Naomi's point of view
Ricardo left just like that, his face washed up in anger. Silence flew across the room since the music went off to allow the drama ensue. I didn't say anything to Brianna after; I just needed fresh air. Never again will I attend a high school party...I swore. It's better to sit in my room and work on my app than waste time here.I gained nothing from this other than a possible criminal charge.
Shortly after I left the the building to seek some refuge in the cold night, the music was put back on, on loud blast. It didn't shield my ears from picking up what people had to say "Not only is she a nerd, but a whore." Another said"Maybe that's how she makes her good grades". I could hear the whispers and taunts echoing around me, I simply didn't show any physical reaction to the words.
I walked to the fountain and watched the water cascade gracefully from the top, forming delicate ripples at the base. The cool sound of flowing water calmed me. I dipped my fingers into the pool, letting the chill ground me. I thought about the moment I finally stood up to Brianna—the confidence I'd longed for, and finally, it had surfaced when I needed it most. The stars twinkled above, oblivious to the drama below, and the ear- murdering music from inside continued, muffled but persistent. The vibrations could be felt underneath my feet.
My phone buzzed again, jolting me from my thoughts. I groaned, digging into my bag for the source of the noise. Benji's name flashed on the screen. I tapped the green button and held the phone to my ear.
"Naomi, where are you?"
"I'm at the water fountain. What's up?" I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, my eyes welled up with tears. I closed my eyes to fight against them, to keep them from falling but they eventually fell through my lids.
"I'll take you home, okay? Just wait for me." His voice carried a gentle concern. Benji would by no doubt worry, maybe even blame himself for leaving me alone. He was probably having a wonderful time with his long time crush and I had to ruin it for him. Unfortunately, I wanted nothing more than to leave. Another minute at this party, and I'd probably lose it. Yet I couldn't let go of the guilt I felt for ruining Benji's night.
"Okay. Just... make sure Angela doesn't bring any attitude. I'm really not in the mood for her nonsense," I said, tension lacing my words. If she tried anything tonight, I might actually snap and do something I'd regret.I wasn't in the best of moods to tolerate anyone's bullshit.
"She won't; I'll make sure of it," he promised, ending the call.I slid the phone back into my bag and took a seat on the fountain's edge, I finger swipped the tears away and took a deep breath.
I couldn't shake the memory of what my hands had done. I stared at them, studying every line, every crease. They looked so normal, yet they'd somehow sent sparks that could knock someone out. I remembered the day I held Benji's hand, how he jerked away, saying I'd shocked him. I'd brushed it off back then. But now, with everything that's happened… too many questions were stacking up, and I doubted any doctor could give me answers.
Maybe Ricardo and Jeremy are my only hope to getting real answers. Obviously Ricardo won't let me have them so easily but Jeremy, I could get them out of him. With these strange reactions I have around Ricardo, I am sure they knew.
"Hey, Naomi," Benji's voice softened as he spoke my name. I looked up, finding him standing with Angela clutching his arm like she owned him. Her eyes spoke nothing but hate and annoyance. If it were up to her, I should be run over by a bus or something.
"Hi, Benji. Ready to go?" I asked, swinging my bag over my shoulder, eager to get out of here.
"Of course," Angela interjected, venom dripping from her words. "That's why Benjamin didn't want you alone—he knows the type of girl you are. Barely left for a minute, and you probably couldn't keep your legs closed."
My fists clenched before I could stop myself, but Benji grabbed my arm. "Calm down, Naomi. Violence isn't the answer," he whispered, holding me back as I tried to yank my hand free. Eventually, I let the anger simmer down, though my glare could have burned right through her.
"Angela, watch your words," he warned, casting her a glance. But the damage was done.
I bit back a retort and marched to his gray car, throwing myself into the backseat. The silence in the car was thick as I tried to shove down the anger, tried to ignore the sting of Angela's words, Brianna's and any other unfortunate event that took place in that house. Instead, Brianna's voice replayed in my head, mocking me with a cruel reminder: We just kissed a moment ago. His words and hus actions don't seem to tally.
He said he was "bored" and that's why he came upstairs. But I'd had no clue he was downstairs, locking lips with her. Just like all the other guys, he's falling for her. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could catch it. I swiped it away, willing myself to stay calm. Who was I kidding? He called me ugly once, and just today Brianna had compared me to a gorilla. They probably thought I was hideous, I was meant to be a laughing stock like I am always.
I shouldn't care, shouldn't feel this... ache. Only heaven knew if Ricardo even had a real heart, giving my heart to a potential robot who disliked my guts was an emotional suicide mission, Its lile intentionally driving off a cliff. But here I was feeling like my heart was being crushed, held in a merciless grip that wouldn't let go, squeezing until it might just burst like a water balloon.
Soon, I was home. Back to my place of abode. The place that receives me with happiness. I opened the door and found my dad on the couch with a magazine in his hand while my mom stuffed herself with pizza.
"Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad," I greeted them softly, stepping into the cozy glow of the living room. Dad glanced up over his reading glasses, setting down his magazine with a warm smile.
"Hello, sweetie. How was the party?"
"Horrible. I never want to go to a party again," I muttered, shaking my head. My throat felt dry, like a desert, I could feel the camels in my pharynx.
"Sorry you had a bad night, my flower," Mom said, her words softened by a mouthful of food. "You look exhausted. Go on to bed, we can talk about it in the morning." I went to the fridge in the kitchen to grab some water. The contents helped moisten my throat to a comfortable level.
After I went upstairs, tossed my bag aside, changed into my pajamas, and crawled under the blankets, wishing I could bury the whole night in sleep.
The next morning, Saturday, sunlight streamed through my window, filling the room with a brightness that made ignoring the day impossible. I blinked groggily, rubbing my eyes as I noticed a bird pecking at its reflection in the glass, its chirping making any extra sleep out of the question. Stretching, I finally got up and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Afterward, I made my way downstairs. The smell of pancakes welcomed me, warm and comforting. I ate until I was completely full, my stomach begged me to stop, making a huge appearance under my top. At least I was grateful for a little peace. Then I helped Mom with the dishes while Dad settled into the living room, absorbed in the Saturday morning news.
"So, what happened at the party?"
The question hung in the air, catching me off guard. I had wanted to bury last night, to leave it in the past where it couldn't sting me. But as soon as she asked, the memories surged back, like a bad movie stuck on replay. A movie where I'm the main character, and there's no happy ending waiting at the final scene. I could almost see it. Monday, the hallways filled with whispers and stares. Campus Social is probably on fire over last night, which is why I've been avoiding it.
"Can I not talk about it?" I murmured, focusing on the plate I was scrubbing.
She reached over and squeezed my shoulder gently, making me look up. I knew she could see the hurt in my eyes.
"Is it Brianna?" she asked, concern shining through her gaze. She knew me too well. I couldn't hide anything from her, and deep down, I didn't want to. I remembered the days I tried to, only to end up being chased around with a slipper until I confessed. These days though, she didn't do that anymore. Ever since she learned about the bullying, she'd become softer, protective.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you when I'm ready," I replied, hoping to keep the conversation light.
"Okay, I'll be here whenever you're ready." She kissed my forehead gently.
"Thanks, Mom. I'll finish up here—,ou should rest."
"Nonsense," she waved me off, "just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't do anything."
"If you say so, Mama." I laughed, appreciating her strength as she busied herself nearby.
After tidying the kitchen, I headed to my room and settled behind my computer. I'd been working for weeks on an app designed to let users buy anything they needed without leaving their homes. The concept was hardly unique, but I was determined to make mine stand out. Right now, my main goal was debugging; each line of code in Python had to be flawless.
But as I typed, a thought intruded my mind,a dangerous one. What if I tried hacking into Gaston's database to find out more about this "Android Human" stuff? Maybe I could even discover if Ricardo was one and why I was having these reactions with him but not Ashley or even Jeremy. A reaction I was certain no one else felt.
The whole concept of "powerful androids" was vague, and it nagged at me. Ricardo and Jeremy didn't look extraordinary, yet there was something off, something hidden. If I could hack into Gaston's systems, I might finally get answers about the electricity I somehow discharged—and whether that power tied back to them.
But the risks loomed large. Gaston's firewall was likely impenetrable, and I was no professional hacker. One misstep, and I'd be caught. Hacking wasn't just typing in codes; it was an art, a delicate operation that left no trace. I doubted I had the skill to bypass whatever iron-clad security he'd built around his secrets without setting off alarms.
Still, the unanswered questions itched at my mind. One day, I'd need answers, even if it meant risking everything. But today, I could only focus on my app, letting the questions simmer for now.
My phone started ringing again. I picked it up to see Ashley's name flashing on the screen. With a sigh, I answered.
"Naomi, have you seen Campus Social?" she asked, urgency in her tone.
"That's the last thing I want to do," I replied, slumping into my chair. "If I look, I'll lose it. Brianna's probably spun her version to make me the villain, and people will eat it up. All they care about is views."
"So… the party was that bad, huh?"
"It was a nightmare, Ashley," I admitted.
"I'm sorry to hear that. But there's something else…" She hesitated. "Ricardo and Brianna were spotted together today."
My heart stopped. I nearly dropped the phone but quickly caught it. "What do you mean? Look, I don't care what he does, but… that guy is so two-faced, it's unreal. He says one thing and his actions mean something else."
"If you check Brianna's profile, you'll see. There are photos of them at a carnival, then at a park. And, uh… they even kissed," she added gently.
"Thanks for telling me," I replied, keeping my voice steady.
"Anytime, mi amiga," she responded, trying to sound cheerful."Try not to beat yourself about everything. You have Benji, your parents and I here to support you. I'll give you my metal shoulder to lean on. We can also wrestle anyone who tries to worry you", she said, laughing hysterically. I smiled brightly and even giggled along.
"Ashley… can I ask you something? Human to Android." I broke off the laughter, dense air swept around my room.
"Of course," she replied, her tone curious.
I took a deep breath. "Do Androids know if another Android is around?"
"This is about Jeremy and Ricardo, isn't it?" she guessed.
"No," I lied. "Just wondering."
"It's complicated," she began. "Some Androids keep their mindlink open, so other Androids can sense them. Others have systems that are harder to access, like a secure network which make it hard to get signals from them unless they allowed you. But I've never gotten any signals from Jeremy or Ricardo. No one Android in Gaston's lab knows them either. Its a mystery to everyone."
"What about those two 'powerful Androids' released before Android Humans became mainstream?" I pressed. "What makes them special?"
"They're powerful, Naomi. I heard one of them has a unique chip bonded to them. Some of my colleagues at Gaston's lab mentioned a was girl implanted with this chip years ago. She was admitted for surgery years ag, but she disappeared, and Gaston's been searching for her ever since. Apparently, this chip gives special abilities and heals diseases. There's more to it I am sure. I'll keep you updated if I hear any thing from HQ. As for the special Androids they're faster, stronger, they feel emotions stronger than we ordinary Androids do. They can feel pain too, like us, but amplified. That's all I know."
I sank back in my chair, mulling over her words. Who could that girl be? Are Ricardo and Jeremy those special Androids.
"One more thing, Ashley," I spoke up, my mind racing.
She chuckled. "What is it?"
"I'm planning on hacking into Gaston's database. I need answers."