***HAHA! Another update, and it's not late at night! I outlined the rest of this book this morning between classes, and I think you're going to like it <3 And I also wrote down some plot points for "That One Girl"...and let's just say, that unrevealed ship has chemistry 😏***

***(Zane's POV)***

"I don't believe it!" Lloyd fumes as I meet him in front of our classroom the next morning.

It was a long night. I never have trouble falling asleep, but I was haunted by thoughts of PIXAL...being an android.

How can someone non-human be the realest person I know?

Not to mention that I learned my father is dead. I mean, it only confirms what I suspected, but...I had always held out hope for finding him in the future.

I suppose I don't have much reason to cry. I will compartmentalize my grief, as I do with many unnecessary emotions.

"Zane, are you even listening?" Lloyd asks.

I snap out of my thoughts. "Sorry, no. What seems to be the matter, Lloyd?"

"Jay and Nya!" he exclaims. "Didn't you hear?"

"I...am afraid I don't follow," I say slowly. "Would you please enlighten me?"

"Yesterday, she says there's nothing between them. I saw them almost kiss on the roof of the monastery, and she says she was just high on adrenaline. And then last night, we hung out for a while, and...and she told me once again that she wasn't into Jay." He laughs humorlessly, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't think she'd lie to me! I thought she was different!" His bottom lip trembles.

I see that under his anger is a world of pain.

I place a hand on his shoulder. "Do not fret, Lloyd. She doesn't have feelings for Jay. I thought you were aware of that."

"Well, that's what you and I both thought, but this morning..." He tosses a hand in the air. "Suddenly, she tells her brother that the two have been dating. It's been going on in secret, apparently. And she was all touchy-feely with him – she held his hand, she kissed his cheek." He shakes his head. "She lied to me, Zane! I – I thought I could trust her!"

My brain rushes to process all that I've been told, but...

This does not compute.

"Perhaps you should speak with her about your misgivings," I suggest. "Nya would not blatantly lie to you without good reason. She loves you as a sibling, Lloyd." And I had thought she harbored romantic feelings for him, but...perhaps I am wrong?

"I can't talk to her right now," Lloyd moans. "How am I supposed to face her? And ever think that it doesn't make sense how Jay's been pining after her? If they've really been together for a while now, why can't he talk to her like a normal human being? Why write her secret love notes?"

"Perhaps...he was pretending? If he really didn't want you to know about their relationship, he might act to make things seem as though his feelings were entirely one-sided."

"Jay's a horrible liar. He couldn't pull something like that off." He shakes his head. "I just don't know anymore, Zane. I can't trust anyone. Not my mom, or my dad, or Jay, apparently. And I had thought Nya was different, but..." He sighs miserably. "Let's just go to class."

I nod, concerned for him. Lloyd has faced much brokenness in his life. I do not want him to break, too.

As I begin to follow Lloyd inside the classroom, I feel someone's hand brush against mine. I look down to find that it's...

PIXAL.

"Zane," she smiles. "How are you this morning? Your loafers are looking very polished today."

I can't help a slow grin. "I am well, thank you. And...thank you, once again, for your reverence toward my shoes. How are you this morning?"

"I am very well. May I discuss something with you?"

Just as I did last night, I peer down at a watch I've never needed. It says that we have only three minutes before class begins.

But I suppose a quick conversation won't hurt.

"Of course, PIXAL," I reply, stepping out of the doorway. "What is it you'd like to discuss?"

"My father's project," she beams. 'The modeling one. Would you like to join me at my house this afternoon and work on it together?"

I beam. "O-of course, PIXAL. I very much enjoy your company."

"Really?" she gasps. "And I enjoy yours, as well! You are the most interesting person I know."

"I am?" I am confident I'm glowing with happiness. No one has ever told met that before. I know my team loves me, but...I've always been so different from them.

That is not the case with PIXAL.

"You are indeed the most interesting person I know." She nods emphatically. "Would you like Mr. Borg to pick us up after our classes? I know you may not want to wait around once you finish your lectures."

"It's fine," I rush to reassure her. "I would be happy to stay. And, um, I can...offer you a ride, if you would like."

"Would you...do you want to take me?" she asks, her voice timid.

"I do." Something inside me urges me to reach out and grasp her hands.

Perfectly white teeth show as she smiles. "Then...I would love to ride with you."

I stare into her eyes for a moment, sensing the connection between us growing stronger. Why is it that I feel so close to her? It's almost like...we're two halves of a whole finally finding each other.

Someone shoves past me, and I blink. "Um, we, uh, should take our seats."

Her eyes widen. "I – yes. I had...forgotten." We both scramble into our classroom.

By lunch, Lloyd is utterly silent. I think the term I'd use to describe his behavior would be sulking.

I asked PIXAL to join us, but she explained that she wanted to explore the school library a little more. I offered to join her, but she said she was researching something she would tell me about later.

I suppose it's...a surprise?

Nya sits down next to Jay, placing her lunch tray at our table. She's acting...rather unusual. For one, she's incredibly happy. For two...she's touching Jay and laughing at Jay and generally paying more attention to him than normal. He looks mesmerized.

She whispers something in his ear, then clears her throat. "Lloyd, do you have a minute to talk?"

"I'm eating noodles," he says coldly.

"That's never stopped you before."

"Well, actually," he corrects her, "when we went full-on commando on Master Chen – "

"You know what I mean, Lloyd."

I raise a hand. "I...do not know what you mean." I am incredibly confused.

The two ignore me.

Lloyd fingers his chopsticks. "Why don't you talk to Jay about it? You seem pretty close to him lately."

A vein in her forehead pops. "Lloyd, I'll pull out the big guns."

"Like what?"

"I have cherry licorice with me."

Lloyd stands upright. "Five minutes. Let's get this over with."

Cole shakes his head as they leave. "Lloyd's onto you, Jay."

"Onto...Jay? What do you mean?" I inquire.

Jay narrows his eyes at Cole. "Nothing. He means nothing. I'm going to use the restroom." He scoots back his chair and quickly walks off.

Cole raises an eyebrow. "Teach him a lesson for me in chess club, Zane."

For lack of a better response, I say, "Okay."

I have no idea what's going on.

***(PIXAL's POV)***

"Mr. Borg, we're here," I call, pushing open the door to our mansion.

"Just a moment," he answers.

I smile up at Zane. "After we're finished with Mr. Borg's project today...how would you feel about looking at, uh, some of the research I compiled from the library?" I finger my coat nervously.

Zane nods vigorously. "I would be happy to, PIXAL."

I swallow. The information I found...it was on his creator. I want to break to him the news that he's an android slowly. Perhaps asking him to do a little reading is the right way to go about it. I'll start him off by showing him some of the other wonderful things his creator invented, then break the real news to him in a week or two.

"Ah, I see you both are ready to work," my father observes. "Let's retreat to my laboratory, shall we?"

I nod. "That reminds me, Mr. Borg – Zane has his own project he's been intending to tell you about."

"Oh, really?" My father wheels down the hall.

"Yes," Zane replies. "I am working on a set of vests for...well, for something like battle simulation."

"Battle simulation?" my creator asks. "Why would you want an invention like that?"

"My friends and I are training our bodies...for, uh, the militia," Zane stammers.

I can tell he's lying – he can barely get the untruthful words out of his mouth. I wonder what he's lying about?

"The militia," Mr. Borg muses. "Interesting. I would enjoy having a look at your invention, Zane. Is it completed yet?"

"Not quite. Since there are six of the vests, it's taking me longer than expected. Additionally, the vests demonstrate electric shock to the wearer, and I want to perform that function in a safe manner."

"Intriguing!" Borg exclaims. "The next time we meet, Zane, you should bring your invention with you."

"I'd be happy to," Zane smiles. "Now, what will we be doing for your project today?"

"Ah, yes! I'd like to test your brainwaves and compare them with PIXAL's. It's a simple process involving electrodes. Is that all right with you?"

Zane nods. "That is fine. The process is not harmful, correct?"

"Of course, not," Mr. Borg reassures me. "It's simply for science."

"Then I shall be happy to share my brainwaves with you."

We enter the laboratory. It's a large room – utilitarian in nature, without any sort of decoration – but the gentle thrumming of hundreds of machine engines has always made me feel at home.

"Sit down here," Borg instructs, pointing to a chair.

Zane does as he says, and I take the seat opposite him.

***Music Cue***

Borg begins to hook electrodes up to Zane's forehead. I do my own – I've been through this process countless times.

"We'll test multiple brainwave scenarios," Borg muses. "We'll compare them at rest, when solving mathematical equations, when reading..." He continues to mutter to himself as he messes around with a machine.

Eventually, he has both of our brainwaves demonstrated on side-by-side screens.

"The resemblance is remarkably similar," Borg observes. "Zane, what is your heart made from?"

I cringe. "Mr. Borg, he...his heart is..."

"Oh, yes," my creator is quick to say. "Er, I...ignore my question, Zane. It was thoughtless."

"It's all right," Zane smiles.

Borg scribbles down some information. "All right. I'd next like to test your brainwaves while reading. Let me go grab two copies of a book." He rummages around on a shelf.

I look over at Zane. "Thank you for joining us in this process."

"It's my pleasure. I'm enjoying learning more about you, PIXAL. We...connect." He looks at his lap.

Excitement rises in me. Is it possible that...he likes me, too? I mean, I don't know very many human boys my age – okay, any human boys my age – but processing the way he acts toward me through my database...

"Aha!" my creator exclaims. "I finally found two of the same tome. Now, I will randomly pick a page number...let's say...103! And you'll both flip to that page and read whatever it says at the same time. I'll make a recording of your brainwaves." He shoves a book at each of us.

Zane flips through the pages, searching for 103.

He abruptly stops on one, his face showing distress.

I frown. "Zane, what's wrong? Is..."

It's at that moment I see my father got into my library books. I picked up two copies of a journal I found that was written by whom I believe to be Zane's creator. I had intended to read one myself and give the other to Zane, but he...he isn't ready yet!

Oh, no. Zane – he's reading his creator's work!

I panic – which is incredibly rare for me. "Zane, close the book!"

It falls limply in his lap.

"I..." He trails off, looking at me with wondering eyes.

"Zane..." I tug the electrodes off my forehead, rising and coming to his side.

The open page of his book showcases a full-body sketch of Zane.

"This...this is why...you believe I'm an android?" he swallows.

"Well..." I shake my head, knowing he deserves the truth. "Yes, Zane."

He lurches out of his chair, electrodes popping off. "No. I...it can't be. No!"

"Calm yourself, Zane," I tell him. "There's much we don't know."

Sorrow-filled eyes stare at me as he backs toward the door. "Just...just stay away from me. Both of you. I...I don't believe it!" He runs out the door.

"Zane, wait!" I yell. I chase after him.

But by the time I make it to the hallway, he's gone – driving down the road, far away from me.

"No," I sniff.

But it's too late.

***So, what did you guys think of this chapter? I liked it pretty well. As I've mentioned, I feel like I was kind of off my game for "Untamed". I hope this story is a little more fun for ya ;)

Until tomorrow!

Blessings,

Beep24***