Mind of Machine, Heart of Man

Chapter one

Kill me please!!!

Ashton groaned into his dark jacket sleeve as a hologram lectured the class on that night's homework assignment. He had already done it as soon as they had gotten it assigned and had zoned out of the class for the day. His longish hair hung over his arms and covered his face. His hair was a dark brown and hung at his shoulders. A red streak ran down his bangs that hid one of his eyes. He had a thin frame, more accurately described as scrawny and had shockingly pale skin. He was dressed in an oversized gray jacket with black skinny jeans that still managed to be baggy and skull earrings. His green eyes were dull with boredom and were focused outside a window that sat nicely in the cream wall. The large window let in beams of natural light that coated the large classroom in beams of golden light. The outside world was home to a hundred different hues of green and blue. Clouds floated in the sky miles above a large cement wall that surrounded the city. Ashton watched as a raven flew by and landed on a tree branch near the window. He smiled softly, watching the raven pick at the bark before a loud voice cut through his tranquility.

"Ashton!"

A loud, robotic sounding voice yelled causing him to jump and whip around to the front of the classroom. The hologram teacher had their pale arms crossed and a frown covered their face.

"Would you care to pay attention or is the bird out the window more important?"

Ashton lowered his head slowly. His long hair fell in front of his face again and hid his eyes which he was thankful for. He stayed silent not knowing how to reply.

"I didn't hear an answer Mr. Loserof. Can I get one or do you need tell the principle why you're suddenly incapable of answering a simple question?" The hologram demanded.

Ashton's face went red as he tried to respond.

"I...I can...I.. I mean...s..sorry. I..." He stuttered, a noticeable Russian accent in his voice. The class around him snickered causing him to look around the room quickly. He panicked slightly and forced his nervous eyes to turn into a glare that did nothing to scare anyone. The hologram gave up and left him alone in the back of the room staring at his desk as the rest of the class continued to look at him and laugh quietly. He took a deep breath to try and stop the panic from coming.

Don't freak in front of the class! He thought to himself. You wouldn't have if that stupid robot hadn't called you out like that. Dumb machine. He grumbled silently as the hologram started to change topics. The teacher then started the next one.

"Class ends in about fifteen minutes so we need to wrap this up quickly. Tonight you will be getting your placement scores. This will be the first step to your future so I expect you all to take this seriously. This will be the last day all of us will be together in this class, which I hope all of you are at least slightly upset by this. After today you will all be placed in groups that suits your personality and skills. Levi, I know this feels like recap but I am required to say this."

The hologram glared at a blonde haired boy in the front row with freckles that covered his face. Ashton looked at the blonde teenager before wondering if he was staring which caused him to look away quickly.

Damn it! Now it looks like you have a crush on him! I mean...... No! He argued with himself. Doesn't matter if he's hot he is a jerk and has a girlfriend!

Ashton sighed and looked back at the teacher who was still talking.

"Don't be disappointed if you don't get into the Changers though. That is an elite group for only the most intelligent and most world changing personalities.I don't know how many of you will get placed in Changers but I hope I will at least see one of you." As the tall hologram said this, multiple eyes went to Ashton. His pale face went red as the class' eyes went to him. He hid behind his hair once more but gave a small smile. After a moment, he looked up and met the gaze of a girl across the room. Her dark eyes were narrowed yet not angry and were focused on him. He stared at her while shifting in his chair, slightly uncomfortable. She had shoulder length, frizzy dark brown hair that was pulled back into a messy ponytail with a magenta hair tie. She was dressed in a tight, obnoxiously bright pink tank top that was striking against her dark brown skin. Her toned arms were crossed across her chest and she was leaning lazily in her chair. Ashton watched her in silence before officially getting weirded out and trying to listen to the teacher again. He stared at the hologram before glancing back at the dark skinned girl with frizzy hair who was now watching the hologram as if she hadn't moved at all. Ashton sighed before he rested his head on his desk and waited for the bell to ring. Almost at once his mind began to wonder. His mind went from topic to topic until he was completely lost in thought about saturn. He was physically in a class on earth but his mind was exploring the stars. He imaged landing on Saturn and looking around at the rings and stars around him. He stared in awe at the surrounding black sky before a loud ring ripped through his imaginary exploration. He jumped once again as the class around him began to leave. He quickly shoved everything in his backpack not wanting to be the last one to leave, again. As he got up from hair desk to leave, he felt the gaze of the annoyed teacher bore into his back. He avoided eyes contact at all costs before racing out of the room. Outside the hallways were as if a highway and been taken off the road and placed into the cramped confinement of a school building. Ashton flipped his storm gray hood over his head and began walking down the long hallway, careful to keep as close to the lockers as possible. Around him, teenagers yelled and screamed as they chased their friends through the hallway, something Ashton had yet to acquire.He sighed and reached into his pockets for his headphones. He distractedly walked through the hallway, scrolling through songs until he slammed face first into something. He dropped his phone and feel back hard onto the white tile floor. He rubbed his nose before looking up to see what he ran into. He nervously looked up before his eyes went wide and he froze. The "thing" he had run into wasn't and "thing" at all. A pair of piercing blue eyes stared down at him with a blizzard of anger. The person glaring down at him had spiked blonde hair and freckles that covered his face. His tan skin, blonde hair, and six foot height was a combination that made him both attractive, and terrifying. Ashton stayed deathly still. He stared at the person who toward over him, his large eyes wide with fear.