Stay Around You Now And Forever novel (Hunter Jackson) novel Chapter 203

There was basically no suspense for the contest next morning. Rufus brought his usual skills into play without making a mistake. Since no team would be eliminated in this contest, no one had paid much attention to it, as long as they could perform well like they used to. It all depended on both Joe and Sally's performance in the afternoon now. For them, completing the complicated picture with sixty grids was not an easy task. Yet, if they were able to complete it smoothly, there was definitely no problem for them to be shortlisted into the top five. It was just that when Rufus returned after finishing the competition and everybody rested in the classroom, the atmosphere of the whole team was absolutely dreadful.

"Why did he quit all of a sudden? What's going on? Is he being kidnapped?” Lois was baffled by Aryan's decision to leave their team at the point when they were about to make into the top five. His leaving had cast a tremendous disaster on top of them. Even if Sally and Joe could complete their part later in the afternoon and make into the top five, they were destined to lose without a lead drawer for tomorrow's final. "How come? Emi, are you sure it's really him who says that? Have you called him?”

"I have, but he didn't pick up. But someone's seen him in the morning and he looks fine.” Emily's words consoled them but also pushed them to the edge of despair at the same time. "So, it really is Aryan who wants to quit. But why during this crucial moment?” Sally was upset and Lois was looking despondent. Yet Terry closed the window and glanced at them, and he said, "Those people are gone.”

"Who?” The people were startled and did not get what he meant. "Someone's been watching us since last night. Rufus was also being watched when he went to the competition this morning.”

"What?” Rufus was horrified and he immediately glimpsed through the window. They were at the first floor and the window was facing the laboratory building behind. One avenue and two small pathways persisted between the two buildings. It was noon and everybody had gone to rest. Only a few students passed through occasionally and nothing seemed aberrant. "I saw someone spying on us when I sent you back to your room last night.” Terry pursed his lips. "Now I get it. You ask me and Sally to stay together no matter how because you're scared someone would harm us?” Joe pondered and instantly felt intimidated. "But why didn't you stay with us afterwards?”

"I notice they had no intention to make any move after that. They've been solely watching us for the whole morning.”

"And why is that?” Joe was confused. If they did not intend to make a move, what was the purpose of watching them? Wasn't that just energy-consuming? "Yet it's pointless to watch us now. Without Aryan, even if we do make into the top five, we don't have the capability to make into the top three.” Lois lied on the desk and she was so dispirited that she could not raise her head. Not to mention Aryan was so famous that whenever people thought of September Drawing Club, their captain Emily Gale was not the first thing that came into their mind but Aryan Nicholson, the talented drawer.