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"How many are there?" I asked, exploring page after page, organized by faculty and number.

538 courses and counting.

"In English? A shit ton times... three-ish?" was Valeriy's less than useful reply. Paired with a shrug. She didn't even look up from another binder she's been working on. "So glad I don't have to piece together a schedule that doesn't involve waking up before dawn."

"You failed that goal every single term that wasn't online."

"Shhhh, let me keep dreaming."

"To which none of this matters with Mr. Barnes. As if I would disrupt his staggered sleep cycle," the A.I. ghost aimed right at Valeriy.

The head of dark red hair meekly ducked down. The movement shrugged her shoulders closer to her ears. A wince flashing across her face. She'd been wincing for the last four days.

"I have no idea what to study," I mumbled.

There were so many choices. A large portion of which I couldn't begin to guess what was being taught from the course name alone.

"What are you interest...ed..." her voice fading.

"...I... I can't even answer that question...."

"Going by how much time you spend staring at the stars, Astrology might be an option."

I added it to the list that consisted of only the word physics. Only there since it was the most interesting subject I had to study, and it didn't involve Valeriy having to drive out to grab a chemistry kit.

"I've created a page with all classes related to space. They might be of interest to you."

"What about the animal thing?" Valeriy tried.

"Zoology.... It's called Zoology."

"What did you take when you were in university?" I asked before the bickering to could start.

"Computer... sciences...? Was too lazy to switch out when I started hating it.... Took ancient Asian civilization as my art credits. That was more fun? Everything was just regurgitation," she said, scribbling a few lines of notes into the back of the binder.

That was an option. Ancient Civilizations. Anything from the past hundred years the A.I. ghost had censored off the lists. But there were thousands of years of history. Maybe I could even learn about the dinosaurs.

My fingers navigated to the A.I. ghost created tab on the tablet resting on my knees. Astrophysics. Cosmology. Planetary Geology.

Things were so convenient in this century. So much information found in almost an instant.

More books than a library could hold now fit in a slim device no bigger than a children's book. No more misplaced books. Even textbooks were digital.

'Bonnie would have loved this,' and the drifting thought put a pause in my reading.

I quickly switched to a pen and opened one of the hand bound notebooks. Another little bit of information about my sisters.

Bonnie would have loved the tablet. And the internet.

I added another line that I would have liked this if I were a kid. A lot easier to read under the blanket.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

I didn't even have to look at this point. Didn't need to look up to reach out and catch a slim shoulder and pull back before another thunk.

A back flopped against my side. A head landing on my shoulder with another thunk.

"You need to stop doing that," I chided, and she only groaned in response. A hint more pain in the sound than mere frustration.

She downed half a glass of water and sighed. "Why can't info just be smacked into our heads?"

I could practically see her banging her head against one of the bookshelves here. If that were possible. Either way, the thought hadn't stop her from trying with the binders in front of her.

'By that logic, I wonder what I can learn if I hit my head against this?' I thought, staring at the tablet.

"Tape a binder to a door. I could help you test that theory out. You don't even have to lift a finger."

The young woman huffed indignantly with a pout on her lips. Her fingers combed through my hair, tugging layers of it to the other side of my head. Made a mess of my hair and she kept staring at the side of my head.

It's been odd with the new change. I missed the gentle scratches.

"...Val?"

"Hmmm?" she hummed.

"What are you looking for on the side of my head?"

I couldn't believe it took me this long to put it together. Nine days.

Valeriy quickly retracted her hands from me. "Uhhh... eyeballs...?"

Laughter echoed all around us. The A.I. ghost made use of every speaker I could hear. Including the other rooms, the tablet in my hands and the earbud Valeriy wore.

"...Eyeballs," I repeated.

"Tiny eyeballs...?" the young woman offered with a nervous grin, which only made the laughter louder for another eight seconds.

I bet her ridiculous mind read like one those binders she'd been trying to understand.

"Why would I have eyeballs on the side of my head?"

"Uhhh... you can catch things without looking at them?"

"Most of the surfaces here has a reflection.... I try not to... I can't switch it off. I don't want you to be uncomfort –"

"The whole tracking me whenever we're in the same room thing? And the dogs. You track them too."

"...Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. But even with your enhanced brain, it has to get pretty damn tiring, huh? Like at West Ed...."

"How...? How did you know?"

"I had a similar problem. Constantly gave me a headache. Five-ish years ago? We changed the surfaces in Soteria so an entire room can be seen from wherever you are.... But it's not so bad when we're next to you, yeah?"

She wasn't wrong there. I didn't have to strain to keep an eye on all three when they're leaning against me. Even the reflections made it easier.

"Still doesn't explain how you could see into the toaster from that angle," she mumbled under her breath. Lips pouting.

I could almost laugh at the memory.

"I couldn't. I tried. It didn't work. Was that why you thought I had eyes on the side of my head and started throwing things at me?"

"...Yeah.... Sorry."

I wrapped my arm around the silly girl's shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "You're ridiculous."

When my fingers ruffled her hair, a lightness filled within my chest. Her shoulders dipped down. Muscles slightly tensing under my fingers, as if in pain.

Her hand gently shoved against my side, but she curled into me with a giggle. And then finally her nails scrapped along my scalp. Sent a shiver down my spine.

It's been five days since I last saw her smile that wasn't forced. This expression suited her better.

That bright smile when I first spotted her wolfing down a pulled pork sandwich.

87 days ago....

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Author's Note:

If you enjoyed this part, please consider leaving a vote. They're very much appreciated. ^^

And a big thank you to TinselA/Bunny Carrot (https://www.fanfiction.net/u/7591081/) and the Anonymous Fifth Beta for Beta-ing this chapter.