My whole processor was buzzing with everything that had happened and everything that would happen.  I was alive, and in an incredibly cool way, too – infected, frozen, and cured.  Pixelacious!  Lisa was OK, and she'd be staying.  I'd be seeing Dot next minute.  That was all alphanumeric.  But Dot might not let me come back.  And Ray – Ray was infected!  User, it was sure a lot to think about.

Luckily I didn't have to wait as long as I expected – Lisa appeared what seemed like just a few nanos after Laser left.  "You're here already!"

"I was waiting outside."  She smiled, and then I saw a tear on her cheek and she walked quickly over to the bed and we hugged each other tight and didn't say anything for a long time.

"User, you feel good…"

"Enzo, I was so worried.  Why did you do it?"

"To save you, Angel."

"Enzo…"  She was crying softly, her head on my shoulder.  "If anything had happened to you I wouldn't want to process anyway.  Don't you know that?"

"I couldn't let you be infected.  Especially by him."

"You saved my code.  You saved me."  She took my face in her hands and pulled back a little.  "Let me look at you, Sweetie.  You're all right?"

"Laser says I'll be fine.  Thanks to your Dad."

She laughed softly.  "Thank the User he did what he did.  He's very grateful to you, you know.  For everything you did in the game."

"How did he know, anyway?  Why did he come?"  Lisa blushed a little and shrugged.  "Wait!  It was the ring, right?"

"Enzo!  How did you know?"

I smiled and felt a little pleased with myself.  "It's the stone – it's just like his…  I dunno, his icon or whatever Codemasters have.  Right?"

"Yes.  It's a jewel – from the web.  But it's also a homing signal.  Daddy gave it to me when I was little and told me to use it if I ever needed him."  She smiled and twirled the ring absently.  "Maybe he knew I'd be the sort of kid that gets in trouble!  I think he was hoping I'd call him sooner, though."

"Is he still here?"

"No.  He left right after he removed the time-lock.  He really hated being here – it wasn't easy for him.  But I wouldn't let him leave you until we were sure you'd make it."

"Thanks."  I sighed.  I inclined my head forward and we kissed, softly.  "Laser says I have to take it easy on that.  He knows all about us."

Lisa grinned.  "I guess we're not very good at keeping secrets."  She threw her arms around me again.  "Oh, Enzo!  I'm so happy you're OK."

"Me too.  And you're staying – that's totally pixelacious!  Laser knows about everything and it's still OK!"

"Yep.  I'm pretty relieved, I have to admit."

"Was it scary, when he sent Galileo to link with you?"

"Of course it was, Silly!  It was my whole future on the line.  And I've never used a keytool before."

I kissed her hair, over and over.  "Galileo is pretty smart.  He knows what an amazing sprite you are."

"Enzo, stop it…"

"I used Galileo once – in a game.  It was awesome."

"Yeah – Laser told me." Lisa sighed.  "My poor Enzo.  When you were infected, I just-"

"Don't talk about it.  Its over."  We held each again and didn't say anything for a few nanos.  I knew there was something that was unsaid, but I wasn't in any hurry to say it and it was easy to just do nothing when she was holding me and I was holding her.  But it had to come out, sooner or later, and finally it did.  "I'm sorry."

"Enzo, don't-"

"Lisa, I'm so sorry for what happened.  I'm sorry Zip found out your secret.  It's my fault what happened and I'm sorrier than I could ever be!"

"You don't have to be sorry."

"But I am."  I closed my eyes and put my head down on her shoulder, and her hand slowly stroked my hair as I talked.  "Something terrible almost happened to you – what did happen was terrible.  And it was all my fault."

"It wasn't.  Zip is a liar, a total output – you couldn't know what would happen.  It's not your fault."

"It is!  And I…  I'm really sorry.  I'm so sorry…"

"You saved me." Lisa whispered.  "You got me through it, just like you promised.  You're my hero, Sweetie."

"Oh User, Lisa, I'm sorry."

"I know.  But you don't have to be."  Lisa kept smoothing my hair, and we held each other and I tried to keep my emotions under control.  "It's all over, now.  It's over."

"And…  I'm sorry about what I wrote, too."

"What?"  She lifted my head so she could look into my eyes.  "Why?"

"Lisa, I'm sorry I wrote that.  About kissing you and everything.  I-"

"Hush."  She smiled slightly and kissed me on the cheek.  "What you wrote was the sweetest, most romantic thing I've ever heard.  Even Zip reading it couldn't ruin it."

"What?" I gasped.

"I could never hope for a nicer first kiss, Enzo.  Knowing that's how you felt about it too makes it even more wonderful."

"Really?"

"Really."

"I meant it."  I kissed her again, her lips and her nose and her cheek.  "Um…  I'm sorry about the other thing, too.  What Zip read, uh-"

"Don't be."  Lisa gave back as good as she'd got, and I sighed and let the wonderful sensation of her lips on my face cradle me.  "I have thoughts about you too, you know.  Feelings.  All the time."

"No way!"

"Of course I do.  I always have, ever since that first kiss.  But do me a favor?"

"Anything."

She smiled.  "If you're going to write stuff like that down, do a better job with your security protocols next time, please!"

I blushed ever redder, if that was possible.  "Promise."

"Good."  Lisa kissed my nose.  "You're such a hottie!"

"I love you."

"I love you too."  She put her head down on my shoulder and squeezed me.  "I'm so glad you're all right.  So glad."

"I don't think I could have stayed here if you'd gone.  I don't think I could have…"

"Oh, Enzo.  You would too."

"I couldn't.  I…  I'd have gone back to Wozniak with you.   Or brought you to Mainframe-"

"I think your sister would have had something to say about that." She chuckled.  "Not to mention my Mom."

"Yeah." I sighed, kissing her hair.  "Crash, what would we have done, Lisa?  I can't even think about living without you."

"We're not supposed to feel that way, Cutie.  Not yet."

"I don't care!  I'll love you forever, I know I will.  I will."

"Enzo…  This wasn't supposed to happen!  We're so young.  You're really young!  This just wasn't supposed to happen."

"I know.  But it did.  And I love you, I always will and I don't care if we're young or not."

"Sweetie."  Lisa lifted her head, looking tired.  "I love you too.  I love you with all my heart."

"You can't tell me we're too young to know.  Everything that's happened - the game, everything!  I know I'll always love you.  I know it!  It doesn't matter if we're young – Matrix was 1.0 when he met AndrAIa and they're still together."

"I don't know, Enzo.  I don't know everything that's going to happen."  She ran her hand over my cheek slowly and stared into my eyes.  "I can't imagine ever not loving you, though.  I can't imagine ever feeling any different."

"I made you a promise, didn't I?  I said I'll always take care of you and protect you and I'll never let anyone hurt you, ever.  I meant it.  I'll always love you and I'll always take care of you."

"Oh, Enzo."  Lisa grinned.  "Don't ever change, OK?  Don't grow up and be just like everyone else."  She nuzzled my neck gently.  "You're my hero."

"You're my angel.  I promise I'll always love you."  Maybe we Enzos were destined to fall in love at a young age, I don't know - but I'd never been as sure of anything in my life.

"I promise I'll always love you."  They were the most wonderful words I'd ever heard.  We kissed and I felt as strong and defiant as I've ever felt.  Anyone who tried to split us up – even Dot - was going to have a very big surprise on their hands.

"Lisa." I whispered.  "Lisa, I love you."

"I love you."  Her lips were on my neck, and mine were on hers.  I can't even begin to describe what that felt like, after all we'd been through together.  But we both knew Laser could walk through the door any nano and that thought was in both our minds.  We pulled back and stared at each other, breathing heavily.  Finally Lisa broke out giggling.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What?  What is it?"  I started tickling under her chin, and she howled.  "Tell me!"

"Just…" she laughed.  "We're gonna be at the Academy for a long time, you know?  I was just thinking we're both gonna be pretty overheated by the end of second hour!"

"Oh." I blushed.  "You mean-"

"Yeah."

"Yeah."  Well, there was no point in denying I thought about it – a lot.  Especially since now I knew she did too.  "Bob said I was way too young for that.  I guess he's probably right."  I sure didn't feel like it right then, though.

"Me too.  I guess." Lisa sighed.

I kissed her cheek softly.  "One cycle we won't be.  I can wait."

"Me too.  And kissing you is about the most graphical thing in the net, anyways, so maybe waiting won't be so bad."

"Yeah." I grinned and kissed her again, just to refresh myself that she was right.

"Enzo…  You know I'll only be 1.6 when we graduate.  And you'll be…"

"1.5." I said softly.  "Almost."

"We'll both have to serve apprenticeships.  What'll happen then?  What will we do?"

"I don't know."  I took her in my arms and squeezed her as tight as I could and tried not to think about it.  "We'll find some way to be together.  We have to.  I promise we will, Angel."

"OK, Sweetie." Lisa whispered.  I rocked her slowly and we just sat for a little while, both thinking about the same thing, I guess.  Or trying not to think about it.   "I hope you go home soon.  Linux misses you.  I think he's lonely in that room all by himself."

"Is he OK?"

"Yeah." Lisa chuckled.  "I think he and Patch were starting to hit it off pretty well before all this happened.  After you're back at the dorms we'll go out on that double-date."

"Yeah." I grinned. "But afterwards, you and I will find somewhere to finish the evening on a single-date."

"Who knows, maybe they will too!"

"Yeah!" I laughed.  "Maybe they will."  I held the most amazing girl in the net in my arms until Laser came back, and then I went to sleep.

Amazingly after everything that had happened, I was fine, pretty much – just dead-tired with a swollen ankle.  After I slept a while the med-techs checked me out and said I was cool to go back to the dorms.  It was after dinner and getting dark by then, and I felt weird – there was a hole in my life and everything, even the time of day, felt slightly off.  It made me think of what I felt like right after the reboot, and I could have processed without that memory.

Linux was lying on his bed doing homework when I got back, just like nothing had ever happened.  He bounced right up when he saw me, though.  "Enzo!"

"Hey, Dude.  Long time no see."

"Yeah!"  He grinned and gave me a little awkward hug.  "Welcome back.  I… I missed you."

"Yeah – you too."  I pounded him on the shoulder and we sat next to each other on his bed.  "So what'd I miss – anything good?"

Linux shrugged.  "Just us worrying about you, mostly.  I tried to come see you like every five micros, but they wouldn't let us in."

"I know, it's cool.  Turns out I should have listened to you, Man – you were right about the game roster.  It was fixed – Zip did it.  I shoulda gone to somebody, like you said."

"Dude – no way!  Really?"

"Yeah." I smiled grimly.  "He was actually pretty clever about it too, the bastard.  He did the whole thing just to try and get revenge on me."

"Man – that's unbelievable."

"Well, I don't have to worry about those nulls any more – neither of us do.  As soon as they get dis-infected they're both gonna be expelled."

"Crash!  That's awesome.  For tampering with the rosters?"

"Yeah."  That was all Linux needed to know, really.  I wish it was all I knew, that the other thing had never happened.  It seemed to me that I'd probably seen more stuff in my life already than somebody 1.3 should, and it made me feel ridiculously protective about my roommate.  "Sorry you took a beating for me, Linux."

"I know.  It's no biggie – shit happens.  Not your fault those guys are like, totally insane."

"Yeah!  You look good – the bruise on your face is almost totally gone.  How's your belly?"

"Better.  It hardly hurts at all, now.  Does your ankle hurt much?"

"It's cool.  Not bad."  I punched his shoulder again.  "You've been a totally pixelacious friend, Dude – I never woulda got through the last six minutes without you.  Thanks."

"Yeah.  Whatever…"

He was obviously embarrassed, and that made me giggle.  Maybe talking with Lisa had put me in a gooey mood or something.  "I mean it, Linux.  We gotta stick together for the next two hours, you know?  We need each other.  Look at all the bad stuff that's happened just in six minutes!"

"Yeah, I guess." He smiled.  "Well, don't worry – you're definitely my best friend here and you always will be."  He punched my shoulder, hard.  "But that's only because at the rate I'm going you'll be my only friend, Nullbreath!"

"Ow!  Does Patch count?"  That set him blushing and fidgeting like he was on fire, and I started laughing hard and fell backwards.  I couldn't help myself.  "You crack me up!"

"Shut up, Dude."

"Heh!  Seriously, Linux – you like her, right?"

"Obviously, Stupid."

"Well – how's it going?  You guys have been having lunch and stuff, right?"

He shrugged.  "Yeah.  It's OK, I guess.  I don't think she thinks I'm a total low-density anymore.  We have lunch and it's OK."

"Well – ask her out on a real date!  Take her to dinner and stuff." 

"Stuff?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, and I giggled again.  "We haven't been thinking about dates or anything.  We've just been worrying, you know…  About you."

"Oh."  That really got to me, realizing that there were sprites here that cared so much about me and worried about me.  Good people were good people, wherever you met them.  I sat up and popped his shoulder again, just a tap this time.  "Thanks, Linux.  You're the best."

"You too."

I looked up at him and grinned. "Have you kissed her yet?"

"Dude!  No.  I don't wanna talk about it, OK?"

"You're blushing."

"Shut up!"

"I can't figure out if you're blushing 'cause you did, or 'cause you didn't."

"Shut up!  I didn't, OK?  Never!  I've never kissed anyone except my Mom and my Aunt Arial who smells like 32-bit lotion."

"Chill!  It's all right.  You will – it'll happen.  Patch likes you, I know she does.  Just be cool and it'll happen."

"Maybe." Linux sighed. "Actually, we both went to see you and while we were waiting and talking she was saying how nice it was that you and Lisa had each other to take care of and everything.  And I kinda lost it and I told her I really liked her and I'd take an infection for her if I had to."

"Dude – that's awesome!"

Linux sighed and blushed a little more.  "I was kinda goofy, though.  I told her I knew she didn't like me that much and it was OK and I'd leave her alone, and then she said well, she kinda did like me…"

"Pixelacious!"

"I dunno – I just acted all weird and intense and I think I freaked her out.  And we didn't even get in to see you, anyways!"

"That's cool, though – you told her you like her and she said she likes you.  That's a big step, y'know?"

"I guess.  But it's not like you and Lisa, though.  You guys are totally, I dunno…  Together.  Every time you're together."

"Not at first.  I was really nervous, but….  It changed.  I don't even know why, it just did."  I smiled and now it was my turn to blush, I think.  "I totally love her, Linux.  You know?  I know I'm only 1.3 but I really do."

"I know.  It's pretty cool."

"Yeah."  I lay back with my hands behind my head and closed my eyes, just enjoying the feeling of being with a friend and acting goofy and not having to worry who noticed.  Plus, I could tell Linux stuff – I guess because he was almost my age.  I don't know why that matters so much, but it does.

"What's the secret, Enzo?"

I winked one eye open. "No clue, Dude.  I didn't plan it – it just happened.  I'll tell you the most important thing, though – be nice."

"Thanks a lot.  I kneel before you, O Wise One."

"No – I mean it!   I think a lot of guys just aren't nice to girls, you know?  They treat them really bad.  If you're nice to a girl and just talk to her and listen to her, it really makes a difference."

Linux scratched his chin thoughtfully.  "You think?"

"Definitely.  If you're nice, even a hideous freak like you might have a chance."

"Ouput."  Linux whacked me with his pillow and I let out a resounding scream.  User, it felt good.  "Easy to make jokes when you have a righteous babe for a girlfriend."

"I-  Never mind.  I can't argue with that."

"Lucky bastard."  Linux fell backwards next to me and we lay there for a few nanos, staring at the ceiling.  "So, uh…  What's it feel like to be infected?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

I shrugged.  "Nothing – honest.  The only part of me that got infected was my arm – and I was in a time-lock anyways, thanks to Lisa's Dad.  It was just total nothingness – no dreams, no thoughts, nothing.  It felt very weird when I woke up – everything was all time-shifted, or something."

"Dude."

"Yeah."

"You're really lucky, Enzo.  Zip could've deleted you in that game, or you could've been infected a lot worse."

"I know."  I propped myself up on my elbow and faced him.  "I dunno why stuff happens, sometimes.  But I've been really lucky about a lot of things."

"It would've sucked if you got infected."

"For me, too."

"I'm serious!  My brother got infected and I never saw him again.  Now you – that would've been awful.  It's hard, you know...  It's hard for me to make friends and stuff.  And it was really easy with you."

"It was really easy with you, too.  This place would suck without you here."

"Shut up." Linux sighed.  "You and Lisa would still be sucking face all cycle – that's what would suck!"

"No.  I mean, Lisa is incredible – she rocks.  But you're like my brother, Dude.  Totally.  I'd hate it if you weren't here."

"You too."  He held out his hand.  "You're more like my brother than my real brothers in a lot of ways."

"Cool."  We shook.  "We promised, right?  We stick together, to the end."

"Definitely." Linux grinned.  "And Daemon better watch out, 'cause we're gonna kick her ascii."

"Unless we have a date."

"Crash!  You are nuts.  I'm going to bed."

"Bed?"  I checked my chronometer as Linux pushed me onto the floor.  "Aw, Man – it's almost lights out!"

"I know!" he giggled.  "That's why I'm going to bed."

"Man…  I've been sleeping all cycle!  I told you, everything was all weird when I got out of that time lock.  I won't be able to sleep for seconds!"

"Sorry Enzo.  Lights out is lights out."

"Yeah."  This sucked – it was gonna take me cycles to get my chronometer back to normal.  And there was no way I was gonna fall asleep anytime soon.  I kicked Linux' foot-locker and limped back to my bed with a sigh.

I picked up my organizer and tried to work on a homework assignment, but I couldn't concentrate – my mind was still buzzing with everything that'd happened.  Sleep isn't something you think about much except when you really want it and it won't come – that's when you realize how precious it is.  Sometimes at home I'd lie in by docking bay for microseconds after Dot put me to bed, just worrying about everything and feeling lonely and afraid.  When I was real little I could crawl into bed with her and she almost never kicked me out – she wrapped me up in her arms and talked to me or sang to me and held me till I fell asleep.  But that definitely wasn't an option here.  I didn't think Mouse would be too cool with the idea.

I sighed and tossed my organizer aside, and prepared myself for a long night.  Then I head Linux' voice from the darkness on his side of the room.  "Enzo?"

I looked up, surprised.  "Yeah?"

"I think I'll stay up for a while.  You wanna do something?"

"Aren't you tired?"

"Nah."  I could dimly see him, propped up on his elbow and smiling.  "We can't use the organizers or anything, but we could play a word game, or-"

"We could just talk."

"Yeah.  We could just talk.  You want to?"

"Yeah, I think so.  Cool."

"Cool."

"Linux?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks.  You're the best."

"You too."