The Agate Program

Chapter 1

"Liliana, can you hurry up!?"

Axe Gahuewah was waiting outside the girls bathroom in H. Clinton Middle, tapping his foot, trying to look cool to the passing girls but eventually giving up. He leaned against the wall, grabbed his history book (it was the only thing in his bag) and started reading about the the Coronavirus of 2020. Axe didn't get how such a small case that could be cured with a simple shot here in 2055 was such a big deal back then, but he kept reading.

Liliana was stuck in a bathroom stall. She heard his brothers calls all right (the boys voice was as loud as the Lovi rocket launch) but still sat on the toilet, her knees tucked up, trying to make her breaths as quiet as possible.

"Have you seen what Liliana was wearing today?" asked an obviously sassy girl.

"Yeah, she looks like a clown," laughed another girl.

"Has she left yet?" asked another.

"I don't think so," answered the first girl. "I saw her stupid brother call for her."

Liliana raged. She minded when they talked about her, sure, but her brother? It took all Liliana had to keep from bursting out of that stall and giving Stephanie, the first girl, a big ole' nosebleed. Soon, she heard steps leading away from her, and the audible slam of the door. Liliana stayed for a bit more, then stepped out of her stall and went out the bathroom.

"What took you so long!?" screamed Axe. 

"Those-those girls...they were teasing me. And you." stuttered Liliana.

Axe looked down the hallway, trying to find the three girls in their mint green skirts and blouses. But wherever he looked, he couldn't find them.

"They must've left," Axe told Liliana. "And we have to leave, too, unless we want mom to kill us 'cause we missed dinner."

"Its time already!?" said Liliana frantically. Sure enough, when she looked at her watch, it was 5:30, and dinner started at 6. "Let's go!"

Liliana and Axe both started speed-walking down the hallway to the exit, waving at the principal, Mr. Smith, and barged open the door. Once outside, they started speeding down the sidewalk to their house on Taine Street. Rustles came from the many greens going down to the road they both nicknamed Mansion Lane, because it was full of mansions and was clearly the prettiest street in all of Maine.  

They turned the corner, Liliana's hair whipping behind her, to a dirty street. You could barely make out the words on the overly-painted street sign that had graffiti stains all over it. Still, the locals knew that this was Taine Street. They rushed down the road to the familiar bronze two-story house, moving past the overgrown branches. They went inside, quickly sat at the table, and Axe checked his watch.

"5:59! Yes!" he whispered to himself.

As the watch ticked to 6:00, Liliana and Axe's mom stumbled downstairs to the kitchen.

"Oh! You're here!" she said, obviously surprised. She grabbed a couple of bowls full of steaming hot peas, buttery spaghetti, and cubes of chicken from their slow robot, waiting for it to go to its charging station before she took a bite.

One time she completely missed dinner because it took so long.

"Oh, do I wish we had enough money to get a better bot!" exclaimed their mom as they eyed the slow moving robot. Liliana took the opportunity to take a bite out of one of her peas. She didn't know why everybody waited.

As soon as the robot made the "BEEP!" that meant it was charging, everyone dug into their dinner. It was gone in a flash, all in their stomachs.

Two rounds of video games and an ice cream sundae bar later, Axe and Liliana were back in their bunk beds, trying to fall asleep.

Axe heard some footsteps from outside, but didn't think much of it as he drifted off to sleep, Liliana not far after.

(SORRY FOR THIS BEING LATE! I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THIS, UGH)