Grid Seekers (Grid Seekers Book One) (26 page)
Read Grid Seekers (Grid Seekers Book One) Online
Authors: Logan Byrne
The crowd cheered, Liam and I standing up as well, before music started playing, the spotlight shining to where we had come out minutes earlier. President Nilsen walked onto the stage, waving and smiling at everyone in the crowd and back home.
President Nilsen was a portly man, his stomach extending further out than anyone’s I had ever seen before, a direct consequence of a sedentary life mixed with pure gluttony and sloth. He had black hair, slicked all the way back, though some streaks of white were starting to push through; it wasn’t the most flattering look in the world.
He was clean-shaven, his chins strangled around the collar of his shirt, his sausage fingers being wrapped with gold rings; one of them was probably worth more than all of the houses on my block combined. He shook our hands in order, Liam, me, and then Chet, before pushing back his blazer with his hands, thick gold suspenders coming out as he did so.
“Mr. President, it is
such
an honor to have you here tonight. Every year we’re blessed with your presence, and even though you’re the busiest man in the world, you still make time for the little things. We thank you for that, sir,” Chet said, smiling.
“I’m happy to do it! I know how important this competition is, and I can even remember being a little boy, sitting on my daddy’s lap, watching the closing ceremony and being awestruck at how amazing the whole thing was. I’m happy to participate,” President Nilsen said, huffing between sentences.
I tried not to look at him with disdain, a little fearful that he would catch on and something would ensue, if not here then backstage. I didn’t like him, yes, but with millions of people watching and a bunch in the audience, I wasn’t about to try to insult their dear leader.
“Now, as you all know, the winners of the competition, as well as their hacker, who sadly couldn’t be here, all receive the opportunity to have one wish granted. It can be anything, anything at all, and our illustrious leader and wonderful president will grant it to them, changing their forever!” Chet said excitedly.
The crowd cheered, President Nilsen smiling, as Liam and I stood awkwardly, the moment almost here. I knew Liam would go with my idea; it was a great idea, and something he had wanted for a long time. The only question was if this wish would be granted. They did tell us we could ask for
anything
.
“So, tell me, what are your wishes? I’ll let you present one at a time, and since we have a lady in our presence, please tell me yours first,” President Nilsen said.
“Well, actually sir, Liam and I have the
same
wish,” I said.
“The same wish? That’s bonkers!” Chet said.
“Well, I’m all ears,” President Nilsen said.
“Well, since we’re allowed anything, and both of us are using our wish for the same exact thing, essentially doubling our power, we would like to use our wishes to end the competition forever,” I said nervously.
There was a pause, no sounds inside the entire venue, not even a single cough in the audience. The president looked at me, his expression unchanged, and Chet was speechless for the first time in most likely his entire life.
“You…what?” Chet asked.
“We would like the competition to be abolished, never to be brought back again,” Liam said, reaffirming what I had asked.
“You said we get anything, and that’s what we want. We don’t want anybody to be subjected to it ever again,” I said.
His hands still on the waist of his pants, his brilliantly metallic suspenders in view, President Nilsen looked at us, me and then Liam, before coming back to me. His mouth opened.
“Then it is granted,” President Nilsen said. He looked tense, like he was holding back his frustration. “You both get a wish, anything you want, and especially since you’re using them together, I’ll grant it. Congratulations.”
The president didn’t look all too thrilled, but he did a good job of hiding his anger and frustration from the rest of the nation and audience. He looked at us, his eyes like daggers, his mind obviously firing rapidly, before he gave a friendly smile for the cameras.
“Well, you heard it here first, ladies and gentlemen, the competition is…over,” Chet said, barely able to get the words out.
There were a few claps, the roaring applause completely gone. Most people were probably wondering if they should show happiness or not. I knew it was a shocking proposition, and it was even more surprising to have it actually granted, but I thought at least
some
people would be happy to know they or their families would never have to enter that grid ever again.
“Well, thank you for your time, Mr. President. We’ll talk to you soon,” Chet said, extending his hand.
President Nilsen shook our hands before waddling offstage, the expression on his face likely changing once he was turned around. Two teens from New York completely altered the face of the nation for the rest of time. I still was in shock myself, unable to comprehend not only winning the competition, but also getting our wishes granted. Asking for money, houses, or jobs would’ve been amazing, but making sure people like my mother or Saraia were safe from ever being cast into the fray was even better. There was no price you could put on that.
“Well, that’s our broadcast for tonight, everyone. We thank you for tuning in, and if you stay tuned, a special will be showing next that you just have to see. Thank you to President Nilsen, and once again, congratulations to Alexia and Liam!” Chet said, with slightly more excitement picking up at the end.
The red light on top of the cameras turned off, and a few people guided us offstage. Chet left in the other direction. I put my hand in Liam’s as we walked in the dark. I felt butterflies in my stomach; my mother and Saraia were nearby, and I couldn’t wait to jump into their arms and never leave again.
As we walked to where our families were, we passed by President Nilsen, who was right around the corner and as we whizzed by, I heard something that intrigued me a little. It was almost as if he was telling his advisors, or whomever he was with, that something needed to be stopped and that this wasn’t going to happen. Was he talking about our wish? Before I could even turn around to see, we were there, in front of our families, and it was the biggest rush I had felt in a while.
“Alexia!” I heard, as we quickly walked into the open.
“Saraia!” I yelled, and she ran towards me, jumping into my arms.
My mother rushed over, wrapping her arms around us both, as I buried my head into them, my heart feeling full. I couldn’t believe they were here, in person, not just some video feed; it was the way it was supposed to be. This all could’ve worked out so differently, and I knew just how lucky I truly was.
I pulled my head up, looking over to my right, seeing Liam, his little brother in his arms as his sister held onto him tightly, their mother putting her head against the side of his, all of them smiling. It was a side of him I wanted to desperately see, but never got the chance to. He looked so at ease, so happy, and best of all, himself.
This
was the Liam I knew, and I was glad I did.
“So, that’s him, huh?” my mother asked.
“Oh, yeah, that’s Liam,” I said, smiling.
“I saw the way you were out there with him, especially when that Chet Gargan tried to get him to kiss you. You like him,” my mother said.
“Mom!” I exclaimed, though in a whisper.
“I’m just saying that’s the same way I was with your father, and look what happened there. We had two kids, a great marriage, and a wonderful time while we were together. You should say something,” my mother said.
“Yeah, tell him you loooooove him,” Saraia said, smiling, as she looked up at me.
“You be quiet,” I said jokingly.
“I just hope you stay in contact with him, sweetie, that’s all. I know how hard these types of things can be, especially since you’ll both go back to work, and life will get in the way, and all that. If you really want to make it work, though, you can,” my mother said.
Liam and his family started to walk over towards us, his brother still in his arms, smiling as big as could be.
“Okay, be quiet, both of you,” I whispered.
“Hey,” Liam said.
“Hey,” I replied, smiling.
“I wanted you to meet my family. I figured I talked about them so much and everything,” Liam said.
“It’s great to meet you all. Liam has told me so much about you three,” I said.
“I hope good thing,” his sister said.
“Be good, Reyna,” his mother said. “Hi, I’m Paula, Liam’s mother. This is Reyna, my daughter, and Andy, my son.”
“Nice to meet you,” my mother said, shaking her hand. “I’m Kate, and this is my daughter, Saraia. You of course know Alexia.”
“Yes, and I must say, I’m very impressed. You were great out there, Alexia. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for taking care of this guy. I know he can be a handful,” Paula said.
“He was great,” I said, laughing and smiling as he rolled his eyes at his mom.
“Actually, can I talk to you for a second before we get going?” Liam asked, looking at me.
“Yeah, sure,” I said, letting go of Saraia before he put down Andy.
Leaving our families together, we walked over to the side, leaning up against the wall.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“I don’t want this to end,” Liam said.
“You don’t want
what
to end?” I asked nervously.
“This…us. I mean, we went through so much together, and I just think it would be such a shame to just not hang out, or talk, or whatever,” Liam said.
“Yeah, it would. I don’t want that either,” I said, as I fidgeted with my fingers.
“I know this is probably a dumb question, but would you like to go out for—”
“Yes,” I said, interrupting him.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say,” he said, smiling.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care what we do. The answer is yes,” I said, smiling from ear to ear.
“Great. I guess it’s a date,” Liam said.
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “I guess it is.”
We soon walked out of the building, our families in tow, as a gaggle of reporters lined the street like hungry vultures trying to get the next scoop. Since our transportation and houses in other directions, I looked over at Liam, and him back at me, before walking away, a massive smile plastered on my face.
Maybe winning the lottery wasn’t so bad after all.
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About the Author
Logan
Byrne is a young adult author currently living in Illinois. He has always had a vivid imagination and loves playing the books he writes out in his head as he writes them.
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