Read Matched for Free Online

like to know. And I answer the only way I can. I tell her the truth. “It’s Xander,” I say. “It’s wonderful.”
    Em nods in understanding. “All this time none of us thought we could ever end up with one another,” she says. “And then it happens.”
    “I know,” I say.
    “And Xander ,” she says. “He’s the best of us all.” Someone calls her name and she drifts toward another table.
    As I watch, Xander picks up the gray pieces and puts them out on the gray and black squares of the board. Most of the colors inside the game center are drab: gray walls, brown plainclothes for the students, dark blue plainclothes for those who have already received their permanent work positions. Any brightness in the room comes from us: from the shades of our hair, from our laughter. When Xander sets down his last piece, he looks across the board at me and says, right in front of his opponents, “I’m going to win this one for my Match .” Everyone turns to stare at me and he grins mischievously.
    I roll my eyes at him, but I’m still blushing a few moments later when someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around.
    An Official waits behind me. “Cassia Reyes?” she asks.
    “Yes,” I answer, glancing over at Xander. He’s engrossed in making his move and doesn’t see what’s happening.
    “Could you come outside with me for a moment? It won’t take long, and it’s nothing to worry about. Merely procedural.”
    Does the Official know what happened when I tried to view the microcard?
    “Of course,” I say, because there’s no other answer when an Official asks you for something. I look back at my friends. Their eyes are on the game in front of them and on the players moving the pieces. No one notices when I leave. Not even Xander. The crowd swallows me up and I follow the Official’s white uniform out of the room.
     
    “Let me reassure you that you have nothing to worry about,” the Official tells me, smiling. Her voice sounds kind. She leads me to the small greenspace outside the center. Even though being with an Official adds to my nervousness, the open air feels good after the crowd inside.
    We walk across the neatly cut grass toward a metal bench that sits directly underneath a street lamp. There’s not another person in sight. “You don’t even have to tell me what happened,” the Official says. “I know. The face on the microcard wasn’t the right one, was it?”
    She is kind: she didn’t make me say the words. I nod.
    “You must be very worried. Have you told anyone what happened?”
    “No,” I say. She gestures for me to sit down on the bench and so I do.
    “Excellent. Let me set your mind at ease.” She looks directly into my eyes. “Cassia, absolutely nothing has changed. You are still Matched with Xander Carrow.”
    “Thank you,” I say, and I’m so grateful that saying it once isn’t enough. “Thank you.” The confusion leaves me and I finally, finally, finally can relax. I sigh and she laughs.
    “And may I congratulate you on your Match? It’s caused quite a stir. People are talking about it all over the Province. Perhaps even all through the Society. It hasn’t happened in many years.” She pauses briefly and then continues. “I don’t suppose you brought your microcard with you tonight?”
    “Actually, I did.” I pull it out of my pocket. “I was worried—I didn’t want anyone else to see ...”
    She holds out her hand, and I drop the microcard into her outstretched palm. “Perfect. I’ll take care of this.” She places it inside her small Official’s case. I catch a glimpse of her tablet container and notice that it is larger than standard issue. She sees my glance. “Higher-level Officials carry extra,” she says. “In case of an emergency.” I nod, and she continues. “But that’s not something you need to worry about. Now, this is for you.” She takes another microcard from a side pocket inside the case. “I’ve checked it myself. Everything is