Shymers by Jen Naumann Page B

soft. I even let my hand brush against her smooth hair just to see what it would feel like, and was surprised to find it incredibly soft as well.
    As much as I try to ignore the strange pounding of my heart when she is near, my need to see her more only grew when she started talking about Society and how she thinks the way we’re treated is wrong. Olive is the first Shymer I’ve come across who is passionate about things and even shares the same views as the Rebels. This makes it even more difficult to not want to be with her.
    Her passion stirred up all the memories of my father, and how I was ready to join the Rebels just before my family died. My mother’s last wish stays with me, however, and I know there is nothing I can do.
    I know it’s natural for guys to have feelings for girls. Still, what would anything between two Shymers accomplish? It’s not like we have any kind of a future together. I will never even live long enough to see my adulthood. Olive may not have much time left either. It’s not like we could ever get married and start a family. That kind of life is only possible for Futures. Any kind of a relationship between us would be pointless and a waste of her time.
    I thought I was doing a good job of avoiding her and ignoring any thoughts of us being together until today at lunch when she smiled at me. With just the curl of her lips and the sparkle of her bright green eyes, those feelings I’ve worked so hard to push aside came rushing back to the surface to the point they were choking me. I had to run away from there and clear my head.  
    Just before I left, I caught a glimpse of her beautiful face. Her eyes were watering and her lips were pressed together. My stomach was hit with a load of bricks when I realized I had upset her. Why am I always hurting her?
    With the day’s lessons finished, I ride on the shuttle in the usual spot next to Zeke. As always, he complains about the way the government is not doing anything more active about the Rebels. I usually try to keep my mouth shut around him, knowing it will only set him off if he were to learn what I really think of Society, but my feelings have been all over the place lately—especially when I catch sight of the back of Olive’s blond head from her usual spot beside Bree.
    “Do you ever think that maybe Society is wrong?” I suddenly ask Zeke.
    His face, full of angry, red blemishes as always, is frozen and his eyes are wide. He can’t believe I would actually say such a thing to him.
    Trying to make light of my obvious mistake, I shrug. “I mean, wh y shouldn’ t the rest of us deserve a chance at a good life? Just because it’s shorter doesn’t make it any less valuable.”
    “You sound like a Rebe l ,” Zeke snaps.
    I press my fingers to my eyelids. I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. “Yeah, well, I think if you looked a little more into the history of Society, you would find it was once a much different place. Things don’t have to be like this.”
    “It was a place filled with corrupt, wealthy leaders and poor citizens who took handouts until the country went bankrupt. That plan didn’t fare too well for Society.”
    I sigh. There is no way around this. Zeke is set in his ways, and I’m not going to argue with him anymore. It’s useless. I watch Olive for the rest of the ride. A few times she nudges Bree with her shoulder, and once she shakes her head as she laughs. Her hair brushes over her shoulders, looking like strands of silk. I smile when the trill of her voice floats back toward me.
    When the shuttle jolts to a stop, I pretend to fumble with my tablet just to steal a little extra time. Zeke stands and scowls down at me. “You coming or what?”
    “Go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute,” I say.
    He shrugs and turns to file out. I’m glad he’s gone before Bree and Olive come down the aisle, talking to each other in hushed voices. Bree’s expression is blank when she spots me. A slow moment later, Olive’s