“You know I hate to say I told you so.”

“I know you do, but don’t jump to conclusions so quickly. There’s still something that can come of this.”

“Like what?”

“You’ll see. It’ll still work.”

“Hey! Wait up!” Yelled Mark loudly from a couple feet behind me. I covered my ears indecisively, on one hand he would not yell again, on the other, I wanted to let him know that he forgot how I feel about loud noises. I remembered to stop, otherwise he would have yelled again.

“What’s up?” I asked after a couple of seconds of silence. I waited for a response patiently. He didn't give me one. Finally I turned around. He was distracted by some girl he liked again. He was pretty loyal with that though, since he was only distracted by one person, not that the person he was distracted with would ever choose him at the ceremony.

“Umm… I can’t remember… Wait, now I do! Who are you going to choose at the ceremony?” He asked slyly, as if I would’ve told him. I stared at him with the wonderful power of a death glare for thirty or more seconds. Finally he cracked.

“Sorry, I knew it was too personal. If I were to guess though, I would think you’re going to choose Jay,” He muttered in defeat. He would’ve loved to have been chosen by me, but we had both agreed earlier we would like to have different partners next year. Besides, we can’t have the same partner two years in a row. I had been last in choosing last time, and Mark had been last in selecting. Together, it wasn’t supposed to work very well but we had the third highest grades in the class. So I was hoping next year, someone would choose Mark for their partner and I’d get to choose someone else for a while. Mark wanted someone else to go with for a while, too.

“Yes it was too personal,” I agreed without hesitation. I looked around the campus, scouting out people for their personalities. If someone did not want to be partners with someone else, the only thing they had to do to reject it is tell the mediator they’re not friends. It destroys some people who really were friends, but for others it’s a mutual understanding that they simply don’t work well together. So far my top picks were an arrogant guy that at least did the work, Bottom of the food chain Kate (she was ranked the lowest but worked the hardest), and Bookworm. None of us actually knew her real name. These of course, were the top picks of those currently on campus. Iris never left her room, but her rank allowed that to be excused, especially so because of her classification.

“Say, what did you rank this year?” Mark asked me, derailing my train of thought. I looked back at him with mild confusion before he snapped his fingers and surprised me into focus again.

“Rank BA, Lila Michigan!” I informed him, saluting the same way I’d been taught. I’m the 27th highest ranked student. Iris was AB, The second highest rated. Kate was ZX, (624th) not the lowest rank, but the lowest out of those attending school, therefore “Bottom of the food chain Kate”. No one knew what Bookworm’s rank was, but there were rumors she was in the A rank, and some speculated she might be AA, rank one herself!

“Rank LI, Mark Hubert!” He saluted back, even though I hadn’t asked. He shrugged, proud of himself for going up three letters. I didn't want to burst his bubble by saying how many rank categories I’d flown up. I’d skipped from WZ, the last of the W ranks, to BA, just barely outside the A range. Some called it a fluke, so I hadn’t been able to make many friends. There were some benefits to a large friend group I wouldn’t have because of this. You lose half a percent of last year’s grade with every person you check out for selection, you watch part of their life, read a letter, and finally review all reports on all assignments. I was going to talk to them before the ceremony so I don’t lose points.

“I’m gonna go talk with Bookworm!” I shouted back at him. Picking goes in rank, with the fourth top and the fourth lowest percentiles choosing their partners. If you choose someone who would be selecting (Higher ranks go first to avoid this) I ran over to Bookworm with mild dread. Last year someone spilled orange juice on one of Bookworm’s book, and that was the first and most terrifying glimpse we’d gotten of her without a book in her hands. The guy who did it was found tied up, hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the gym. He was in the cafeteria with Bookworm staring daggers at him one moment, and gone the next, with Bookworm having a different book being read, gripping it like a lifeboat. Everyone gave her a wide berth now whenever anyone had anything that could possibly spill or splash. By the time I’d made it to bookworm, I’d managed to have a little thought about the system of ranking. People could never tie the way it was set up ties in scores were fought out for the higher rank.

“Hey Bookworm! I’ve been meaning to talk about partnerships for next year, and I was wondering if you’d like to be my partner! I thought we’d talk now just to save points on this year’s grade! Also I’ve heard that’s a really good book,” I said hurriedly, feeling awkward calling her Bookworm even though everyone did.

“Lila Michigan, rank BA. Correct?” Bookworm said, not looking up. Shocked, I nodded. I realized she couldn't see me and was about to say yes when she continued. “I know you are. We’ll have to see how it goes, won’t we? But trust me, you won’t be disappointed one way or another.” Bookworm said mysteriously, and in general with a lack of emotion. I began walking back to Mark while pondering what she had said. I wouldn’t be disappointed? All I could assume from that was that a rank higher than me was going to pick me. Because if I were to choose, I would be able to disappoint myself. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but if Bookworm is a lower rank than me, I can choose her and be just fine. By now I realized I was walking with my eyes closed and when I opened them I was face to face with the arrogant guy I’d talked about by Mark. He smiled at me and started a pickup line. I closed my eyes, gagged openly and walked away. He was my last resort.

“Where you going, baby?” He cooed stepping in front of my path after a couple of steps. He was a lower rank than me, but he didn't know that or else he would’ve stopped already. I glared at him for a couple of seconds and opened my mouth to speak. Rudely, I was cut off. “Hey, you wanna come over to my place tonight? C’mon, it’ll be a BLAST!” He whispered in my ear.

“Rule dictates if you are of lower rank you must not speak unless spoken to by the higher rank, exceptions being discussing partnerships. You are not allowed to speak openly outside of the circumstances of partnerships, discussing partnerships, and when given permission by a higher rank.” I stated angrily. I only would apply these rules when talking to a higher rank, otherwise I would ignore them.

“And you’re a higher rank than me? Go back to your bed, its nap time, isn’t it?” He toyed. “Derrick Jones, Rank CA! Beat that pipsqueak!” He added, not quite sure if I was joking at this point.

“Lila Michigan, rank BA! The best of the B rank orders you to follow rules. I do hope you obey,” I sighed, tired of this argument despite how mad I was at him. He paled at my response and bowed, of course not in respect for a higher rank but rather avoiding the alternative. Bowing to a ninety degree angle was a traditional punishment if you broke the rules when talking to higher ups. Skipping that punishment inflicted much more serious consequences.

“Lila! You having troubles?” Came the call of another student. I looked over and recognized it as one of the A ranks. One of the few who openly wished for me to push out some of the other A ranks, he wanted me to succeed. That would be Jay.

“Only a minor misunderstanding!” I responded politely, bowing a little bit. It was part of my habit, not sure where I picked it up but instead of saying ‘hi,’ I usually nodded and instead of ‘thank you,’ or ‘sorry,’ I bowed steeper or little depending on how bad the situation was. Maybe it was the punishment for talking to higher ups that had started this habit in me. I’d run into the student council once and simply dropped to my knees as if I was praying. Better safe than sorry.

“Ok, if you ever need some help just look at me and I’ll come and ask what’s the matter!” Jay responded. He was always a little long winded with his sentences. I smiled and bowed slightly deeper again. Meanwhile, this conversation affirmed my high ranking since he’d so casually addressed me instead of talking to me like trash, as many A ranks had done to other students.

“If you’ll excuse me, I have a partner to return to,” I sighed, now tired of all the talking. I started walking back to Mark, who could tell I was tired from talking and pulled out a water from his bag. It was around time to head to physical training, so I started walking in that direction after accepting the water bottle and downing it in three gulps. Mark looked at me like I had just sprouted a second head. He sighed and followed, he usually hoped that for once I wouldn’t arrive to the class of the day thirty minutes early, since we’re supposed to go with our partners to class. It was painfully boring to be stuck in that room in his opinion, but in mine it was much better than having to choose something to do in those thirty minutes.

I started looking around on the way there, even though I had memorized nearly every detail. The harsh, white marble pillars that held the overhang for rainy mornings. Brick and stone pathways around the schoolyard. Tennis courts, cherry trees, an ATM… All except the ATM seemed to fit where they were put. The ATM was on the side of the school, but even so it stood out being the darkest thing on campus. A black ATM with a solid blue stripe doesn’t blend with the light colors of our school. Our school colors, by the way, were a very light light brown, the kind of brown on brown eggs, but a lot lighter, white, and gold.

“Do you mind if I asked how it went?” Mark asked cautiously, remembering how I’d reacted earlier. I sighed and took a swig from the water bottle I’d already downed, only remembering it was gone after Mark chuckled. I crunched it up and threw it at his head. After a full year of dealing with this, Mark was finally ready for this moment and caught it. I looked at him with surprise.

“Well since you’ve made such vast improvements, I’ll tell you. I think Bookworm knows a few A ranks who intend to choose me.” I sighed. A ranks all got to put in their votes at once when students in B rank showed great promise. Those years were spectacular to watch, just not very fun for the person that gets more than one person choosing them. During those years, they just set you in the middle of the arena and have all of the people who chose you fight each other. It helps you choose, too, because if you wanted to partner with one of them, all you have to do is target everyone else. There were three ways of winning in that tournament, either take down all your opponents, or carry the one you’re fighting over for five minutes. In most cases it was more worth it to fight. The final way was difficult. It’s where the first person to take you down gets to have you as their partner. This way has to be voted on though, since many people have varying speeds of attack. This year might been one of those years.

“Judging by the intensity with which you are staring at the floor, I’m going to assume that you’re thinking about this year’s selections, huh?” Mark sighed, watching me panic as I realized he’d continually pushed me forwards during my brief session of thinking. I looked at the door in front of me, realizing it was the door to Physical Training. I opened it and went inside, Mark following me in. I looked around the gym area, heading over to the lockers. I hopped inside and changed. After I was done I hopped out and waited for Mark. After a while he came out, dressed in his “Physical Training” clothes. I know the difference between Physical Training and Gym, but I didn't feel like that difference merited special uniforms for this. At least, I didn't think that the one piece outfits had any reason to be the way they were until today. The teacher walked into the room, and I realized I must’ve been thinking for quite a while to be late enough that I didn't have time to sit for ten minutes before the teacher got here.

“Today, you will learn why we have such special suits for you in this class.” He informed us. We all sat quietly, waiting patiently. He walked over to one of the far walls, the ones covered in big, steel doors. Without any explanation, he pushed the biggest, reddest button. Mark gulped next to me, making me worry for my own safety. He was afraid of nothing usually, so this scared me. I looked back towards the steel doors. The middle one split in the middle, and then slid to the sides ever so slowly. A low, chuffing sound, almost like a whisper, swept across the room. The Physical training teacher whistled to get out attention. “You’re on your own, pass by surviving with losing less than twenty percent of your blood. Except you, Emily, you can lose up to ninety percent of your blood before you fail.” He laughed. It was at this moment I realized he had been waiting for this all year long. A long, low pitched roar reverberated across the training area. A pair of yellow eyes gleamed from the darkness. The ground shook steadily as it inched its way forwards with massive steps. It stepped into the light, stretching out its legs fully. I marveled in terror at its impressive size. Its legs were easily taller than most of the school’s largest artillery weaponry. Its body, however was comparably small. Its neck and tail were very large, the tail long enough to sweep along the ground with ease. Its eyes seemed to paralyze the ones who had attacked it straight away, and it brushed them aside like dust with its swinging tail.

“So… Mark… do you wanna stick by me?” I asked, looking over. Mark was already halfway across the training area and scrambling up a wall. I dismissed him quickly, looking at the girl next to me. “So uh… do you wanna work with me to pass this class?” I asked. She looked at me, still terrified and shaking steadily. Her irises and pupils faded into nothingness and she turned into a cloud of petals that swirled steadily upwards. I looked around. Not a single person was attempting to face the beast head on. I looked over at Emily, who could immediately tell I was watching her.