One in a Million

Chapter 1

"Did you see that? Karen waved at me!"

"Dude, she waves at everyone. Stop thinking she likes you. She's way out of your league."

"Man why are guys obsessed over Karen? She's just a whore."

Karen, Karen. That name popped up everywhere in my class. She was a beauty, sure. I was even stupid enough to fall for her , once upon a time. But I gave up, after an incident, I came to know that she likely acted the way she did just for attention.

The whole class went silent and I peered up. There was Karen, my now step sister. She walked to her desk and took a glimpse at me. She looked away as I looked back and she sat down.

"Did you see that?"

"He totally wants her."

"How dare she look at him."

No one knew we were step siblings. No one knew what happened the past two years. And frankly, I'm sure Karen didn't want to let everyone know how disgusting and utterly stupid she was to her own family. Only me, Karen, her dad, and those guys knew.

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"Daniel! Hurry up or you'll be late to school young man!"

I shifted to my side as I heard my mom yell from downstairs. I looked at the clock as it read 7:15. No way I was gonna make school on time.

"Daniel Oliver Adams!"

I groaned. Ugh. She had to say my full name. That horrible amalgamation of a name. I finally got up and got dressed for school.

I somehow made it on time, despite walking the slowest I could. I sat in my chair in the back and put my head down.

"Ugh, that gloomy kid is here. I was hoping to sit in his chair today."

"Just leave him. He'll probably drop out soon and die in poverty."

I silently rolled my eyes while my head was down. Kids these days... Just because someone had long hair covering their eyes and wear glasses, you deserve to die.

"Alright class is about to begin! Everyone take your seats!" 

"Today we're going to talk about Acadia, since a lot of people have been using it recently."

"Miss Villa, why the sudden talk of it?"

"Well, there's been a lot of hacking and exploit lately, so PalaCo. wants to make sure everyone is safe. "

"Ah, I see. Would it seem to involve that hacker everyone calls 'Shadow'."

I felt myself perk up at that.

"Looks like even gloomy Daniel is interested in the great Shadow!" Some kid laughed.

"What 'great' Shadow? He exploited my dads company and now he doesn't have a job!"

"Well that's  your dads fault for working in some shady ass company Bailey."

"Excuse me?!"

"Children please!" Miss Villa yelled.

"This is exactly why we are learning about it today!" 

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School ended eventually and everyone in class seemed too shaken up on today's lesson. I wasn't even the bit phased. Hackers are everywhere. Our information gets leaked by people everyday. You messaging in social media in a sense is leaking personal information. Nothing is new. Yet these kids act like it's groundbreaking news. You would think in this day and age where Virtual reality and a Second world exists, you would think this is all common knowledge... I assumed too much of these idiots. 

I walked back home and got to working on my homework. My dad came in and stood by the door. I knew what he wanted to talk about.

"Daniel."

I pretended not to notice.

"Daniel Oliver."

I took off my headphones.

"What is it dad?" I asked innocently.

"I heard you skipped a few classes last week. Care to explain why?"

I shifted. Crap. I can't tell him why. And honestly, I can't tell him some lie like 'I got sick mid class' or 'I was late to class', he'll find out.

"I wanted to hang out with some friends and I skipped some classes with them. I'm sorry dad."

He sighed.

"If I find out you skip one more day, I'm going to punish you young man. Remember that, okay?"

"O-okay." I said back. 

He smiled and closed my door. I heard from downstairs my brother yelling at why I only get a light punishment when I do something wrong. I almost scoffed. He skips more days than me and doesn't even have good grades. Maybe if he at least was smart enough to do good in class, he could get away with it. But, even though he's older, hes just a muscle brain whose only good at sports.

I finished my homework around dinner time and ate with everyone.

"So, how was school today boys?"

"I got to meet the most popular girl today, Karen! I think she likes me or something!" My brother Dylan said.

I mentally rolled my eyes. Karen, the most popular girl in school, and apparently the daughter of a CEO. Going to Faust Academy was no surprise since its a pretty prestigious academy. How my brother even managed to make it to my school is a huge wonder as big as how many licks to a tootsie pop.

"That's nice dear! Maybe someday you could introduce us to her as our daughter in law." my mom said.

My mom always seems to favor my brother. I don't know why. But it is what it is.

"What about you champ?" My dad asked.

"Just the usual. Classes were okay. Oh! But we did learn about Acadia and some information about that hacker 'Shadow'. Apparently he's exploiting shady companies and doing all sorts of strange things." I said.

"Ooooh you mean that really cool guy that no one has seen on real life right? Hes like some hero!" Dylan said.

"Dylan, people like that are dangerous. They sell illegal information for money and ruin many people's lives. They loose homes, money, even their identity. Those type of people aren't heroes."

"But aren't there also good hackers?"

"That's a different thing honey. They work for the government. People like this 'Shadows' man are no good." mom said.

Dylan sat there dumbfounded. Like a kid that's been told Santa isn't real. Actually.... That's the exact same face he had when dad told him just that.

Dinner ended shortly after and I went back to my room. I locked it and took off the loose floorboards in my closet. I took out a box that had a visor of some sort, which looks like those in sci-fi movies. And took a cable to plug it in to my computer. I laid down on bed and out on the visor and slowly went to sleep.