October 25th, 2125

"Heads up!"

People shouted as Harry glided across the skywalk on his hoverboard, rushing back from the bakery to make it on time for school.

Harry weaved in and out of foot traffic before slowing to a stop in front of the Capital Building, the place he called home. The largest building in the world was home to the central leaders of technology.

"Good morning, Mr. Edwards," chirped the doorman.

"Morning, Mr. Percival!" Harry responded.

He shuffled his way to one of the two transport tubes and entered in the code of his condo. The lights flashed, rearranging his molecules before putting them back together in his living room.

Welcome home, Harold the 3rd.

"Hello, Serenity," he chimed back.

He placed his board into its anti gravity case and quickly set himself up on his school computer. The sleek, top of the line, hologram computer he uses for leisurely practices was tucked away in his room. The outdated desktop smoothly started up and Harry adjusted the virtual eyewear as he clicked onto his school's area code.

It is 9:59 a.m.

He barely missed the tardy bell as his avatar appeared in his homeroom and he took his assigned seat.

"Mr. Edwards. Nearly late as usual," lulled the teacher, Mrs. Truman.

"But still here, miss," Harry retorted.

Her face grew red as the class let out a laugh. She glared daggers at Harry, completely over the rich kid persona he let off, and turned back to the class attendance.

"Okay, listen up. We have a new student joining us today. Mr. Terrence Quinn."

Harry's eyes snapped to the back as the new student stood from his desk. He narrowed them in speculation, he knew him as the newest technology innovator's son. They had moved into the Capital a few weeks ago after his mother developed a fix for a flaw in synthetic skin for burned and scarred patients.

Terrence speculated the room. Each avatar was a new "face" to him, except for his newest neighbour, Harold. Terrence got to know Harry silently from afar as he used a disguised avatar during leisure games and chat rooms. He never met the boy in real life but he saw pictures of the bright redhead on billboards and interviews on HoloTv like much of everyone else in the world.

Terrence, by habit, fiddled with the long, black hair of his avatar much like he does in real life. He sat back down after releasing the strands of hair and nearly spontaneously exploding from the fixed gaze of said redhead. The old woman lead a discussion about their next point in life, university.

"Though university might not be the next step for some of you," she continued, staring not so inconspicuous at Harry. "But it is suggested to consider higher education."

"Question," Harry stated.

Mrs. Truman sighed, annoyed. "Yes, Harold?"

"What if you, I don't know, happen to be living in the Capital Building and perhaps be one of the smartest minds in the world?"

She closed her eyes in frustration. Harold smiled cheekily, knowing how much of a nuisance to the elderly teacher he was. She glared at him and huffed.

"Well, I suppose then that that person wouldn't have to worry about higher education," she reluctantly answered.

"Awesome." And he logged out of the program.

In his living room, Harry laughed heartily at the sudden exit before clicking onto the program again.

"Just kidding," he joked as he materialized in his seat.

Terrence admired the reckless redhead as several of the surrounding students gave him high fives and a few of the girls sent him sultry leers that he seemed to avoid purposely. The school bell rang and they all quickly filed out of the room. Terrence was the last to leave to evade running into Harry.

Which proved to be unnecessary when the handsome tech wizard approached his area. The curious blue eyes met his hazel ones as they came face to face. Well, face to chest as Terrence was quite shorter than Harry.

"Fancy seeing you here. Didn't know we were in the same age group," Harry pondered.

Having done well in literature, Terrence didn't understand why words weren't forming to respond to him. Harry raised a brow as he waited for a reply. They both stood in silence as Terrence tried to find the brain power to make sounds come out his mouth. Which wasn't going too well, to say in the least.

"Well then...since you're new and all, I thought I'd show you around for the remainder of the week. We could also hang out if you like, especially because we live in the same building now," Harry concluded.

While Terrence was trying to make his brain work, Harry eyed him. Perfectly natural tan skin, long hair tied in a braid down to his mid thigh, black, horn rimmed glasses sitting on a button nose, doe like light brown eyes that lit up at his presence. Harry knew he had to be in his company more.

"S-sure," Terrence finally stammered. "I'd like that."

"Awesome," Harry grinned. "What's your first class?"

"Um," Terrence fumbled for the virtual paper in his parcel. "Physical education."

Now, in the beginning of virtual school, parents were concerned about the lack of physical education if their child was stuck in a chair during school. Since all equipment including the actual public school program was provided free to students, all families were able to afford the full experience. So a device that tracks movement, heart rate, and vigor was added to the package for all activities involving physical motion.

"That's convenient, I was heading that way too," Harry beamed as he placed an hand on Terrence's upper arm to lead him out the door.

Inside, Terrence was giddy with excitement. Not only was he talking to the center of almost all his thoughts but he was touching him also!

Tuck that away for the future, he thought.

Never in his life did he think he would be this lucky. Now they had to see each other for at least an hour and a half every day. His arm burned in delight where Harry's hand sat.

"The great thing about virtual school is," Harry mentioned as he reached to press a button on the gym wall. "No changing. I mean, changing should be as easy as in a video game, am I right?"

Terrence hummed an agreement as he not so subtly checked out Harry. Over the years, avatar creation has become near spot on to their human controllers. Looking at the avatar replica, Terrence only wondered what the real thing was like. The way the digital shirt clung to his defined chest was absolute sin. For a guy who hangs around computers a lot, Harry defied the computer nerd stereotype and then some.

After following suit and going through a good amount of stretching and warming up, Terrence seated himself back in his chair and directed his avatar to walk slowly around the gym. He made a lap and a half around before Harry was cruising next to him. The two comfortably strolled till the end of the period, stealing glances at each other when the other wasn't looking. They both manifested their regular clothes before either of them spoke.

"Wanna go grab lunch? They give us 15 extra minutes to the standard 45," Harry suggested.

"I'd love to!" Terrence quickly agreed.

"Awesome. Well, I'm going to shower first and I'll meet you down in the lobby."

Prior to realizing the situation, Harry logged out once again. Terrence was still there, immediately engulfed in nerves as he caught up with what he agreed to. Lunch. With Harold Edwards. In person.

Oh boy.

He then logged out and tried to use his legs to make it into the bathroom to also shower. He eyed his reflection in the wall to wall mirror stretching over his sink. Breathing deeply, he psyched himself up. Each encouragement only brought along another volley of discouragement.

Meanwhile, in another part of the building, Harry whistled gleefully in his private bathroom. Taking his sweet time scrubbing away the sweat of his workout. He turned on the dryers that got his entire body to the right moisture level which he preferred. Then, he dressed himself in a new set of black pants and a button up grey shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Going back in front of the mirror, he sprayed liquid gel in his red mop of hair and proceeded to shake his head till the gel dried and left behind a mess of red strands.

Giving himself a once over of approval, he merrily entered the transporter and whisked himself back to the lobby. He saw he was the first there, so he sat at the lounge to wait patiently. Since it was the middle of the day, Harry didn't expect many people to exit and the only other person who was a student in this building usually broke free of his apartment in the late afternoon. So when he heard the incoming transporter arrive in the lobby, he was happy to see it was, as expected, his little Terry.

The young Native American shyly looked around the lobby before settling on Harry's appreciative eyes. Harry looked over the smaller boy's appearance as he approached him. Terry wore an oversized blue sweatshirt with the words Book Worm on it, a pair of worn in red skinny jeans, and a set of beat up white sneakers. It was obvious that Terrence enjoyed comfort over appearance as he tugged on his sleeves.

"Hey," Harry greeted.

Terrence fought to flutter his eyes in contentment. The way Harry's breath flushed against his face kind of reduced him to an obsessed schoolgirl. And he was not proud to admit to even himself that he kind of was.

"Hey," he breathed.

"Come on, I know this awesome cafe a couple blocks from here. I usually ride my board there but it's comfortably cool today. Plus the sun's high in the sky."

Terrence smiled and excitedly followed Harry outside. He was impressed that Harry knew how to ride a hoverboard. He himself was never that coordinated to even stayed balanced on it for a few seconds. He would just flop off and onto the ground.

Harry talked most of the way, encouraging a few sentences from his Terry. He got a kick out of seeing a few blushes rise from him and timidly adjust his glasses. When they got to the cafe, Harry asked if it was alright if he ordered for them both while Terry got them a table. Terrence was weary but agreed and went to sit at a table next to the window on the far side of the room.

They chatted a bit more about the area and school, just random things they enjoyed. When two steaming dishes were placed in front of them, Terrence was confused by the little pie in the white ceramic dish. Harry poked at his before chowing down, little moans of pure pleasure escaping him with each chew. Terrence copied him then took a cautious bite. A bazillion flavours collided on his tongue as he processed the first bite.

"What is it?" He asked after swallowing.

"Vegetarian pot pie. Absolutely bonkers, right?" Harry replied.

Terrence nodded and continued taking slow bites, savouring each explosion of spice. He took off his glasses to wipe away steam that collected and slid them back onto the bridge of his nose.

"You should not wear glasses more often. They get in the way of your eyes, which is a shame," Harry impulsively commented.

He mentally face palmed himself for the thought that slipped from his brain. But he felt better about it as he spotted the heavy blush that darkened Terry's cheeks.

They both shared knowing glances and sheepish smiles for the rest of lunch. Each wallowing in the beauty of the other's face.