Free Awaken (The Awaken Series Book 1) by Maggie Sunseri

towards him. I was more aware than he thought . “You will be earning substantially more income in whatever occupation you choose because of your helpful service to Oportet.” I nodded. “What line of work did you have in mind?”
    I was trying my best not to reach over the table and slap the smug little smile right off his face. I knew in my heart that he was behind it all—Jasper had just confirmed what I had felt all along. As if any amount of money would ever cover the costs of what he did to me. Was that how he got rid of opposition? Did he stage an accident just because I wanted to leave Oportet last year?
    We went over the jobs I had picked out, discussing what my best fit would be based on my interests and talents. Tomlinson was very insistent that I consider working in the government like my parents, which made me set on choosing one of my other two options.
    Tomlinson stressed in detail how much training and higher education was needed for each job, and I took notes accordingly. I tried to concentrate, but my thoughts enjoyed distracting me, and I had a hard time telling them to stop.  
    The most devious thought of them all was of Jasper. I ran his words through my head, both in my memories and just moments ago. I needed to talk to him soon.
    In the middle of writing a word something strange started to happen. I was seeing two different things: my pencil hovering above the paper and a white, wooden door with a house number on the top. I tried to snap out of it—now was not the time to relive one of my memories. I was in the middle of an Occupational Guidance Session with Oportet’s leader, of all things. I felt myself slipping….
    No, no, no. Focus.
    My head was spinning and starting to throb. I noticed Tomlinson squinting at me, and I realized that I was staring at him. His mouth was moving but I couldn’t hear any of his words over the unbearable ringing in my ears.
    Deep breaths . I was struggling to hold on to reality—the current reality, not the past. I was reaching my hand out to knock on the door, but was also massaging my temples at the same time. This needed to stop.
    “I’m really sorry, Mr. Tomlinson... I’m getting a migraine.” I could barely hear myself talk. My voice seemed far away.
    I focused in on Tomlinson’s moving mouth and was able to hold my memory at bay. I just hoped I hadn’t lost it for good.
    “That’s all right, you are free to go. This session was almost over anyway. Just remember to contact the Occupational Placement Office when you make your decision.” I managed a weak smile and shook his outstretched hand.
    ~~~~~
    It was Saturday, so everyone was either at one of Megan’s soccer games or at home. I thought I remembered Mother mentioning a game today.
    I burst through the front door to a quiet home. No one was rushing to bug me about my OGS, so I assumed they were all out of the house.
    My memory was still alive and insistent, urgently asserting itself into my mind’s forefront.
    I lay back on my bed, staring up at my ceiling. In seconds I was transported to a different time and place.

Chapter Ten

    My knuckles rapped on Jasper’s door three times. We barely talked at school today, but I caught him staring at me more than once. I couldn’t say that he was the only guilty one, either.
    So this was it. I was officially lying to my parents and going to an Outsider’s home. There had to be something wrong with me.
    The door opened, and to my surprise it was Alex who was smirking on the other side.
    “You again, huh?” He stepped to the side to let me enter the small two-story home. “So did you live in Oregon, too? No, wait, Washington. You look like a Washington girl.”
    “No, I’ve always lived in Oportet,” I replied.  
    Alex stared at me in bewilderment. “That was a joke, right?” He was smiling expectantly, like I was about to give him the punch line.  
    I shook my head.  
    “And I was just starting to like you.” Alex cast a glance behind me