[Four] HAZEL EYES: GEJ AND FIH [Four]

Nicole swayed slightly with the motion of the rocking carriage. Michael scooted close to her. He had a white cast on his nose where Nicole had broken it. She pushed him away. Persistant, he continued to get ever closer to her. He place a hand on her knee. Nicole jumped at his touch.

“Come now, Nicole, darling,” said Michael. “You are going to have to get used to it.”

“Do not call me 'darling' and I do not have to get used to it,” said Nicole. “We are not married.”

“Yet,” corrected Michael.

“Do you want something else broken?”
Michael, not taking any chances, moved back to the other side of the bench. Nicole sighed and looked out on her side of the carriage. Many people were wearing luxurious attire, like herself andMichael,were out and about. You could tell these people were wealthy. Money was no option with these people.

Nicole noticed no one was wearing worn clothing like Ryan. She tried to imagine whereRyan lived, never having seen it herself. Even after all of those years of being friends, Ryan still insisted she not see his house until the right time came.

“Nicole,” said Michael, jolting Nicole from her day-dream. “Look.”

Nicole glanced to where Michael was pointing. A boy about twelve and a woman, who appeared to be his mother, were being harassed by a man wearing a suit. The boy was on the ground and the woman was crying; they were wearing ragged clothing. Michael chuckled at the sight.

“What are you laughing at?” snapped Nicole. “Driver stop the carriage.”

"Driver continue on," said Michael. "Nicole, they have nothing to do with us."
"Driver, stop the carriage," she repeated.
The carriage stopped and Nicole clambered out. She quickly went to the small riot. She helped up the boy. Nicole handed them a few coins and they left. Then, she rounded on the older gentleman.

“How dare you!” she shouted. “These are people too. What did they ever do to you?”

“They are in our area,” said the man. “These people need to go back to where they live, far from here. And you, Missy, need to stay to your own business and abide by the life of Gej.”

“What are you talking about? Gej is a language,” said Nicole.

“Your father has a little explaining to do,” said the man with a slightsniff. "Its a wonderhewas ever put in charge."The manwalked off in the direction of a shop.

“Nicole, what the hellwas that?” said Michael. “That was below our standards to mess with that riffraff. I would have thought better of you!”

Nicole, ignoring Michael’s comments, went back to the carriage and finished her promised word of going out on the town, but more silent and sullen than before.

~*~*~*~
Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins were in one of the living rooms. The fire was lit sending shadows dancing along the wall. Mrs. Hopkins sat in a chair reading a book, and Mr. Hopkins was smoking a pipe and going over some paper work.
Nicole burst into the once quiet room. Her outing hat barely hanging on her hair. She was flushed and breathing hard. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins looked up at their daughter.

“What is the matter, Nicole?” asked Mrs. Hopkins. "Did someone hurt you?"

“Father needs to tell me more about Gej,” said Nicole as calm as she could.

Mr. Hopkins set the pipe down casually as if he knew the day would have eventually come. Mrs. Hopkins looked over at him and he nodded. She stood and left Nicole and her father alone.

“Have a seat,” said Mr. Hopkins.

Nicole sat, not wanting to cause their conversation tostart off on the wrong footing.

“Gej is a culture, a way of living,” began Mr. Hopkins. “There are two. Gej and Fih. About two hundred years ago, it made no different. A common language was formed and we were a happy pair.

“Then, the Fih began to use witchery against us. They murdered our leader of the time. We used one of their spells against them and rose up in power. We trapped their magic in a ring. This ring is in our possession. Now they are no more than dirt. They work for us or live in that poor village on the other side of the forest.

“That boy you were so fond of was of the Fih culture. Those people are not meant to live like us. We are sophisticated, they are slobs. We are wealthy, they are poor. We shall forever be better than them.”

Nicole was in disbelief. She knew Ryan was poor, but never thought about her life was so…ornate. The Andersons work for them. She has always loved them like family, since her father let the Cormans go.

“But, Father,” said Nicole. “I…”

“I know. I thought you needed to be protected for you own sake,” said Mr. Hopkins over the patter of the rain drops beginning to fall on the roof.

“No!” shouted Nicole. “NO! You do not understand. The people of the Fih are a peaceful society. You must see that.”

“Nicole, do not turn on me. You are the daughter of a highly exalted official of Gej. It would ruin my reputation for my only child to turn rebel against her own people! Get back here this instant!”

Nicole'sfootstepsdid not waveras she went for the door. A clap of thunder shook the house. Nicoleran out the front door. Rain was pouring in the bucket loads. There was only one thing on Nicole’s mind. Run. Meet Ryan. He would know what to do.

Nicole reached the edge of the wood. Her dress mud-stained and hair sodden. She knew there was no turning back now. She was a ‘rebel’ now. A rebel against her own people. She ran into the forest.

“Ryan! Ryan Corman!” she shouted.

Nicole’s dress had snagged on twigs and loose branches. Once she nearly fell. It was dark and only by the brief light given to her by the lightning was she able to keep moving.

“Ryan!”

She grew weak and tired. A protruding root tripped Nicole causing her to fall face-forward into a puddle of mud. She could not muster up the strength to get up and she saw a shadowy figure before she passed out.
~*~*~*~
“Quick! Hide in here,” said a girl, Nicole, about the age of nine.

She held open the door of a dark room. A boy with scraggly brown hair ran into the room. The young girl with long blonde hair followed and shut the door. She then took a match and lit a candle. An eerie glow illuminated her face. She set the candle down so the two could see each other. The boy looked at Nicole, a smile on his face.

“Now what, Nicole?” he asked. “We’ve fought off the guards, and barely got though.”

“We are hiding. From the…uh…from the other guards,” replied Nicole. “Ryan, you have a cut on your arm and a bleeding knee. Now what would I have?”

“You can have a slash from your eye to your chin,” suggested Ryan.

“Good one,” said Nicole. “Alright, our hiding spot is found and a storm of men with guns and swords come barreling in and point them at us.”

Ryan’s eyes went wide, “What should we do?”

“Well, we give in, of course. But not really. You know, like in some books they pretend just so they can escape again?”

“So, we’re in the dungeons tied up,” said Ryan continuing the charade. “I cut the ropes with a sharp rock I found on the ground. Then, I untie your ropes. We need to get to the—”

The door opened and a woman stood there. She looked miserable. She gestured for Ryan. He stood up and brushed off the three sizes too big trousers he had on. He looked at Nicole sorrowfully. Then, he gave Nicole a hug.

“You have beautiful hazel eyes, Nicole Hopkins,” he whispered in her ear.

“Come on, Ryan, dear,” said the woman. “You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be.”

“But Mom! Nicole is my friend. Why can’t we see each other later?” said Ryan.

“Because, sweetie. Now, let’s go.”

“Good-bye, Ryan,” said Nicole who sniffled a bit.

“Bye, Nicole,” said Ryan. “Nicole…Nicole…