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

on their Life Plans, Garrett worked on his plan to infiltrate the library after hours.

As he scribbled down a new viable plan that would hopefully not wind up in the growing pile of discarded ones on the corner of his desk, Opal appeared. “Garrett, I have a wonderful idea!”

Jolted out of his concentration, Garrett started and looked at Opal with murky eyes of confusion. “What?”

Opal’s green eyes shone as she explained. “I think we should go to City Hall and see if we can speak with the council representative.”

Garrett’s eyes widened. “What? Are you serious?”

Nodding enthusiastically, Opal grinned. “Yes! I mean, there is a representative here right now looking at the pre-approvals for Life Plans and since we can’t find any information on what is needed to become a council representative, perhaps speaking with someone who is a council representative would be the next best thing.”

“How would we get in to see them, though? You told me there’s security at City Hall when a council representative is present.”

“True, I did, but we could still see if there’s a way to talk to them. We can always ask.”

Still unsure, Garrett wondered, “What about class?”

“I’ve already given permission for you and Opal to go, Garrett.” Mrs. Steinworth strode over with a big smile on her face. “I think this is a great opportunity for you. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever had a student wish to be a member of The Council in all my thirty years of teaching. To be honest, it intrigues me. I would like to know the requirements as well. Not to mention the type of people who approve our entire lives. I never thought of it before until you mentioned it.”

“Well, it’s settled then. Get your stuff. Let’s go, Garrett.” Opal gave him a single pat on the back and started walking towards the door.

Still stunned at Opal’s great idea, Garrett sat there dumbfounded, but then hurriedly gathered his papers and belongings to hurry after her.

Garrett’s shoes thudded against the white stone walkway leading to the transport station across from the academy. “Opal, wait up.”

“Well, hurry and get a move on, Garrett. This is your Life Plan, not mine, you should be even more excited to get to City Hall than I am.”

“Okay, okay…I’m coming.” Garrett ran over just as one of the transporters slid to a stop in front of the station.

Both Garrett and Opal got on, noticing that the destination would take them nearest to City Hall. Their academy was about a twenty-minute ride from City Hall, so they nestled in to wait, making plans.

“So, I’m thinking that we can go to the room where I picked up my pre-approved Life Plan yesterday and ask the lady there if the council representative is in. If she says yes, then we can ask her if we can have a visitation with him or her.”

Garrett allowed Opal to ramble on, not wishing to interrupt.

“I think if we can just get five minutes with him or her that could make all the difference. But we need to think about which questions we need to ask them now so we can be prepared when we get there. What do you think, Garrett?”

“First, I think you need to take a breath before you pass out from speaking so quickly, Opal. And second, I only want to know how to become a council representative. Why can’t I just ask that?”

Incredulous, Opal gaped at him. “You can’t just ask that because you need to have specific answers to specific questions. You need to know how to fill out your Life Plan with enough detail to be approved. You need to ask what they majored in, what sort of skills did they have to develop to become council representatives, and what steps did they have to take in their career to get where they are. It could be that you have to do other jobs for The Council before you can represent them.”

“Other jobs? Like what.”

Opal opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it, wrinkling her brow as she thought. “Well…umm…”

“Why don’t you let me take the lead once we get in to see them.” Smirking, Garrett gazed out the window, watching the buildings pass by.

Opal playfully punched him in the shoulder. Garrett feigned pain, but then laughed.

It wasn’t much longer that they reached City Hall. Unlike the day before, it wasn’t as bustling, although people were walking in and out on a consistent basis.

Making their way through the doors and into the central room filled with mirrors, they found the security guard missing from the central desk.

Opal’s heart fell, but she didn’t say anything to Garrett.

She didn’t need to. He voiced her thoughts all the same. “Does this mean The Council representative is no longer here?”

Before Opal could answer, she noticed the same guard from yesterday walk from the hallway leading to the pre-submission room. Releasing a sigh of relief, she said, “Nope, he’s coming back to the desk. He must have just been speaking with the council rep.”

“Good news for us. Maybe that means we can speak with them too.”

Garrett moved to talk to the security guard, but Opal tugged at his arm. “No, let’s go straight to the pre-submission room. I have a feeling the guard is more likely to keep us from seeing the council representative rather than helping us.”

Following Opal down the same hall as yesterday, she led them to the small room with the four chairs and desk across from them.

Without pause, Opal walked up to the woman at the desk. “Is the council representative in today?”

The wavy brown-blonde ombre-haired woman focused her penetrating gaze on Opal; her hazel eyes suspicious. “Yes, the council representative is in…but that has nothing to do with your pre-approval. You can hand it to me