BRINK: Book 1 - The Passing by Arienna Rivers Black Page A

females is two persons smaller than that of the males. We will discuss options with the men left behind after the completion of this event. If there are no immediate questions, we shall proceed with the Choosing portion of the ceremony. Please separate and be seated. Men to the left, women to the right. Elise Barrunda, please come to the stage.”
    “Hey,” Aaron murmurs before we move apart. “Try not to be so disruptive, all right?.”
    I can't resist a return jab. “Hey, try not to be such a hypocrite, all right?”
    His blue eyes light up at my retort, and I shoot him an uncharacteristically playful grin before I turn and join Johanna on our side of the room. As soon as we sit down, I locate him on the other side of the room and have to keep myself from laughing again when he sticks his tongue out at me. Johanna catches sight of my face and smirks.
    “He's cute, huh?”
    I blush. “Not bad,” I mumble, wondering how I went from relative disinterest to a fairly powerful crush in the space of about ten minutes and steeling myself to ignore Aaron from now on. This is no time to act like a kid in junior university.
    From our seats with the other women, Johanna and I watch Elise, a sparrow of a girl with eyes too large for her face, tremble her way up the stairs and stand next to the administrators. “Ms. Barrunda, you have been issued a 400. The gentlemen closest to 400 in number are, in reverse order, Shawn Pierce, 420, Edward Shoemaker, 389, Arrow Mishka, 392.”
    The three young men rise and climb up to the stage. Elise's huge eyes widen even further when she sees her closest match, Arrow, a surly, sour faced gargoyle with long, dark hair and a barrel chest. I am instantly certain they are the worst possible pairing on the planet. He will crush her, body and spirit both. Surely, anyone can see that. But she's clearly been instructed, as we all have, to choose based on the number alone, as survival depends on proximity. She bows her head and points at the gargoyle. I feel sadness clench my heart.
    “Mr. Mishka, you have been selected as a partner for Ms. Barrunda. Do you accept?”
    The tank of a man scowls. “Do I have a better match?” he asks.
    The analyst types a few keys and shows the judge.
    “No. It appears that Ms. Barrunda is your closest match as well.”
    “Then I accept,” he says firmly. All business.
    “Congratulations, and best wishes for a long life together. You may proceed to the room of blessing. Next, Selena Zaretti, 768.”
    Arrow leaves through a door at the back of the stage; his soon-to-be bride follows several feet behind, hugging her own frail shoulders. A tall, creamy-skinned girl with black braids replaces them on stage and the two men who were not selected return to their seats. I turn to Johanna.
    “That first match? That was ridiculous. There is no way those two will ever be happy. The algorithm is....broken. It must be.”
    “Brynn!” she hisses, looking past me. “You'll get us in more trouble!”
    Unused to being chastised, I turn my face back to the center of the room and cross my arms over my chest. Beside me, Johanna sighs.
    “Look,” she whispers. “Just because they seemed wrong together other doesn't mean the algorithm is broken. We don't know them. Maybe they're perfect for each other.”
    “Right. Because there's no more complementary pairing for a gorilla than a baby deer.”
    I feel Johanna shrug. “Appearances are deceiving. Maybe he's nicer than he looks. Maybe she's a conniving bitch with an anti-depressant dependency. In any case, happiness really isn't what this whole process is about.”
    “Says the girl who's about to enter a life of eternal bliss with her childhood sweetheart.” I taste the tang of bitterness on my words and frown. What is wrong with me? I'm not usually this mean, even in my own head.
    To her credit, Johanna takes no offense. She reaches for my hand and squeezes it, giving me a smile. “Everything is going to be fine,” she