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

“Ugh!” cried Opal aloud to herself. “Maybe I obsess too much.”

A knock on the door brought Opal back to her senses. “Come in.”

“Hey, Opal.” Gabrielle shuffled into Opal’s room, barely opening the door enough to get inside. Climbing onto Opal’s bed and nestling up to her, Gabrielle pulled her long hair over her left shoulder.

“Hey, Gabrielle, what’s the matter?”

Gabrielle twirled a lock of her hair around her finger.

Opal observed the nervous habit and put her arm around her sister. “Gabrielle, what’s wrong? You can tell me, you know that.”

“Are you mad at me?” Gabrielle gazed into her sister’s eyes, silent tears glistening in her own.

Opal encircled her arms around her little sister, pulling her close. “No, of course not.”

“Then why don’t you spend time with me anymore? For the past six months, you’ve been so distant and distracted. You used to play with me all the time, but not anymore.”

“Oh, Gabby.” Opal rested her chin on top of her sister’s head and pulled her even closer, using Gabrielle’s nickname. “I’ve been so caught up in designing my Life Plan that I haven’t really thought of anything else. I haven’t meant to shut you out. I just wanted to ensure the rest of my life would be perfect. I don’t want to make any mistakes. This is really serious; you’ll see when you’re my age one day.”

Gabrielle wiped the tear that escaped from her right eye. “I know. I just miss spending time with you and in two weeks you’ll be gone forever.”

“Oh, no I won’t, silly. I’ll be moving into the dormitories at the Academy of Higher Learning’s School of Law, not to Bayenar. I’ll still be able to see you now and then.”

“You promise? You promise that you’ll always find time for me?”

Opal nodded definitively. “Yes, I will always find time for my most favorite sister in the world.”

Giggling as her sister wiped away the last few tears in her eyes, Gabrielle clarified, “I’m your only sister.”

“True, but you’re still my favorite.” Opal smiled wide, beaming at her sister.

Grinning, Gabrielle asked, “Do you want to come downstairs and play with me now? I think Mom and Dad are setting up another game?”

Unwilling to diminish the brilliant smile on Gabrielle’s face, Opal agreed, “Sure, we’ll see if you have what it takes to beat me.”

“Ha!” Gabrielle jumped off the bed and ran to the stairs. “We’ll see about that.”

Laughing, Opal followed her sister and joined her family. It wouldn’t hurt her to spend the rest of the day with her family since she had so little time left with them.

Chapter 2

The sleek, white transporter slid to a halt in front of a sea of green. Opal retrieved her book satchel and followed the two others exiting the transporter. The others veered left and soon she found herself walking alone down a narrow pathway through the woods. Before long, the pathway opened and she saw the group of her classmates waiting around for the occupation tour to start.

“Hey, Opal.”

Opal turned and was nearly slammed into by Garrett who skidded to a stop right next to her. “Garrett!” she complained with a shake of her head.

Ignoring Opal’s pretend annoyance, Garrett hopped once and clapped. “Guess what, Opal?”

Tilting her head to the side and smirking, Opal asked, “What?”

“I started writing my Life Plan last night.” Garrett grinned and clapped again.

Narrowing her eyes, Opal guessed, “You wrote your name on the top of the page, didn’t you?”

Garrett’s face fell and he muttered, “Yeah.” His hope rising, he asked, “That counts right?”

“Not really, Garrett.” Opal shook her head emphatically.

“Everyone,” a woman walked toward the center of the scattered students. “Everyone, please gather around. Our first occupation tour of the day is about to begin.”

Opal and Garrett began walking towards their teacher, Miss Harrigan, following her instructions.

“Now, I know the occupation tours might seem a little drab since we’ve had so many over the past year, but I want you to be as attentive and engaged in the ones today as with all the other tours. On the off chance that you haven’t finished your Life Plan yet...” Miss Harrigan’s gaze lingered for a moment in Garrett’s direction. Garrett turned away as Miss Harrigan continued, “You may decide to choose one of the occupations you see today.”

A girl with rounded eyeglasses adjusted them while raising her hand and asking the question, “Can you remind me of which occupations we will be touring today?”

“Amy, I told you twice already, but I’m sure you’re not the only one who is wondering.” Once again addressing the entire group, Miss Harrigan said, “Cultivating, Forestry, and Husbandry.”

“Husbandry?” wondered a boy with large eyes and spiky brown hair. “Are you helping the girls finish their Life Plans by pairing them with their future husbands?”

Most of the other students laughed, a few smirked, but Opal cupped her palm against her forehead as she shook her head.

“No, Carl, husbandry is the occupation where people raise and care for animals to use for our benefit,” further explained Miss Harrigan, trying to keep her sanity.

“Oh,” meekly responded Carl as he lowered his hand and blushed in embarrassment.

“Now, if you would all please follow me; I can see that our guide is waiting up ahead.” Miss Harrigan proceeded down the tree-lined path toward a tall man dressed in overalls at the end of the path.

“Hey, Opal?” wondered Garrett as he caught up with her at the end of their classes’ single-file line. “What number occupation is this? I know you’ve been counting.”

Sighing, Opal folded her arms as she walked and stated nonchalantly, “It’s number one hundred twenty-four.”

Nodding, Garrett broke formation and walked side by side with Opal. “And how many students do you really think have changed their minds based on