The Cards

Your hand comes to rest on the deck of cards, your friends all raising their eyebrows in surprise as you do so.

"Risky it is then," Liam says, "I'm actually going to read up a little on some strats since it's been a while since my last card based duel. Tomorrow's Saturday so we'll have all day to train at least."

"Better than nothing, I guess," you grumble.

"You're also going to have to pick your Witnesses," Keira adds, "So you can probably do that tonight while we're getting your course for tomorrow ready."

Your eyes immediately dart towards Amelia, who is already in the motion of raising her hand as she coos, "Oooh! Pick me! Pick me!"

It is certainly true you are... close to her and it seems more than safe to say she would have your back should something funny happen. Additionally, only having to search out one more person instead of two (or three instead of four depending on how the selection of the neutral parties was handled) would certainly save you some time. With that in mind, you smile and nod to Amelia, indicating your approval of her as one of your Witnesses.

"Alright then," Liam says, "sounds like we got a plan. We'll get started right after breakfast so I guess... we're gonna have to finish as much of our homework and junk we can on top of everything else tonight."

You nod in understanding, apologizing for having caused all this inconvenience. Liam gives a dismissive wave as he replies, "Dude, if we can pull this off and you manage to humiliate the Ice Queen, it'll be SO worth it. And besides, you're my roomie so I gotta make sure you're not being taken advantage of TOO badly, right?"

You give a weak but grateful smile in response as the two older students stand up from your group and go off to start their work. Vicki soon stands and leaves as well, muttering she has things she needs to take care of herself as she goes. Amelia sits there a bit longer, watching you mull over everything you have learned about your upcoming situation for a minute before she speaks up.

"I think I may have an idea for who can be your second," she says, "Meet me in my room after dinner and we can... talk about it, Stud."

Amelia then takes her own leave and you ponder your options for a second Witness. The three that first leap to your mind are Parisa, Vicki (who you have a sneaking suspicion is the one Amelia will be suggesting) and either Liam or Keira. Of everyone you have met so far they are the ones you have had the longest conversations with (though in that case one of the twins or even Susan might be an option if she were somehow contactable and you did not mind the potential awkwardness of her and Amelia knowing they had shared the same guy) so they seemed the most likely to meet the requirements and also most likely to say yes.

If dinner assignments were the same as lunch assignments, you would have a chance to talk to Parisa and ask her at dinner if you went to her table again. The same went for Liam or Keira though then you could also wait until you went back to your room for the night to ask one of them. Vicki... you could try approaching her alone but, if your suspicions about Amelia's idea were correct, it would probably be better to wait and see what plans she had for convincing her grumpy friend.