The heads all turn to face the stage. Except for one. His stare warms me, sending a burst of heat to my belly.

Daring a glance up, I lock gazes with his piercing green eyes. He raises an eyebrow, and my stomach contracts. There’s something about him—I can’t help it—I slowly smile back. After relying on my looks to gain popularity and win influence, some old part of me can’t resist the game. My instinct is to walk past him, hips swaying like I’m on a runway, to wet my lips, to dazzle him—to wrap him in my web until he’s mine. He’d be great for my numbers. Stupid. This is why I can’t trust my instincts. This isn’t who I am anymore.

But I can’t look away.

And neither can he.

My heart thumps.

“Do you live for praise? If only you know, is it enough? Disconnecting is a constant struggle with pride. Remember your self-worth must come from within.” Jeff pounds his fist on his chest, and I finally break the stare. Pretending I’m captivated by what’s happening onstage, I hope Garrett forgets the girl he just glimpsed.

“An excellent reminder,” Whitney says. “Now, I know you’re all dying to hear about the Initiation Heist.” She grins. “It will be our biggest—and most dangerous—heist to date.”

The kids around me perk up even more.

“In a few months, we’ll be hosting a challenge,” Jeff says. “It will be an obstacle course of sorts, designed to measure your preparedness for the Initiation Heist.”

“We take the heist very seriously. As those of you who participated in last year’s heist as assistants—and will be leading your own heists this year—know, the stakes are real. You could get caught, and we can’t risk involving anyone who isn’t ready,” Whitney says. “For that reason, anyone who fails to complete the obstacle course or the person with the slowest time will be discharged to Keystone Farms to help grow food for Unrankables in need. Life at the Farm is simple, though without the use of technology, the work is hard. But ending up there isn’t a life sentence. If you’re able to get past Farm security and survive the wilderness to make your way back to Keystone, we’ll happily continue your training.”

Survive the wilderness? Nope. Guess I better find a way to own that obstacle course…

“On the other hand, the four of you with the best times will be chosen to compete against one another in the Keystone Quest,” Jeff continues. “The Quest champion will be awarded three things. First, the ability to choose their partner for the Initiation Heist, rather than being assigned one.” He ticks the items off his fingers as he speaks. “Second, the locations of every top-secret Keystone hideout around the world—which is information that is usually earned well after you’re initiated—and finally, one get-out-of-jail-free card.”

“Normally, if you’re caught during a heist, we do our best to set you up as a Maker or Laborer once you serve your sentence,” Whitney explains. “But as a Quest winner, you are considered to be amongst our best and brightest, and we would do everything in our power to rescue you and keep you among our ranks.”