U.H Book One // Hegemony {ON HOLD}

• Chapter Twelve •

   The next few days went by like a blur. Star got detention for smashing Cedric into the lockers, and Cedric got detention for threatening me. Then, so they wouldn't fight in detention, I drew flowers all over the lockers with a sharpie so I could be in detention with them and keep the peace. It was rather boring.

We went to our regular classes and our group hung out at lunch. We were all waiting for Friday. That's when they would announce everyone who had entered the competition. That's also the day we planned to have a sleepover at Leila's. And when the day came, everyone was gathered in the cafeteria.

Mrs. Hart tapped the microphone until it screeched and everyone covered their ears.

"Ok students! Today is the day I announce whose entered the competition!" She exclaimed, excitedly. Everyone quieted down.

The first few names I didn't recognize. Of course they were all older than me. Then they announced a name I did recognize.

"Cedric P. Robison."

I shifted nervously in my seat, but Violet leaned in and smiled. "At least he won't bother you when he's doing those stupid, violent Competitions."

Oh yeah. I hadn't told her I entered yet. All I could do was nod nervously.

A few more names I didn't recognize were called, then they called Leila. Our group of friends had never cheered louder. We screamed "THAT'S MY BESTIE!! WHOOP!" Well...Star did. The rest of us just clapped, too shy to scream. She walked onstage and received her ticket, hers was glowing yellow. I noticed everyone had a different color ticket, some had multiple colors.

Then after a few names, they finally called mine. I saw my friends heads shoot towards me out of the corner of my eye, all of them looked shocked. Too shocked to cheer. I swallowed. Everyone's eyes were on me. There was a bit of cheering, but it was mostly awkward...because the cheering came from Mr. Junior. Then someone tried to be supportive and cheered in the back but was shut up by their friends.

Then it was dead silent, as I walked down the steps, across the cafeteria and onto the stage. The only sound I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears, and the click-clacking of my shoes on the shined wooden floor. Then I made my way onstage and did exactly what Leila did, held my hand out, Greg spit out a ticket, then I walked over and stood next to her.

My face was so red, I was too stressed to see what color my ticket was. But then the next name was called, and the cheering started up again.

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Leila whispered

"No." I said quietly, "It was worse."

Then, since all the eyes were taken off me, I looked down at my ticket, mine was a swirl of white and purple.

"What do the colors of the tickets mean?" I whispered. Leila looked at me with a thoughtful gaze.

"Umm...I don't know. I think someone said the colors represent our personality or something." She shrugged, then glanced down at hers. Hers was so bright I could see the golden reflection in her eyes.

I gazed down at mine, and watched as the purple and white danced with each other before my eyes.