Life Designed (Life Plan Series Book 1), Eliza Taye [great novels .TXT] 📗

hand through his jet-black hair. “I don’t know. I guess it was a stupid idea to begin with.”

Opal considered it for a moment. How was it that everything worked the way it did? It would be fascinating to find out. An air of mysticism and secrecy did revolve around the Life Plan system. She’d always reasoned it was to keep people from knowing too much and using it to their advantage when planning out their lives. But what if it was for some other reason?

“I’m guessing you’re also here to help me finish the occupational tours essay?”

Snapping out of the bubble of her own thoughts, Opal responded, “Yeah, since you missed the entire Cultivating Grounds tour, I figured you’d need my help writing it if you wanted to pass with a decent grade.”

Returning to his normal, less-pensive self, Garrett grinned and spun around in his chair to look at Opal. “That’s my best friend! Always there for me.”

Laughing, Opal put Mr. Snuggles on the floor to the cat’s dismay and gave Garrett a half-hug. “Yes, you’re right. I’ll always be here for you and I know you’ll always be there for me.”

“You’ve got it! Friends forever.” Garrett hugged her back.

Chapter 4

 

Garrett began jogging as the warning beep for the start of class echoed throughout the hallways. He’d been late to class several times before, and usually, he didn’t care, but today he wanted a chance to talk to Opal before class started.

After she’d left his house last night, he’d spent the rest of the night scouring the dataweb for anything and everything relating to the elusive council. There was nothing. Not even a hint of who they might be. He’d wracked his brain over and over to discover different keywords to use that might lead him to his quarry, but none worked.

Garrett’s new shoes screeched across the sleek floor as he skid to a stop and changed direction to enter the open door of the classroom. Nearly falling to the floor, he gripped the door handle to stop his sideways momentum and wrenched it open as the last beep sounded.

“Garrett Gibbons, you are late for class…again,” stated his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Steinworth.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Steinworth, it won’t happen again.” Garrett kept his gaze down and shuffled to the other side of the room where Opal sat, taking the seat behind her.

“Sure, it won’t,” muttered Mrs. Steinworth as she returned to the screen projector in front of her.

“Garrett, we only have another week of classes left. Can’t you be on time for the last week of academy?” admonished Opal through gritted teeth.

Leaning forward, Garrett whispered, “I really tried to today. I want to talk to you about something important, but I overslept and missed the transporter. I had to run all the way here.”

Opal sighed softly. Garrett never took much of anything to do with academy seriously. “Okay, we can talk after class.”

“As you all know, today marks one week until Submission Day. Tomorrow, you all will be given the final week before Declaration Day to finalize any last-minute amendments to your Life Plan. Yesterday was the last occupational tour required of you. With the remaining days, you have the option to revisit any occupational tours from the past year in the event you are still on the fence regarding your future occupation. If you are already certain of your future occupation, you may use class time to work on finalizing your Life Plans.” Mrs. Steinworth’s gaze swept across the classroom as she spoke, making eye contact with each student. “Today we will be reviewing the required elements in a Life Plan and how to submit it for pre-approval before Submission Day if you so wish.”

The corner of Opal’s mouth crept up into a self-satisfied smile. She was already way ahead of the class. Now all she had to do was wait on the results of her pre-submitted Plan. In fact, the results should arrive tomorrow, if not today. Still, she’d have plenty of work during class. Per usual, her classmates would soon come over and ask for her help with their Plans, but she didn’t mind it. Helping others was her passion.

“So, as you go through your classes today, be sure to pay close attention and make any necessary corrections to the Plans I’m certain you all began weeks ago.”

The double beep that signaled the end of homeroom caused the students to jump up and gather their things to go to their first real class of the day.

“Remember everyone, pay attention!” reminded Mrs. Steinworth one last time as the students flocked out of the classroom.

“Okay, Garrett, what was it that you wanted to tell me?” wondered Opal as she picked up her satchel and began walking out of the classroom.

Slinging his backpack over one shoulder, Garrett hurried to follow her. “Last night, I looked up The Council on the dataweb to see if I could find out any information on them and there’s nothing. It’s like they don’t even exist!”

“Garrett,” groaned Opal. “I thought I told you to forget about it. Your Life Plan is so much more important. If you’d spent half the time on your Life Plan as you had researching The Council, you could be halfway finished by now.”

Garrett didn’t want to admit that Opal was right, but something kept tugging at him about this council. He had to know what they were about and how they operated. The Council was so mysterious. If they were responsible for maintaining the world order, how come no one knew anything about them?

“Garrett, are you listening to me?” asked Opal, watching her friend stare at the ground as he walked. “Garrett, watch out!”

Garrett snapped his head up just as he collided with an open metal locker door, slamming him in the face. “Ow!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,”