《The Potential Inside》


 Chapter 2: The Scientists

    As soon as we walk into the room all eyes turn to us. Jay puts a hand on my shoulder, with the protectiveness of an older brother, and nods, smiling with his easy going smile. I wave awkwardly while looking down at the pristine, wooden floor. We both head over to two empty seats. Jay chats to the people around us making very natural conversation as I listen in. Everyone we were talking to was nice and very bright, though not always in the traditional sense. It was obvious from the few interactions I was having that everyone here had been chosen for a reason. After finishing an intresting conversation with a girl who has a degree in Nuclear Physics I quickly scan around the room to catch a glimpse of the people I''ll be working with for the next while. Ages seem to range from early twenties to late thirties. Some people are engaging in pleasent coversations, others in intense debates and some [like I would have probably been if not for Jay] were sitting by themselves looking really nervous.


    Just as I''m begining to get overwhelmed suddenly all the noise and chatter dies down. I straighten up and over the tops of people''s heads I see my idol standing at the top of the room. Professor Willow is a stern looking, slender woman with light brown hair that is gently streaked with strands of grey. But her most striking feature is her brilliantly clear, green eyes which are taking in the room. I am so excited, all fatigue and nervousness are now forgotten.


    "Hello everyone." Dr Willow begins "I want to thank you all for coming here. I know some of you have had long journeys so for today I''ll try to keep it brief."  Nuclear Physics girl sighs and Jay gently nudges me in the ribs. Dr Willow gives a tight smile sensing our relief. "I will go more indepth tomorrow when you are assigned your tasks and teams but for today all you need to know is this. Recently our scientists here at Industria have been given the go ahead to launch a project that we have wanted to work on for a long time. Our investor decided that you all should be brought in for a fresh, new perspective and my colleages and I agree. Know that this is a private project, so no information is to be leaked on social media or any other platforms, though I feel that goes without saying.  The one thing I will tell you today in regards to what we''ll be doing is that it involves Einstein''s statement E=mc2." she seems to smile genuinely now as she says "But I know most of you are tired so as I said we''ll brief you properly tomorrow. If you will all head to reception, Sharon will show you the way to your living quarters where you will be staying during the duration of this project. See you tomorrow." with that she turns and leaves the room.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    I don''t know about my peers but all thoughts of falling asleep tonight is forgotten. Thoughts and theories buzz around my head as I pick up my bags and head to reception with Jay. I remember studying E=mc2 but the details are a little fuzzy, I will have to read up on it again tonight. Sharon is waiting for us at reception and she begins to lead our litte group towards our new living quarters. Theories one by one start popping up until almost everyone id discussing what this all could possibly mean. Jay and I snatch theories out of the air and begin to discuss them until they don''t make sense anymore, we then tune back into the main conversation, snatch a new theory and repeat. Sharon walks us us through a corridor that connects the Industria building to the one next door. She swipes a key card through a machine in a big oak door, opens the door and exclaims "Welcome home!"

 Chapter 3: The Roommates

    The room inside has the appperance of a cozy sitting room with couches, armchairs, a coffee table and a bookshelf that rivals my Dad''s for most books crammed into three shelves. To the side there is a small kitchenette that tells me that we''ll be eating out most of the time. At the back of the room there is a corridor with five doors leading to our new rooms. Sharon gives us the tour, hands over our key cards and then tells us to have fun and that we''ll see her tomorrow. I head with Jay down the corrridor where Sharon said our rooms are. Me and Jay aren''t in the same room but our rooms are side by side with my room being the last one on the corridor. We were told before we arrived that we would have roommates but I''m still really nervous. Jay looks at his door and then back at me. Before he heads in he raises his hand in a mock salute. I giggle with nervous energy and return the favour. I then turn, inhale and open the door to my new room.


    There are two bunk beds on either side of the room with a mirror on the wall in between them and storage compartments in a smaller room to the side. Two of my new roommates are already in the room, both having claimed the top bunks. A tan girl sits kneeling on her bed with a suitcase open beside her. She is the first to notice me standing in the door way. "Hello!" she says cheerfully waving "how are you?". The other is lying down, propped up by pillows and has one earphone in one ear. "What''s up" she half-shouts. "Hey" I say waving "I''m good, thanks. A bit confused. How about yourselves?" "Confused is right" Earphone girl says. "I wish we could have asked questions" Kneeling girl sighs. "Same" I say stepping into the room. "I''m Ai, I''m a Physics major" kneeling girl says playing with her braid of black hair. "Hannah, Computer Science major" Earphone girl says pulling out the earphone "Sorry had to finish that song.". "No worries. I''m Amelia, Biomedical major." I reply. "Yay!" Ai exclaims with genuine excitement " Not only are we bunks mates but we''re also name buddies." I smile, really happy to have met such friendly people and have things go so smoothly so far. I look around and I see a closed suitcase on the bed bellow Hannah''s. "Have you met our other roommate yet?" I enquire. "Yeah" Hannah says "She seems kind of reserved." "Reserved?" Ai echoes. I feel bad for our absent roommate, I can relate. I set my bag down on my bed as Hannah says "I''m going to check out the other rooms and our new floormates. Do you guys want to join?" "Yeah" Ai says climbing down from her bunk. "I''ll join you in a minute I say "I''ll just start unpacking first."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The other two leave as I begin to unpack. After rumaging through the clothes, books and toiletries in my carry on bag and suitcase I finally pull out my laptop. I quickly fire off a quick email to my parents telling them about the hassle at the airport and all the people I have met today. Closing the tab I see my screensaver which is a collage of photos of my friends and family back home. Tears well in my eyes but I refuse to cry. I am living out my dreams.


    I close my laptop with a thud as I see the door opening. In the door way stands a tall, thin girl with mousy brown hair. My third roommate. "Hey, I''m Amelia" I say waving. "Hello, I''m Bridget." she says looking really uncomfortable. Understanding this I stand up, give what I hope was a friendly smile and say "I''m heading out to explore, do you want to come?" "No thanks" she says timidly. "Okay, see you later" I say heading out the door. Smiling genuinely now Bridget replies "See you".