Chapter Two:
Shay:
I found myself glaring at my best friend, Jody.
Her short pink hair is glowing brighter in the sun, and her gorgeous green eyes are smiling to match the grin in her face.
"Jody," I said flatly, "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"You said you needed the money," she stated, looking at me.
I did say that, but all of her ideas were… not optional.
"Escort?" she asked.
"No."
"Handy J's?"
"No."
"Dream date?" she asked.
"No."
"Prostitution?"
"No."
"You sure you can't just get a normal job?" she asked me.
"You know I've been trying," I said low.
I just got out of High School a few months ago, and I am having a hard time getting hired.
My availability is limited, and most of the places I've applied aren't interested unless I can be on call whenever.
"There is one thing," she said.
I glanced at her, hoping that it didn't involve me selling my body.
"Well, you know I've been taking those classes at the beauty school down the street," she pointed even though we were nowhere near the school she was referring to.
"Yeah," I said, feeling hopeful.
"We get customers in there, and I got this girl that wouldn't shut up about this experiment."
I felt suddenly deflated. I'm sure it was one of those drug trials. I couldn't risk not being able to get the boys from school.
"What?" she asked, "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm thinking about trying it myself."
For some reason, my whole body perked up, "What do you mean?"
"I was told you go in; they ask you a bunch of questions," she said, "You walk around the facility, and then they give you two hundred dollars."
I had to put actual effort into keeping my jaw from quite literally dropping.
"What?" I demanded, "That has to be a joke."
She shook her head "She wasn't the only one that came in with that story."
Holy crap.
"If you get lucky, they call you back," she said, "And they pay you more."
Was I shaking? I felt like I was.
"You're actually going to do it?" I asked her.
She nodded, "You aren't the only one who needs the money."
I nodded. I hated that I really did.
My older brother has been working as much lately, and only making so much money. I had to find a way to make some extra money. I had to be able to help around the house.
Now that I'm out of school, there are no more excuses.
"So, how does this thing work?" I asked her.
"I believe we just show up and register," she said, "But just in case I'll call in first."
I nodded; I was glad she was the adult she was. I didn't even think about that.
"If we do just walk in," she said, "How about next Friday?"
Friday was a weird day, but I knew it was because she had that day off next week.
"Sure," I said, "I can leave the boys at daycare a bit longer."
She grinned, "This is so exciting!"
Sure, that's exactly what I was thinking. Only I felt this heavy feeling in my stomach.
Noah:
I was tired, but I still couldn't shake the memory. The strange feeling that engulfed my entire body.
Honestly, it scared the hell out of me.
I could still feel the ghost of those tremors across my skin.
When I spoke to Baird about it, all he said was that there was a spike in my heart rate. He also said that my temperature dropped. He doesn't know what caused it, only that he thinks I should go back into the program. That means more experiments and tests.
The last thing I want is them poking at me, but if it helps, I don't have a choice.
And because I'm sure Baird put it into the computer, as he did most things. I wouldn't have a choice in re-entering the program.
If you aren't in full control, they want to know why. In the process, they'll also figure out what sets you off, why it sets you off, and just how much it actually affects you.
It would be nice if I could keep doing what I have been. I've been in control, and I would like for it to stay that way.
I had a feeling though that Baird knew more than he would tell me. I've heard of others having strange reactions. I didn't know precisely what they felt like, or really why they reacted the way they did.
All I knew what that I was going to talk to who I could and get the information I was looking for.
Part of me was worried, but I had to know.
It scared me even more if it meant what I think it did.
Shay:
"You hungry?" Jody asked me.
I was quick to shake my head. I felt too nervous to eat. If anything, I felt a little sick.
I followed her into the school. The other girls that were in smiled at us as we made our way to the back.
"Are you sure you're up for this?" I asked her.
Jody stopped to look at me before pointing at the chair next to us.
"I talked you into it," she said, "Besides, you need a touch-up."
I frowned, "Gee, thanks."
She just grinned at me, "You know it gives me an excuse to practice on you."
I knew that that's why I wasn't bothered by her remark. It was true.
"Same as last time?" she asked me.
I hesitated before shaking my head.
"Oooh," she grinned and did the super villain hand rub. "What did you have in mind?"
"Let's try to match the top with my natural brown," I said, pointing to the top of my head "And let's do the bottom half a dark purple."
I didn't think it was possible for her smile to get wider "Hell yeah, let's do it."
I sat down in the chair and let her work her magic.
Noah:
This was absurd.
I was feeling irritated as I sat in front of Dr. Odell.
She was looking at me expectantly. Her light brown eyes were on me, and it felt uncomfortable.
"Describe the sensation again," she said, ready to take notes.
I don't know how many times I had to tell her.
"Like I already said," I tried not to sound as aggravated as I felt, "It was like everything under my skin started to vibrate."
She nodded, writing it down.
"Vibrate, how?" she asked.
I had to shut my eyes. This was really starting to get to me.
"Like a battery-powered dildo," I hissed.
She looked up at me, surprised before adjusting her glasses quickly.
"Somebody is in a mood," she said low before writing down what I said.
"I don't know how else to describe it," I stated, "It wasn't like a slow shaking you feel from an earthquake. It was in quick succession, and I couldn't even hear Eileen talking to me."
Dr. Odell nodded as she wrote down my words.
"You seem a little worked up," she said, "You know what I have to ask you next?"
I tried not to grit my teeth; I was only able to manage a nod.
"Well, its standard to ask," she said, writing something else down "When was the last time you had an orgasm?"
I glared to the side. I hated that they asked these questions.
"It's been a couple of days."
"Okay," she wrote that down, too "And was that by yourself, or with a partner?"
I hated these conversations. They happened too often.
"By myself."
She nodded, "Have you considered re-entering the Breeding Program?"
"You know I haven't," I stated.
"Well, I think it might be good for you," she stated, making sure to pay full attention to me "Sometimes having a partner helps."
"Helps what exactly?" I asked her, "I just reported something that happened to me yesterday, and now everyone thinks I need to get laid."
"Did you ever think that it might be time?" she asked, "This could be your body's way of telling you it's ready to settle down and procreate."
I doubted that. If this were my body's form of a menstrual cycle, all of us would be more prepared for it.
"That makes zero sense," I said, meeting her surprised gaze. "It only happened once, and it hasn't happened before or again."
She wrote something down, and it was getting on my nerves.
What was she writing?
"Then I think you know what it means."
I just looked at her again, and my brow arched at her words.
"I see that you are back in the trial program."
"Not by choice."
"Still," she said, "Maybe your body felt a potential mate."
I felt a chill run over my body.
"And if it did?" I ask.
"Then we try to figure out who they are, and hopefully, you run into them while going through the program."
It was annoying hearing the trial called the program. It was just a way to get people in here to see if they were willing to take part in talking to us and, in the long run, see if any of them would be willing to join the Breeder Program. In the end, all they want is for somebody to get fucked.
"In the long run, it would be good for you," she stated, writing something else down "From what I've seen, Devil's like you do well with a mate."
"What if I can't perform?" I asked her.
She knew my history; this shouldn't be a shocking question.
Her eyes glanced over her notes again before meeting mine, "A mate is supposed to be different."
'Supposed' to be? That didn't help.
"And if she isn't?" I asked.
"Or he," she said, "You never know who your body has chosen for you."
So, it wasn't just reproduction they wanted from me?
"What if it is a he?" I asked her.
"Then we readjust," she said, "For whatever reason, they were chosen by you."
"That's why I felt what I did then?" I asked.
She shrugged, "It sounds like the most reasonable possibility."
I was at a daycare. Wouldn't that mean that whatever I felt. was for a child?
That turned my stomach. The thought alone could make me retch.
"That bothers you?" she asked, "That your mate might be male?"
I honestly never thought about it, but if it came down to it, I don't think it bothered me in the slightest.
The part about the daycare, I would keep that to myself for now. That was the last thing I needed.
"Well, if that's all," she said, "Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?"
I shook my head. I was already overwhelmed with what little she gave me.
"Are you going downstairs?" she asked before taking her blonde hair out of its hair tie only to fix it and put it back up.
This time she put her hair into a bun instead of a ponytail.
I was about to ask what she meant, but it came to me right after.
"Not like I have a choice."
"You have a choice," she said, "But the goal here is to see if you react to any of the volunteers."
I guess so, but if it really was because of someone at the daycare. I would be fine here. I also knew I wasn't interested in going after a child. So that was fine. I would know where to avoid, and everything would work out. Hopefully, just fine.
I knew that having a mate was supposed to be a big deal. I just never thought that they would find one for me.
Technically they didn't, I sort of by chance, some twisted chance, may have found a potential mate.
"Good luck," Dr. Odell said with a bigger smile than necessary.
"Thanks," I said low as I got up and left.
I had a gut feeling that today was going to be very unproductive.