Shadow Walker

Chapter Three- The Beginning of the Future

A week passed, then a month, then three.  There was no sign of adoption for Seymour, Noel, or any of the bullies that liked to pick on Seymour.  It was a daily occurrence when Seymour would find his head in the toilet or take a trip in the dryer, but somehow working with Noel made things better.  Hacking was something Seymour was good at.  He quickly picked it p and quickly caught up to Noel’s skill level.  Now they focused on learning together.

                On this particular day Seymour was in the backyard of the orphanage.  He had found a fort- a group of bushes that had a clearing in the middle but completely hid him from view.  That’s where he was now, hiding from the bullies.  In his lap was a book- reading was something his mother had passed on to him and it made him feel closer to her.  “Seymour?” a soft voice called from outside the bush.

                A huge smile crossed his face and he closed his book on his lap.  “I’m in here Noel.” He confirmed.

                Her head appeared then the rest of her as she crawled into their hiding place.  “Hey Seymour.” She smiled her greeting, “Whatcha reading?”

                “Just some Robert Frost poems.” He put the book down on the dirt beside him.  “He was my mother’s favorite.”

                Noel nodded in understanding.  “Cool.  So I was talking to Botfly14,” Noel referred to one of the hackers who was mentoring the two online.  “And he thinks we should pick hacker aliases.  Something to identify us to the hacking world.”

                Noel sat cross-legged next to Seymour.  “Really?” he asked.  “He thinks we’re good enough?”

                With a smile, Noel replied, “You especially.” She playfully shoved Seymour’s shoulder, “He’s starting to get questions about you.”

                Seymour was surprised.  In all of his life no one had paid him much attention.  He had always been skating by unnoticed.  “What?”

                Noel smiled again, this time proudly.  “They have been noticing what you have been doing and asking about who you are.”

                “That’s a first.” Seymour replied.

                “You deserve it.” Noel cupped his cheek.  “You’re really good at hacking.  I have to study hard at it but you just seem to get it, to do it, without much effort.”

                Seymour blushed, a combination of embarrassment and nervousness about the compliment she had given him as well as the hand she had on his cheek.  He turned redder as Noel left her hand there.  As she leaned towards him, Seymour asked in a nervous squeak, “What are you doing?”

                “Kissing you silly!  Haven’t you been kissed before?  Haven’t you noticed that I’ve wanted to do this for a while now, but never found the right time?” Noel asked.

                Seymour barely shook his head before Noel’s lips met his.  They were soft and warm and tasted of strawberries.  He softly moved his lips against hers, not exactly sure what to do.  His head was spinning.  He knew they could not do this.   The headmistress of the orphanage would kill them if she found out.  Eventually Noel pulled back and whispered in his ear, “I really like you Seymour.”

                “What about the headmistress?  They would kill us if they found out!  And you know that those guys would find out and pick on you too if they didn’t tell her!”