*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.
"How about we have a debate a few nights before the election? Interested?" I pondered.
"That would be great," Millicent agreed. "We can request the Assembly Hall but we'll need to figure out who should be moderator."
"We'll figure it out," I nodded. "I'm going to say 'hi' to Mhain as well."
"I will come along," Millicent informed me as she stood up and stepped to my side. "Hi, Rio."
"Eat shit and die, you ungrateful whore," Rio snarled back at Millicent, who backed off. "Zane should have left you for Bass to fuck over." Millicent's crowd was shocked, then outraged.
"Cool it, Rio." I stroked her arm. "You and I do what we do for our own ends and not for the accolades of others." I turned to her, "Right?" Rio took a deep breath.
"You are such a dumb blonde," she smirked at me. "I get my thirty pieces of silver up front."
"Thanks, Babe," I grinned at Rio. I looked back to Millicent. "I'm still going to see Mhain if you want to tag along with me and Rio."
"I'm feeling fearless with a positive outlook on life so I'll risk it," Millicent smiled. Yeah, beating Millicent in this election was going to be fun...right up there with waking up on the Kappa Sigma cross out in the woods. The three of us walked over to Mhain and her crowd of freshmen Rhaine-supporters. The conversation around us died, proving I was definitely unwelcome.
"Hi, Mhain. I just wanted you to know I am happy to hear that you are jumping in on the race for Freshman Class President," I grinned while extending my hand.
"I would like to welcome you as well," Millicent stated, extending her hand too. Rio thankfully hung back and kept quiet.
Mhain turned around in her seat so that she faced us, though she remained seated. She looked into my eyes then regarded my hand before doing the same to Millicent.
"Very well, Millicent," Mhain finally said as she shook Millicent's hand. "You will lose, and while I hope you leave this school at the end of the year, if you don't, I pray you learn humility and proper Christian decorum."
Mhain was so fervent that Millicent appeared aghast at the situation. She hardened quickly.
"It is small-minded zealots like you that give people of faith a bad name, Mhain," Millicent seethed in response. "I'll make you a bargain. If you win, I'll leave FFU the day following the election; but if...when you lose, you agree to stick it out through your senior year."
Mhain stood, and the grip between the two women became bone-crushing.
"Pack your bags," Mhain hissed, "you Jezebel."