"..."

     My handler was silent for another few seconds, long enough for me to run another few blocks, then another few more, until I was across town and at the entrance to my neighborhood. Popping up from behind a stone sign with the name of said neighborhood scrawled across it, just in case the neighbors' cameras needed an excuse for where I came from, I started to casually stroll on in and take my time. Quiet, because in early August, people tended to keep their windows open and keep the energy bills down.

     "Do you want to keep working for the company after you graduate?"

     "Probably," I said, keeping my voice and head low while passing under the barely-shifting trees in a horribly weak wind. Glancing over to a front porch and seeing a couch with a cat on it, toys in the yard. "I don't see a reason to quit. And from what I've seen, college isn't actually as busy as it looks. Just pick an easy major and you'll have a load of free time."

     "Gen-Ed classes are nothing to scoff at. When I was a freshman-"

     "Aha, but you weren't the studious type, were you?"

     "Neither are you!"

     "I have all As right now and I had all As junior year and sophomore and freshman year, and I've had this gig since I was thirteen. Tell me I'm not studious."

     "You do homework during patrols."

     "And I get it done and right. You know how many AP classes I'm taking right now?" I asked with a grin, knowing it was ticking her off.

     "Don't tell me. I don't care. I just had one-"

     "Four, and I'm in a club."

     "Kids like you are just the worst, you know?"

     "Ah, yes. We're terrible because we're great at everything and we know it."

     "That confidence is going to get you-...no, no. You'll be fine. You'll be fine."

     "Guilty for almost jinxing me, are you? I thought you were a good Muslim. Wait a minute, when's the last time you went to church-"

     "Oh shut up, Nike. I should've never told you that."

     "Weren't you the one that asked me to remind you on Fridays, when I came in to do my report, to go to church afterwards?"

     "That was two years ago!"

     "And you're still a crappy Muslim. Huh. What do your parents think of you again-"

     "And you're a terrible daughter! Staying out late and not telling anyone where you are-"

     "Thaaaaat's funny, because as far as I know," a smile flashed on my face while pulling keys out and holding the majority so they didn't jangle on the door. "My grades are great, my personality is reasonable, I've got a good extracurricular schedule, I've got a job-"

     "They don't know what it is, so you're actually a liar too-"

     "-and there's nothing for them to have a problem with besides me coming back late. Even then, I'm always back at the same time and I don't cause trouble. It's a win-win situation, and therefore I am not a terrible daughter. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm finally home and I want to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow, Chandra."

     "Whatever," she sighed on the other end of the line. "Night."

     Pulling my keys out of the door, I slipped inside and closed it quietly behind me. The interior was cool and the AC going, because Mom really couldn't stand being hot even though Dad complained about the energy bill all the time. I almost felt like I was walking through an ice cage while going to my room and slipping inside there as well, turning on the lights and beginning to undress. It was difficult to feel clean after sitting on a rooftop for four hours a day, with all of the pollution swirling around in the wind, the general dirt that collected on top a building that was never cleaned, etc.

     Oh wait, I remembered while about to streak to the bathroom directly across from my door. The report.

     Even my white bag looked like it'd need a washing. I hadn't thought much about it when buying the thing, wanting something clean-looking and nice for once, but soon regretted bringing it to that rooftop with me and storing it behind the AC unit that seemed to churn out more black smoke than anything. A month into the school year and the thing was already dark gray. But it still functioned and I was cheap, so I pulled out my laptop, pulled up a template, typed quickly away at the thing - waited for my keyboard to register the keys I'd typed on a bit too fast and anxious to shower - and saved it. Made sure my VPN was on and that I was on the right email before sending it off to Chandra, who would forward it to the police department.

     Job done, I went for that shower and I owned it for the whole minute I was in there, scrubbing with super speed and having to take it a bit slower on my hair - just by a few seconds - before slathering conditioner, braiding it, and running back off to my room to happily slip into bed and go to sleep.

     Finally, I grinned, so happy. I was eight minutes earlier than predicted. I think I'll get...seven minus one is six, minus thirty, minus eight, is six and a half plus eight...six hours and thirty-eight minutes of sleep! So cool!

     I made the same calculation as I did every night while turning over beneath the covers, taking in a big breath and pushing it out. One robbery put away that evening at the very end of my shift, Dad would be coming home soon perfectly safe as always, I'd done all of my assignments for the night.

     Wait. Wait wait, no-

     "No-"

     My eyes flashed open as I sat up and prayed I was wrong. Scrambling for the lights, really feeling that energy drink kicking in though I should've burned it away from all that running earlier, and grabbing for my laptop at my desk. Logging in to that stupid platform, checking to make sure all assignments were submitted-

     "Ahhh!" I groaned to myself, setting the laptop down on the desk angrily and pulling the chair out. "Stupid econ!"

     I forgot an assignment. Just one, and it wasn't big, but it was my worst subject and I knew it'd continue to kill me for the rest of the semester. I wanted my all-A status to keep harassing Chandra with it, and I wanted my high grades to keep my parents happy, and I wanted my perfect GPA so I could get my perfect college dream, and I wanted my high GPA because I'd fought too hard to give it up then-

     The assignment was taking forever to print out from that stupid platform the school used. If they didn't switch over by the end of the year as they'd promised, and if it crashed my computer one more time, I was starting a protest. But it did print, and I did pull up the textbook and start cracking away at it, angry that videos only allowed up to two times speed when that was far too slow.

     Until there was a knock at my door that made me jump, pulling out my headphones as Dad poked his head into the room. Tired, with a face of mild concern, he glanced down at his watch. "What are you doing awake so late?"

     "I forgot an assignment," I sighed, arm over the back of my chair before glancing through the blinds behind my computer. His cop car was in the driveway and I hadn't even heard it pull up, though normally I always did if I was awake that late. Glancing at the corner of the screen, it was...one AM. Fantastic. "It's due tomorrow. Did you just get back? Wasn't your shift done an hour ago?"

     "Just some stuff to clean up. There was a mess downtown an hour ago."

     "Ah," I said, brows raising and putting my headphones completely down where they'd been swinging like little anchors over my fingers. Grabbing for my glasses and trying not to seem too suspiciously 20/20 when I was notorious for my bad vision, putting them on to see him "better." "Another robbery at Mom's bank? How many times does it have to be robbed before she stops using them?"

     Dad, to his credit, shrugged. "Maybe that's why I'm the only one paying the energy bill here. The provider would probably reject her if she tried to set up automatic payments with her bank."

     I laughed a little, trying to bring a smile to his face. He looked a little more tired than usual, so I stood up and came over for a hug. "Doesn't she pay the water bill though?"

     "True," he said, chin on top of my head, his belt of gear poking into my ribcage.

     "And the internet?"

     "Also true. But we have a shared account for groceries, so it evens out."

     "Hm...I don't know if that evens out."

     "I can take away your unlimited plan if you want to find out how much influence I have over that as well."

     "I'm great, thanks though, Dad."

     "I also pay that optometrist every time you break your glasses. Make sure you use them so we don't have to go back just to get a better pair because you're hurting your eyes on blue light."

     "Dad, need I remind you-"

     "No, you don't need to. What you need to do is finish your homework so you can go to sleep."

     "Okay, okay," I sighed again, pulling back enough to rub my eyes and push my glasses up my head. I was actually getting tired. Stupid energy drink did nothing for a metabolism like mine. "But are you alright?"

     "Me? Of course."

     I stopped rubbing my eyes and let my glasses fall back onto my nose, looking up at him. There was just something off that left me feeling unsettled while licking my teeth and trying to figure out what it was.

     Earlier, when I first ran up to him, nothing had been off at all. He was usual grumpy him when encountering annoying didn't-know-it-was-me, but with a new rank.

     "I don't believe you."

     "Well," Dad put his hand on top my head and shook back and forth, making my neck wobble. "You're going to have to. It's been a long night, and your eyes are starting to look like a true high schooler's. Get some sleep even if you don't finish, alright?"

     "For your peace of mind I'm going to say yes, I'll do that." He scoffed at my finger guns pointing at him, pushing them down. I holstered them without a second thought. "Have a good night, Dad. See you later."

     "Sleep, Cade."

     I only smiled brightly at him to say, that's not going to happen, before he shook his head and closed the door behind. Listening for his steps down the hall, listening to him go into his room, and listening to Mom wake up, "Hey, Honey," and him saying, "I'm back."

    And he got ready to go to sleep as I walked back over to my chair and sat down contentedly. He seemed tired, but nothing seemed extremely wrong or off. He greeted Mom like always, and he got ready for bed without a second thought.

     Things were like they always were. Predictable, peaceful, low-threat. Tiring and annoying, but, well, that was life.

     I turned back to econ and ground the night away.