Andrew Picket
#28

          Beating Lindsey was one of the best things ever. The feeling of winning unharmed. It was amazing. Sorry sweetheart. It's all in the game of love and war. Best catchphrase ever!  I'm a genius.

          On the other hand, I think I made it very clear my feelings for her. Why did I wipe her tear away?  Why?  I am beating myself up in the inside over some stupid action I should have thought through.  This is not cool. I have to calm down because I'm going to have to beat Jess. I have never even battled against her. I don't know what she's like.

          All I know is that everyone says she's just as powerful as Linsey, but she's more soft. At least that's what I have been told.  From, Jack.  I think he has a soft spot for her.  That could be useful for my attack.

I change the gravity under me, so I can float all the way up in the air. I spot Jess leaning against a tree, her armor on in plates and everything. She looks so badass. Not as badass as Lindsey of course.

She holds a metal blade in her palm as looks around. I roll my eyes as I realize that she is waiting for me to arrive. I float over to her, ready to attack.

"Andrew, nice to see you. I've been waiting a while for you. Oh, and thanks for killing off Lindsey for me. I knew that must have been hard for you."

"I'm sorry, did I hear an insult in there? Maybe I shouldn't have taken out Lindsey. She's the only person that can take you out."

"You're right. I-" Jess starts, but I interrupt her.

"What did you say? Can you say that again?" I smirk.

"You're right," she growls.

"That's what I like to hear," I smirk.

"So, what do I get the feeling that I'm bowing down to you? It should be the other way around."

"Are you forgetting that I took out Lindsey? She's way more powerful than the likes of you."

"Aww. That's sweet. You love her. But, love makes you weak," Jess smiles.

"Let's just get on with it," I groan, rolling my eyes. Jess knew it was coming, and molded her armor into thin, rectangular metal sheets. She holds them mid air, stance ready to pounce at any minute. I curl my fingers, reigning in my gravity.

Jess takes the first move, trying to shoot the metal sheets as my ankles. I push the sheets away with gravity. I simply use my gravity powers to push her down on the ground.

"Gosh, you're annoying. I can't believe I have let you stay this long," I smirk.

"I think it's the other way around," she grunts. A metal sheet wraps around my ankle, knocking me off my feet. I loose hold on my gravity, and Jess rises. "You didn't think it would be this easy, did you?"

"I did. I did." I let loose a sly smile as I reign in a powerful punch of gravity and thrust her as hard as I can into the ground. I stand up, looking down at Jess.  Her body lies in an uncomfortable position, her neck at an awkward angle, and eyes are closed.  I knocked her out cold. 

          "Jess Thompson is being pulled out.  Taken out by Andrew Picket,"  the final announcement blares out. I smile in delight as the rope falls down to take her away. 

          "Andrew Picket, you'll have to be pulled out of the arena.  We must give you your prize," The speaks blares once again.  I nod my head slowly. 

          A rope descends down to catch me.  It slithers around and twists and ties itself in knots.  Slowly, I realize that it's making a swing for me to sit on.  I sit on the swing with caution as the rope pulls me out.  I look down at the forest, our little slice of freedom.  I wish we could have made it last.  I wish we could have survived longer. 

          Once they pulled me up and out, I stare blankly at the room.  I am in the same room from which we started, room one.  A slow clapping comes from a corner.  I whip my head around to see who it is.  It's an elderly man, the same man who gave us the rules.  The same man who claims he is the reason we all are here. 

          "Hello, Andrew Picket.  Congratulations on winning.  It was a spectacular performance," he says.  I force a thin smile back at him.  "Of course you'll be wanting your prize, so I'll be blunt.  Tonight, in your cell, everyone has to be accompanied by someone, their best friend, or their true love."

          I blinked my eyes and furrowed my eyebrows.  What is he even talking about?  This makes no sense whatsoever.  Best friend?  True love?

          "What do you mean, sir?"  I question slowly.

          "I mean that you get to choose if you want everyone to sleep with their best friend or true love."

          "Like, best friend?  True love? What if their true love isn't in the building?  What if they are outside in that world?  Our previous lives?"

          "Do you know why we got your group specifically?  Out of all the people in the world, why did we pick you?"

          "Was there something special about us?  Something unique no one else had?"

          "No, no.  There was nothing special about you, or most of the people in your groups.  We decided to scientifically prove a person's true love and their perfect best friend.  Then, we started to match up these random people's future partners, amd saw that a certain group of people were quite intertwined. We looked into this group of fourteen people and saw their potential.  We loved you guys.  So, we loved so much that we decided to meet up with you guys. We captured you, so we could put that potential to the test." 

          I thought for a moment.  "So, my best friend, and my true love are both right in this building?"

          "If you are lucky enough.  Ever know why we call those numbers after each announcement?"  he asks.

          "Thirty-five, and twenty-five," I whisper under my breath.

          "Correct.  We say those numbers so that we can etch it into your brain.  Ever notice the words above your cell door?"  I shake my head no.  "Well, next time look.  They each mean something.  Everyone has it, and under that is a subject number.  All you have to do is add.  Larger is love."

          This man was making no sense at all.  I didn't want to ask him to explain any further because then he would ramble more and more.  So I just decide to choose.  "I choose my true love."  What can I say?  I'm hopelessly a romantic at heart. 

          "Then, it's decided.  Also, please don't tell anyone else why they're being paired up in rooms.  We want their responses to be unaffected."  I flash a knowingly smile as a guard leads me out of the room, and into a room filled with everybody else.  Everyone was there.  Lindsey, too.  She just glared daggers at me when I walked in.  Jess does exact the same things. It's actually funny how they both are so similar.

          "Congrats, bro," Jack says, giving me a slap on the back.  I smile back.

          "Thanks.  It was hard though."

Jacob comes over and high fives me. "Nice going!"

"Thank you," I grin ear to ear. Samuel steps forward, joining our group. So does Lincoln.

"So, I hear you took out Lindsey?" Samuel asks with raised eyebrows and a skeptical expression.

"Yes, and it was super easy," I exclaim. Everyone in the group has open mouths as I tell them everything. From the no injuries, to the tear, to the catchphrase.

"Dude, that's horrible. Now she knows that you like her," Lincoln expresses.

"Rookie mistake," Samuel contradicts "If Lindsey wants him dead, she would have come over here by now. Also, I agree. Best catchphrase ever. Now, she'll be begging for you on her knees. No one can resist that phrase." Everyone laughs. We smile and joke around. It's the best feeling ever. I don't think I could have just one best friend, they are all my best friend.

"Hey, do you know who that girl is?" Jacob asks, pointing to a beautiful girl with silky auburn hair. She has vivid green eyes and adorable freckles, but she's not my type.

"Dudeeee, you don't know who Katherine Collins is?" Jack questions, clearly disbelieving. Jacob just shakes his head.

"Well, Katherine is twenty. Only a bit older than you. She's very well educated, I think she was going to be a teacher in her old life. A bit of a snob. She only thinks and values her education. She very practical and thinks love is a joke," Samuel lists.

Jacob just sighs in defeat. "Darn," he murmurs.

"Katherine Collins and Jacob Meyer, please report to room five hundred. You will be given further instructions once you're there," an announcement rings out. Katherine and Jacob? Wow. That is coincidental, but I would have never thought.

"Wait, guys. Good luck tonight. You'll need it," I say with a smile.

"Danelia Ross and Johny Green please report to room five hundred one.  You will be given further instructions once you're there."  Perky, loud Danelia Ross with shy, emotionally concealed Johny. I think that old man made a mistake on true love. 

          "Samuel Johnson and Anilia Richardson please report to room five hundred two.  You will be given further instructions once you're there."  I can see that.  I noticed how Samuel stole glances at her perfectly braided hair and flawless skin.  Just because he's perceptive, doesn't mean I can't be.

          "Lincoln Stone and Lillian Summer please report to room five hundred three. You will be given further instructions once you're there." I literally gasp out loud. Lincoln is supposed to be with Eliza. It's just how it's supposed to be. Before Lincoln walks out of the room, he gave a slight wave back. I returned it.

          "Andrew Picket and Lindsey Marking please report to room five hundred four.  You will be given further instructions once you're there."  I almost cheered out loud, then almost cried.  Lindsey?  Of all people?  I thought she was a silly crush, and this was supposed to confirm it.  I can't be in love with Lindsey Marking.  There's just no way.

          I walk out of the room and down the hall with her in silence.   Nothing happened durning that walk besides my slight panic attacking breakdown.

We start to get close, resulting in me getting more nervous. Room five hundred's door is closed, same as five hundred and one, and same as five hundred two and three. I start to get really worried. I'm going to be stuck all night in the same room as Lindsey. Why do I have to be such a hopeless romantic?  Why did I just pick my best friend? 

          "Hello, Lindsey and Andrew. This is your room for the night. Enjoy!"  a caretaker says, shoving us in and closing the door behind her.

          "What the hell is going on?  Why am I stuck with you?"  Lindsey wails. I look around the room and noticed that there is only one bed.

          "I have no idea, but I'm tired. Good night."  I flop down on the bed and close my eyes.

          "Excuse me?  No!"  Lindsey ordered.

          "I'm sorry. There's only one bed. And I said I'm tired first. So, I get the bed,"  I pause. "Oh, you want to sleep, too."  I scoot all the way  to the wall. "There's room," I smile.

          "You know I can end you right now?" She growls.

          "Then, why didn't you end me in the arena?"

          Lindsey growls and lights her fire. She runs toward me, but I have no intention of getting burned right now. I curl my fingers and my gravity shoves her against the wall. I extinguished her fire quickly.

          "If it'll make you happy, I'll sleep on the floor," I roll my eyes and grab all the blankets and pillows, leaving Lindsey just the bed. I lay it all out, and relax on the floor. Lindsey steps over me and curls up on the bed.

          I can't sleep. At all. So, I think about how Lindsey is my true love and I'm her true love. This makes no sense. Lindsey absolutely hates me. I can't love her when she's trying to kill me. I'm not dying over some man's stupid accusation. She isn't the one for me. She-

          'Andrew, she doesn't hate you.'

          'Anilia, what do you mean?"

          'There's a fine line between love and hate. And by the way, you could have told me that we were partnered up with our true love," with Anilia saying that, she leaves my mind. I can never have any privacy, between Samuel and Anilia. Wow, no wonder they are true loves.

          I could learn to love Lindsey. I thought she was just some silly crush. Maybe not. Maybe she is more than that. I get up and grab one of the warmest blankets I have. I drape it over Lindsey's body and press a kiss on her forehead. I look down at her and notice the smallest of things I never noticed before.

Her hair has a natural glow to it, dark or light. She nose crinkles up whenever she is disguised in the cutest of ways. Her eyelashes are so long and silky looking. Her lips look like satin. I barely resist the urge to lean down and kiss her. I decide to tell her in the morning, or maybe not.

          I crawl back onto the floor and climb under the coverings. I fall asleep dreaming about Lindsey and the life ahead of us. I dream about the person that could be my true love.