William looks at his clenching hand, which suppresses an unwilling fist of Ellie.
“I am sorry... I mean, what is it about?” William asks without knowing any better.
“You... I am... tired. This day, I want to rest already.” She mutters as she jerks her hand free. Instead, slapping his hand and shoulder to vent the residual anger away. Her head is forced down, revealing none of her features that are hidden from her posture. She leans on William's chest while hiding his face from his eyes.
“I am sorry... whatever I did. I don't know why you act like this, but... I can't see why you like someone like me.”
“At least you are aware of yourself, Will,” Ellie mutters, as she looks at his face.
An obvious, naïve, yet a face she has seen for the last month every day. This is the face of William, who means no harm to her. She knows he is not a bad person, but she doesn't even know if he likes her.
But who is here to stop her from pursuing something herself? She has already done so all her life. Her position in the library? She worked for it, even though the education was paid for by her parents.
Now, she is outside of their worries, as an independent person. She is free to seek happiness or whatever was not there where she grew up.
“I am not angry, or anything... Will you accompany me to my home? I feel rather weak.”
Reviving her mind a little, Ellie talks much clearer to reshape her image to the obvious face of William, whose worried face at least calms her a little.
“I can. Sure.” William goes along, as two young people go by on their hectic, yet interesting day in their lives.
This could all be an important piece to the puzzle of their lives. A single, yet important day of their lives which won't go ever away. It could shape them, or their future together. That or make a small difference, where they would fall apart from each other. Who knows?
No one could guess the future.
Such are the days of the humanity of the 22nd century. A place where humanity still strives, and love hasn't disappeared from the face of Earth yet. It is an element that prevails through the harshest or the most apocalyptic situations. There are people, so the emotions, dramas, and problems they face. They are people, after all. Humans, who live day to another one.
Their lives would go on, with worries, problems, love, interest, curiosity, wonder, and so on.
Ellie and William disappear into the parts of the Central Region, or to the others, but that is not important.
Their beginning only starts now, as their fates are becoming tangled together. Be it from the try, emotion, or because of Ellie's endless internal struggle.
William has no say in this, but he may accept the results as they are
----------------------------------------
1 week later.
A regular morning appears in the wild, with an even more casual afternoon and the rest of the day.
At the moment, William is resting himself on the 3rd floor, since his watch tells him 8 PM. A time when he still feels is right to rest his mind in some books, or comics alike.
In this past week, his mind flutter with many emotions, but he got used to it. Eventually, that is. He is still clueless about a lot of things, but it's no longer as hurting as before, or that confusing to him.
A hand soon forces his book down, and a familiar smiling face reveals Ellie. She wears the library's uniform, and her time hasn't ended yet.
“What are reading?” She asks as she jumps straight to his right, on his sofa.
“Something for fun, as usual,” he replies, with obvious intentions of not hiding anything.
“Marvel comics? That is rather interesting but in no way good. There are much better interesting stories in the books than the comics.”
“I know. You told me that 4 times already. But, I like this. The pictures and art make it that much more imaginary and interesting. It is like painting pictures with words. So much can be done with writing when you can draw it. It makes some difference, you know?”
“And here I hear the same argument for 4th time.” Ellie giggles away, as this time is not as it was a week ago. She told him about this before, and he gives her the same response even now. She doesn't feel bad for his words, as that is his opinion.
They, or to be fairer, she worked with her feelings, while her time a week ago was very hectic indeed. Back then, she was too tired, with almost no days off. Her mind was utterly exhausted, and William's situation made a final push on her.
Alas, Ellie had already told him about her feelings, and William accepts it as it couldn't be done otherwise. It has been a week, and he still struggles with it.
Though, he doesn't find it good for her at all, since he will be gone as a Walker, or can die in a few years. He told her that, while Ellie long knows about it as well. A reluctant relationship between the Walkers isn't forbidden, but it is... a complicated kind of relationship.
William is of the same opinion that letting girls' feelings down is not good in his clueless opinion after a week of learning about it.
No words or books would explain it to him at all. He will have to figure the wild world of relationships out all by himself in the future, or Ellie would help him since she is the light of his day.
A figure that he will not spend the whole day together, but he will figure something out with this. It is something that she wanted, and William accepts it because he... doesn't mind her feelings at all after the whole week passes in a blink of an eye.
He still has a full mind for other things, of course. It is still 6 days left until the Awakening and Examinations, and no matter what, he wouldn't pay it less attention because of Elli's feelings.
No, she would say the same to him regarding his future. There is no time or consideration to think about some excuses. She has no intention of bothering his path as a Walker since she knows what it entails. Even her feelings of liking a future Walker come with drastic possibilities.
There would come weeks, or months where she would not see him, or even eternity would come... if William will be unlucky enough.
Ellie slips a small book into his comic. Named Mysterious Island, written by Jules Verne.
“Have a look at this instead. It is quite a romantic journey.”
“This one? I have it on my list, but... I have already read a few books from him. I feel like reading them all is no fun, if there are so many other authors out there.” William argues and tosses the book back to Ellie's lap.
Pouting, she refrains from another slide of recommendation. It seems to her that William is already plenty comfortable in the life of the Federation. She almost feels like she can't help him with anything any longer.
That puts her in an unhappy mood since she doesn't feel helpful to him at all.
Seeing her like this, William chuckles and puts the comic away.
“I don't think your recommendation is bad at all. I will read it when I can.”
“Can? Your fated day is in 6 days and you have time to worry about some Mysterious Island? Wake up!” Instead of faking her mood, Ellie strikes like a smiling viper.
She is testing him a bit.
“You are telling it to me, who spends a couple of hours a day on the 3rd floor, while you have a lot in hand as well. Don't think your words have an impact on me, Ellie.” William argues as the mischievous smile on Ellie's face disappears in a moment.
“No... That is not faiiir. You always end up like a winner in such a conversation. I know all too well what is going on in the city and the Library... You.. don't have to remind me or anything.” Facing him away, Ellie ends up on another side of the sofa. She is playing hard to get, which doesn't bother William as much.
“Right... You said yesterday that you would tell me about the result from a week ago. How did it go?”
“Go? Look, who is so curious?”
“That is nothing strange at all.” William counters back.
“Well, If I am being honest, I am rather hungry today.”
“That is bad. I am out of credits.” William bluntly says while Ellie is helplessly gazing at his calm face. What words to say, she thinks.
“...”
Hearing his argument, Ellie couldn't help but sight. She rather chose to tell him the stuff that happened from the very beginning 1 week ago.
Director Heidi Kaufman announced a brand new department according to the Federation's standards. So far, without a name, the department will act as a learning program for any foreign or young Walker in general.
It will be all happening in the Grand Library of the Federation and the Institution of the Emblems. The goal of this program should ease the harsh requirements for the Academy. It could also provide knowledge for any Walker free of charge. As for the young Walkers, it includes a plethora of topics that would ease the path for the Academy or any organization in general.
Heidi Kaufman did a very nice job in her persuasion of words, and it worked. She made many kinds of deals while the general premise of the greater good won over the Assembly Island majority vote. That leaves her as the winner, even though the Academy votes were against her.
“That sounds great... Should I think about joining such a program?” William assumes from the little she told him so far.
“No... your program... Well, not really. Kaufman's card is the best program that one can get. Though, this idea of miss Kaufman wouldn't be that different from that. It provides a lot of knowledge from the 6th floor, but you already finished the majority of that, haven't you?”
“I guess you are right. Still, it sounds incredible. Young Walkers will be very happy.”
“Ehm. Ehm. While it is right and cool, I should include the best news of the importance.” Ellie puffs her chest in dignity and pride while expecting a meaningful reply from William on his further right side of the sofa.
“Will you be included? It is the Library after all.”
“Eh... Did you guess that? That is no fun at all.” Ellie complains, as her try backfires instead.
“You are? That is good news, isn't it?” William, unbothered by her shifting mood, tells it as it is.
Ellie doesn't find it all too bad, though. Smiling at a perfect opportunity to tell him everything, she beams in life as she shifts closer to him again.
“It is excellent news! Don't you get it? I will be responsible for growing up future Walkers directly under the supervision of miss Kaufman. She even promised increased income and benefits. The worse thing is increased workload and a significant increase in restrictions, but that doesn't matter at all. I have nothing to lose, anyway.”
Watching her all excited over such news, William pushes her face a few steps away since she is quite loud to his ears.
Hitting and slapping his hand in return, Ellie leaves not a speck of anger on William's face. “Congratulation, Ellie. You worked your ass off for this opportunity.”
Calming down on the sofa, Ellie points to her cheek in return.
“A kiss,” she tells.
“Kiss?”
“You never kissed me all by yourself!”
“You always force this on me. Isn't it just a physical touch? I ain't kissing you so willy-nilly, Ellie.” William argues.
“You! This is what couples do all the time!” Ellie shouts in return while ignoring the look of the surrounding people.
“Is it? Any proof?”
Pulling herself back, she says in embarrassment and a playful swirl of her hair with his hand. “Well...I heard... read it is the case. It should... feel great, you know?”
“I think the time is rather up, isn't it? I guess I will go home early today.” William gets up in a swift motion, and then deploys a tactical retreat in a few moments.
“You? You dare to run?”
“6th floor is still up for me. See you later, Ellie.” William waves back with a grin, as a lone, smiling figure of Ellie is left pouting alone on the sofa.