8

Gem stared at El, her eyebrow raised in disbelief. It had been a few days since El's unexpected revelation about her relationship with Seth, and now she had just spilled the beans to their group of friends.

"You what?!" Gem exclaimed, unable to contain her astonishment. "I thought you weren't into him. I mean, he's nice and all, but you told me he wasn't your type. Why the sudden change? It's so out of the blue, I can't even."

El immediately regretted bringing up the topic. She hated confrontation and didn't want her friends to judge her. "Well, I guess he's okay. He cares about me a lot, and we have common interests."

"But we have common interests too, and we're not dating," Parker chimed in, receiving a jab in the ribs from Raven.

"Come on, guys," Raven interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "As long as El is happy, that's what matters. Relationships can work if both people put in the effort. Let's not be so judgmental."

Raven turned her gaze to El, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you truly happy?"

All eyes were on El, waiting for her response. She forced a smile, trying to appear genuine and carefree. "Of course. Don't worry about it."

"Are you guys official?" Gem took a bite of her bun, sighing. "You know what Seth is like. He can be clueless sometimes. But hey, as long as you don't get hurt, I'm happy for you."

The others voiced their agreement, expressing their support for El. They were good friends who wanted to see her happy, even though their protectiveness sometimes veered into judgmental territory. Nevertheless, El was relieved that the Spanish Inquisition was over.

"Great, let's just enjoy our meal," El suggested.

Seth had returned to his hometown, Otokis County, to visit his family. This was one of the things El admired about him—his strong bond with his family. Getting a ticket to Otokis County was no easy feat, especially for a freshman with a part-time job and a busy schedule. However, Seth managed to visit every month, unless there was a major project at the EGTF that required his attention.

Surprisingly, Norman had granted Seth leave, which didn't come as a shock to El. No traitor would be allowed to tamper with Norman's precious equipment using their "grubby betrayer's hands."

"When is Seth coming back?" Raven asked. "We should all hang out sometime. I'd love to meet him and see if he's as good for you as you say."

"Yeah, I haven't seen him since middle school," Parker added.

"I have his number, if you guys want it," Gem offered, seeking El's approval.

"Oh, we'll find a time," El replied, taking a sip of her apple juice. "He usually returns after four or five days. We can plan something after the weekend."

Deep down, however, El felt a sense of worry for her friends. What if Norman was right, and Seth truly was The Chosen? She wasn't sure if he would enjoy spending time with her outspoken friends, who clearly held little regard for the woman protesting at the city hall.

Their conversation was interrupted by a blonde-haired girl dashing over to their table with a wide smile. "Hi! Can I interrupt you guys for a bit?"

"You already have," Parker dryly responded, earning another jab in the ribs.

"I won't take long," the girl assured them as she handed each of them a poorly decorated flyer. "I'm Liz, and I'm running for President of the Student Council this year. I would really appreciate it if you guys could vote for me at the Halloween party. Since it's our last year in this school, I believe we should advocate for women's rights, plant more trees for the environment, and stand against the recent deaths in Brommesville."

El nearly choked on her juice. Seriously?

"Please, please, please come to the party and vote for me. I'll be outside the school dressed as a bunny, holding a box. Every vote counts!"

"Sure," Raven replied with a smile, while Gem scowled.

"Thank you so much!" Liz exclaimed before scurrying off to another table, eagerly seeking more votes.

"We're not actually going to the party, are we?" Gem asked, confused.

"No, but we'll humor her," Raven explained, popping a grape into her mouth. "Otherwise, she won't leave. I know that girl. She flunked the year before us and got held back. Now she's trying to prove herself by studying hard and participating in every school-related activity."

Raven shook her head. "In a way, I admire her determination, but her approach isn't very smart. It's like moral bribery. That won't win people's support."

El silently added in her mind, knowing the precariousness of Liz's situation. The way things were going, Liz could end up in serious trouble.

"Forget about it," Gem dismissed the topic. "Now, which movie should we watch for our night in?"