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Cress's POV:

A Weird Assignment and a Happy Surprise

My dad isn't exactly happy about my skill with hacking. Sure, he's really proud of me for how well I'm doing in computer science, designing games and programmes and stuff, but hacking? Breaking into someone else's device and gaining access to all their personal information? That he's never been particularly comfortable with. And yet, all of a sudden, he's asking me to hack into the computer of one of his colleagues?

"He has a document saved on there that I need for some medical research I'm doing." He tells me.

"Why don't you just ask him to email it to you?"

"The document is too big."

"So just borrow his computer!"

"He doesn't trust me not to go snooping."

"But he trusts a seventeen-year-old to hack into his computer and steal a file?"

"He knows you won't look at anything you're not meant to."

I raise a dubious eyebrow but say nothing. Clearly I'm not getting anywhere with this. Still, this task seems pretty suspicious. I'd better not be hacking into the FBI or something like that. I don't want to go to jail!

"Okay," I sigh, "I'll find your document. What's it called?"

Dad waves his hand nonchalantly. "Oh, I don't know Cress. I'm getting old, my memory's not what it used to be."

"Dad, you could tell me the chemical equation for penicillin if you wanted to."

"File names and chemical equations are two very different things sweetheart."

I guess he can see that I'm still not fully convinced, because he smiles warmly and puts his hands on my shoulders. "My little Crescent Moon, you know that I would never ask you to do something unethical. I promise you, you're not doing anything bad, just finding some information I need. You won't get into any trouble because of this. I'll make sure of it."

I smile and try to feel reassured, but I just can't help the doubt shifting at the back of my mind. Something's not right here, that much is obvious. Whatever dad wants me to find, I don't think it's for his work. I'll do what he wants and hack into… whatever it is I'm hacking, but it can't hurt to have a little bit of a look around while I'm in, can it? Just so I know what I've gotten myself into?

I sit on my usual spot on the bus and open up my laptop. I plug in my earphones and hover my mouse over a new icon on my desktop. I finished this app only yesterday. It hasn't been tested yet, and undoubtedly there are still some bugs that I need to work out, but I still feel excited butterflies fluttering around in my stomach as I click on the icon.

Immediately, my screen turns black. As I watch, bold white text appears on the upper half, accompanied by a chipper, childish voice blaring through my earphones.

"Hello big sister! What can I do for you?"

I grin delightedly. "Hey Little Cress. Open game, "Treasure Hunt"."

"Right away! Can I play?"

"Sure!"

"Who're you talking too?"

I yelp, almost making my laptop fall to the floor. The newcomer chuckles at my reaction and my face burns with embarrassment. Or maybe because Thorne's talking to me. Or both.

He flashes his perfect teeth in a grin. "Sorry to spook you. Seriously though, Who're you talking to?"

"It's, um, an AI programme." I admit, fiddling with a lock of hair nervously.

"What, like Siri?"

"N-no. It's one that I, um, I made. I call it Little Cress."

Thorne's eyes widen with surprise (and maybe admiration?) at this. "You made a whole new AI?"

I nod.

"Dang. And to think that I struggle to just check my email."

Wait, is he impressed? Did I just impress Carswell Thorne? Oh please let him be impressed!

"Captain!"

I look up with a start to see a beautiful girl walk up to us. She smiles at Thorne with a confidence I can never have. "Come sit with me! Let Rapunzel here work on her lame codes and whatever computer stuff she does for fun."

My shoulders slump with disappointment. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

Thorne grins at her, and I brace myself for the flirtatious agreement that's surely on its way cus who would want to sit with pathetic, nerdy Crescent when you can sit next to this beautiful and popular goddess?

"That's sweet of you to offer Darla, but I think I'll stay here."

Wait, what?

Darla looks as shocked as I am, staring at Thorne like she's just waiting for him to laugh and tell her he's joking. Honestly, I'm expecting the same thing. But he says nothing, just sits and smiles at her.

"S-stay here?" Darla echoes incredulously.

"Yep. Cress is quite nice to talk to." Thorne says.

"B-but, she's Cress! She's a total nerd! And a freak! I mean, have you seen her hair? She's just a wannabe Rapunzel with a computer!"

I squirm in my seat, trying to make myself smaller. A few hairs drift in front of my face and I stare at them. Am I just a wannabe Rapunzel? I've always loved my hair, and I know other people think it's weird, but is it really that strange? I'd cut it, but, well, it's been long for as long as I can remember. I don't know how I'd cope with short hair!

I'm shocked out of my thoughts by Thorne speaking again. His tone is much colder now, and his smile has gone. "Have you finished protesting?"

Darla tosses her gorgeous chocolate brown hair. "I just don't understand why you're wasting your time on her, that's all."

"Maybe because I like her?" Thorne suggests icily, "And we're friends?"

Thorne likes me? We're friends?

A squeal bubbles up my throat, begging to be released. I manage to stop it from getting past my lips, but there's no hiding my grin.

Darla snorts and eyes me with distaste. "You might want to reconsider that decision."

"I'm sorry, are you still here?"

She huffs and strides back to her seat with her nose in the air.

Thorne glares after her before turning back to me. My breath catches in my throat as he smiles. "So, what were you saying about this programme?"

A/N: Ah… Cresswell. If that doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will!

Dr Erland has given Cress her assignment, and Thorne was a hero. But what will Cress find out on this hacker assignment? Will Thorne ever see her as more than a friend (spoiler: he will).

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