The WRA Draft

Chapter Nine: The Election

(The following Monday)

I walked to the Gray Room with clammy hands. Today's meeting was the meeting that really mattered; it was the start of our Challenge.

I closed my locker and turned around to lean against it and give my head a rest for just a minute.

"You alright?" Gage, my locker neighbor, asked putting his combination in. He was a bit of a Royal, but not as high up there. He competed in sports but wasn't into as much as others. He had something with Maria for a while, but that ended a while back.

"I'm fine," I reply. "Just resting my mind."

"I heard that the meeting today is gonna be something big."

I smirked. "Yeah, I heard that too. Something about choosing a director?"

"It'll probably be Maria. She runs the show after all." He shut his locker and waved. "See ya in the Gray Room."

I waved and looked over. Taylor and Toby weren't in sight. They must have already gone. I decided to head down there myself.

"Hey." I felt someone place their hand on my shoulder. I jumped and looked to see Maria.

"What."

"You're so jumpy!" She laughed.

"What do you want," I demanded.

"You get my email?" she said softly.

"I did. Didn't believe it was you at first."

"Whatever." She walked off. I rolled my eyes and continued walking to the Gray Room.

I entered through the door and searched it for Toby and Taylor. Finally, I had found them and with my luck, they had chosen to sit in the middle in the chaos instead in our usual corner in the back.

I sat down next to Toby. "Why, of all places, did you choose to sit here?"

"This is a special day!" Taylor stated happily. "You have to be in the middle of it all."

"Don't be that person." I rolled my eyes. "I'm not for sure getting the spot. For all we know, Maria will win in a landslide."

"Don't think like that," Toby insisted.

"Oh, but I will. I refuse to get my hopes up."

"They were up?" Taylor asked.

"No, I just told you that I won't get them up."

"So you admit that you do want the job."

"I admit nothing."

Taylor opened her mouth to object, but the bell rang and Clayton stepped up to the podium. Surprisingly, he was by himself. There were no Royals surrounding him, no eager teachers. They all sat in the audience. There was a buzz of noise as people spoke to each other.

"Alright, quiet down," Clayton began. "Quiet down. I've heard the rumors going around. You all think that we're getting a director today. There is a possibility that we are, but that's up to you all."

Murmurs spread across the room as students began discussing again.

"Quiet down!" Clayton repeated. "In my opinion, I think the person I have in mind will be great, but they insisted that we get the approval of all of you before we go on." He stared me down for a split second before continuing, "But I'm gonna one up them. What I'm going to do is accept nominations. Nominate whoever you think will be great for the position of director. Once all the nominations are in, we'll hold a vote. Make sense?" The students looked around eagerly for who they wanted to nominate. "Please, stay quiet as we take these nominations. Raise your hand and I'll call on you."