My dream is so vivid. 

It's cold again.  Steel frames above me, and bright lights.  I see silhouettes of people leaning over me.  My eyes burn and my stomach turns.  I turn my head. 

My neck is tingly and sore.

I can see green lights trickling down my line of sight, as they fade in and out of focus I see that they are numbers and symbols…and they begin to grow smaller as my view of the world goes into focus.  Suddenly the green symbols and shapes shrink altogether and melt into the wall of a dank alleyway.  I walk past in the rain.

My eyes fly open as the alarm on my clock rings shrilly.  I rub my neck with my hand self-consciously.  The world seems gray today.  Even though the sun is shining. 

Crisp air blows around me as I briskly trot to school.   Sherin and I meet at our usual corner and walk hand in hand.  My other hand stays in my pocket to keep out the bite of the October wind.  The cold wind reminds me of my dream.  I look over at Sherin, who is looking at the trees on the side of the road.  I decide not to bug her with my dreaming. 

"Aren't they beautiful?" she murmurs, staring at the golden light filtering through the dancing leaves that hang heavily from the boughs, like amber honey dripping from a comb.

 "Yeah." I say softly, looking at her awe-filled blue eyes and pink wind-chilled cheeks. 

School passes, full of dozing, crabby teachers, and stupid seniors.  I hack into the school's website during study hall and change the principal's name to "Mr. Hasslehoff" and the vice principals to "Mrs. Bleeth" and "Mrs. Electra"… I sit back and look.  Much better.  "Baywatch High."

I grin to myself wondering what Jim'll say when he sees. And then grimace picturing Mr. Handleman (The principal's real name) in a red speedo.

It takes the school a week and a half to hack through my anti-hack system I blocked the school website with after I "fixed" it.  They've notified the staff and students that if you can tell them anything about the culprit you'll get a free 4.0 on your next report card.  I'm seriously considering turning myself in by the looks of my GPA so far. 

Sherin greets me with a reproving look after class.

 "I thought you said you weren't gonna hack the school anymore." She mutters under her breath.

 "I know, I know." I say. "but…it's so easy. And I was so bored.  You know I've got nothing to do when you're off at your dad's those weekends…plus…you got to admit. It was damned funny." 

She cracks a grin and then corrects herself, trying to still look angry.  I smile benignly,

 "I just don't want you to get in trouble, that's all." She says, sounding a little worried.

"Don't worry." I say lightly. "I'm really careful. And I won't do the school anymore if it really makes you that worried."

"Thanks." She smiles, looking relieved.