There Once Were Stars (18 page)

“Stop,” she says, grabbing the brush. “I’ll do hair, you do makeup.”

“What do you think it will be like?” I ask as she brushes my hair back.

“Have you met the Delegates’ wives before?” I shake my head. “They are fancy ladies. I wish I could spend an evening with them.”

My stomach turns. I’m far from fancy. What on earth would I talk to them about?

After a few more tugs, she lets me dig into my makeup, but here again, I’m at a loss and she takes over. “Oh, Nat,” she smiles. “I have so much to teach you.”

She spins me around to face the mirror, and I gawk. I look better than I ever imagined I could. The makeup has blended together the freckles that appeared from the last two outings, making my complexion smooth and perfect. She’s also tamed my hair into looking like hers, making my long strands soft and wavy as they cascade around my face. I can’t help but smile. I remind myself of my mother. I look much less like a tomboy tonight.

Both Tassie and I turn as our bedroom door opens. Jak and Evan are standing on the other side facing each other. They turn at the same time, and both look shocked at my transformation, and then bump against each other as they step inside.

“I, uh,” Evan starts. “I came to see why you two didn’t join us for a late supper upstairs.”

“Nat has a date tonight.” Tassie claps her hands. “It’s a Delegate initiation! Congratulations, Jak.” She flutters her eyelashes at him. “Nat is
so
lucky.”

“It was worth the wait,” he says, staring at me. “Let’s go; we’ve missed half the cocktail hour.”

I glance at Evan as I walk past. His teeth are clenched and his arms are crossed against his chest. I can see his jaw flexing as he stares at me, but there’s no emotion in his eyes. Just a blank stare. My stomach burns in disappointment. Why did I think he was here to see me?

“Enjoy your date, Greyes,” he grumbles as the door slides shut.

Jak takes my hand and pulls me down the hallway, constantly looking at me with a sidelong glance. In the elevator, on our way to Floor 3, we turn at the same time and start to laugh.

“Who would have thought we’d both be here, now?” he asks.

“At least one of us got our dream.”

“Oh, Nat,” Jak says putting his arm around me. “You wouldn’t know your dreams if they slapped you in the face.” Images of my last night with Grandmother flicker through my head, and a shiver runs through my body, making my skin cold and clammy. Jak drops his arm from around me and shuffles his feet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“Let’s not wreck tonight with apologies,” I say, looking down at my shoes. They match my dress, a luxury I’d never had in my life outside the Axis. “I’m just grateful things can go back to normal.”

Maybe Jak is right, I really wouldn’t know if I wanted something unless I couldn’t have it. The elevator dings. I reach over and squeeze Jak’s hand. “Let’s do this.”

A red carpet extends from the Floor 3 elevator, disappearing into a sea of black and white. I readjust my silvery dress, feeling suddenly out of place. Tassie’s dress is much too short for an event like this.

As we walk into the crowd, I recognize faces of those from the business district: shop owners, bankers, and other business people. No one from the apartment district is present. This party is for the upper classes.

Two faces I personally know appear. I have not seen Mr. and Mrs. Manning since before my birthday. Jak weaves us through the crowd in their direction.

“Oh, Natalia.” Mrs. Manning smiles at me. “Aren’t you an image of loveliness?” She leans forward and kisses the air on each side of my face. I manage to avoid spilling her cocktail. “Jak tells us you are a part of the Expedition program now. Very illustrious. Taking after your parents, I see?” This is the most attention I have received from Mrs. Manning in all the time Jak and I were friends, growing up.

“Yes, Mother.” Jak holds me on display on his arm. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

“Lovely choice, darling,” Mrs. Manning leans forward and greets Jak the same way she greeted me.

Mr. Manning nods to me and holds his hand out to Jak. “Good job, son. We are very proud.”

Is this what it would be like to have parents now? A lot of air-kissing and compliments. Though I would take this any day over living with Grandmother, it’s nothing close to the connection I have with Grandfather.

“Thank you, Father.” Jak firmly shakes his father’s perfectly manicured hand. “I better find the Director, sir. I’d like him to meet Nat before the ceremony begins.”

His parents turn toward a group of other shop owners and we make our way through the crowd. We move toward the end of the hallway, where the Director’s office is. The door is open. Outside the entrance I notice the familiar faces of the current Delegates. Samson, Carleton, Brandt, and Betker are all standing with their wives, visiting with various Order members. Samson is in charge of all agricultural divisions. Brandt is in charge of all commercial and residential zones. Betker is the head of the Order. And then there is Carleton, head of the Hall of Records. He notices me right away, and his eyes stay glued on me as he pushes past his comrades, into our path.

“Miss Greyes,” his long, drawn-out voice addresses me, “how lovely you look tonight. I had no idea we would be graced with your presence. It is a delight.” He holds out his hand, and I take its clammy coldness into mine, and curtsey, letting go as quickly as I can without offending him. He leans in. “I trust you found the items you were looking for?”

“The list has been sent in.” I force a smile, as everyone around us watches. The other Delegates close in.

“I will pack it for you personally,” Carleton whispers.

Jak pulls me away from the old man. “If I may introduce my date to the rest of you, this is my old friend, Natalia Greyes.”

“Oh, my,” Brandt pipes in with a jovial voice. “She’s not old at all. Be careful how you introduce a woman, Manning.”

“We’ll teach him the ropes, little lady,” Betker says slapping Jak on the back. “Don’t you worry.”

I smile and nod, wanting to recoil from each of their handshakes. They have a casual machismo that makes me uncomfortable. There’s nothing professional about them; I’m an object here for Jak to show off, nothing more to them. I notice their wives hang back, whispering with one another. Staying as separate as they can from the rest of the crowd.

“Did I hear someone wants to see me?” the Director’s gruff voice comes from the doorway of his office.

“Yes, sir,” Jak straightens up. “I want to introduce you to my date, Nat-er, I mean, Natalia Greyes.”

The Director holds out his plump hand and I take it and curtsey as I did with Carleton, but before I can withdraw my hand, he places his other hand on top of mine and pulls me close.

“Why,” he says, surprised. “I recognize those eyes. Are you the daughter of Kaitlin and Jonathan Greyes?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I knew it. I’d recognize those eyes anywhere.” He stares intently at me. “Your mother came to this office many a time to discuss politics. You see, she never liked the way I ran the science programs. Scientists and politics, the two don’t mix well.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know much about her, sir.” I lock my gaze onto his eyes. “I was only nine when the incident happened.”

He nods. “I suppose you were. Time does go so fast, doesn’t it? That’s exactly why we need to preserve and protect the quality of the life we have here in the dome, wouldn’t you agree, Miss Greyes?” All the Delegates are nodding in agreement.

“Peace. Love. Order. Dome.” I rattle off the motto with the most sincere smile I can find. “Yes, sir, without any of these, where would we be?”

“My thoughts exactly,” the Director says, patting the top of my hand. “Good girl you’ve found here, Manning. I’d hold on to her as tight as possible, if it were me.” He breaks into a disgusting laugh. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

The group disperses, and the Director begins a long speech. He talks of the ways of the dome and how we need to keep the motto strong, a part of this being a solid foundation for those who keep things running. In this roundabout way, the Director brings Jak into the mix, as an essential part to the foundation of the Delegates and their support to the Director.

“That’s why it is my honor to welcome Jak Manning to the new position of Assistant to the Director.”

Jak stands, the fluorescent lights catching his blue eyes at just the right angle to make them sparkle. He looks so innocent, among this sea of sharks and crude businesspeople. Will Jak become like them? The Director shakes Jak’s hand, awarding him his permanent position, and lifelong dream.

By the time the pomp is over, my stomach is growling. I was left standing with the Delegate wives all this time. The one next to me is married to Brandt. While everyone claps when the ceremony is over, she nudges me in the arm.

“Ladies,” she addresses her counterparts, “we need to get this little thing fed. I could hear her poor tummy the entire time the Director was talking.”

I clutch my stomach in embarrassment.

“Probably was more interesting than the speech,” Betker’s wife says. Samson’s wife spits out a laugh.

“Oh, Clary.” Brandt’s wife shakes her head. “You are terrible. Come with us, honey, we know where the good food is kept.”

I follow the Delegate wives into the Director’s office. Their husbands, along with Jak and the Director, are swallowed up into a crowd from the finance district.

Samson’s wife closes the door behind us. “Finally, some peace and quiet.” She lights a cigarette. I’m shocked. No one in the dome smokes. “Don’t look so surprised, little one.” She waves a hand, dismissing me. “There are perks to being married to a Delegate. I’m Catherine, by the way.” She holds out a hand and I shake it.

The Delegates live in a gated community, with some of the other professionals in the dome such as doctors, lawyers, and CEOs. Their community is separate from all the districts, running along the edge of the Outer Forest.

“Where did you grow up?” Carleton’s wife asks, tilting her head. She’s frail and tiny.

“In the apartment district.” Their faces drop before I finish. “Right at the edge. That’s how I know Jak. His parents’ townhouse was only a few blocks away.”

“Those Mannings act like they are the peak of the shop district,” Clary laughs. “I didn’t realize they were so close to the apartments.”

“Must be terrible living in such close quarters to one another,” Brandt’s wife says, her eyes widening with concern.

“We have our own units,” I say.

“Oh, Deidre, it’s not like they all sleep in one room,” Clary says. “Sometimes you’re so daft. It’s like a mini-house.” She pours herself a large drink from the Director’s bar.

“Well, that’s not so bad, I guess.” Clary smiles at me. “Here, eat.”

I fill a plate with food, and turn toward them. They all watch me intently. “Aren’t you going to eat, too?”

“Oh, darling.” Clary shakes her head. “We ate before we came. It’s not appropriate for a Delegate’s wife to gorge herself at these functions.”

“People have expectations of us.” Deidre nods. Carleton’s wife nods in agreement. I fear if she nods too long, her head may fall off. “You’ll find out when you become one of us.” Deidre smiles at me.

“That won’t be any time soon.”

“Oh, I’m sure your boy will ask the question, now that he has a permanent position,” Deidre advises.

I almost spit out my food. “We’re not dating.”

“Really?” Clary says, leaning forward. “Betker told me that Jak is always talking about his plans with you. The Director likes his team to have family ideals. It keeps them properly motivated towards the goals of the Dome.”

“We’re old friends. We’ve known each other forever.”

“Who’s old friends?” the Director says, storming into his office.

“Eek!” Carleton’s wife shrieks.

“Oh, Victoria, relax,” Clary says. She puts out her arms and the Director comes over and gives her a big hug.

“Aren’t you ravishing tonight, Clary.” The Director groans as he holds her a little too long and too tight. “I tell you, if I didn’t know your husband so well …” He grunts out a laugh, and lets her go. “I hope you ladies are making our new addition feel welcome.”

“Oh yes, of course, sir,” Deidre says flutters her eyelashes and plants a kiss on the Director’s cheek.

“If I may,” the Director addresses the wives, “I’d like a moment alone with Miss Greyes to discuss politics.”

“Yes, sir,” Deidre says, flashing her bright white teeth. She ushers the wives out of the Director’s office, and I notice Catherine look back at me, biting her lip. Clary also shoots me a look, but it’s not as concerned. The door closes behind them.

“So,” the Director says, walking over to the bar and pours a drink. “What do you think about working here at the Axis?”

“I like it sir, thank you.” I try to force another smile, but my cheeks are starting to hurt.

“Don’t call me
sir
.” He laughs and hands me the drink. “It’s so formal.”

“
Director,
then?” I take a sip. The strong bite of the amber fluid burns my taste buds.

“Have you ever tasted whiskey before?”

“No, sir. I mean, Director.”

“You do remind me of your mother.” He leans in and moves a strand of hair from my face. I force myself not to flinch at his touch.

I step away from him, moving over to his desk where I set down my plate of food. The room feels off-center. It must be nerves. I take another sip of the drink, this time longer, to try to avoid the Director’s gaze.

“Did you know her well?”

“Ah yes.” He comes over to the desk. “She was a force to be reckoned with. Filled with many great ideas, some of which we still implement today in the Science Division. She also had many political opinions, which I reminded her were best left for the Delegates and me to sort out.”

“I don’t remember much.” I take another long sip.

“Too bad she didn’t leave anything behind.”

“I had her notebook, but that’s gone now.” I have no idea why I share this information with the Director. It spills out of my mouth before I can process any thoughts.