*To make the right decision requires a combination of confidence, knowledge, and luck*
(Frontma battles banality to get another chapter edited - thanks)
(Yes, this tale is supposed to be somewhat humorous and outrageous too. While not always comedic, I'd like to think it is mostly a good-natured romp.)
*
A little nonsequitur: I once asked my close associates why they believed in God.
Rio: "Well, I can't very well be a convincing Satanist if I don't give lip service to the Other Guy."
Iona: "The Universe makes sense. It is our roadmap for Ascension and a fuller understanding of God's Love."
Christina: "I've seen Evil so there must be Good."
Heaven: "Because I prayed for death but Christina came and I prayed for you (Zane) to go but you stayed."
Hope: "Because I live in a country that allows me to own a K11 assault rifle for home defense." No one wants to ask Hope if she has the official rifle of the ROK Army with her at school, or if she actually has the grenades that go with it. What good would it do; it isn't like we would try to take it away from her. Most of us like living too much.
Chastity: "Firefighters, organ donors, Christian converts in Iran...with so many people giving for no material gain, that indicates to me a higher purpose for mankind -- a struggle between right and wrong."
Faith: "Belief in Christ cannot be given a definition. If you define it, it ceases being faith."
Barbie Lynn: sweetly gave me a peppermint and smiled. She had to look no farther than the fate that had brought us together and the joy we shared; she didn't need words.
Paige: "Only something with infinite precision and power could bring about the Big Bang. The day they can give a name to that force, I will gladly surrender my faith."
Cordelia: "Let me think about my reply. Why do you believe in God?" (Like I'd ever tell her.)
Cappadocia: "What an empty and lonely thing life must be if these few years are all we have?"
Opal: "I always have and never heard an argument that would make me think differently."
Brandi: "It was how I was raised. But the first time you kissed my stomach, I had my own personal religious experience (giggle)."
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY...BACK TO THE STORY
Breakfast unfolded pretty much like it had a week ago, with the added bonus of poisonous glares between clumps of students, bandages, bruises, and the sense of unease that comes from unresolved conflict. After all, neither Christina nor Rhaine had won. This was acceptable to most of the sane crowd as the alternative would have been to make the school unbearable to the other half of the student body so that they left.
Instead, we got to bask in the chilly civility that Christian politeness dictated. At least I wasn't (too) worried about a pack of girls ambushing me. As was becoming her habit, Gabrielle Black had devoured her food in less than four minutes and paced the perimeter of the Dining Room floor, her eyes dodging about with no discernible pattern. I kept an eye on her because she worried me in a way that went far beyond hormones.
"Zane?" Iona repeated. I had barely registered her first request for a moment of my time.
"Yes, Hon?" I smiled down at her. She looked happy for the eye contact but worried about what she had to say.
"Zane, there are two other candidates for Freshman Class President -- Mhain Reynard and Millicent Pierce," Iona informed me.
"Millicent?" grumbled Rio. "Zane saved her ass and now she's kicking sand in his face? The bitch."
"Millicent is free to do what she wants. She may have wanted to be nominated before all this chaos came about. I'm not going to begrudge her having political ambitions," I told them.
"Zane, I don't think you understand what this means," Iona worried.
"Sure I do; Millicent and I are going to split the Pro-Christina vote. There will be a run-off. If it is Millicent and I, Mhain's votes will go to her and I lose. If it is Mhain and Millicent, my votes will go to Millicent and she wins. If it is Mhain and I, it will be a toss-up. Essentially, Millicent can definitely defeat Mhain but I can't."
"This sounds like a job for the NSA," Rio glared off to where Millicent was sitting. I don't think Rio knew what Mhain looked like. NSA referred to Rio's title as my in-house assassin -- Ninja Stripper Angel.
"Don't worry," I patted Rio on the shoulder, "I got this, Bro."
When I got up, Rio followed me nonetheless. Chancellor Bass was absent for the second day in a row so the highest authority seemed to be Dr. Scarlett, the Vice Chancellor. Gabrielle noted my movement but didn't deviate from her path. Mrs. Cunningham was closest but seeing neither authority figure appeared nervous, she too went about her rounds.
Mind you, girls are moving around the Dining Hall all the time but I'm special...being a troublemaking, devious male. I rounded a table and walked over to Millicent, who was warned of my approach by an associate. She twisted in her chair and waited for the flavor of my greeting.
"Hey, Millicent, I want to congratulate you on your nomination and I hope you get the votes to be on the ballot," I said as I extended my hand. She shook it and smiled.
"Thank you, Zane. Good luck to you too," she replied.