The One (A Selection Fan Fiction)

Chapter Seven

TWO DAYS LATER, WE WERE done with first-aid. As Silvia entered the Women's Room, she told us to follow her to another room where we would train for basic self-defense.

When we entered the Training Room, I noticed it was quite large. Some guards were training on both offense and defense at one side of the room. Us girls occupied the other half. Supplies of weaponry and armory stands and waits at the far corner, between the halves, facing the door where we came through.

Five guards neared us. "These guards are the five best we have and they are chosen to tutor you on defense mechanism for today and tomorrow," Silvia said. "Ladies, this is Major Hayden, Sergeant Prime, Officer Paves, Officer Markson, and Officer Leger." At the mention of their names, the guards bowed.

Wait, Leger? Officer Leger?

Oh, no.

This couldn't get any worse now.

"Ladies, the guards in front of you will be your mentor for self-defense lessons for two days."

I spoke too soon. Glancing at the person in front of me, I realized it was Aspen, grinning widely.

"Hello," he said. "Don't worry. I'll try to take it easy on you."

"Quite impressive how swiftly you got in the best five," I commented.

"Actually, three of the real best five are currently off-duty," he admitted. "I'm just the eighth. They can't call the guards forth when they're off-duty."

"Still, you're in the best ten, if not five," I said. "I wonder how proud your family must be of you."

"Well," he said, shrugging. "I wonder how proud your family must be of you."

***

"He's cute," Elise commented, walking beside me. "I wonder if has someone waiting for him."

"Huh?" I asked dumbfounded and confused of who she was talking about. Was it Maxon? "Who and what are you talking about?"

She snickered. "Duh. Your guard-mentor a while ago. What is his name? You two seemed to know each other, according to what I had witnessed, considering you two were in a deep conversation."

"Oh, uh... He's Officer Leger. Silvia introduced them, remember?"

She looked at me in disbelief. "Oh, come on. There has to be more than that. Someone can't just be named with a surname. He has got to have a first name, too. So what is it?"

I sighed, defeated. "Aspen. Aspen Leger. He was a Six from home. The reason why we seem to know each other is because we do know each other. His family is our family's friend. My family has his family on and over if we need help. And my mother and his are friends. Aspen was the last one who cleaned up my room back at home before I left."

"Oh," she said. "He was a Six, he is a Two now; once a slave, now a guard. Cute fairy-tale life story and cute name. Oh, and cute face, too." she added.

"Careful, Elise," I warned. "If you would get caught for saying that, it would be considered treason."

"Oh, hush." She waved her hand as if to swat a fly away. "You wouldn't be a renegade and tell, right?" I nodded and she said, "Excellent."

I shrugged. "I can't blame you, really."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked stopping in her tracks. But I didn't stop. I continued to walk.

"Oh, nothing." I shrugged again. She caught up walking beside me again. "Hey, do you want to go to the gardens with me?" I inquired. She smiled and nodded.