I didn't expect to ride in the elete taxi next to Conrad and Shya that night. I thought I would be arriving alone, but I guess I was wrong.

Allice had done my makeup and hair, making me appear much more stunning then usual. I could have passed for an elete. My mind couldn't focus on anything but the feeling of Conrad's fingers against my shoulder. My eyes would trail down to where his hand sat, the action was nothing to him, but to me everything.

Nobody had ever shown feeling toward me from an upper class, the whole thought was mind blowing.

I turned to gaze out the window, pressing my sweaty palms together. Focus Drew, think about your speech you must give st the Assembly of he chooses you.

If he picks you, your life will be laid out, things will be given to you, and everything will fit into place.

There will be no wrong, because how can there be when fear of messing up forces one to act as though they are a robot. And stay out of their own head.

That is what you want, I told myself, you want to be normal, Drew Stetson is an average girl, who will live an average life, not standing out, preventing myself from interrupting the flow of things.

Everyone outside continued their day, going to meetings, watching their children, and acting every day out the way the previous one had been. Every child playing with kids of their own ranking, speaking only when spoken to, and learning how not to stand out, try for the best, but don't do anything out of the ordinary.

Things won't change if nobody is taught that they could

"So quiet yet so deep in thought," I broke my stare off with the window, Conrad's soft words bouncing around in the air. His lips turned up into a smirk, I knew he realized that he had an affect on me.

"I'm just thinking about the assembly," I half lied, shooting him a weak smile, Shya muttered on the other side of him, hiding it with a caugh.

"What about it?" He leaned closer, sending my heart into a frenzy, how could I function properly with this boy so close?

I was something for him to figure out, he had said that to me before, but what did it mean? I leaned back in my seat, his scent taking over my nose, this boy sure knew how to make my mind go out of control.  "Just how soon it is."

Shya leaned forward, taking any opportunity to dive into conversation with us. "Yes, it is very soon, Conrad, should we talk about the opera we are viewing?" She sent him a sly grin, and a lump formed in my throat at her attempt to exclude me.

I turned back, fixing my eyes on the road, I didn't care about her stupid games, a part of me was done chasing Conrad, I wasn't one for fooling around, I liked to do things because I wanted to.

"That would be splendid, what act do you prefer?" Conrad grinned, side glancing at me. Without Shya seeing, he grabbed my hand, lacing my fingers with his own. He tucked our hands in between us, our third party member oblivious to the whole thing.

I couldn't help but let a smirk slip onto my face, I was going to win this, I could feel it.

We pulled up at the elete Opera house a few minutes later, the taxi coming to a slow next to the curb. "May I help you out," Conrad turned to Shya, she gave him a weak smile, watching as he waited for me to climb out before running over to her side of the car to assist her.

Well then.

My hands felt empty without being in his, I tucked them into the pockets of my dress walking behind the pair of them.

Was he ignoring me?

They continued the trek hand in hand, a lump forming in my stomach at the sight of them I wondered if Nathen might show up at some point, and die when he saw us together. Was I the reason he had vanished.

Completely alone, I ventured in, glancing around for a familiar face.the building was filled with high class men and wemen, soft classical music streaming from a quartet in the corner.

They chattered freely in the foyer, men cradling drinks in their hands, and women in elegant dresses. Shya and Conrad made their way to a group of elete, Mason and Zack among them. I locked eyes with Mason who shot me a wink before returning to the conversation.

I found myself very much alone, as I stood there in the middle of the foyer, but my party of one wouldn't last for long.

"You are looking awfully stunning tonight."