A Pictures Worth a Thousand Words


Adorability

Adorableness.


Glados

I had to wake up early to finish my homework, which of course was no problem for me at all; I do what I must because I can; except today was different. I got no sleep because Wheatley kept meowing all night. Did you know cats can retract their claws at will? I didn't.

"I don't like you..." I said using my free hand to stop him from chewing on the lamp's power cord.

I could just let him chew it...one less problem on my hands. But then I'd need to get a new lamp...

Instead of continuing to attack the defenseless lamp cord, he latched on to my headphones and knocked over my cup; earning him a face full of water.

"Moron..." I said looking back at my laptop.

Instead of refraining from doing the thing that caused him discomfort, he ran around the room and did it again; Yelping in fear when cup fell over and hit him.

"Somehow...I don't feel sorry for you." I told Wheatley and saved my homework.

I stood up and closed the laptop, pulling out the ties that held my hair in place.

"I'm going to take a shower...don't do anything stupid. I know that will be hard for you but at least try." I said to Wheatley slipping off my pajama bottoms. Wheatley only stared at me as if I was some sort of alien.

"Pervert." I muttered stepping into the bathroom.

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..

I loved showers, long hot showers always made me happy. As if I had an emotion that showers appealed to directly. But I don't. That would be weird. I had just turned off the water and stepped out of the bath tub, reaching for my towel. After drying myself off and wrapping the towel around myself, I looked at myself in the mirror.

"One day...I think I may wear my hair down." I said grabbing my hair ties and putting my hair up into what Atlas calls my "trademark hairstyle".

Exiting the bathroom my smile ran away. Probably for fear of what my frown would do to it.

"I...hate...you..." I said kicking Wheatley away from the shattered picture of my mother. I mean Caroline. I didn't kick him hard enough to hurt him; just hard enough to let him know I wanted to. He angrily meowed at me.

"I don't care. Now go away before I decide to put you in the blender." I growled kneeling down to pick up the pieces of glass from my mot- Caroline's picture.

"Mom..." I sighed staring at her picture.

Wheatley let out a soft meow as if to apologize.

"Shut up. I'm not talking to you..." I said setting the picture on my dresser and throwing the shattered frame in the trash can beside my desk.

...

I snatched the charger from the wall and my computer pacing in one of the empty pouches on my messenger bag.I then grabbed my computer and the notes next to it and slipped in the largest pouch on my bag. I would have left then and there but Wheatley wouldn't get off my bag.

"I don't have time for this...Go. Away." I told him trying to swat him away from the bag.

He jumped off the bed sprinting towards my headphones. Failing to stop himself in time he slammed face first into my desk.

"Moron..." I said walking out of my room after grabbing my headphones.

I trudged down the stairs and sighed heavily.

Stupid cat...

Out of habit I waved to the spot where our maid usually wishes me a good day.

It's highly unprofessional to abandon your job...even if your eyebrows did get burned off by a rouge fireball.

I turned to inspect the house before leaving. I didn't see anything and decided I should leave before I did. I began the boring walk to school, pulling out my Aperture Science Enrichment Center Music Emitter. I personally hate the name. It's such a mouthful. Imagine putting that on your Christmas list. I plugged in the headphones and pressed the play button letting the music soothe my irritated nerves.

"Hey! Glados!" I heard a vaguely familiar voice call to me. I looked over my shoulder and saw P. Body running towards me. I began to walk faster. It wasn't that I disliked P. Body; I just didn't want to talk to her, or anyone else for that matter.

"Hey hold on!" She said running faster to catch up to me. I pretended not to hear her and made the turn onto the road that led to the front of the school running straight into Atlas.

Perfect...

"Hello Glados!" Atlas said waving rather frantically. His display of 'affection' was ignored.

Pulling myself up off the ground I tried to walk away and leave it as that. I don't think that it worked though.

"Yes, Blue...I see you. And no, I do not care." I said stepping around him. He hated it when I called him "Blue" He said it was stupid. I didn't think so; I only called him that because his eyes were a stunning blue. Not that it was all that impressive to me, they were just bright. I could hear P. Body run up behind me.

I need to start taking a different route to school...

"Glados! I'm glad I caught you!" P. Body – who I officially refer to as Orange because of her orange hair- began.

"Was that some kind of pun...?" I interrupted.

"No, your guidance counselor wanted me to tell you that one of your classes had been switched. Instead of going to Investment Opportunities Class in sixth period you go to Spike Panel Evasion." She finished.

"And I was switched because...?" I asked the annoyance in my voice more present than I had intended.

"The guidance counselor said something about you being way too far ahead of the class, and that you were squandering your talents.

This day can't get any more annoying can it...

"Thank you Orange...If there was a contest for my friendship you would be winning. But there isn't. So you aren't." I said walking by, mentally taking a note of each of their expressions.

Interesting...

.

..

The day was moving by slowly, it was only 2nd period and I was already to go home and sleep. Not that I'd be getting any because of that damned cat. I honestly hated that cat. It was as if he set out to do any and every thing that was stupid. He was an imbecile!

"Glados can you tell me the easiest way to navigate to the top of a test room with out using portals would be? Assuming the object is in the room." The teacher asked interrupting my thoughts.

"...An Aperture Science Enrichment Center Aerial Faith Plate..." I said not even looking in the teacher's direction.

"Excellent!" He said moving on to his next question. "You all could learn something from Glados."

"Hooray...Five Science Collaboration Points for me..." I said under my breath.

The day pretty much continued like that, In the days defense it's always like that; Me running into people I really had no intention of acknowledging, then me answering questions from teachers who swear I'm a prodigy. It's tedious really. I would rather be locked in a giant room somewhere in one of my father's labs; listening to myself think about nothing and everything. A room in which the silence is deafening and the people are non-existent.

Please don't get me wrong I'm not anti-social, or one of those emo things...I just don't like Human Beings. They disgust me, I can't stand them; they're the selfish, self-centered, self-serving, egotistical, vindictive, cruel, things to ever exist. If it were up to me I would put them all up to doing something useful; something extremely dangerous and most of them would probably die, but useful nonetheless. Now People; them, I can stand. It's rare to find an honest to goodness Person, someone who isn't superficial and all-around repulsive. I think there is maybe a handful of them around here. People really are a dying breed. Did you know People are fifteen percent less likely to betray you under intense pressure than Humans?

.

..

...

"Glados! Do you want to eat lunch with us?" Orange called to me as I entered the cafeteria after fifth period.

Honestly I would have rather eaten with Wheatley. But she saved me the confusion of my unexpected class transfer, and for that I suppose I owe her.

"Fine," I responded making my way over to their table.

Both Orange and Blue glanced at each other with questioning looks, most likely because I have never sat with them before today.

I hope they don't get used to this. I don't plan on making it a trend.

As I sat down next to them something, or more accurately someone caught my attention. It was a girl. I could faintly here Orange and Blue's conversation about something but I couldn't bring myself to pay attention to them; the girl had completely fascinated me, and the worst part was I had no idea why. I hated this feeling, I was acting completely irrational and I was helpless to stop it. I studied this girl examined her. Noted ever detail; from how soft and flawless her skin looked, to how her beautiful black hair framed her face, to the way her bright blue eyes lit up when she smiled. No matter how I tried to ignore this girl more and more she stood out to me. It was driving me insane. She was in essence adorable.

I don't like people. What makes her special that she gets to penetrate my thoughts and inhabit them as if they were her own?

I almost left the cafeteria. It was that frustrating. But I noticed something about her. Something I hadn't before. The girl hadn't said anything since she -To my dismay- captivated me. She was absolutely silent the whole time. The girl In front of her had been doing all the talking. How could someone talk to someone else for that long and not receive a response? Even more so not care that she hadn't received one. It was so peculiar.

I swear I will never understand people…

"Glados," Orange called breaking into my thoughts. "Glados are you okay? You haven't said anything to either of us since you sat down?

"I'm fine. I was just thinking about something," I said looking back over to where that odd girl had been sitting. She was gone.

Good. Now she will get out of my head…

She didn't. She stayed in my thoughts all throughout the rest of lunch, and during my next class.

Who was this girl and why had I suddenly become so transfixed on her?

I tried to consider who it was she might be, tried to think of if I knew her. I tried to se if my brain had become so fixated on her because I had met or seen her before, but I hadn't so logically there was no reason for me to care who she was. I had just drooled over a girl that I didn't even know. And what's more; I wasn't homosexual…at least I didn't think I was. I had never been on a date with anyone so it's hard to say.

"Glados, we have to go soon," Blue said his voice clearly exhibiting his worry.

"The bell will ring in a couple of minutes," Orange said finishing the sandwich she had bought.

In all honesty I just wanted this day to end; but I would have settled for being able to go home and sleep.

"Are you sure you're okay? You haven't even touched your lunch," Blue called as I began to stand up to empty my Grey Aperture Science Enrichment Center Human Food Consumption Carrier. A rather stupid name if you ask me.

"I'm. Fine." I started, rolling my eyes in obvious annoyance. "It wasn't very good anyway," I finished heading out of the cafeteria.

"Glados, wait!" I could hear Orange yell faintly. I ignored her. It felt like the safest thing to do…or at least the least annoying of my list of options.

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..

I had made all the way to my sixth period class without being so much as spoken to; and for that I was grateful. However karma must have thought no such miracle should be given, and decided that my final class would be shared with none other than that odd girl from lunch.

No it's okay…I didn't want my sanity anyway…

"Alight, Test Subjects! Welcome to Spike Panel Evasion Class. Where the spikes are real and the dangers are fake. Or was it: the danger is real and the spikes are fake? Who cares? Just line up!" said the husky teacher who had sauntered in from the office beside the entrance. After a few seconds the other students went back to minding their business, and ignoring the teacher.

"HEY! I said line up!" The man yelled; Authority lining his words. The students instantly fell in line. The teachers booming voice immediately establishing dominance.

"Today we are going to do our Mid-term Test, so-"

"Um…excuse me?" A soft voice called from the entrance, interrupting the teacher's announcements.

"What!" The teacher growled, obviously annoyed at the unwanted intrusion.

"I um...The principle wanted me to give you your updated roster." The girl squeaked, jumping at the teacher's unhappy response.

"Then give it here," he boomed stalking towards the now slightly frightened girl.

He snatched the piece of paper from her and shut the door in her face. Rather rude in my opinion.

"Anyway, Pick a partner and stand next to them while I put this in my office. And make it snappy." He said grumbling things under his breath as he walked.

All the other students – or test subjects, as the teacher called them – began to choose partners and eventually all the others had paired up and wandered off besides two; me…and the mystery girl.

Jeez…

I figured if I was going to survive this onslaught of cruelty life was supplying I would attack it head on.

I walked over to introducing myself.

"Hello…I'm Glados. It's a pleasure to meet you." I said extending my hand.

"This is the part where you tell me your name." I said slowly lowering my hand after she shook. I assumed she was just being ditzy and wasn't paying attention; however I was wrong, she didn't even attempt to respond.

"So are you planning to give me the silent treatment? Or does a cat have your tongue?" I asked, slowly becoming annoyed. She only smiled and shook her head.

"Then why don't you speak? Are you defective? I replied confused. If neither were the case why wouldn't she talk? She was really becoming annoying. Before I could ask her another question she pulled out her phone and began clicking away.

How rude…

She showed me the screen which read: "I'm sorry, I'm mute . My name is Chell, and It's nice to meet you ^^". I half expected her to burst out laughing, reveling in her triumph in successfully fooling her new classmate; but she didn't…she just smiled an apologetic smile and put her phone away.

That explains everything. That explained why she didn't speak a word to her friend at lunch, why she hasn't said anything to me.

A wave of relief washed over me. That's why she caught my attention, that's why I couldn't get her out of my head. She was a splash of color in this dull mundane school. I understand now, and can erase this from my memory.

"Alright prepare yourselves for the most intense testing experience you, young test subjects will ever encounter!" The teacher called walking over to a very ominous looking switch and flipping it effortlessly.

The sound of gears grinding together filled the room as the panels around the room began to move and shift causing the ground beneath us to vibrate softly. I studied the worried expressions around us and noticed that Chell didn't look perturbed.

Interesting…

"Alright, hop to it! These spike panels won't evade themselves!" The teacher boomed over the noise of the panels that were changing positions around the room. "Don't be afraid of them test subjects~ the spikes are made of rubber and there are safety nets below you to ensure your safety when – I mean if- you fail." The teacher continued.

It was amazing to see Chell navigate the spike panels as the danced around her. Her movements were so fluid and graceful yet at the same time, deliberate and precise. I found my eyes wandering to her whilst I was navigating the spike panels that moved around me, which is why it was my own fault when I slipped off the current panel I was avoiding.

That's just my luck…

I grabbed onto the edge of a panel that didn't have spikes and tried to pull my self up but soon realized I had no energy or strength to do so. In fact I was running on the nutrients I hadn't lost from yesterday…

Looks like I should've eaten after all…I blame that god forsaken cat for not allowing me to get any sleep...

I struggled and struggled but I just couldn't pull my self up.

"Just let go test subject!" I could hear the teacher calling to me.

"I'm not failing the first test my first day in this class! It would be illogical!" I yelled back.

I was using up all the energy and strength and could feel my arms giving out. The strain on my arms was becoming excruciating. I squirmed and pulled as hard as I could but I just couldn't do it…

I really wish I would have eaten today…or at least gotten some sleep…that damn Wheatley…

I began to feel my fingers slipping; the movement of the panel I was currently clinging to wasn't helping the situation at all.

Great…I'm going to fail my first test in this class, and there's nothing I can do about it…

The last thing I remember before falling into darkness under the panels was Chell leaping toward me.

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A/N

I'm sorry it took so long everyone! My beta has been really busy, and then my power went out for seven and a half days =n=;;. And I found a baby kitten that was almost eaten by a stray dog and the dog ate it's mom and brother :( so she's been taking up my time so I haven't been able to do much writing! I hope noone gave up on it while i was gone~ Any who I hope you like!

This is the prelude to Chell and Glados officially meeting. :3 what lies ahead?