I'm writing this story with Night, an author on Quotev.

Normal POV

In downtown Chicago, at the high school, Skyla Shadow is in Robotic Club. She is modifying the robot she has named Tech. Skyla built Tech for the competition last week. The theme of the contest is helping others. Tech qualified, as he has a compartment that has medical supplies, another with the helpful items you might need if you were going camping, as well as lasers in his eyes to heat water. The new part Skyla is trying to add is a refrigerator so that Tech can carry along perishable food items. Skyla's long red hair gets tangled in some of Tech's wires when the hairtie breaks and flies across the room. A frustrated groan escapes her lips as she sets down the pillars. One of her friends and fellow teammates, Chuck Blackwell, runs over to help her.

"Don't take this the wrong way -your long hair is pretty and all- but that is the third hair tie that you've broken today. Didn't you get your allowance yet so you can get it cut?" Chuck asks.

As they get the last few strands of her hair free from the cables, Skyla slowly tilts her head back so she wouldn't accidentally headbutt Chuck. "No, I didn't. John and Charlotte don't love me. They want me to either die or run away,"

"Come on Skyla. Your parents do love you. Our part of town is full of bad influences and violence." Chuck says.

Skyla is about to argue when they hear the door open. The teens look towards the door and see Principal Crane walk in the room.

"Hello, Principal Crane. We aren't in trouble, are we?" Chuck asks.

"No, Mr. Blackwell, the robotics club has helped build the school reputation nicely since you and Skyla suggested it to me at the last pep rally," Principal Crane says, "I'm here because I need Skyla to come to my office for a moment,"

Skyla starts to get nervous. Chuck puts his hand on her shoulder. She looks over at him. "Don't worry Skyla. I'll finish the updates on Tech."

"Thank you," Skyla says.

Skyla and Principal Crane leave and walk to her office.

Skyla's POV

I haven't told anyone -not even Chuck, my best friend- about my life at home. Principal Crane and I walk into her office. She gestures for me to sit down in one of the chairs in front of the desk. I slowly pull the chair out and sit down.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"I know you remember we allowed you to take the SAT and ACT early, and since you have met all the other requirements to graduate... I'm happy to be giving you your diploma," Principal Crane answers.

Principal Crane hands me a small box that has my diploma inside.

"But I haven't received any news from the colleges I applied to!" I gasp.

"Don't worry, Miss Shadow, I know that one of the schools you applied to will accept your application," Principal Crane says.

"What were my results?"

"You got the highest score in the school's history. You got a 36 on the ACT and 1600 on the SAT." Principal Crane answers.

"Oh. Thank you. May I leave now?"

Principal Crane nods. As I stand up, I take my diploma off the desk. I see her reach for the phone. "Congratulations Miss. Shadow, I know your parents will be so proud of you,"

I doubt it, Principal Crane. John and Charlotte weren't proud of me when I won the National Spelling Bee in First Grade, why would they be proud of me now? I'm nothing but a burden to them. All they would do is throw me out if they realized I was graduating early.

I walk to the classroom where the Robotics club is meeting. I see Tech wheel up to me as I open the door.

"Hello Skyla," Tech says.

"Tech, you can talk again!" I gasp excitedly.

"Yes, Chuck fixed my voice box, as well as add the modifications you wanted," Tech says.

"Thank you, Chuck. But... How come he sounds like Siri?"

"You're welcome Skyla. I was confused by that too. When I went into the spare part bin to get the items needed to fix him, it was the one on top of the pile. Almost like someone put it there so I could find it. Anyways, what did Principal Crane want to talk about?" Chuck inquires.

"She told me the results of the ACT and SAT, and that I'll be graduating early," I answer.

I walk over to the table and pack up my gear. I put my bookbag on the shoulder, then turn around and go back to the door.

"Tech and I should head back to the shack," I say.

My companion and I approach the front porch of the decrepit building I'm supposed to call home. A bum couldn't even call it a house! The siding is falling off, and the roof has several holes in it. Recently it's begun leaking above my bed. I had to put waterproof wax on Tech so he can keep dry. The mechanical being bops up the steps, and I follow his path. When my left foot hits the porch, I hear a cracking sound, and the next thing I know, I'm sitting on the dirt. I look up and see Tech, who holds out his hand. I grab it, and he pulls me up, then sets me down where he thinks it's stable enough to hold our weight.

"Thanks, Tech,"

"You're welcome, Skyla. Are you okay?" Tech questions.

"Yeah, I'm good, "I affirm.

As soon as I stand up, however, a sharp pain stabs through my ankle and lower shin. Tech catches me and helps me into the shack. I sit down on the couch, and Tech helps me prop my ankle up on the coffee table. I take off my shoe and see a cut on my leg as well as my ankle starting to swell up.

"Skyla, you must inform one of your teachers of your living conditions," Tech says.

"I can't do that Tech. I've researched the Foster care system around here, and I don't want to go into it."

Tech tries to argue with me some more but then resigns to dressing my wounds. A few seconds after he places the ice pack on my ankle, I hear the front door slamming against the wall. John and Charlotte walk in, each holding a six pack of what they call 'trouble erase water'... Or what we normal people call beer in their left hand.

"Well, Charlotte, it looks like our gifted freeloader doesn't need a roof over her head anymore," John says slowly.

"Yes John, she is graduating soon," Charlotte slurs.

They throw the beer cans down on the floor and walk over to me.