Page 3 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

Eyebrows ruffled, Mom asked, “You created this one hundred percent on your own?”

“Yes, of course I did,” I said, offended.

My mom’s eyes brightened. “Sweetheart, I only want to make sure no one else can claim proprietorship. You know how you’ve always wanted to make a product for Grove Industrial Technologies? Well, this is it.”

I took her through my steps, showing her how I’d made my software hostile toward attempted security breaches and any type of virus, known or not yet invented. If a hacker attacked my firewall, their entire hard drive would be drained. If they tried to upload malware onto my computer, their virus would turn on their system. I also showed her how I could even release a worm into the operating system of a hacker, which would collect pertinent system identification data and cordon it off to be used for a security-breach report. I came up with the idea after GIT suffered a hostile attack on Christmas Day last year.

My mom stood up straight and rubbed the back of her neck. “I must admit, though, your software is quite ominous for a high school competition project.”

Some days later, I overheard her singing my praises to my dad but voicing concern that my Killer Firewall might be my way of protecting myself because I felt as though they didn’t protect me enough. My mom is always worried that she’s wounding me by working too much and focusing more on her career than on home. I don’t think she is. She’s my hero.

However, since GIT acquired Killer Firewall, I entered software I call the Curricula Crown into the competition instead. It’s a smart internet search engine that compiles and composes data on any micro or macro academic subject, and with one final click, it hands educational professionals a solid and comprehensive lesson plan. All the teachers at my school now use the software, and so do numerous other educational institutions, as it was also acquired and licensed by GIT. That’s the long reason why it was so easy for me to land the most coveted scholarship in the tech field. Every single teacher at my school wrote me a letter of recommendation, saying how my software transformed their classrooms and how they are so proud that I attend Dorset Miracle Academy. And this is probably another reason why I’ll never land in a romantic relationship with Hercules Valentine—I’m more than a nerd. I’m, like, a super nerd.

“I know it hasn’t been easy for you at Dorset,” Mrs. Fontaine says.

Now she has my full attention.Has she really noticed how others have treated me?“I got through it.”

Her smile remains sympathetic as her eyes roam my face. “You’re quite a remarkable young lady, Paisley. I’m very honored to have been your teacher.”

I open my mouth to ask if she knows why everyone’s been treating me like a pariah. But instead, I say, “Thank you.”

She wishes me well, and I wish her the best too. I try not to run out of her classroom, as I’m emboldened now more than ever to finally catch up with Hercules and chitchat with him, even if all we talk about is the weather.

Free at last,I hurry past open lockers, stepping on papers that were tossed in the air and now litter the floor. It’s quieter than it was only minutes ago. And Hercules is nowhere in sight, but my locker looms a short distance ahead. My steps slow when I see Greenly Hyde, a girl who wears her uniform skirt shorter and her blouse tighter than the rest of us, at her locker, which isn’t far from mine. And she’s not alone—her snobby friend, Donovan Milner, is with her. He’s frowning as if whatever she’s saying is making him miserable. But he always looks that way. I’ve concluded that Donovan, for whatever reason, is a very unhappy person. And the two of them are the last people I want to see before I abandon the halls of Dorset Beacham Academy, and my locker, for good.

I ignore Greenly and Donovan as I turn my lock. I can feel them watching me, though. If I could, I would just walk away and come back and get what’s inside tomorrow before our graduation ceremony. I don’t have much left inside it other than a graduation-day instruction pamphlet and my advanced statistics and economics textbooks.

“Smart girl,” Greenly says as I shove my books into my backpack.

I check over my shoulder to make sure she’s talking to me. I don’t think she’s ever said much to me other than “excuse me” and sometimes a curt sigh whenever she feels I’m in her way. She’s watching me with a slight grin, and her eyes shine as if she’s seeing me for the very first time. I’m not sure how to respond to her comment, so I don’t.

“I’ve never had a class with you. I guess I’m not a brainiac like you.” She chuckles politely.

I keep my face wide and expressionless. Greenly’s parents must have named her that because her eyes are turquoise. Her lips are red, and everything about her appearance is perfect. She’s the sort of girl that Hercules would go for. Actually, I’ve heard rumors that they were once a couple until he broke up with her.

“Right,” I say absentmindedly.

“What are you doing tonight?” Donovan asks with a straight face. I swear he has no joy in him at all.

Grimacing, I think about what I have planned for the rest of the day—the same old afternoon butter cookies and more coding. “I don’t know. Why?” I’m curt because deep down, I feel like they’re messing with me. I may be an outcast, but I’m nobody’s punching bag.

“There’s a graduation party tonight, and you’re graduating, so you should come.” Again, he says all of this with a blank face.

“But you can’t bring your goons,” Greenly adds.

I look behind me to see who they’re watching. Mike, the burliest of my bodyguards, stands at the end of the hallway. He’s facing our direction while not focusing directly on us. It’s strange how they know how to make themselves inconspicuous while being so noticeable.

I’m trapped in indecision. My parents wouldn’t want me to leave the house without at least one bodyguard, even though I know I’m not in any real danger. As soon as I make it home, the men will be off shift because I never leave the house once I’m in. For the rest of the night, it’ll be just me and the house staff, people who have worked in our home since my grandparents first moved in.

“You can find the details on the graduation announcements message board. I’m sure you know how to find it since you’re a computer guru and all.” There’s something contemptuous in Donovan’s tone. Or maybe he can’t help but sound like an asshole.

“And Hercules is going to be there. You’ll like that, right?” Greenly says, contorting her red lips into a coquettish smirk.

My mouth falls open as my blinking slows down. “What?”Why in the world would she mention Hercules to me?

The chuckle that escapes Donovan makes him sound like a hyena. “You’re always staring at him.” He rolls his eyes.

He’s objectively being an asshole, but I really don’t care. Frankly, I don’t like him either. But I wonder who else noticed me staring at Hercules.