Life Designed (Life Plan Series Book 1) by Eliza Taye (mini ebook reader TXT) 📕

his mother trusted her. Still, it hurt that his best friend was being forced to act like his probation officer.

“Class, attention, if you could put your Plans on hold for right now, I do have an announcement.” Mr. Gargen stood at the front of the class, waiting for everyone’s eyes to be on him before speaking. “As you all know—or should know—Submission Day is only two days away. Your Plans must be completed and proofed by then. With that said, I want you to have your Plans completed by tonight so we can proof them tomorrow. You’ll be working in pairs and trying to find any flaws in the other person’s Plans that may keep them from being accepted. Do not forget that this will determine the rest of your lives.”

Rolling his eyes, Garrett had to stop himself from mumbling that the teacher had wasted his time in telling everyone what they already knew. He could have also waited until the end of class today to remind everyone to have it finished by tomorrow for proofing.

“Do you have a comment, Mr. Gibbons?”

Freezing, Garrett met the gaze of his teacher. “No.”

“Oh really? The roll of your eyes suggests otherwise.”

With a grimace, Garrett realized his teacher saw him roll his eyes. “No, sir, I was just wanting to work on my Life Plan, and I didn’t want to stop to hear the announcement.”

Mr. Gargen watched Garrett closely, his eyes narrowing before he stated, “All right, everyone, get back to work.”

For once, Garrett did as he was told and got to work on his Life Plan with vigor. At least, that’s what he made it look like. Unperturbed by his parent’s wishes and even the risk it would be, Garrett knew he couldn’t give up on trying to break into the Secret Collections Room at the library.

With his failure last night, it would be even more important to sneak into the library. Unfortunately, the guard had kept his lockaway device he’d spent a small fortune on, which would make it more difficult to gain entry. However, Garrett was determined and he knew that he’d find a way.

The academy day couldn’t end fast enough for Garrett. As he gathered his papers filled with plans on how to infiltrate the library before anyone else could see them and stuffed them away into his backpack, Mr. Gargen dismissed the class.

Outside, he met up with Opal, who walked him to the transport station.

“Can you believe that Submission Day is only two days away?” With a satisfied sigh, Opal turned to Garrett, her face falling. “I’m sorry, Garrett. I should have thought about how frustrating this is for you. There must be a way to gather information on what it takes to become a council representative. I mean, if there are representatives that visit cities all over the world, there have to be hundreds of them, if not thousands. So, someone had to have written it into their Life Plan. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have any. I highly doubt they’d appoint such an essential job like that to an Undecided.”

As Opal rambled on, Garrett mentally reviewed his plans for breaking into the library tonight. He’d solved how to evade the cameras once inside the building but getting into the building was still his biggest problem. Another lockaway device would have been invaluable, but he didn’t have any money to buy another one. Returning to the Undecided sector to buy another one wasn’t an option anyway. Besides, if he went back to the guy he’d purchased it from and the man discovered Garrett had lost it, he’d probably quadruple the price for another one. Why did that guard have to take it and keep it anyway?

“Garrett?” Opal stared at him intently. “Are you even listening to me?”

Garrett shook off his thoughts and focused his gaze on Opal. “Oh, sorry, Opal. I just have a lot on my mind.”

Opal nodded solemnly. “Yes, I’m sorry. I’m sure you do.” Brightening her tone of voice, she added, “I saw you working hard on your Plan today, Garrett. I’m proud of you.”

“What? Uh, yeah. Thanks, Opal.” Garrett hung his head, too ashamed to meet her gaze. He wished he could tell her his real plan, but a nagging part of him told himself she’d never understand.

Opal narrowed her eyes in suspicion at Garrett as they stopped at the transport station, awaiting the transporter to their neighborhood. “Garrett, what’s going on? You’re rarely this pensive.”

Sighing, Garrett replied, “Nothing, Opal. I’m just contemplating how I’ll fill the gaps in my Life Plan if I don’t know everything I need to put in it. I mean, I can fill in all the other stuff but how to attain the position I want. I have only one day left to fill in the gaps and that’s it.”

Garrett hated continuing to lie to Opal, but there was no other way.

Turning toward the incoming transporter, Opal empathized, “I know. I hate that the library didn’t really have anything on it. I have to admit, Garrett, you’re right.”

“I am?” Garrett’s eyes widened as the two of them stepped into the transporter and found a seat. “About what?”

“About all the secrecy. If a council representative is just like any other job, why don’t they have any information on it? It’s one of the most essential jobs and yet it’s never mentioned in class and we don’t have an occupation tour for it. Why is that?”

Feeling hope that maybe Opal would understand his position, Garrett opened his mouth to tell her the truth when Miranda popped into the empty seat beside him.

“Hey, Garrett! Hey, Opal.” Miranda waved curtly at Opal before staring doe-eyed at Garrett. “What were you guys talking about?”

Pursing his lips and chewing on the inside of his cheeks to keep from saying something mean, Garrett finally replied, “We were just discussing our Life Plans.”