Choosing Sides

.03

When I went to the pit,I saw Lexie and some of our other friends, Olivia, Slade, Shay, Michael, and Mark. None of the guys were bad looking, but Olivia and Slade are dating, Michael and Shay like each other and Mark has been my friend since we were like six. So that would be awkward. Besides I'm sure he likes Lexie, or he's gay. Either way he's cool so that explains the long friendship.

I went to the food line and got a burger, fries, and some cake. I saw my mom in the back so I waved to her and she mouthed "dont forget" in response. After I got my food I went over to the table everyone is sitting at. Michael and Slade were talking about getting tatoos, Lexie, Olivia, and Shay were talking about hair and Mark was sitting there silently listening to it all.

"Hey" I said, throwing a french fry at him and sitting across from him. It bounced off his shoulder and landed on his plate. He looked at the fry, then at me.

"Thanks" he said picking up the fry and popping it in his mouth. "And hey to you too." He said after he finished chewing. "Nice hair, I'm guessing something Lexie talked you into?"

I was surprised he noticed it. It didn't seem like that noticable of a thing. "Thanks, and yeah, it somewhat was."

He nodded. He understood how Lexie was. We had all been friends for about four years now. We all knew each other, our pet peeves, little things that made us happy, even stupid things like our favorite food. (Lexie's was cheesecake, Mark's was french fries, Slade's soup, mine is tacos, Shay's noodles, Michael's is chicken, and Olivia's is pizza. In case you were wondering.)

"So you're awfully quiet today" I said to him. I took a bite of my burger and looked at him. He seemed worried about something, he kept shifting his weight in his chair, picking at his cuticles, and looking around the room. As if he was searching for something, but like he was looking at nothing at the same time.

"Mark!" I said loudly, reaching across the table and snapping my fingers in his face. When he looked at me I sat back in my chair. "What's wrong?" I asked him, becoming worried. Mark is generally very carefree, it takes a lot to get him worked up.

He stands up, "not here" he says as he walks out of the pit to one of the halls. I get up and leave my food at the table. "Hey, Prior!" I turn at the sound of my name being called. It's Olivia. "Is everything okay?" She asks me, turning away from, Shay and Lexie.

"Um, yeah" I say, "I just have to...check something...in my room." I tell her turning to go out to the hallway. As I was going I felt a quick tap, but I wasn't sure. I looked back over my shoulder and saw Ashton, one eyebrow raised at me. I smiled, but turned quickly to meet Mark in the hallway.

When I got out there I found Mark sitting with his back against the wall, and his knees pulled close to his chest. I almost walked past him, his black clothing made him hard to see in the dim hallway.

I sat down next to him, "What's wrong?" I asked him. Genuinely worried, I'd known Mark for almost 10 years. He didn't say anything at first, he just looked at me.

"They haven't told you yet?" He asked me, quietly.

"Told me what?" I asked him barely above a whisper, I didn't know what this was about, and I didn't know if I should be open about whatever it was he was talking about.

"The Choosing Ceremony, they might change the date. We might not be able to choose this year." He looked at me his eyes wide. Mark's and mine birthday were on the same day, which was one of the main reasons I befriended him those 10 years ago. I thought if we had anything the same, you were automatically cool. The date however was tricky. It was before the cut-off for the school, so we were in the same grade as all our friends. But it sometimes fell a day or two before the Choosing Ceramony, or on very rare occasions, the actual day of. We never really hd to worry abbout this, but this year we were 15, turning 16, the age you choose. If they move the Choosing Ceremony up too far, Mark and I won't get to choose this year.