8 | Hiding

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The sky was gray on this dull Saturday morning. Cinder stood behind the counter of the repair shop below her home in Chinatown. So far, only one person had come in, and it had been by mistake.

Cinder sighed and tightened her ponytail. She drummed her fingers on the counter in thought. After a bit of hesitation, she pulled out her Mechanics class project. It seemed as though no one was coming today, so she might as well be productive while the shop was still open.

She was tightening a loose bolt when she heard the familiar chime of the door signaling someone had entered. She quickly shoved the project under the counter and tried to compose herself as best she could.

"Relax, it's just me," Iko said.

Iko put down the box on the counter.

"The parts I ordered," Cinder said. "Thank you, Iko!"

"Anytime. Now, get back to work before Adri catches you loafing."

Cinder chuckled and Iko left the shop. She continued to work on her project after Iko left—that is, until she heard the bell chime again.

She quickly tried to stuff the project beneath the counter but didn't do it so gracefully. She had to keep her hand pressed against it so it wouldn't fall. As the customer walked in, she ducked beneath the counter to try and stuff the project in some compartment or shelf.

"Can I help you?" she asked from beneath the counter. Once the project was stored away safely, Cinder rose up above the counter. When she did, she froze.

"Cinder?"

"Kai?! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same for you."

"I work here. My family owns this shop. And you?"

"I need something fixed."

"Oh. That makes sense."

Kai set down some sort of robot on the counter. Cinder had never seen anything like it. While she ogled the technology, Kai ogled something else.

"What's that?" he asked, pointing towards Cinder's gloved hand. Instinctively, she looked at the hem of her glove and pulled it up just in case.

"What?"

"That drawing under your hand." The project. In the rush of putting away the project, Cinder had accidentally left out the diagram.

"Uh..."

"You can tell me, Cinder. I want to know."

No, he really didn't.

"It's for the project."

"Oh. Did you get my texts on that?"

"Uh, no, I don't think so."

"Oh. Maybe I typed it in wrong. Let me check." Kai pulled out his phone, but Cinder stopped him. A moment of awkward silence passed, then two, then three.

"Cinder?"

"Hmm?"

"I want to help. With the project. You shouldn't have to take on the whole burden."

"It's fine." It was more than fine, actually. It was perfect.

Another moment of awkward silence passed.

"Are you free this week?" Kai asked.

"Why?"

"So we can work on the project. Since, you know, it's due this Friday."

"I suppose we could meet up after school on Monday."

"Okay, great. Well, I know your address, so—"

"No!"

"What? Is something wrong?"

"Oh, um, we can't do it at my house."

"Oh. I guess we can work at mine, then. I have a car, so we can go right after school."

"Okay." Cinder was glad he didn't pry about why they couldn't go to her house.

More moments of awkward silence passed.

"So, can you fix my robot?" Kai asked to break the silence.

"What's wrong with it?"

"It's a her. Her name's Nainsi."

The robot had a name?

"She's a personal assistant, kinda like Alexa or Cortana, but better."

"Because she costs way more money?"

Kai's face reddened the tiniest bit.

"Anyway, what's wrong with it—her?"

Kai sighed. "Just watch.

"Nainsi, awaken."

Nothing happened.

"She won't turn on? Have you tried the battery?"

"Yes," Kai said frustratedly. "I've tried everything and no one seems to be able to fix her. I'm worried I may have downloaded malware or damaged her somehow."

"Can't you just buy a new one? Or are you too attached to Nainsi?"

Kai became a little more red, but instead of getting more mad, he held back a laugh by biting his lip.

"I need her. There's stuff on there I can't afford to lose."

"Okay, I'll take her," Cinder said.

Kai smiled. Cinder grabbed the robot and placed it beneath the counter. When she came back up, she found a large bill in its place.

"Oh, you don't have to do that. That's too much money."

"No, I insist."

"Maybe you should wait until I complete the job before giving me such a substantial tip."

"I trust you, Cinder."

"Are you sure you aren't bribing me?"

Kai chuckled.

"I'll see you later, Cinder." Kai turned around and began to leave the shop.

"Wait," Cinder called out.

He turned back around to face her.

"A word of advice?" Cinder said. "Always have a backup."

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