He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Five - Discovering the Protagonist

Don't ever bother watching the movie Deep Blue*. It's really boring.

I've never even heard of it, so no fear.

I wish I had never heard of it! I can never regain those two hours.

Aidan chuckled as he read the received text message, only to find his friends staring at him in silence. "What?"

"I saw facial movement," Chase pointed specifically at Aidan's smiling eyes. "Should I call the Nurse?"

"Get a picture so we can prove that it actually happened!" Felicity, girlfriend of Chase, suggested, pointing her phone his way. There was an audible click. Aidan's face fell back into its usual stoic state.

"Oi, don't take pictures of other guys!" Chase grabbed at her phone, but Felicity quickly removed it from his reach. "Delete it!"

"No way!" She said. "Do you know how much a rare picture such as this is worth in certain circles?"

"Can I see?" Aidan asked. She showed him carefully her successful shot, while keeping an eye on her boyfriend. The image he saw most days within the mirror sported a genuine smile, but Aidan couldn't understand what the fuss was about. "I have plenty of pictures like that at home." He dismissed it's worth.

"I dunno," Aston, another of their circle, claimed. He scratched at non-existent stubble upon his chin and offered 'wisely'; "I mean look at that zit! You just don't get quality pimples like that caught so perfectly." Felicity slapped the boy around his head as the other boys laughed.

"It's the eyes!" Felicity claimed. "They sparkle!" The three boys stared at the picture again and shook their heads in unison.

"Just can't see it," Chase muttered.

"Send me a copy," Aidan said. Felicity did so as her boyfriend insisted she delete it once more. She stuck her tongue out at him and fled with a giggle.

Do you see anything different about me in this picture? About the eyes? I seriously think my mate's girlfriend is seeing things.

Not sure what I am looking for. Nice pic though.

Aidan suspected Felicity was just messing with him, so decided to forget the whole thing. His friends had moved on to other topics anyway. "Did you hear, the Student Body President is stepping down due to exams, so the Juniors are starting up elections."

"Oh? Anyone we know?"

"Cameron Lacey..."

"Oh she's hot."

"Maybe, but I think the Council office would turn into a nail bar if she was elected. Then there is Anthony Marshall Junior."

"Nerd alert!" Several voices chimed at once.

"And someone called Katy Daniels?"

"Never heard of her."

"I think she plays tennis at my brother's club," Aidan offered, vaguely recognising the name.

"Oh, so what's she like?" Aston asked.

Aidan shrugged. "I don't know." His friends glanced at each other and also shrugged.

"Alright settle down!" The teacher said as he walked in the classroom. There was a scuffle as chairs moved and people noisily settled. Aidan's phone chimed quietly in this moment.

Mission; Prevent the election of Katy Daniels as Student Body President.

Aidan's eyes narrowed at the message, which also contained a progress bar for each of the three candidates.  Katy Daniels bar was at 5% chance of losing the election, while Anthony Marshall Junior's declared 95% and Cameron Lacey 100%.  He sighed.  More effort required. 

****

Tapping the down arrow, idly on his PC, Aidan stared at the computer screen with a sigh.  Apparently, googling "how to prevent election of candidate" was not going to help him solve his mission.  Instead there were websites offering aid when someone was worried about election fraud or wanted to stand for office themselves... wait... this information was for candidates in government elections!  No wonder it wasn't helpful!  He sat back in his chair and stared instead at the ceiling of his bedroom. 

Ugh!  Well the obvious way to prevent one body sitting in the President seat was to put another body in that seat.  Which meant Nerd Alert or Barbie.  He quickly scoured the school website to see if there were any other options.  It didn't look like it, but then, the school newspaper had only just mentioned the candidate names in the latest release.  He supposed there might still be time for someone else to step forward.  But it was doubtful.  He looked up the name of the current Student Body President.  Gion Rathburn.  Ah, he was popular, even Aidan knew that fact.  None of the current candidates were so much.... well Cameron Lacey's body was, but without her assets?  Not so much.

His stomach rumbled.  He reached for his snack tin, an old metal sweet box that he kept filled with edibles so that he didn't have to traipse downstairs too frequently seeking sustenance.  It was pitifully empty.  He sighed again, tossing the tin onto the bed, before heading towards the kitchen.  His brother was cooking bacon.

"Me too!"  Aidan said as the scent tickled his tastebuds.

"Cook your own!"  Alexander or Alex, for short, replied.

"So cruel," Aidan murmured as he moved towards the fridge.  His eyes searched for the bacon, but spied a yogurt instead.  Ah still in date and less cooking for me, he thought as he claimed it.  "Hey, Alex.  Do you know a Katy Daniels?"

"Yeah, sort of," his brother said as he buttered two thick slices of white bread.  "She's a regular at the club.  Plays tennis way too much to the book, not instinctual enough.  What about her?  And please don't tell me you like her, cos that would be gross.  That girl creeps me out."

Aidan shook his head.  "Just heard she's running for Student Body President." 

"Gion's standing down?"  Alex had graduated from Aidan's high school a couple of years back, but everyone seemed to know Gion.  Aidan nodded.  "Well it is time for the seniors to focus on their exams.  Although the Pres from my year didn't step down until graduation.  That bastard not only passed, he was valedictorian!  Asshole."  Seeing as Aidan didn't need it, he put the frying pan to one side after piling the bacon onto his bread.  "Will you stand next year?"  Aidan shook his head.  He definitely had no interest.  Alex snorted.  "Didn't think so," he said and proceeded to wolf down his sandwich.

Bacon sandwich or Strawberry Yogurt?

Definitely the sandwich.

Licking his spoon, Aidan thought so too.

Author's note; I should have added this a long time ago, but I forgot to! Deep Blue is not a real movie! I made it up!