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

but this time, you’ve gone beyond too far.” Mr. Gargen directed Garrett to the nearest open seat from the end of the platform stairs and pushed him by the shoulder down into it.

In silence, Garrett sat without looking at anyone. He knew everyone’s minds were on what he’d just done, not the next student who was up onstage. Well, maybe that student’s parents were, but he was sure everyone else was awestruck.

If he was honest with himself, Garrett was awestruck at what had happened. He never expected to have his Life Plan approved. No way would The Council approve someone wanting to become one of the Undecided. Instead, they should have simply rejected his Life Plan. Why had they approved it?

Although he couldn’t see them, he felt the penetrating gazes of his parents and Opal. Part of him felt terrible letting April waste her Third Moon going over material for his Life Plan with him. At first, he’d considered some of the professions she suggested. They sounded interesting, even the occupation of becoming a sciorb programmer, but in the end, nothing stuck with him. He didn’t bond with any of the ideas. Most of the people he knew had a passion for the occupation they were in, like that guy at the tour where they learned how their food was grown. Everyone he knew had a passion for what they’d become. Yet, he had never clicked with any of the occupations he’d seen. It seemed no matter what he did, he would become part of the Undecided anyway, so he might as well have chosen it rather than be forced into it.

The next student walked off the stage grinning and the next one was called out. On and on it went until finally, all the students from each of the choosing classes around the city had had their turn. Not one of the students had had a plan rejected. Not one of them would be going to the Undecided sector that afternoon because they’d failed to write their plan. Only one student would be going there—the one who chose to.

“Thank you everyone for coming to the Declaration Ceremony. This ceremony has been one to remember. For the sixth year in a row, no one’s Life Plan has been denied and that is thanks to all the parents, teachers, and members of society in our wonderful city of Galaxcion. I wish everyone a good evening.” The mayor turned to face the former students—now Declarers—sitting in the front. “And to all of you, best of luck on your future endeavors.”

As the mayor left the stage, people started to rise from their seats.

Opal was upon Garrett in seconds, grabbing his arm and whirling him around to face her. “Garrett! What on Taeopia? Why would you choose to become one of the Undecided? How? Why?” Opal let her words drift off as she didn’t know what to say next.

Garrett clenched his jaw, unsure of what to say to her. Nothing he said would make any sense to an overachiever like Opal.

A soft voice spoke his name from behind him and Garrett spun around to see April standing there, her eyes full of tears. “Yes, Garrett, why would you do it?”

April’s cheeks were red and her eyes had an ever-flowing stream of tears cascading down them. Yet, she kept her red eyes wide open, staring at him in anticipation of his response.

“April, I…” Garrett hesitated then explained. “I didn’t know what else to put. I’ve never known what I wanted. No matter how much I tried. No matter how much I forced myself to, I could never pin down exactly what I wanted out of life.”

“But you had a chance. You could have done anything. Why choose this life? Why choose the life I’m forced to live every day?” April’s tears continued and she began shaking her head at him.

Before he could say anything else to her, his parents arrived nudging April out of the way and clambering over to him. Turning, April fled into the crowd of other people and Garrett lost sight of her.

“Garrett…Garrett, please tell me it was a mistake,” pleaded his mother, grasping his hands.

“Opal, did you know anything about this,” demanded his father.

“No, no, Mr. Gibbons, I didn’t. Trust me, if I had, I would have talked Garrett out of it.”

“Garrett, do you know what this means? Why would you have done this? Why would you choose to be one of them?”

His mother’s words disgusted Garrett. “One of them? What do you mean by that, Mom? There’s nothing wrong with the people of the Undecided sector, just that they got the rotten part of life because of the Life Plan system.”

Mr. Gibbons’ eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about, son?”

Opal put her hands on her hips. “Yeah, Garrett, what do you know of the people of the Undecided sector. You’ve never been there your entire life.”

Garrett sheepishly peered over at Opal.

Her brow unfurrowing and raising in astonishment, Opal muttered, “That girl before, she was an Undecided, wasn’t she?”

“A girl? What girl?” Mrs. Gibbons’ gaze sped back and forth so quickly between him and Opal, he started to wonder if she’d get whiplash. “Is this why you chose this? Because of a girl?”

“Mom, no, she had nothing to do with it. I made this decision myself.”

“But why,” his mother cried, tears welling in her eyes, her hands shaking in Garrett’s.

“Yes, son, explain to us why you did this.”

At that moment, Opal’s family arrived to congratulate her.

“Well done, Opal.” Her father grinned at her, gave her a pat on the back, and then leaned in whispering, “I think we should give the Gibbons some alone time. You can speak with them and Garrett later.”

Without waiting for a retort, Opal’s father ushered her away from the increasing sight of Mrs. Gibbons’ franticness and Mr.