Chapter Text
48 hours. That was how long until Amy found out who her future husband would be. The shapeless blob of a man was about to have a face. And Amy could not be more excited about it. She expected to be more nervous. The ceremony was a big deal, the man that they matched her with would change her life. Yet for some reason Amy wasn’t nervous at all. She felt oddly calm about the whole thing. The system worked for her parents and all of her brothers, why would it not work for her too?
Amy got dressed and hurried out her house. The streets of New York were bustling as always. Except this time any conversation she could hear in passing was about the ceremony. It was a big deal, every twenty one year old in the state of New York would be there two days from now. Each one ready to meet their future spouse.
She unlocked the door of her book store, A New Chapter, and went inside to make sure everything was ready for business today. She was in the back of the store checking to
make sure the books were in alphabetical order. Her future husband was probably big into reading. She could see the two of them in here working together to make sure things were in order. He was probably kind and compassionate and wouldn’t mind when she was a later late being home. He was going to perfect, Amy could feel it in her bones.
A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. “We’re closed.” She shouted hoping the person would just walk away. There was a sign on the door for God’s sake. When the person knocked again, Amy reluctantly went up to the door. People in New York could be some dumb sometimes. However when she saw who was on the other side of the door, her anger instantly disappears. Jake was standing on the other side holding a bag of donuts and coffee. “Hey.” she said after unlocking the door and letting him inside. “Sorry I didn’t know it was you.”
Jake threw the donuts down on one of the tables before sitting down himself. She sat down next to him taking the coffee. “I figured.” He responded before putting another donut hole in his mouth. Amy tried to not to think about how she would have to clean up the powdered sugar when he leaves. “How are you.”
“Excited.” Amy said with a big smile on her face. “I mean can you believe that in two days we’re going to know who we’ll get married to.” Jake didn’t share the same smile she had. Instead he looked down at the donuts with great focus. “Jake?” She asked after a beat where he didn’t say anything. It was so unlike him to be quiet.
“Yeah it’s real exciting.” He said plastering a smile onto his face. “Are you nervous?”
“No.” Amy said. “I trust them. They’ll pick someone I like. They always do. What about you?”
“I’m terrified.” Jake said. “I know that you trust them because it’s worked out for everyone in your family, but what if they pick someone that I hate?”
Amy was silent for a moment. Their algorithm was perfect. It was impossible to hate the person that was chosen for you. “I don’t think you can hate them.” She said tilting her head to the side still thinking about his words. “They pick someone that they’ll know you love. Dad said that most people love their match after the first date.”
Jake scoffed at that. “I don’t think that’s how it works Ames. They love them because they think they have to.”
“Well they do.” Amy said.
“No they don’t!” Jake said. “That’s the thing. You chose to love someone, you don’t love someone because you’re told you have to. I think that we’ve all just been brainwashed into believing this load of shit.”
Amy was silent trying to come up with something to say. “You just don’t believe it because it didn’t work for your parents.” As soon as she said it she regretted it. The look of hurt that washed over his face made her want to reach across the table and wrap into a hug. “I’m sorry.” She started.
“Don’t be.” He said cutting her off. He got up from where he was sitting grabbing his donuts and coffee. “Maybe had the system worked, I would’ve had a dad. Funny how they don’t really care about the children who are abandoned by their parents.”
“I’m sorry.” Amy said again. “It was an insensitive thing to say. I didn’t mean it.”
“You wouldn’t have said it if you didn't mean it.” He said to her as he reached the door. “It’s ten o'clock, you’re about to open. I’ll see you at the presentation tonight.” And with that he disappeared out into the crowded streets of New York while Amy switched the closed sign to open.
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Later that night Amy walked into the auditorium, the same auditorium that in thirty six hours she would meet her husband. There were people swarming everywhere trying to find a good seat. Finally she spotted Jake and Gina citing several rows up. She quickly made her way to them sitting down next to Jake. “I can’t believe they are making us set through this stupid thing. We already know all the rules.” Gina complained, Jake just rolled his eyes.
Soon officials were walking out and taking their seats on the stage. Amy’s dad was the last one to walk out. He took the main microphone and taped it several times before he began to speak. “Hello ladies and gentlemen.” He said. “Today I’m just going to take some time to explain the basic rules of being matched. These are rules that you guys have all already heard before, but now that we’re thirty six hours away from being matched, we’re going to go through them again.”
Applause erupted throughout the auditorium. “Isn’t it crazy that our future spouse is sitting in this very room right now?” Gina whispered.
“So first things first. The person you are matched with is your match. There is no switching. But that isn’t going to be a problem as we have taken great time and consideration into choosing your match. That being said if you don’t like your match you do have an option to opt out but then you are never to get married, have a romantic relationship, or children. You will be sent to a place with all the other people who decided to not get married. So that’s something that you really want to think about.”
Amy saw Jake roll his eyes. She knew he would be fine, he was going to love his wife, and she was going to love him. Whoever was going to get matched with him tomorrow was going to be lucky. “Next rule is that you have to be married to your match within three years of tomorrow. If not then your match is invalid and therefore you can not get married. At all. So while yes it is okay to not get married straight away, you want to keep in mind that you don’t have forever.”
“Why would you not get married right away?” Gina asked. “I mean you’re going to have to marry that person anyways.”
“Maybe you’re trying to decide if it would be worth it to walk away.” Jake said back.
“Jake.” Amy whispered. “You can’t walk away. That would be crazy. They’ll banish you.”
“Still better than getting married and ending up dead.” Jake replied his glare shooting her daggers.
“The last rule is the biggest rule. Any sort of infraction will result in death. Now that sounds really scary when I say it, so let me define infraction for you. If you get married to your match and are then caught having any sort of physical relationship with someone else both parties will be punished. Hugging is okay, but kissing and having sex is not. Even if you don’t have a physical relationship with someone, but let’s say you fall in love with them, that can be counted as a infraction if we can prove intent.” The auditorium was dead silent as everyone listened to his father’s words. “But this rule shouldn’t be a problem because everyone will love their matches.”
“These rules are stupid. There shouldn’t be so many rules just to get married.” Jake whispered. Amy could hear the anger in his voice.
“Yes there should. People used to have affairs and get divorced all the time. When people are given a choice they chose wrong. That’s all there is to it. So now we don’t have to worry about choosing wrong.”
“But that should be my choice to make.” Jake hissed back at her.
“I can’t do this with you right now.” Amy said returning her attention to her father standing on the stage before her.
“Alright, so now I’m going to walk you guys through the process. Tomorrow you will all report here and get assigned seats. Then we will go through the alphabet and show you your match’s picture and name on the screen above me. Once we get through everyone you all will be free to go. The next day your date organizer will be in touch with you. We have tailored a date for each of you that is perfect for your personality. After the date you are the report to your organizer. After the first date you can do your own thing or continue to use the organizer. It’s that simple guys. I look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow!”
There was cheering in the auditorium once again. Amy and Gina once again politely clapped their hands, while Jake left his crossed over his chest. People in the auditorium quickly began filling out. Soon Jake, Gina and Amy were standing on the streets. “My match doesn't even know how lucky they are going to be tomorrow. Could you imagine getting matched to this?” She asked gesturing down at herself.
“As much as I would love to stay and have this conversation, I have a family dinner to attend.” Amy replied. “See you guys tomorrow.” She shouted as she headed towards her parents house.
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When she got there all of her brothers and their wives were already inside. Her nieces and nephew ran around the house like mad men. “Aunt Amy?” Christina her youngest niece asked tugging on Amy’s pant leg. “Are you excited to get matched tomorrow?””
“So excited.” Amy said picking her niece up off the ground.
“I wish I was old enough to be matched all ready.” Amanda said.
“You’ll be twenty one soon enough.” Amy said. “Only seven years.” Amanda just rolled her eyes before retreating back into the kitchen. Amy followed behind her and took a seat at the table where the rest of her family was already sitting. “Food looks great mom.” Amy said moving her napkin from her plate to her lap.
“Thank you hija.” Her mom responded. Soon the large family was piling food onto their plate and beginning to eat.
“Are all of your friends excited?” Her dad asked after the small talk had died down.
“Uh yeah. Gina’s really excited. She said that her match is going to be lucky.”
“Not as lucky as yours.” Her mother interjected.
Amy rolled her eyes before continuing. “Jake isn’t as excited about it. I think that he’s worried.”
“What’s there to be worried about?” Her dad asked.
“Well he’s concerned that he won’t like his match. He doesn't think a computer can decide who he’s going to spend the rest of his life with.”
“So he wants to choose.” Elijah, her oldest brother, stated. The silence that fell over the table was deafening. Amy immediately regretted bringing it up.
“No.” Amy said almost a little too defensively. “He’s just worried that he won’t like the person. But I told him that there was no way he wouldn’t.”
“Yes.” Her dad agreed. “Jake will like his match, just like every other person who has been matched. And if he doesn't he can chose to go with all the other people who don’t like their match.”
“Where is that?” Amy asked quickly before she had a chance to regret asking. Growing up she had always been told of this place but never where it was or what it was like.
“It doesn't matter. All that’s important about it is that it’s not a place you want to be. People who go there regret not just getting married.” Her father told her.
“It’s better to just get married and be unhappy then to go there.” Her mother added with a poignant look. “But none of that’s going to matter because each of you are going to love your match.”
“She’s right.” Elijah said. “I never would’ve meet Mackenzie if it wasn’t for the system.” He smiled at his wife who was sitting next to him and she returned the same smile. That’s what Amy wanted from her match. She wanted to be genuinely happy and in love. But he needed to feel the same way.
Later that night Amy was about to leave her parent’s house when she noticed her parent’s bedroom door cracked open. They were sitting on the bed talking in hushed tones. Amy put her ear as close to the crack as she could without being noticed. “He’s going to be trouble.” She heard her dad say.
“What are you going to do about?” Her mom asked. “You can’t send him there until he’s decided that he doesn't want to get married. And you can’t arrest him unless you can prove that he commits an infraction.”
“I don’t know. But he’s going to cause a problem, and I would rather deal with it now then later. If we wait the damage is going to be harder to clean up.”
“What damage?” Her mom asks. “People can chose not to get married, it’s not that big of a deal. If he commits an infraction he and everyone else knows what will happen. His match will get another match in a year. Everything works out fine.”
“Not when Amy is in the equation.” Hearing her name out of her dad’s mouth was enough to a jolt for her to remember that she was eavesdropping on a very private conversation. She quickly left the the house and began the walk home to her apartment.
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That night she doesn't sleep. Partly because she was so excited but also her father’s words kept spinning around in her mind. “The damage it would cause?” It didn’t make sense why he was so worried about Jake. Sure he was a flight risk but that was his choice.
Amy put on her dress, a gorgeous red gown, that her mom had worn during her matching ceremony. Her mother had always described the day as the happiest day in her life and Amy hoped to be able to say the same one day.
The convention center was buzzing with activity. Twenty one year olds that were excited to meet their match, and parents that were excited to meet their future son or daughter in laws. Amy looked around the crowd until she spotted Jake. He was standing near the back talking to his mom. When he saw Amy his eyes lit up.
“Hey!” He shouted at her his eyes flickering down her body until coming to rest on her face. “You look...gorgeous.” He swallowed hard at his words and she could see his adam's apple bob. Amy couldn’t help the heat that rose to her cheeks. Quickly she tucked her perfectly curled hair back behind her ears.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.” She said beaming at him. “I’m surprised you’re not wearing your usual plaid flannel.”
“Mom made me put on a tie. Something about how first impressions matter.”
“They do.” Amy said.
“Well I’m sure your match will be impressed.”
“As well yours.” Amy replied. “Should we go inside?” Jake nodded before following her into the auditorium. They were given assigned seats that were nowhere near each other. “Well I guess the next time we see each other we’ll know who we’re going to spend the rest of our lives with.”
“What if I already know?” Jake asked suddenly before Amy had a chance to turn away. “What if I already know who I want to spend the rest of my life with?”
Amy crinkled her eyebrows together. She reached forward and grabbed his hands giving them a reassuring squeeze. “You’re going to love your match. I promise.” She smiled at him. “I have to go.” Amy said looking back at the rows of people sitting waiting. “There about to start.” She dropped his hands and couldn’t help but notice how empty and cold hers felt now.
“Yeah I guess I should too. Try to find me after this?” He asked a glint of hope in his voice.
“Of course.” Amy said before making her way up to her seat. Once everyone was seated the lights began to dim and the date organizers made their way onto the stage. They began to work their way through the alphabet. As the letters began to closer and closer to S, Amy felt the knot in her stomach continue to tighten. She looked around the room of people who were beaming with happiness. She wasn’t sure who she was looking for until her eyes fell on him. His match was going to be lucky. More lucky than she would probably ever realize.
“I will be taking last names L-U.” The new date organizer said at the bottom of the stage. He was small man with a face that looked like it belonged to a mouse. “For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Charles Boyle. And I am very excited to be your date organizer.” He began going through the list. Most of the names didn’t stand out until she heard him call out “Gina Linetti.” Amy looked up at the screen waiting to see Gina’s match. The girl on the screen didn’t show any sort of emotions. “Your match is Rosa Diez.” She had long curly black hair that looks natural. Gina waved and the girl and the girl waved back but didn’t bother to smile.
Charles continued calling out names until he landed on Jake. “Jacob Peralta.” He called out. The screen above them showed the picture of a beautiful brunette girl. “Your match is Sophia Perez.” Sophia waved at the screen and Amy watched as Jake waved back before the screen was cut away to the next person.
Amy swallowed hard hoping to get rid of the lump in her throat. There was a feeling that was making its home in her stomach although she wasn’t sure exactly what it was. Probably nerves, she was getting closer and closer to meeting her future husband. “Amy Santiago.” Charles called out. Amy forced herself to take a deep breath as she looked up at the screen. “Your match is Teddy Wells.” His picture showed up on the screen and Amy plastered a smile on her face. First impressions were important. She waved at the screen and watched as the man waved back. Once he disappeared off the screen she was finally able to take a breath of relief.