Fight With Fire

15

I'm lying down on my bed with an ice pack on my cheek. I had moved my bed to the middle of the room and everything else is against the walls. That way I don't have to clean up every morning after my nightmare. It is the same every night. The people, the rain, the falling, the hands. The last few mornings after the testing I have gone down to sit with Charlie. I let the music fill me and wash away all the bad dreams. But this morning I had to fill in my iae. The memory of my dream still fills my head and makes me feel uncomfortable. The unsettled feeling makes me dizzy.

I throw the ice pack to the side and get up. When I enter the hallway it is very similar to the morning the list was posted. Today there is a different list posted. Less people on this list but it is much more important. It is the list of the people that scored top 40 for testing.

When I get to the Great Hall, the elites are already at the front of the line. Many of them will score.

Finn turns around and sees me. "Ella, it's different this year. There are no names so we don't know who scored. And-"

I put my finger to his lips and walk past him to the list. "Let me see."

Everyone moves so I can see the list. There is a small paragraph at the top followed by the list. Instead of 40 names, there are 21 iaes. All showing one of the Aerdell categories and an empty one for Phiars. Beside each circle is a number. I look back to the small paragraph and start reading out loud.

"Dear students, this year the scoring is arranged based on your Aerdell categories. Although the testing was individual, rankings are in groups. The most impressive students represented their group placing them higher in the scoring. Beside each iae, there is the number of students that tested in that category. In two weeks, there will be an awards ceremony where the most impression students will be congratulated. Good job on testing this year. Yours truly, John Louis."

Everyone is silent for a second taking in my words. I look down the list. In first, there is the iae for the Aerdell of Flying with 1 as the number of students that tested in that category. Next, there is the iae for Oari. That is a surprise because no Oari has ever scored before. I think back to testing and remember Alex, the Oari who figured everything out. I had watched every single person go through testing and no one had stood out that could have been the Flier so how'd they get first?

In third is the Aerdell of Giving with the number two beside it. That would be Finn and Adrian. I feel proud because I am the one that helped Finn figure out what was happening.

Finn puts a supportive hand on my shoulder. "Good job supporting your group. I know it's not first but second is very impressive."

I realize he is thinking that I am the reason that Oari is in second. I smile and give him a wink. "Third isn't so bad either."

I see other people studying the list. The twins are at the front enthusiastically scanning the list. James finds that the Aerdell for Painless is above the one for Strength. He turns to his brother and punches him in the shoulder. "Ha! I won! You suck! I'm amaz-"

Josh lunges at James and they get into a fist fight. This happens a lot and it's a fair fight. Josh is much stronger but James doesn't feel any pain. I shake my head in annoyance and turn to everyone else. Everyone is reacting differently. I see some of the weaker Tefras and the Oaris are very happy. Some of the stronger Tefras, like the elite, are very annoyed.

I see Ivy pacing very quickly. I try to follow her with my eyes but she's too fast. She stops visibly struggling to speak slowly. "This is ridiculous; why would he do this? The testing was weird and I held my tongue but this is just ridiculous. Testing is a tradition that he made fun of. Now he is treating the scoring like a joke! He has no respect for tradition or this society we live in!"

Listening to her words, they strike very close to heart. John could have said those things about my performance in testing. Maybe he didn't hate what I did as much as I thought. Others around me are agreeing with Ivy. I decide to distract them by changing the subject. "What about the Flier? It is pretty much individual scoring for them."

Finn catches on to what I'm doing. "And we still don't know who they are. How is it that someone is fully garnished and clearly powerful and yet we have no idea who they are?" Everyone nods in agreement and discusses the Flier like after the first list was posted. I drift away and go to where Gwen and Adrian are talking.

"Hey, congrats on the high score Adrian." I try to give him a sincere smile. I'm sure it looks fake because I don't smile too often.

Gwen and Adrian are looking at each other. Adrian looks over to me and then back to Gwen who starts speaking. "That is really amazing Adrian."

Adrian shrugs. "It was Finn that pushed our score."

I nudge him in the shoulder. "The council won't see that. They'll just see your ranking."

Adrian smiles back at me and then looks back over to Gwen. It's hard to believe that he had a breakdown in testing. He had said that he sees the worst in everyone including Gwen. But I don't see any disgust in the expression he exchanges with Gwen. I again feel something stir inside me. That expression he exchanges with Gwen is so full. Those blue eyes seem lighter than they were. Just as deep, but not full of sadness. Full of something else.

I am about to slip away when Gwen turns to me. It amazes me how easily she could break eye contact with Adrian. "Great job scoring second. That's crazy. No Oari has scored top 40 before and now the whole group is in second."

I try to smile. I would feel proud except for I don't actually fall under that category. I'm taking credit for someone else's achievement. "It really is amazing. This year is one to go down in history. For many reasons."

With that I turn away. I knew she was going to talk about the Flier that won. It was not going to be anything new. Before I can get more than a few steps away I am knocked to the floor and Olivia is standing over me with a worried expression.

"Oh Ella I'm so sorry!" She lends a hand to help me up which I ignore.

"Maybe you should watch where you're going." Olivia flinches at my tone and I feel a slight twinge of regret as she is clearly distressed.

"I'm sorry I was distracted and I was- well- you know- I guess- I-" I follow Olivia's gaze over my shoulder to see nothing but all the students and Gwen and Adrian who are back to staring at each other.

"What was so distracting?" I'm still searching the crowd when I see Olivia backing away.

"Oh nothing, don't worry about it, I'm sorry, bye." Before I can object she walks away leaving me to my thoughts.

I wonder why John would do scoring like that. Usually they put up only the top 40 students. This year, technically everyone scored in the top 21. I can't say that I'm not happy. That is so unlike everything in society. If everyone scored, how are they going to make decisions for Placement at the end of the year?