WIRES AND CIRCUITS
CHAPTER 1
Samantha gazed at the building in front of her with a wide smile on her face. She was finally here at the famous prestigious Angel High School, she couldn't wait to meet the people inside, interact, socialise and get to know them. She couldn't wait to meet the teenager humans inside. She smiled widely as she took her first steps inside, as she approached the door, she noticed a faint glimmer from above, like a trick of the light. She paused, looking upwards. For a moment, she saw nothing but then a slight movement caught her eye - a string, taut and trembling, barely visible against the ceiling. Before she could react, the door swung open from inside and a cascade of water tumbled down in a crystalline arc. The bucket, expertly balanced on the door's edge tipped with a gleeful finality, releasing its icy contents directly over her. The water struck like a wave, drenching her from head to toe in an instant. Her black hair clung to her face in wet tendrils and her clothes were plastered to her body. The hallway erupted in laughter, a chorus of delighted giggles and guffaws. The students held up their phones and started taking pictures. Samantha stood frozen for a moment, processing the sudden turn of events. She had just been a victim of a prank.
What a wonderful first day. Thank goodness she was made water-proof, things would have been much worse.
A pin-drop silence suddenly descended and a single cynical laughter followed after. A tall male figure walked towards Samantha, he clapped his hands together with a huge smirk on his lips.
"Congratulations" He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning her face, "Oh a new student, apparently I haven't seen this face before."
Samantha looked at him her database scanning him and providing her with his data.
Caspian Hither
Top student of Angel High School
Son of Mr. Jerry Hither; CEO of Techzo
Age: 18 years
Techzo is the tech company that owns Angel High School and his father is the CEO. He must be at the top of the social ladder in this school.
Samantha thought.
"Congratulations new student cause you just won the award for being the victim of my bucket water prank. It was for the thirtieth person to walk through that door and you were the chosen one. Congratulations once again and now please smile for the camera."
He posed beside her and someone appeared with a camera and took some shots of them.
"Also for winning this award you will receive a cash prize of hundred thousand dollars."
He turned to a guy in a blue shirt, "Hit me Mason"
The guy gave him a stack of cash which he threw on Samantha's face.
Wonderful, now aside from being as wet as a fish from a pond she had pieces of dollars flying around her and some sticking to her body thanks to the water. The prankster smiled as he walked away from the scene and almost everyone had their eyes on him as he left. Slowly others started leaving till it was only Samantha that remained.
"Are you okay?"
A tiny voice sounded
Samantha raised her black eyes to see a beautiful brunette standing in front of her.
"That's Caspian, he is always like that, playing pranks," She shook her head, "Let me help you dry your uniform. You have a spare right? It doesn't matter I have one in my locker."
She took Samantha's hand and they both left.
*****
"Is this our class?"
Samantha asked, waiting to hear a negative answer.
"Yeah we are in the same class."
Mercy the brunette smiled.
"Why are they so noisy? Don't they know that's against the student code of conduct. According to the rules the students are supposed to be quiet and wait till their teacher comes."
Mercy let out a subtle laugh. "Yeah whatever. What are you? The principal's daughter?"
The classroom was alive with energy and buzzed with the vibrant verve of a typical morning. Sunlight streamed through the large windows highlighting a fancy maze of designer desks, all perfectly aligned in neat rows facing the front. The walls were adorned with educational posters, smartboards and interactive displays showcasing the students' recent projects. The far side of the room hosted a well-stocked library nook, towering shelves filled with an extensive collection of books. Laughter and chatter filled the air as everyone were busy discussing and chatting, each with their own click. It was as though no one noticed the two girls who were standing by the door. Aside from the equipment and space the classroom had which Samantha had noticed, her only problem was the excessive noise and bustle.
Why would students chatter away like they were at a coffee shop instead of a place of learning?
"Come on let's go in" Mercy said, "They are some empty seats at the back, you can sit behind me. I sit on the last seats with Joanna, she sits beside me."
Samantha nodded and smiled as she followed Mercy who showed her to where she would sit.
At the back of the class, Caspian stands out among his own click of friends with his angular face and defined cheekbones. His black hair touching his shoulders and framing his face, his dark eyes squinting slightly as he laughs loudly, the sound echoing against the classroom walls. He was telling a story as his friends eagerly listen, interjecting with witty comments and causing more laughter.
"Really bro? That was sick."
"Yeah and she's just a new student"
"Hey," Caspian shrugged as he let out a soft laugh, "At least she got a memorable welcome to Angel High from me."
Samantha just then sights the little male group, "Is Caspian in this class?"
"Yeah which is good for you so you can get back at him for what he did to you."
Mercy answered, glaring hardly at Caspian.
One of the boys turned towards Samantha and points at her, calling out the others,
"Hey guys, there she is. Look at her."
"Hello there Aqua woman. Are you in my class?"
Caspian waved at the two girls smiling.
The boys roared into another fit of laughter.
"Aqua woman. Nice one Caspian"
Caspian folded his hands with a smug look, nodding to the cheers of his peers.
"I think you are mistaken about my identity. My name is not Aqua woman, it's Samantha and yes I'm in this class. I'm looking forward to having a harmonious learning and cohabiting with you."
Samantha said giving off a warm and friendly smile, obviously not getting the fact that she is being made fun of.
Caspian looked at her with disbelief for a moment, "Me too, I look forward to being with you."
He extends his hand to her, "A handshake to sign our little harmony."
Samantha was about to take his hand before he took his hand up and laughed.
"Too slow dummy. Better luck next time."
"Hmm that's not how handshakes work"
Samantha said.
"I never got a close look at you before now and I didn't notice that our aqua woman is actually so pretty." He paused, placing his hand on his jaw, "Want to hang out with me sometime? I would really love to take out on a date and maybe you might just be my girlfriend."
"Leave her alone" Mercy warned, "And don't you have a girlfriend? What will she say about this?"
"Awwn, still aren't over me Mercy?" He turned to Samantha, "Just kidding. You are cute, pretty and all but you don't look like you are my type."
"That's okay, everyone is entitled to their own tastes and preferences" Samantha replied, "And the feeling is mutual. I haven't thought of dating but I don't you won't come to my mind or fit my standards if I ever considered the factor, thanks for calling me pretty."
Caspian almost choked. Did she just say he wasn't good enough and say he was mid? Almost half the class had their eyes on them after Samantha's comment.
"Won't fit your standards?" He scoffed, "Unbelievable"
"Ignore this jerk Samantha. Let's just sit."
Samantha took the empty seat behind Mercy's.
"Hi" she smiled at the blonde siting beside Mercy.
"Hey Joanna, meet Samantha, she's a new student and she is going to be in our class."
Mercy introduced.
"Oh I know you Samantha, just not as Samantha but as Aqua woman."
Mercy paused. "What are you talking about?"
"You know Caspian and his usual. The prank video of this morning is already on Social-Angel. He posted it on his handle and it's getting a lot of laughs and engagement." Joanna explained, "But look at the bright side Samantha you get to be on the hot and popular Caspian's handle and that means you'll be popular too. He has the highest followers on Social-Angel."
"What's Social-Angel?"
Samantha asked.
"It is the social media app for Angel High School students. Just for the students of Angel High. No teachers, just us. A student created the app a few years back. It's the home for all the goings, gist and gossips that happen in school. You should open an account on Social-Angel." Joanna said her eyes fixed on her phone, "Oh and nice to meet you Samantha, I'm Joanna."
"Give me your phone"
Mercy said to Samantha who did as she was told.
"Wow. Caspian got nominated as one of contestants for the face of Angel High this term."
Joanna commented.
Mercy rolls her eyes heavily.
"Of course someone is going to nominate him. His fan girls are so obsessed. Who else was nominated?"
"If I can remember clearly you used to be part of those fan girls"
Joanna said.
"Used to be and don't even remind of those wasted years. Who else got nominated?"
"David in class 6 you know he hosts the social competitions, Julian from the school basketball team and Katie, except for maybe Katie cause she's his girlfriend the rest don't stand a chance against Caspian, like you said his fan girls are obsessed."
"Arghhhh" Mercy grunted, "Caspian this Caspian that. I don't care I'll vote for David or Julian."
"The competition just started, people are just dropping in their nominations the voting isn't until weeks."
"I know Joanna. I know. I'm not new."
"Hmmmm," Joanna returned to her phone screen, "says here some Samantha Yella just joined Social-Angel. Samantha is that you?"
Samantha was about to say something before Mercy cut her off.
"Yes it's her. I opened an account on Social-Angel for her. As a student it's important to be on Social-Angel. Here's your phone."
"Thank you"
Samantha said collecting her phone.
"Oh and I saved your password to your phone. It's your name. You can change it whenever you like."
Mercy added.
"I'll follow you" Joanna said, "Follow me back."
"Ok"
Samantha agreed.
"And don't follow Caspian."
Mercy said.
"But Caspian is the most popular kid of Social-Angel, half the school follows him and he has won social kid of the term for five terms now. If you want to know everything that happens in Angel High you have to follow Caspian. He's the goings, gist and gossip of Angel High. Everything is always about what Caspian did or what he wore or how he looked."
"Everything is not always about Caspian. He is not the centre of the universe neither does the earth revolve around him."
Mercy argued.
"Well in Angel High it does and you know it. I'm not saying it cause I'm a fan or supporter of Caspian but because it's true. You know his family and besides didn't you used to adore Caspian?"
"She seems very antagonistic of Caspian. I don't think she adores him."
Samantha mentioned.
"Well Mercy used to have the biggest crush on Caspian until...."
Mercy helped Joanna finish her sentence.
"He publicly humiliated and rejected me when I asked him to be my boyfriend."
"The video went viral on Social-Angel for weeks and Mercy was the talk for the rest of the term." Joanna said, "It wasn't nice though, what Caspian did."
"What did he do?"
Samantha asked
"He dumped Mercy's lunch on her head and said he could never be with crap like her."
"Yeah and that same week he started dating Katie." Mercy added, "It was bad for me but I realized I was wasting my time on him."
"I'm sorry about that."
Samantha said.
"I'm telling you this so you know to stay away from him. He is a petty jerk and an arrogant asshole."
"Good morning class."
A woman dressed in a black suit walked into the class.
"Good morning Mrs. Kerp."
The class chorused.