snuffed out by the soft breath of Death. He could never feel that.

        "You don't feel like I do then," she looked at the left side of the room where Astra couldn't see her eyes water. She was crying. She felt like she was undressed in front of the whole academy. Vulnerable.

        Astra's voice was thick with concern," what do you feel then?"

        Chenda muffled her sobs with the bottom of her palm,"I don't know how to explain it." Strange. When had she started to use 'it' to describe her self ?

        Chenda didn't want to keep following the worn, deserted road they were walking down," What do you think is going on?" Her voice was like sandpaper against wood. She felt even more distraught as her dread grew in size, feeding on her thoughts. She hated her skin being broken so her blood could flow for all to see. Vulnerability is a dreadful feeling, she determined.

        "I don't know," Unknowing was also a violent feeling. Chenda was drunk with curiosity and if she didn't get her fix of knowledge soon she was going to tear her hair out. It was only natural to be curious.

        Chenda plopped down onto her back, curling into a ball and breathing slowly so she was facing away from Astra.

        "You can sleep next to me. You've got to be exhausted too," She scooted as far as she could so Astra could fit. Her cheeks started to burn. She couldn't pin point why her body was reacting this way.

        "Okay," He responded meekly. She felt him curl up next to her. The bed was small but could still fit the both of them with little effort. Chenda slowly drifted away, concentrating on the warmth of Astra's back against hers. For the first time in forever, since she acquired the curse to feel she felt something- something that made her feel alive.

Author's Note

Review my grammar, characters, dialouge, etc