It didn't take long for my teammates to get the hint that I wasn't interested in being friends. In fact, I would say a few of them took it a little too personally. However, I was lucky in that Rowan, our group helper, diverted a lot of attention. He was fresh out of a training program himself and close to our age. The girls in the group were obsessed with him and that caused the other boys in the group to stand united. Which meant that somehow, I fitted in even though I didn't particularly want to.
One of the girls in the group, Amelia, was a water Elementalist and we got paired up a lot during practices as well. She wasn't one of the insufferable girls so I tolerated her. I could tell that Elizabeth, our team leader, wasn't to pleased about my behaviour, but she never spoke to me about it.
Time flew by quickly and soon it was our last meal before we set off. They had a huge cafeteria, much like the Academy, but we had to sit in our respective group. I looked around surreptitiously for everyone and found Abigail's blonde head three tables away from me. The blond guy that I kept seeing next to her was still glued to her side.
The red head next to her whispered something and both of them turned towards me. Abigail looked lost as she scanned the crowd before our eyes connected. I frowned at the cluelessness of her face; we were supposed to lay low, not make a bunch of friends.
She raised her eyebrows at me in her usual fashion, unaware that she was getting too close to her teammates. I sighed and turned back to my dinner.
"Timone, I'm starting to think you are a robot," Amelia's amused voice to my right pulled my attention back to my team. I saw more than a few curious glances and even more annoyed one. Did someone ask me a question?
"Sorry, I was thinking about something," I apologised. It wasn't something I'd normally do, but I had learned that this would shut them up faster.
One of the girls rolled her eyes and Amelia shrugged. Rowan chuckled, he didn't have to sit with us but he volunteered to. Before anyone could make another comment, a commotion from the door captured everyone's attention.
I immediately recognised them as the group we ran into in the forest. Everyone began to whisper furiously at each other, excitement clear on their faces. They strolled into the room like they owned the place, ignoring the buzz around them as though they were used to it.
"I still can't believe the Hunters are coming too!" one of the girls whose name I had forgot shouted. Her neighbour twisted around to look at Rowan.
"Is it true that you were in the same basic training as Mariah?" she asked with starry eyes. My cheek twitched at her expression and I wasn't the only one who was repulsed by her... mannerism.
"We did, but I don't know her that well," Rowan answered. He certainly didn't seem bothered by the way she looked at him I was glad that he diverted some attention from me. Plus, he leaves me alone most of the time.
We were scheduled to have our last meet up before the whole group departs, since it would be impossible to get together without raising suspicion once we set off. Casey winked at me and I wondered why we couldn't find a less weird way to signal.
Since my team's table was smacked in the middle of the cafeteria, I was one of the last ones to arrive. It was already near curfew and we hadn't got a moment to waste.
"So, tomorrow is the big day," I started, not wanting to let this drag on. "We need to remember to blend in, and only use our emergency code when something big happens."
I stole a glance at Abigail to see her nodding; she definitely didn't seem to understand that this was directed at her. Bowen rolled his eyes at me and I glared at him.
YOU ARE READING
Selection (Book 2 of P.O.E. chronicles)
Science Fiction(This is the book 2 of POE chronicles - please check out book 1 Evolution first ) Evolution had created us. Allowed us to be different, given us a chance to survive outside the walls of Citybases. But evolution had also made them. They might not be...
