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The main street of Tealé was packed with people making their way home. The silver radiation-retardant panels reflected thousands of copies of adults in earth tones, and teenagers aged sixteen to nineteen in rank colors. After the war, children were touted as the future, and ranking was established to ensure the most promising young people led the nation. Everything in New America was geared toward procreation and population growth. Sexually-explicit billboards advertised countless products to attain higher rank. Airbrushed family portraits were beside the nude advertising, promoting the life everyone was to strive for. Life in New America was about rank and children. I wouldn’t miss the billboards if I had to leave Tealé.
My stomach contracted with nerves. I squealed with pleasure. Breaking up with Oliver had set me free, and now the universe was blessing me with being part of The Pageant. Fear tried to steal my excitement, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the moment. Liam wouldn’t have to worry about me losing my rank; in ten days, my rank would be certain for life.
Uncle Tody owned a small organic store located on the outskirts of the city. Two weeks after I’d returned to Tealé from the country, Liam had been assigned to tend stock in the store. He lived in a small apartment above the fruit and vegetable shop.
Like a lovesick stalker I drove past the shop every day, only allowing myself to enter twice a week so we wouldn’t get caught. In the hour phone-time Papa allowed each night, Liam and I would spin imaginary plans for a future neither of us imagined we could have together. With Oliver out of my life and The Pageant a certainty, a future with Liam was a possibility. If he still wanted me, our future could be as memorable as our past.
Celestial Page 15