The story so far:

---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees. Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him. Aija agrees to work along with Etrie on Harvest Stopping Missions.

---- Thieron and Nala check out a new target and realize that Etrie's team was trailing the same target. 

---- Xan is a student at the Pristine School. He attends Cello classes at the same academy as his best friend Vaughn. Xan is preparing for the mandatory Eligibility Test that he must take once he turns sixteen. Xan has a small party on his birthday. Xan feels like he is being constantly watched. Xan takes his Eligibility Test and does well. He gets his Medicine Administration done. Xan feels sick and at his party, he faints.

---- Zuri is back at her hometown. She tells Alex why it's important to do well at school - so that they can both live at Innermost and bring their parents there too. 

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****16.2 - Zuri****

That night after dinner and after their parents had gone to bed, Zuri and Alex sneaked out to meet her friends. They had visited her at home that evening, but they had fun sneaking out in the middle of the night and sharing the fizzy blue drinks.

Omar, Chet, Anne, and Amyas were already there when Zuri and Alex ran to the playground.

"Hey!" Amyas called out.

"Guess who's coming tonight?" Anne sounded excited. Zuri was already there, so it had to be him if Anne was that excited.

"Cool," Alex replied, understanding.

"You really shouldn't be here," Omar told Alex but hugged her brother anyway.

The six of them shared new stories as they waited for Ahi. When he arrived an hour later, the whole dynamics of the group changed. He was the unannounced leader, and all the attention gravitated towards him. Anne was easily the most excited to see him. And, Ahi's focus was on Zuri.

The conversation put Ahi into the spotlight, and he talked about his studies and the blast at the Institute. As soon as Zuri had seen the news, she had called him to make sure he was out of danger. Hearing that he hadn't been there that day, she had been relieved. 

  Alex was playing by the swings when Amyas said, "We have fewer bottles this time."

"You're still getting those?" Ahi seemed genuinely surprised. "When will you stop?"

"Probably...never." Chet grinned and looked back to make sure Alex wasn't within earshot.

Ahi sighed, shaking his head in disapproval.

"We have twelve. Each of us gets two." Amyas said, opening his backpack.

"I don't need it," Ahi said.

"Oh, yes, of course... I forgot." Chet said. "That'll make..."

"I don't want them either." Anne blurted, interrupting Chet.

"When did you change?" Omar asked frowning.

Zuri knew it was only because of Ahi's presence. Anne laughed and blushed more as she caught Zuri's smirk.

"Okay," Omar said, probably having figured it out, now. "That makes three for the rest of us."

The four of them took three bottles each of the blue drink. Zuri looked at Alex; he was on one of the swings with his back to them. She wondered if he never thought about why they sent to the swings every time they met at night. She worried about it every time. It was one thing to allow him to accompany her on these night escapades; it was utterly another to let him see the alcohol.

"I hope she likes this," she mumbled more to herself, but Anne heard her.

"Who?" she asked her.

Zuri could have lied and told that she was talking about Aija. But, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Ah... it's just someone I'm seeing. I didn't want to say anything since it is nothing serious yet. Also, it cannot really work out, can it? You know, with the Leadership and all..."

"A girl? You're seeing a girl?" Anne sounded almost relieved.

"Yes," Zuri admitted.

All eyes fell on Ahi; no one bothered hiding it. Ahi looked shocked as he stared at her. He certainly hadn't expected such a twist in events. He looked away, uncomfortable with everyone's unbridled gaze on him.

Anne was smiling. Zuri had admitted to some sort of a relationship with someone else. That meant Anne could ask Ahi to go out with her, for whatever it was worth.

"That's sweet," Omar said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, you should bring her here sometime," Chet added.

"Guys, it's all too soon!" Zuri said, trying to brush it off. "It's nothing serious."

"It doesn't seem not serious." Anne was cheerful.

"True," Omar teased. "You seem to like her a lot."

"You're blushing." Chet laughed.

Amyas and Ahi were quiet. Ahi, she understood. What was wrong with Amyas?

"Tomorrow, lunch is at Omar's." Chet reminded everyone as they left for the night.

Anne and Omar lived on the same street and left together. Chet and Ahi went as well. Ahi seemed distant now, but Zuri didn't know how to right it.

Alex, Zuri, and Amyas walked together. He lived a street away from her. Alex and Amyas spoke with each other, and Zuri kept quiet. When they reached home, Zuri sent Alex inside first.

"What's wrong?" she asked Amyas as he turned to leave.

He seemed to hesitate, as she said, "Amyas!"

He looked up at her.

"What is it?"

"I like you," he whispered.

Zuri stared at him, taken aback. She hadn't seen that coming.

"If it isn't serious with that girl, maybe..."

"No."

Amyas sighed.

"It's not because I don't like you, Amyas. It's not because I like her more, either. It's because it just isn't possible."

Amyas nodded, but she wasn't sure he truly understood. "We're still friends?"

"Of course, you idiot, Amyas."

Amyas managed a small smile and said, "See you tomorrow at Omar's," and left.

How had Zuri missed his feelings for her? He had never made it obvious. And with all the attention on Ahi, she hadn't noticed anything. Perhaps none of her friends had either.

Or maybe Amyas had kept quiet because it wasn't possible between them. Only the Leadership chose the person one would marry; everyone knew it. It made her wonder about her and Nala.

"Aren't you coming in?" Alex whispered beside her.

He had come back out through the window.

"How much did you hear?" she asked him.

"I just came out. I promise."

Zuri narrowed her eyes at him, and he nodded innocently. Alex never lied to her, no matter how badly he was in trouble or done anything he wasn't supposed to.

"Let's go back in," she told her brother.

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