They say that the most unexpected things happen when we're least expecting them. I wasn't expecting my world to flip upside down over the course of the next few months, not because of my assignment. But it did, and I never saw it coming. 

Who knew one conversation could change everything? 

I was nervous. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The waiting room didn't do much to help. The walls were a dull grey, just like the floor and the roof, and the overpowering smell of orange room freshener lingered in the air. There were no windows and no air conditioners, giving the roomy space a stuffy feel. A single table stood in the center, twelve chairs arranged around it--only seven of which were presently occupied. The others had already gotten their assignments and left for the graduation ceremony. A hushed silence had fallen over the room, interspersed with silent chattering--another indicator everyone was anxious.

Our silent suffering was interrupted abruptly when the sound of a door banging echoed in the room. All of us turned towards the source of the sound, seeing Adrian walked out of the Oracles' chamber, fury evident on his face. I wondered what had happened that made him so angry and frustrated. You could see it on his face--he looked furious, as if he would hit a wall. He marched out of the other door, his shoes making loud noises in the silent room.

I wanted to know what happened, why he was so furious. But that wasn't what made me get up and go after him. It was worry – worry that he'd do something rash. He was known for his tantrums after all. Everyone's curious eyes followed me as I left. I didn't know if this was even allowed, but I didn't care. I was too worked up and at least calming him down would keep me from thinking about my own assignment. 

I don't know why I cared. After all, it wasn't like Adrian and I were close--we were just classmates who knew each other and occasionally talked. Maybe because it provided a distraction. But now I'm glad I did. If I hadn't, maybe none of this would have happened and we would still be clueless and naïve citizens.

Maybe we would never have talked otherwise.

I saw him at the end of the corridor, his head resting on the wall. He kept muttering something but I was too far away to hear him. Hesitantly, I walked towards him, knowing he might blow up any second. He pulled away from the wall, the resignation I saw on his face turning to fury once more.

He was about to do something big.

He pulled his arm back, closing his fingers into a fist and I realized what he was going to do. Everything seemed to slow down. I saw him pulling his fist back even more, as if in slow motion, yet I didn't notice it when my feet were flying towards him. When there was no sound of the bang of a fist against a wall, I realized that I was holding his arm.

Taking a step back, I dropped his arm and said, "don't."

"Wha-" He began, but when his eyes found me, they were suddenly filled with confusion.

"Ava?" he whispered.

I raised an eyebrow, wondering why he was being so weird. "Yeah, it's me."

He took a step back, his back hitting the wall.

"What are you doing here?" He hissed.

"What does it look like? I'm trying to calm you down before you punch a hole through the wall."

He laughed, the deep sound making me feel like it was illegal in the silence of the area. Suddenly feeling defensive, I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

"Whatever made you so angry anyway?" I asked.

"Oh, um... I've been paired with Stefanie..."

I shook my head, my eyes widening in disbelief. "That's what you were so worked up about?!"

It was his turn to be defensive. "Hey, I'm supposed to spend my whole fricking life with her!"

"And?"

"She's not my type..."

"So?"

"Oh, come on! Don't tell me you don't see the problem!"

"Hey, she's not bad!"

"She's too silent! I mean, can you imagine me with someone like her?! You'd be much better!"

"Me?!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening.

His eyes widened and the tips of his ears went red. "It's not much of a compliment. If you think you're worse than Stephanie, you have to improve your confidence." He said. "No-one is worse than Stephanie."

I rolled my eyes. Boys. Do you really need more explanation? 

"If the Oracles say she's your Partner, then it will work out, after all, they've never been wrong."

He shrugged, "That's what we've always been told."

"Which means it's true!" I replied with a triumphant smile.

"Yeah..." He said, "It must be."

We fell silent, both of us lost in our own thoughts, me thinking about my upcoming assignment once more. But unlike the atmosphere inside that room, the silence between us was more comfortable.

"What's your assignment anyway?" I asked, curious.

"I'm a Regulator!" he exclaimed, puffing out his chest in a show of pride. Everyone knew that was his dream--he'd switched courses in our last year at the university training hard for the post. He definitely deserved it. 

"I'm happy for you," I said, a genuine smile breaking out on my face.  

"You know," He began conversationally, "you're not at all like I thought you'd be."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"Uh...nothing." He replied, but I could clearly see that there was more to what he said. But I didn't press him, I didn't know him well enough.

That's when I remembered that I still had to get my assignment.

"Well, I'd best get back, I'm not even sure if I'm allowed to come out of there."

He nodded, "Thank you for not letting me 'punch a hole through the wall.'"

I smiled, waving as I went back into the room. I sat down at the table, ignoring everyone's stares on me. This wasn't the first time I was in the spotlight for doing something different, nor would it be the last. 

Stepping into the stuffy and silent space was like being thrust back into heavy rains after a momentary lapse of sunlight. The nervous aura everyone was exuding seemed to wash over me too, making me even more anxious than before.

I tried to distract myself from thoughts of my upcoming assignment. The meeting that would decide everything--the place I'd work at, the person I'd marry and the person I'd hate. The meeting that would change my life, though I didn't know it yet. Out of habit, I started taping my fingers on the table, humming a song. 

"If you do that one more time, Ava, I swear-"

"Sorry, I didn't realize it."

We were all on edge. Understandably too, since we were about to meet the Oracles – the heads of Asticus – for the first time that we would remember. They were shrouded in mystery, no one knew anything about them. There were all kinds of rumors associated with the Oracles ranging from believable to utterly ridiculous.

"What do you think they look like? I heard they're aliens!"

That was Celine for you – she was the kind that loved listening to rumors – and repeating them to Tori and me. 

"Don't believe everything you hear, Cel." I replied, smiling.

She laughed, "Oh, I know that. But it got you to smile didn't it?"

That was another thing about Celine – she was eternally cheerful and she would do anything to make you smile too. How she wasn't tensed, I would never know, but I loved her for it.

"Yeah, yeah. What do you think you'll get?" I asked, "and who do you want to be Partnered with?"

"I don't really have a preference, I just hope it's someone older. He would've been waiting for me to graduate then."

I gave a short laugh, "Yeah, totally and no one our age is worth it anyway."

She nodded, a hushed silence falling over us once more.

The silence was heavy, suffocating, pressing down on me from everywhere. It made me restless, unable to sit still. I wanted to let out some of that nervous energy inside of me and I didn't even realize it when I'd started jiggling my foot.

"Ava!" Someone exclaimed, reprimanding me for the millionth time.

"Sorry, sorry!" I apologized with a sheepish smile.

I looked around the table, trying to see who was in right now. I couldn't see Victoria, so I assumed she'd gone in. I hoped she'd get someone good – someone she liked, unlike Adrian.

But I couldn't stop thinking about my own assignment.

It felt like it had been two hours by the time she came out, although I'm sure it must have been just five minutes. Celine immediately turned towards her, asking questions non stop.

Tori laughed, "Wait, let me answer them before you ask the next question!"

"Okay, okay."

"It was somewhat creepy – you'll see why when you go in and apparently, I'm assigned to Hydroponics. My soulmate is –" she whispered the names of her soulmate and nemesis, but I had already tuned out, only half listening to the following banter.  

A voice chimed on the speaker in the room – like it did when calling the next person to get their assignments. My heart thudded in my chest as I realized who would be called next. I touched the back of my neck, sweat coating my fingers.

"Ava Solis, enter."