SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 16: Night Of Stars (Part 2/2)

"Grace Hayes?" Lea repeated.

I was so shocked that I didn't even move, and Mark had to pull me to my feet.

"Grace, stand up! You've passed! Move!" He said.

The applause of all my colleagues rang loudly in my ears as I stood up, still trying to process what was happening. Lea waited for me at the edge of the stage, looking less than pleased. If it had been up to her, I knew I wouldn't have passed. Her eyes were half-lidded as she clapped slowly, the most passive-aggressive applause I'd ever heard.

"Kate's too soft on you," she said, shaking her head. "Congratulations." Oh, wow, I could tell she was thrilled.

She held out her hand, and I shook it, trying to keep my cool.

"Thank you." My tone was sincere.

I moved down the line where all the other leads were waiting to reach Kate. I wanted to hug her, but the still-visible marks on her face from our less-than-friendly combat made me hold back (for once). Instead, I offered my hand.

"Thanks, Kate. I don't know what to say..."

She smiled, but her eyes betrayed that she hadn't yet recovered from my deception. "Just don't make me regret this, okay?"

I nodded. "You won't."

She shook my hand firmly and gave me another smile, this one kinder than the first one.

Then I moved to the next lead until I reached where Heather was standing. With her arms behind her, her back straight and firm, and her gaze fixed ahead. It seemed incredible that she was the same person from that morning. When I stood in front of her, a big smile spread across her face, and I returned it.

"Congratulations, Narval Officers." She said.

"Thanks."

She leaned her hand to me, which was kind of funny, considering everything that had already happened between us. Still, I grabbed it and gave it a firm shake.

"I guess this puts me one step closer to my VIP pass for the pool."

That drew a laugh from her. "Don't go that fast, newbie."

Then she took my arm, turned it so that my palm faced up, and joined her wrist with mine, making our two bracelets touch, our hands forming a cross.

"Let's make this official." She said.

"We waited for a moment until a soft 'beep' signaled that the update had been successfully applied.

"That's it?"

"That's it." She confirmed but still wasn't letting go of my arm.

"Oh my god, oh my god." A voice came from the area where all the new Official Narval's were waiting. I turned to see Laura, barely able to contain her excitement.

"I think someone's waiting for you." Heather said, finally letting go of my arm.

"See you later." I said.

She nodded, still smiling, and stepped off the stage, only to be instantly swept into a tight, exuberant hug from Laura.

"I told you! I told you this would happen!"

"You didn't tell me anything," I said, laughing as I pulled away. "None of us saw this coming."

"Okay, fine, maybe not exactly," she said, rolling her eyes. "But I always believed in you." That part was true, she had spent hours helping me train before the test, even though it meant losing time to train for herself.