I run through the side streets, swerving, ducking and even weaving. Hell, jumping over obstacles too. I used to do parkour, but it's been a while since I've done it professionally or for exercise purposes. Nothing's going to stand in my way right now. I'll never let anything or anyone bring me down.
I may have hot head tendencies from time to time, but I was born determined. I have fiery fighting spirit and a desire to succeed. My motto? If you don't succeed the first time... Finish the job later than originally planned... In my arms is a small cardboard box, full of an assortment of stuff. Cogs, copper wiring, spring's and only the God of the Core knows what else!
As I'm on route to my apartment, I feel a box yanked from my arms. I stop short and raise my fists, ready for a fight. I have a black belt, but when I realize who it is, I lower my hands. It's my friend, Ethan. One of the first people I met when I ran away from 'home' who welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home, but then also took the piss out of me a second later. It was funny so I instantly forgave him and we've been friends ever since. It's been a few years since I took off from the league and I've never looked back. Never thought of going back or sending a letter or even phoning. If I did though, I think Sebastian would have a few choice words for me.
Ethan claps his hands together to get my intention. He looks worried and I can't help smiling. I'm completely smitten with him, I have a crush on him. But I don't think he'd accept my confession. Not because we couldn't be a pairing, but rather than the fact he probably only sees me as a close friend and I'm not going to ruin what I have with him otherwise I'll be alone again.
Everyone else in this outback dusty town I found myself in is rather prudish much like Rain. "Harriet?" Ethan calls. "Y-yes?" I stammer nervously in front of him. "Are you okay? You always seem so nervous every time I see you..." He questions.
"Uh, just having an off day slightly..." I trail off. "How so?" He responds. "Do you want me to tell me about? We can take a seat on one of the benches and talk. I can buy us a soda."
"Soda goes right through me remember?" I snap. He frowns. "Sorry Harriet, I'll remember next time... I have a horrible memory at the worst and best of times."
I nod, jumping around slightly as I want to get my assorted box he's still holding, home!
"So, uh, I was planning a dinner party for I and some friends. You should come! It could be a chance to get to know some other people besides me." He puts down my box down on the dusty, sandy earth. I feel him place a hand on my shoulder and he gives it a gentle squeeze, smiling. His brown orbs are warm to look into. I find myself just drifting off, getting lost in them...
"Harriet?"
I snap out of thinking and see Ethan has moved closer to me. His other hand is just above my butt. Our chests are very close...
"Uh, I need to go Ethan! I have to keep myself to busy otherwise my anxiety will yell at me!" I yell, jumping back and grasping my box. I run away from him with a blush on my cheeks. "Just think about coming to my party! It'll be great, I promise!" I hear him say as I dissapear around the corner.
---
I've not long ago arrived back home. It's not a big apartment, but the basement downstairs is a decent size for me to tinker away in. I look to the cardboard box on my worktable. I've used most of the parts in it.
A few things are left over though and I take them out and screw or attach them in place. "There, finished!" I announce, placing my screwdriver and other tools. I pull out a handkerchief and wipe my forehead with it, I'm sweating.
I look over my creation. It's perfect! Question now is will it turn on still? I press in a button at the back of a small monitor attached to a mouse and keyboard with speakers, a microphone and webcam. After I press the button, I hear a little whirr inside and the screen lights up. It's glowing a gentle white. I see three coloured dots appear indicating that it's loading. Red, blue and green.
These few seconds feels like an eternity, but then the program finishes loading and she appears on screen in her simple black dress, back slip on shoes with pale skin and her dark green hair, down to her waist and last, but not least, curved face that's flawless of any freckles, light pink lips and dark green eyes, the eyelashes bold. You can't deny, she isn't drop dead gorgeous.
I duck my head down a bit with only my eyes visible and the top of my dyed pastel purple hair sticking out from beneath my headscarf. I can tell she's just noticed me as it always takes her a few extra seconds to register her surroundings despite being on. "Hello?" She calls out out. I find myself jumping up in excitement. "Yes, you turned back on!" I cry out, my purple hair and headscarf swaying.
Her cute laugh rings out despite her trying to cover her mouth with her hands. I try to hide my smile and my hands on the side of her casing. "You're alive!" I cry out. She laughs at my delight. "My name is Harriet, do you remember?" I ask, taking a hand of her casing to point to myself. "H-Harriet...?" She stammers, repeating my name. "Yes." I answers with tears falling from my eyes.
A few seconds pass after a swirly icon in the top left hand corner and then it vanished and she clutches her hands together and bowls. "I remember! Although, it's a little foggy, but it will all come back to me. I just ask that you give me some time considering you had to shut me down to upgrade me."
"So you understand why I did?" I ask. "Yes." She responds. Short, simple and sweet.
"Do you remember your name?" I ask. She thinks about it, but it takes 3 seconds less than it did for her to respond to my previous question that was a little more complex.
"My name is Image! But you can cell me: Image-on."
I frown. She's never said that before today... "Is something wrong?" She asks. "Uh, no!" I panic. "Wait here Image, I have something for you!"
I reach under the workbench and pull out a miniature electric and wireless car. It should be connected up to her. "See if you can move?" I ask. She gives me a smile and the car starts to roll back and fourth. "Yes, you can move! I cry out excitedly.
I run to the stairs that lead upstairs. I drop a plank of wood for it that her to roll up. "Come on!" I cry excitedly and she starts driving towards me. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"
I run up the rest of the way and she gives chase. I arrive in my kitchen, then I hear a whirr sound behind me and turn around to see how close she is to my feet and in fight, I jump up onto the bench. "Wow, you're fast!" I laugh. "But you scared me!"
"I-I scared you?" She says, her voice coming from a built in transmitter next to a small camera inside. I wave my hands in front of my face. "No, no! You didn't! I actually just scared myself..."
"Okay..." She whispers. "Listen Image, I just need to go get changed. Can you wait here?" I ask. "Of course Harriet!" She responds.
I run off to change out of my sports outfit into some clothes for relaxing in.
---
After I have finished changing, I return to my kitchen and see Image sitting near the door that leads out of my house on the bench. The remote control car is sitting on the floor beside her feet as she seems to have switched back to her hologram form. She has one, but it uses alot of energy rather quickly and for her to open doors and windows using magnets and electric small, square control panels uses even more energy so she usually stays inside the computer. "Oh, why are you over there Image?" I ask
"No reason in particular, it just wasn't sufficient to stay in the car. It was fun, but someone knocked on your door while you were changing. I didn't want to disturb you so I answered..."
"Oh. Who?" I ask. "Someone named Ethan. He said something about a gathering being canceled.
Do you know what his referring too?" She questions, tilting her head.
"Oh, yeah, yeah. I do... He had just invited me. Oh well, that's too bad. Did he say why it was canceled?"
She doesn't respond. "No?" I question. Her blank express turns to a frown. "Why are you sad?" I ask. "Please don't be sad Harriet, I don't want you to be sad." She responds to my question.
"Me? Sad?"
"Yes."
She looks like she's about to burst into tears. "I'm not sad Image, just disappointed." I tell her.
"Let me help you not be disappointed, I don't want your heart to be filled with more baggage."
"Aww! That's so sweet Image, really. I've never had anyone care about how I've felt before much."
"You haven't?"
I shake my head, feeling tears fall from the corner of my eyes. She steps towards me, arms outstretched. but then realizes I won't feel her hug me so she vanishes and I feel something bump against my boot. It's her, back in control of the car.
I gently run my fingers along the front of the car. "Thank you for caring." I smile, wiping my tears.
"You're welcome Harriet."
"Do you want to do something tonight? It is just us now because my social plans fell through."
"Yes, I'd like that very much!"
And I pick her up, placing the car on the bench next to the fridge. I pull out some cherry tomato's from my fridge. "I know a great canyon with a nice view of the sunset not far off from town. I was looking at the terrain before online. Do you want to go?" She asks. "Sure. I was going to start on dinner, but picnic under the stars it is!" I respond.
"Great, it will be so beautiful Harriet! I know you'll just love it! Do you want to go now?"
"Hold your circuit-breaker, I need food to eat Image. Let me just pack myself a bento-box and fill up a bottle with water. Then we can head off." I tell her, taking a chopping board and knife to cut the cherry tomatoes.
"I just want to make you happy Harriet."
"You already have Image. You already have."
"Harriet?"
"Yes?"
"Are you feeling vulnerable lately?"
"What?" I say, lowering the knife to face her. "Why are you asking?"
"You programmed me to learn." She responds.
"Uh, I did..." I trail off, turning back to the bench awkwardly. As I chop, I see her drive off, back downstairs.
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