Found

Chapter 1 (Part 1): The first banquet

"Jordan Paige Matthews, if you don't sit still I will not let you go to this banquet," Abby threatened. I grinned. "Good thing you're not in charge of me," I replied, cockily. She sighed. "What am I ever going to do with you?" I ignored the question, turning my head so I could see my hair in the mirror. Abby smiled and added strung my favorite necklace, which was a thin silvery cord, around my neck . Abby was one of the closest friends I had, though she was 6 years older than me. She had saved the life of both me and my brother and that was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I shuddered just thinking about it.

Abby had pulled my flaming red hair in a twisted bun on the back of my head, with delicate wisps hanging out. This was one of the few times I agreed to dress up, mostly because I didn't have much of a choice. The yearly banquet weeks were attended by all Jumpers, and training ones. This was an exceptionally special one for me. It was the year I would become an official Jumper.

I stood and walked out of the large bathroom in my quarters. The silver heels that matched my dress were uncomfortable, but it was going to have to do for today. This was one of the most important weeks of my life and the banquet tonight, would mark the beginning of the intense, final week of preparation for the training Jumpers. Why they had a banquet before one of the hardest time periods we would ever have, I didn't know.

I reached the living room of my quarters to find Chase stretched out on my couch, hands behind his head, with his eyes closed, lounging in perfect ease. I picked up a pillow up off the armchair and threw it at him. "Wake up, sleepy head. We've got a banquet to go to." He groaned, opening one eye. "Do I have to?" "You know very well that you do," I replied, walking across the room to grab my purse.

I ran into my bed room to get my jacket and heard Chase yell from the living room: "Waiting on you now!" I rolled my eyes. Chase was probably my best friend and had been ever since I had gotten to Serna when I was 8. It had been over 10 years since I'd even seen a Prockit, yet I still had nightmares about them. All Jumpers had partners, which were always girl-boy, and he had been mine through training. Serna had been disagreeable about my choice to become a Jumper because of my past, but I had eventually convinced them.

I ran (or more trotted because of my heels) out of the bedroom, pulling my jacket on. It didn't match whatsoever because it was a dull blue, but something was going to keep warm throughout the cold night on Serna. Abby stood in the doorway with Chase, who was tapping his foot in mock impatience. "Come on," I said, pulling on my jacket. "Let's go."