"Class dismissed," Professor Atlas says. "I'd like to talk with Merlin alone. And don't forget you have the Von Neuman architecture test next week." 

Most of the PCs are exiting the room before he finishes. Except for Zahir and G. They stay—but G folds his arms in protest.

"Hey," Zahir says. "If it is you or isn't you, you know we have your back, right?" He elbows G in the side. "Isn't that right?"

"Of course," G replies. But his drawn face and muted eyes say otherwise.

"Do you want us to stay?" Zahir asks.

"I don't bite," Professor Atlas quips. "But thank you for your concern, Zahir."

"I'll be ok," I say, managing a small smile. When he turns toward the door, I call to him, "Zahir..."

He stops. "Yes?"

"Thanks," I reply. His bushy eyebrows don't seem so pointed anymore. "For having my back." Prickling heat tingles the lobes of my ears from rushing blood. And I don't mind. Because for the first time, I see Zahir smile. A big toothy smile. And he's not looking at my ears.

G...he's already out the door.

Professor Atlas pulls up a chair next to me and sits. "Seems like you've had a pretty exciting start here at Code-X Academy." He runs his hand through his hair; somehow, not a single strand falls out of place.

But then I look away from him. Because exciting isn't how I feel.

"Um...Merlin," he continues, "first I want you to know that I'm here not just as an educator, but also as a mentor. I know how hard these adolescent years can be."

I wriggle in my chair, not from his pompous words, but from sticky sweat collecting in all the wrong places. "I have a therapist," I say. "If that's what you mean."

He chuckles. "What I mean is that you can count me as a friend if you ever need help."

"Thanks. But I have a friend." And I smile, maybe a little bigger. "His name's Zahir."

"Oh, um, that's great." He pinches his eyes shut and then moves on. "Merlin, did you hack Fydor's account?"

I look away from him and squirm as he leans closer.

"Don't worry. You're not in trouble."

"I think the wizard did," I reply. And I'm not lying.

Professor Atlas' eyes sparkle with excitement as he edges closer. "Merlin, are you the wizard?"

"I don't feel like a wizard," I say as I slump on the desk and rest my head in my hands. "I'm Merlin without magic."

He raps his knuckles on my desk. "Hey—head up. This is important. You need to understand that we don't know who @WizzardSlayer666 is, and if you're TheGreatWizard—well, I want to make sure you are safe."

"@WizardSlayer666 is the one who should be worried," I reply. "No one can hide forever."

The professor stares at me with a growing smirk on his face and then stands up unexpectedly. He walks to the podium in a few quick strides. "I'm awarding you 1100 XP for the kill," he says, picking up his phone. "And -500 XP to Fydor for being glupyy enough to let his account get hacked."

"What?" I respond, sitting up straight. Shocked. "Why—I didn't admit to anything!" It's enough XP to make up for all the classes I missed starting a month late; more than three times the goal Jupiter set for me. But it's Fydor and his -500 XP I'm most worried about. 

"Because—Merlin without magic—you are remarkable." He leans against the podium and points at me. "The most powerful wizards are the ones who don't need magic. And while you may not be ready to share your truth, I know what you have done. Ethical hacking is permitted at the academy. That you did so on a squad leader's account is a most impressive kill. And as Fydor's in the eleventh grade, 1100 XP as an award seems fitting."

I stand up and protest, "But he'll be convinced I hacked his account!"

"Merlin, the only one who needs convincing is you. Besides, you need the points, and the acadamey needs PCs like you." He taps his knuckles on the podium and then adds, "You know, the Code-X Games will be starting soon. One of the premier events is the annual BrainTech Hack. You—"

"Wait—did you say BrainTech? Like the 8.6-billion-dollars-BrainTech?"

He laughs and shakes his head. "Sorry, at this point I shouldn't be surprised. But yes, that BrainTech. Edric Landry founded Code-X Academy—BrainTech's our main sponsor."

I sit in disbelief. BrainTech. Luke Landry. Code-X Academy. "That's why he's here..."

"Who?" Professor Atlas asks.

"What?"

"That's why who is here?" He holds his hands out with raised eyebrows.

"What, oh—nothing," I say standing up with sudden urgency.

"Are you talking about Luke? Did you know him before—"

"Um, sorry, but I need to go," I say, grabbing my backpack.

When I shut the classroom door, I lean my head back against the solid wood surface and close my eyes. Luke Landry's dad owns Code-X Academy!

Why didn't I put this together? I'm so stupid!

And I have so many questions. I wince in pain as I hobble to the wrought iron balcony surrounding the Great Hall. The black decorative metal is a sharp contrast to the limestone walls. They are carved with intricate details of acorns and oak leaves and grooved columns that reach fifty feet high, all the way to the arched ceiling and bright murals of wind-swept clouds. Several PCs are mulling about the marble floor, but I don't see Luke.

On the backside of The Breakers' second floor, a covered outdoor terrace with arched support columns frame the checkered lawn and expansive ocean vista that wraps around the point of the peninsula, as if the mansion sat on its own island. I want to stay here and experience the magic of nature. The gentle ocean breeze tickling my skin. The comforting smell of salt air, seaweed, and seashells—maybe some driftwood. The ebb and flow of the tide. The sound of seagulls against breaking waves. A deep smile creases my face.

This is home.

But I spot Luke sitting on the patio steps leading out to the back green. He's alone. 

The more I walk, the less my ankle hurts. Going down the grand staircase in the Great Hall is another story. I remove my flip flops and use the sweeping, iron banister to support my weight as I descend carefully, my toes sinking into the plush crimson carpet with each step. A few PCs stare up at me, including G, but I don't care. So what if I'm barefoot, kind of limping, and have crazy hair.

That's a good day for a nerd at school.

The outdoor stone patio stretches the entire length of the Breakers with a set of stairs on either end. I'm grateful to be outside again. A few PCs from our class are playing catch on the grass. Luke is all about sports, so it's strange to see him on the steps instead of throwing a baseball.

I stop behind him and say, "Hey."

He turns and looks up at me without saying a word. And then he goes back to staring at something. Maybe his classmates. Maybe the ocean. Maybe nothing. I sit down next to him and stare just the same. We can't be more opposite. His blond hair is cut tight to his head in a fashionable fohawk. My shaggy black bedhead is everywhere. He has ripped skinny jeans and a plain black tee. I'm wearing a white One Piece tee with Nami on it, my favorite pirate thief, and baggy sweats. I suppose the only trait we have in common is blue eyes. But even then, we're still on opposite ends of the spectrum. My electric blues are warm and inviting. His icy blues are cold and biting.

"What do you want?" Luke finally asks. "Come to confess?"

"No. I'm here to ask you why you're here—I mean, I know your dad owns this school, but computers aren't exactly your thing." My hands clap together. "Now a sports school—that I would get."

"Go ahead," he smarts. "Make fun of me all you want. Get in line."

"What—no, sorry...that's not what—"

"It doesn't matter," Luke says, interrupting my apology. He cups his head in his hands. "I can't do this. I'm not smart like you."

He thinks I'm smart!

Luke Landry, the coolest boy I know, thinks I'm smart. And I have to hide my smile. Because never in my life have I felt sorry for Luke. He's good at every sport. Everyone likes him. And he has the best birthday parties in the world. I only went to one of them, in kindergarten, and he had real ponies. I rode Taco for an hour—the best birthday ever. Luke talked to me back then. Before he knew about the mermaids. Before he found out I can't play sports. I think we were friends.

"Then why stay?" I prod, "You're Edric Landry's son—you can go anywhere you want."

He jerks his head toward me and yells, "No I can't! What, you think because my dad's rich I can do what I want?" He takes a deep breath. "Merlin—for how smart you are you're the dumbest kid I know."

And there it is again—he thinks I'm smart! And dumb. But that doesn't matter. "I don't understand—why is your dad making you go to school here?"

"The great Edric Landry," he sneers in disgust. "Why do you think my dad founded BrainTech and this stupid school?"

I shrug my shoulders. "To make money?"

"No—to fix his glupyy son!" Tears fall from Luke's icy eyes. Actual tears. 

I've never seen Luke cry before. 

"I hate him!" he yells. "I hate that he sent me here. All he cares about is me taking over his tech empire."

"But why now—why not start the year here like everyone else?"

Luke shakes his head. "My mom made him promise to wait until I finished middleschool. He agreed but only if I got straight As or I'd be transferred at the first opening. And he always gets what he wants."

"Oh." I don't know what else to say.

But I know how I would feel if my mom only cared about me taking over the Mystic Mermaid Bed & Breakfast. The worst part is cleaning the bathrooms after the guests leave. Gunky hair in the drains. Pee stains on the floor. So gross! I'd probably run away. I can't help but feel sorry for him. Maybe for the first time ever. Because his life isn't the opposite of cursed. Like I thought. And I know what to do.

"Let's get out of here," I offer.

He looks at me as he wipes his face. "What do you mean? The bell's about to ring—we have class. And besides, where can we go?"

"Come on," I prod, nudging him in the arm before getting up. I drop my sandals and backpack at the bottom of the stairs. My bare feet sink into the cool grass, and I can't help but smile at the earthy feeling of lush blades poking up between my toes. I spin in circles, arms out, and gaze up at the puffy clouds floating by. And I laugh. My dorky half-snort-half-chortle laugh. And then Luke laughs at me.

Or maybe with me.

I take off running toward the ocean blue swells on the horizon. There's a trail down the cliff's edge to the rocky beach, and my gimpy ankle no longer hurts. The sound of crashing waves heals all kinds of pain. And I don't have to turn around to know Luke is right behind me.

A/N: ONC 2023 round two (8000) word count goal reached. Total: 8,487 words.