Chapter 5

Tammy

By the time the morning classes had ended, she'd finally calmed her nerves, returning back to her normal self. She almost forgot about those crystal eyes piercing right through her, unravelling her deepest secret.

In Virology, Dr Shah even gave her extra credit for her paper on Viral Genomes, brightening up her mood. She could only hope that one day she will be chosen to be a part of his team. He is the head of the Biological Science Division, the research building where she has been spending countless hours.

Ever since her parents had been taken away, she promised herself to do everything in her power to find a cure, to do whatever it takes to stop the banishments. So many families have been dismantled or completely erased from history because their beloved ones got infected and exiled. She has dedicated her young life to the cause and nothing will make her change her mind.

While she puts her books away, a familiar voice makes the shy smile on her face stretch even more.

'You are in an unusually good mood today'',

Sesh's voice utters while she opens the adjacent locker.

She starts throwing her things in without paying too much attention to what she's really doing.

"Good to see you, too'', Tammy mocks from behind the metallic door, before pushing it and waiting habitually for the closing beep.

"Dr Shah just told us he discovered a new viable path. If this turns to be a success his team can move to the next stage...'' She adds, her voice full of admiration for her idol.

Sesh's hilarious snort-laugh interrupts her abruptly. The few students, close enough to hear her, are trying unsuccessfully to restrain their grins.

"Only you could find that so exciting. You're such a dork!'' She responds through her muffled snorts and shoves her shoulder at her.

Her looping hair-locks move as one, creating a bouncing mass of hair between the stiff bodies passing by. Then, she casually places her hand on Tammy's crooked arm letting the rushing torrent of hungry students carry them to the last floor.

"Excuse me, for hoping this time they are right. You don't know how important this is!'' Tammy barks back, half smiling, half dissapointed at how ignorant her friend could sometimes be.

Some of the words come out muffled, engulfed by the deep breaths she needs to take from time to time. Endurance is not one of her strongest suit and she definitely lacks stamina too. All these stairs make her speech hard to follow and her point definitely lost its weight.

"Yeah, yeah...''

Sesh waves her hand in the air sinking the issue into oblivion. "Let's get some food before they run out.'' She continues on a less critical tone, her strength shadowing her friend's effort.

Tammy compresses her lips holding the words that are battling to get out. She knows Sesh too well. She's a master of changing subjects, especially when boys are not involved. By the time, her inner self agrees that she needs to let it go and loosen up, the starving current has left them staring at the animate table in front of the window-wall.

"Hello, biceps!'' Sesh hisses through her teeth, her lecherous eyes devouring the newcomers sitting at the back table. She scans them thoroughly completely ignoring the female diversity in the group.

Tammy's frozen body doesn't seem to bother her at all. Their loud display has absorbed everybody's curiosity rendering a whole network of fabricated stories, some more absurd than others. The rigid normality is broken by casual laughs and jokes, their closeness gathering fervent criticism. Physical contact between opposite sex is not illegal, but everyone is reluctant to it. Better to be safe than sorry.

Sesh grabs her hand once more forcing her to return to the harsh reality.

"Come. Nathan is waiting for us. I can't believe he already ordered. I hate when he does that!'' Her words are cascading one after another while she leads the way to their usual spot.

Sesh doesn't seem to notice the radio silence coming from her best friend and Tammy is forever grateful for her constant blabber. Nathan scoots over to make room for them at the already crowded table. Being the captain of the Navion team and a legacy in this city has acquired him a few loyal followers. Tammy takes her seat next to him, but Sesh finds the tight space, between two players opposite her, more appealing.

"Hey, Tam, I ordered your favourite.'' Nathan says while offering her two silver chopsticks. His easy-going attitude is everything she needs right now.

With the suffocating lump still lingering in her throat, she forces herself to smile at him and takes the cold sticks between her fingers. She is so glad for having him in her life. These little gestures, their own secret language, made her childhood much more bearable. Growing up together, he knows her too well. Sometimes more than she knows herself. She is a fast eater and almost choked to death a couple of times, so he came up with this easy, and potentially lifesaving solution for her.

Thanks, Nat!' She replies clapping the chopsticks to one another, this time displaying a genuine smile. Look at all this food.' She continues, her hand hovering over the steamy dishes lined up to be devoured.

"Yeah, geez, thanks Nat, but maybe next time we can order our own food?'' Sesh teases, although that doesn't stop her from munching away.

Tammy's foot meets her shin under the table, forcing a groan from her friend. "What?"

 Tammy ignores her and so to do the others. 

"My dad told me their parents relocated from a city up north, and their operation is classified information.'' A ginger Navion player spills it out before taking a bite of his food.

"They may be some hotshots in the top ranks, but their progenies are something else.'' Another one scoffs at the scene in the back and everyone starts laughing.

"And what are they wearing?'' Someone else incites the crowd making Tammy lose any trace of appetite.

Sitting on pins and needles she throws a few hesitant looks behind Sesh's afro-hair. She stares for a tick at the boy in the black zip-up hoodie, but then she turns her head to a random table to the right. It's odd enough they've transferred in the middle of the year, but with the Selection only a semester away they will certainly stir things up.

"I don't mind partnering up with that hottie over there.'' Sesh suddenly shatters the invisible wall, bringing up the topic everyone avoided.

All eyes move on her waiting to unleash the death sentence. The next second lasts for an eternity, an arctic blanket of silence coating them all.

''What did I say?'' She asks confused still chewing on the last bite.

The Kraken was released. The Selection becomes the only perturbing concern, making everyone boil with anticipation. The ordeal of spending their whole lives with one of these strangers gives them chills. No one wants that.

Nathan finally takes the helm and tries to calm everyone down. He was born to speak for the masses.

"It's too early to stress about it now. There's plenty of time for that later. Let's show them how we do things in our city. Let's show them what we are made of!'', he talks like a true captain.

"It's easy for you to say. Everyone already knows you are going to be assigned to her.'' Someone counter-attacks pointing at Tammy.

Chatter fills the air. He is not wrong and Nathan has no clue how to respond to that. They've been inseparable since childhood and they are right for each other. Her goal is to save the world and he will provide her with the means to accomplish her dream. Following his father's footsteps, he is the prodigy of the Science Department, and soon the one who will upgrade the Nanites to the next generation.

She's not sure when all the attention had shifted on her, but she's had it enough. She's been on edge for too long and the stomach ache is back now, even stronger than before. Deep inside she knows Nathan is the best match for her, but she can't envision her life with him as a Selected Couple. Tammy hates when this subject comes up and she has already reached her limit for today. Annoyed, she forcefully slaps the table making everyone shut up at once. She regrets it immediately, resenting herself for her lack of restraint.

Nathan puts a hand on her shoulder making her wince. She looks puzzled and pale.

"Gosh Tam, what's up with you? You've been acting strange.'' He asks her both startled and worried at the same time.

"Yeah girl, what's wrong?'' Sesh follows suit.

She can't take it any longer. The waiting is killing her, literally. She forces a cough, showing them her faked indisposition. It's one thing to deceive the professor, still doing that to the ones that really matter to her, is harder than she thought.

"I have been feeling funny since this morning. I should take the rest of the day off.'' She lies, but then remembering she's done this before, she continues. I even got a pass from Mr Blanks earlier.' Tammy utters remorseful, jiggling the plastic card in the air and adding a bit of honesty to her fabrication.

She hates that she has to lie to her friends, however, until she finds out what will happen to her, she doesn't want to involve them more than they already are. Busy gathering her belongings she barley notices Nathan sitting up.

"I should take you home then. At least let me do that for you.'' He offers and begins helping her. His light blue eyes are filled with concern, only aggravating her miserable state.

"Sorry Nat, but I prefer to walk and let the fresh air do its magic. I bet it's nothing to worry about and tomorrow I'll be as good as new."

He complies with her wish, although he would have liked to go with her. He is not sure when his innocent crush turned into something more, however his feelings for her are growing stronger and stronger with each passing day. A secret he will take to his grave as there is nothing he can do about it. His only wish is for the Selection to pair them up so he can live the last lucid moments of his life with her.

"Kay, but you have to promise me you'll tell Grace. You know how she gets when you keep things from her.'' He replies keeping a neutral tone.

Ouch, her subconscious intervenes. Afraid that Nathan might be on to something she quickly grabs her bag from the table and rushes to get out of there.

"You bet! See you later!'' Tammy utters her goodbye to both Sesh and him, but right before taking off, she dares to glance once again at the table in the back.

Two glacial eyes freeze her in place and she wishes she could turn back the time. She backs off and starts pacing towards the exit, trying to get rid of his stupid smirk that imprinted on her mind.