Fight With Fire

32

Although you wouldn't be able to see it on my face, to say that I was surprised was an understatement. Everything around me is the same: the desks scratched across the top and wobbly due to the uneven legs, the large windows along the wall that try to convince you that you aren't trapped, even the loud teens sitting in their little groups talking about nothing. Only there is one thing that has changed. When everyone turns to front at the clacking of short heels, we expect the high pony tail of dark brown hair to swish around as Ms. Fields greets everyone.

Instead, we see red hair tucked neatly in a low bun on the head of the one and only Carly Roy. She walks to the front of the class and turns to us clicking her heels in the process. She scans the room as I imagine a wolf would scan a herd of sheep. She then looks down to the clipboard ticking her tongue in satisfaction.

"As you have heard I am here to make an announcement." Carly explains skipping a greeting and getting right to the point. "As you know, in a month you will be placed," She scans the room frowning slightly. "Most of you anyway. You will be given a job to work until you die. In our recent studies we have had more cases of people being placed in a job in which it is later learned that they are unable to work. This year each of you will be going through trials where you show where you can be helpful. Show us your skills so we know where to place you." She pulls a sheet off her clipboard to show to the room.

"Here I have your groups. You're grouped are based on where you would've been placed with the information we currently have. Each group will move through a few jobs so you can find the one right for you."

Carly turns around, sticks the list to the board, and takes a seat behind the teachers' desk. Everyone glances around waiting for someone to move and disrupt the silence that has fallen over the room. Carly stares at me challengingly and I roll my eyes. I stand up and snatch the list from the board scanning it quickly. The page has two columns, one with a job or category and another with names. I walk over to one side of the room dropping the list on someone's desk.

"Find your name and pass it on." I say before walking over to Carly who is watching me attentively. I stand in front of her studying her gaze. Staring into her mischievous eyes I have a feeling that there was no mistake. In this moment, Carly looks so much younger that she did when she was at the awards ceremony. I can imagine her as lonely kid. Before she was stomping around kicking kittens and crossing arms in frustration. Now she looks like she was given a brand new toy. She is turning it over and testing all the parts learning everything she can do about it. I imagine that I'm the toy, all new and shiny before I'm thrown around, broken, and forgotten.

"My name's not on the list." I state simply.

"I know." She replies, her eyes sparkling with unspoken words.

"Okay then..." I trail off starting to turn around.

"Aren't you going to ask why?" Carly leans forward on her elbow smiling at me.

"No." I said turning around and walking away. I surprise Carly enough that she doesn't react until I'm out of the classroom. I walk through the doorway and start down the hallway until I hear heels smacking loudly behind me.

"Ella! Wait!" Carly yells running after me and then moving to stand in front of me. "Sometimes I forget how alike we are." Carly says smiling but out of breath.

"You are nothing like me." I reply through gritted teeth. I step by her making sure to ram her shoulder on my way by.

"No, Ella stop!" Carly comes to stand in front of me again. This time she knows better than to try and make a joke or smile at me. "I need to explain the job trial for you."

"It's pretty self-explanatory." I spat out, annoyed.

"Not for you. That's why you aren't on the list." Carly prompts me, hoping I become more interested.

"I'm assuming because I won't get placed?" I reply searching the hallway and finding it completely empty.

"It's actually quite the opposite." Carly says with a slight laugh. "Everyone, including the people who won't get placed, will get a trial. Except you will get an internship. I will be taking you with me next week to headquarters. You will be an interim council member."

"What?" I search her face looking for a sign that she's lying. I'm waiting for her to laugh at me and say she's kidding. Maybe she'll melt away and I'll wake up screaming.

"You are very impressive. We are similar that way. In my testing, I just sat there and they couldn't figure out how I had so much self-control. You did almost the same thing. I'm not sure what you did but you got recognized by John. And don't think we know how you completely run this school. I mean you don't even have an Aerdell!" She smiles at me hopefully like she just got reunited with her best friend from when she was little.

"I'm going to be part of the council? Will I get to help in decision making and stuff? Will I have the same access to resources?" My mind is filled with so many questions that I barely know where to start.

"Well, I'm sure we can work something out." Carly replies with a big smile thinking that I am sharing in her enthusiasm.

I can't help the big smile that stretches across my face. I can imagine I look like a snake slowly standing up and opening its mouth before it attacks. Carly may think that she just found her new best friend, but she has no idea how much power she just gave me.