Skin Nation

Skin Nation

Joni Bing

Copyright 2013 Joni Bing

Smashwords Edition

Book Design by Tianna Harvey

Table of Contents

Start of Skin Nation

About Joni Bing

Other Books by Joni Bing

Connect with Joni Bing

Prologue

To conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens. - Adolf Hitler

ONE

TO THE MASS!

Strobe lights of every color-red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, and green-flashed rhythmically in beat with the heavy electro-rock music that blasted my ears from the moment I walked in. Graffiti designed Solo cups flew around the room and multi-colored glow sticks scattered the floor. Splashes of foamy alcoholic drinks spilled from the cups of those I passed, clashing into the silly string being sprayed in the air by those running through the sweaty crowd, soaking my costume. Before I could speak a word in protest, the glitter bomb hanging from the center of the ceiling exploded, spilling its insides onto the crowd who stopped to celebrate the moment. I knew then that it was midnight.

Since when has Mass bash been this crazy?

Since I got pledged onto council.

I looked up at Josh and laughed. He thought he was so cool now, but that was what the Mass was all about. Being cool and rebellious. Fighting the System.

Josh and I were the epitome of childhood friends. I'm talking literally since we were in diapers. That was part of the reason why I was the only one allowed to make fun of his curly afro that he inherited from his Dominican father and bright green eyes that resembled his mixed mother's. According to our parents, ever since that first day we met in Pre-K, we were inseparable. Apparently, we used to cry for each other on the weekends and everything. We constantly got accused of being a couple over the years, but eventually the rumors died when Josh and I started seeing other people in pre-YA, which I heard was similar to Old Nation middle school and stood for pre-Young Adult.

Josh raced us further into the wild dancing crowd and found a place to join them right next to the speakers. I still don't know how the Mass was funded. It was all set-up and run by a bunch of no collar YA kids, the New Nation term for the teenagers. I stood up on my tip toes as we walked through the crowd to watch the band playing on a high platform in the center of the room.

Who's playing tonight? They're good!

No clue! I got to the last meeting after they voted for music!

Bro!

I looked over and saw SJ walking over to greet Josh. SJ, Mister black prepped hair with massive green puppy dog eyes that always looked stoned, was one of Josh's good guy friends who became the Mass president when Herrick, the Mass legend of our class himself, went missing.

SJ, what's going down, man?!

Nothing much, bro, he looked over at me. The band's as hot as your date tonight.

I stared into SJ's eyes with the lowest lack of interest I could fix on my face and he smiled back with that creepy smile stretching his cheeks.

Nice costume, Dalton.

Thanks, I smiled as I put my arms around Josh's shoulders. I always used him as a creeper repellant. I had Josh in mind when I put it together.

Ooh...well, bro-ski, listen. Some new chick wants to be inducted tonight so we need someone to...you know.

I knew exactly what SJ was hinting at. He was trailing off about the reason why I could never truly join the Mass. Because joining the Mass meant being a brand wearing, daily partier, weekly drinker who enjoys intercourse more than the average high angst teen because a man the Mass called Carl-Diculous--whose real name isn't so far from that-says too much of these things will create the Perfect Man before age twenty five if you start at eighteen. Of course, the point of the Mass was to start Trying Life earlier than that with the help of your class and classes up to three years ahead of you if you were one of those Xi freshmen who could be inducted early. In short, the Mass was probably more illegal than transnational communication.

Not tonight, man. I might just have our next future inductee here if I behave right, Josh replied as he looked over at me with a hand around my waist.

"Alright, man, I got you. We are waiting for you though, Dalton. All of us are," SJ winked.

Thanks, SJ, that just makes me feel so much better about my decision... I started. SJ walked away and I whispered to Josh, ...to stay indie.

Bleu, seriously, I can't keep hanging with an indie, girl. I'm an admin now, you know? And, if we're not...you know...people won't think I'm legit.

Since when do you care about what idiots like SJ think?

Josh never gave me an answer. Feedback bled through our ears and there SJ stood on the platform, mic in hand, while the band exited the stage to cool off before their next set.

MASS, LET ME HEAR YOU!

WE GOT YOU!

WHAT ELSE?

GOT IT!

WHICH IS?

THE FUTURE!

WHICH WE'LL-

CONQUER!

AH, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. ALRIGHT, GUYS, WE GOT A FOLLOWER REQUEST TONIGHT. SHALL I BRING HER UP?

Is she hot? I heard Gary Nissen shout further up near the platform than Josh had run us.

I'LL LEAVE THAT FOR YOU TO DECIDE! SUMER, WHERE YOU AT?

She strutted quick onto the stage in a black lacy burlesque outfit with full red lipsticked lips, and mocha skin, looking just like the younger sister I never had who I would kill if I ever caught here. The guys in the crowd whooped and hollered and I laughed at the girls beside them in similar lacy costumes like mine poking out their tongues in jealous revolt.

THINK YOU GETTING A MASS YES, SUMER! NOW, IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM OUR COUNCIL. ADMINS, WHERE YOU AT?

Josh hollered out beside me along with the other admins mixed around the party and I almost punched him in the stomach to give him something to holler out about. I couldn't believe he joined the Mass. And now he was an admin too?

WELL, I SEARCHED FOR YA AND NO ADMIN CALLLED DIBS SO TONIGHT IS WHAT WE OF THE MASS CALL-

WILD CARD WEDNESNDAY!

WOW! MASS VETS IN THE HOUSE! I LIKE THAT! PLATT!

Jerry Platt, another admin with prepped hair that was brown and high eyes that were blue who I think got elected the same night Josh had, jumped onto the stage with-

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE SMASH BOWL!

Everyone in the room screamed and cheered as SJ dug through the glitter and names swimming around in the bowl. My heart started beating fast and I took a breath to calm it down.

AND TONIGHT'S LUCKY ADMIN IS, SJ paused when he read the name on the slip. That's when everyone started yelling for him to say the name, say the name but he just stared at the paper, almost like saying the name would kill him. Or us.

...Myles Tucker.

The room grew quiet and I looked around at the paling-worried faces that suddenly filled the crowd. Oh, no. Not Myles Tucker. Because the name Myles Tucker always brought another name with it in conversation: Kenzie Louis. Even though it was banned for Mass admins to be in a relationship, there was always a strong unspoken law that certain people were...taken by others. Like friends with benefits without the status. I looked around again. Was he gonna do it?

Where is he?

There, Josh said as he pointed Myles out.

Oh, man. He was.

I looked around a third time and found Kenzie in the crowd with a glitter infested hand around her eyes looking down at the glow sticks lit floor like she lost something. If nights like this one that we heard happened about so many times before at Mass bashes as pre-YAs were examples, maybe she had. Sumer and Myles made eye contact...Myles took her hand...looked back into the crowd...put on that fake Mass admin smile, threw up deuces...and they were off.

NOW, LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR MASSIVE ADDICTS! SJ shouted before things got too awkward and the band swaggered back on stage.

Can we go now? They don't need you anymore, right?

Josh looked over at me then looked down in thought...or was that irritated anger?

Yeah...yeah, I guess.

We walked slowly through the crowd this time and both of us grabbed a Solo cup to go. We exited the dance hall and the air outside smelled alcoholic and felt cold. I wanted to talk about what just happened but I knew better. What happens at Mass bash, stays at Mass bash. Period.

Shoot, where's the car? Josh said to himself.

Circles, I see circles! I laughed.

All of a sudden, a bust of laughter sounded from both of us. It was an inside joke of ours. It was the first thing Josh said the first time we ever got high. It was the last time for me but Josh's...well, he's a Mass admin for a reason.

Do you remember?

Of course not. I was trying to rip my stocking on our walk here, remember?

Oh, right, he sighed. Great, we're screwed. Let's start walking around.

We walked on the jagged concrete sidewalk without words for quite some time. I actually liked those moments though. Me. Josh. Walking quarter Mass wasted. Silent night. I looked up to find stars and found rows of streetlights shining too brightly to see anything but dark gloomy clouds. Freaking System.

Hey, sexy, you lost?

I looked over and found a girl with messy black hair and hungry gray eyes walking coolly next to Josh. Oh great. Let the Wild Wednesday routine begin.

Not interested, he replied.

You sure? I'm a guaranteed good time. It's Wild Wednesday, you know?

I'm an admin, of course I know. I'm just not interested.

I wanted to snicker but I kept my trap shut. I should feel bad. Her parents were true Followers. Plus, by the looks of it, her last good meal was weeks ago.

Anything I can do to make you interested...anything?

She reached to untie the black lace around her bust and Josh grabbed for my hand then pushed her away. I said not interested! Get lost!

She shrieked and ran down the opposite way we continued to walk.

Josh!

I know it's just...gosh what is it with these doxies lately? They're all so needy and willy!

What do you expect from a girl who got kicked out her house to fend for herself?

Some sympathy you're poppin' off the lip with. If you feel so bad, go run her down and give her the Lincoln I saw you slip into your bra earlier-

Please, I don't feel that bad.

That's when Josh looked over at me with his my-point-exactly. I-was-right-after-all smirk and released my hand from his. Suddenly, everything felt so cold.

TWO

I sat at the table in my kitchen-spoon in one hand, T.V. remote in the other-gazing into the colors that make up the screen and nothing more. The only sound I process is the sound of the crunch in the depths of my mouth from my cereal. Then, a fearful instinct surges through my body forcing my eyes to gaze down at my glass resting in my right hand. Crap. All out of orange juice.

Morning.

I looked away from the empty glass over at my mother grinning ear to ear as a somewhat familiar body trailed out of the bedroom behind her.

Mother, I rolled my eyes.

Bleu.

Frank.

I stared Frank down and followed his tracks to the front door with my eyes. I hated the guy-he was so wrong for my mother. The way he spoke, the way he smelled, how he ate, his everything! Yet he stood six feet five tall, with his dark shaven face, dark brown eyes, crooked off white smile and thought he was the ish on every girl's wish list.

So, I'll see you around, I guess?

Um, at work. Um, yeah, definitely.

They would see each other around, but I knew I wouldn't see Frank's dumb face ever again. I didn't mean to auto hate every guy my mother brought home, I just became aware over the years that she has poor taste and judgement in men. You learn to pick up quick on people when their span in your life ends after three days or less.

They whispered and whispered at the door and the moment I saw their lips about to meet, no one could've held me back from fake choking. My mother immediately ran to my side. I shooed her away dramatically and the moment between us grew weird. Following my lead, my mother shooed Frank out the house and brought me the carton of orange juice from the fridge.

You don't like him, she frowned as she leaned against the counter I sat at in the kitchen.

Mom, he talks like a Futurist.

Is that so bad?

I almost double took to make sure that I was having this conversation with my mom. "Yes, especially when every other word coming out his mouth is um."

My mother ignored my comment with a bite into her apple our delivery boy brought with our boxed b-fast that morning and voice commanded our T.V. to rise in volume.

Oh, look. Another Xi capturing, I said as I rolled my eyes and stabbed my spoon into my blue disposable cereal bowl.

My mother adjusted her lean on the counter with her own glass of orange juice and I tried with all my heart to pay attention to the news report. The week before, a report came out that we were progressing-which really meant more people in The Nation were becoming illiterate idiots with low attention spans. I bit my lip as I tried to think back on the new report and realized there wasn't much I could remember about the stories after it ended. It frustrated the hell out of me because it was short spoken for lags around The Nation who couldn't pay attention to a falling leaf. It made me paranoid that I was slowly turning into one of them.

By then, the house, full of every kind of technology The Nation recommended and protected by brick and large glass windows, had been a total wreck for weeks so I threw the last good glass we had left of our cups to the ground and headed for the front door.

Bleu, you can't just destroy crap and leave.

Why? Is that a new short unspoken law? I snapped.

My mother rose to stand up straight and I turned toward the door again. Even though more than half of the kids in my class had dropped out of school since freshman year, I still went. Screw the future! There were a lot of protestors and followers of The System. They'd been trying forever to change our way of thinking and now they had done it, all for money and control. Seriously, people are idiots though, to even cooperate with the foolishness passed. I slammed the door as loud as I could and wanted to hear someone yell about the noise. Of course, no one did. Since 2023, The Nation's hearing level diminished by half. Unless you were, at most, seven yards distant of a sound occurring, all you heard was silence.

Luckily, The System still maintained certain areas, depending on the province. The trees around my community, unlike the ones a few streets over, were a healthy green, the sidewalks were always tan, and the roads were always black. Landscape never changed-just the idiots who tended it. With nothing but trees, sidewalk, road, and ashes from the house that burned down across the street to look at on my walk to school, it became a pretty boring one until...

Bleu!

I looked over into the small silver car slowly drifting alongside me and kept walking.

Hey, sexy, you need a ride?

Not today, low life. I've gotta walk off some pounds.

Seriously, Bleu, c'mon. You comin' or not?"

Um...no.

I'll drive off.

You won't!

I will in the next five seconds.

I looked over at Josh and he couldn't even keep on a straight face. I couldn't either looking at that tight curly brown hair of his. He drove off fast and I gasped at the surprise of his leave. Josh!

I started running as he waved a hand out of the window of his car.

You jerk! I screamed as I ran faster to catch the car. I ran up to the car in the street and Josh slowed down when I got a grip on the door handle. You freakin' jerk! I exclaimed as I entered the passenger seat. Josh stopped the car to laugh until he turned pink.

That was great! That was absolutely what I needed to start the day! he laughed madly.

I punched him hard in the arm and he put the car back in motion. You know, I'm actually kind of proud of you. I didn't know you even had the balls to do something like that.

Whatever, Bleu, he chuckled as he looked over at me putting my hair up into a loose bun. "I am full of surprises though. Haven't you heard around school?"

Trust me, I've heard plenty.

Good things? he looked over.

You want the ego killing truth or a beautiful lie?

He slumped down in his seat. Surprise me.

One name: Blythe.

Blythe, Blythe... he laughed and laughed. You've heard great things!

For about a minute. I left the table.

Couldn't take the deets, huh?

"No, I could. Just not when they're involving you," I replied what's that word...sarcasmly?

He caught on to my sly comment quickly and stuck his tongue out after mocking me. I got a hold of his bushy hair and pushed him away when he tried to lick my face. I have no idea how we survived the drive to school together every day.

But seriously, Bleu, when are we gonna do it?

When are you gonna stop asking me every time we're alone?

Okay, new plan...we'll go back 100 years in time and go see a movie first.

There's nothing wrong with old traditions, Josh.

"I'm not saying that, I just mean...is it wrong