Cinder: A Close To Normal Life

Chapter 13

Kai's POV

"Alright everyone listen up," Mr. Kimmel, the shop teacher, yells as he comes in. "Now that your robots are about done, you and your partner need to start making a presentation about it. Make it like you're trying to sell the robot to a customer. What does the robot do? Which industry can it be used in? How was it built? Check the rubric for more specifics." He starts passing out pieces of paper to each partnership. "And most importantly, the best robot and presentation wins a special prize."

This got the class excited. Cinder and I exchanged looks. The whole class broke out in whispers.

"Yes, yes, the prize is very exciting. Hopefully it'll motivate everyone to put some extra work in. Alright everyone, get to work," Mr. Kimmel finished and the classroom filled with the sound of materials moving, chairs scraping the floor, and the rustling of paper.

Cinder brought out Iko from her bag and asked, "What do you think the special prize is?"

I tapped my pencil on the desk, "Hmm, maybe extra credit?"

"I hope it's money," Cinder said shamelessly.

I snickered, "Ah yes the best prize."

Iko did a little spin on our table, "Well I hope it's shoes. Lots and lots of shoes," she said.

Cinder laughed, "You know, I actually think we can win. Iko is kind of awesome"

"Kind of?" I shook my head, "She's absolutely awesome, there's no way we won't win"

Iko seemed to do a mini jump, "Oh my stars! Prince Kai, you're going to make me blush! Someone check my fan I think I'm over heating!"

Pulling out a screw driver, Cinder does a quick check and reassures her that she is not actually overheating.

"Do you want to work on Iko and the presentation more after school tomorrow?" Cinder asks. "Maybe we can meet at the shop again?"

"That works for me," I say. Tomorrow's perfect because I'm visiting my dad at the hospital tonight and Torin is helping me get my life together on Saturday and Sunday.

For the rest of class we give Iko a few tweaks and start working on the presentation. The whole time Iko filled us in on what's out and what's trending. Who knew that satin could be "out"?

Cinder's POV

After a couple more classes, I had lunch with Cress and Scarlet. First I chewed Cress out for giving me that wink after she talked to Kai.

"You guys were the ones being cute and walking to class together!" Cress defended.

Scarlet nodded, "Agreed, the wink was called for"

"Kai is really sweet too," Cress continued, "I one hundred percent approve."

Exasperated I bury my head into my arm on the table. I'm usually good at controlling my emotions, but after a whole morning of trying not to turn tomato red in front of Kai after he asked about the dance again and Cress winking at me, I was seriously at my limit.

"Did you guys ever figure out what was wrong with his phone?" Scarlet asked while taking a bite out of her sandwich. We had filled her in on everything last night.

"Oh yeah! Did you ask Kai about it Cinder?" Cress tilted her head at me.

I looked up, concern taking over me again, "Yeah, he seemed surprised when I told him about the monitoring program. He said not to worry about it, but I don't know he looked kind of scared."

Cress frowned, "Maybe I should look into it anyways? I think I can track the code back and then we can at least tell him who put those programs there in the first place."

I thought about it and nodded, "Yeah that's a good idea. Kai has a lot going on right now, maybe it'll be good if we can help him figure out one program. Maybe you can come over to the shop tonight if you have time to work on it?"

Cress nodded enthusiastically and Scarlet said, "I'll come too. I need some friend motivation to get through homework, but all of this sounds exciting. I need more thrill in my life."

The three of us laughed. "That's definitely one way to put it," I say smiling.

Kai's POV

After school I went to the hospital to visit my dad. I stood behind the thick clear glass and watched him struggling to breathe even while being hooked up to three different machines. Just a week ago he was healthy and busily running his business. How can everything change in just one week? There isn't a vaccine out for the plague yet and I know I should brace myself for the worst. But my breathing is raspy and shallow, like there's a rock stuck in my lungs. Why is this happening?

Just then a nurse comes up to me, clipboard in hand. I can tell from the look in her eyes that he's not getting any better. Before she can say anything I stop her and say, "Please, don't. How bad is it and how much longer?"

The nurse looked pained, but she answers, "Third and final stage. A couple days."

Cinder's POV

Cress, Scarlet, and I were at the shop just doing homework and chatting while Cress coded away on the programs she saved from Kai's phone. A couple customers had come in, but I was able to fix their things almost right away. You'd be surprised how many problems can be solved by smacking it on the table. I'm about to close up shop when Cress gasps. She looks wide eyed at her screen.

"What's wrong?" Scarlet said, looking worried.

Cress just turns to face me and says, "Cinder remember when you told me not to hack into any government systems? I think I messed up."

I'm beyond confused, "Wait, what? What do you mean?"

Taking a deep breath, Cress looks both me and Scarlet in the eyes, then looks around to make sure no one is in the store. In a quiet voice, barely louder than a whisper, Cress says, "Guys, I finished tracing the code back... it's from the Luna government."