Grabbing my MacBook, I lay on my bed and start searching whatever I can on this Jacob Smith. As I expect, there are millions of people who have the surname Smith and first name Jacob. No luck whatsoever.

I grumble as I realize I may need to hack through the school's database on him. I'm no rookie, but I'm not an exceptional hacker either. Actually, I'm kind of a novice but I know enough to get by, courtesy of my tech-savvy ex-best friend. Our school has a really tough protection program, so I doubt I can hack my way through. As I have done on multiple previous experiences, I consider researching the old fashioned way and sneaking into the administration office. Time restraints make it difficult to break into theadministration office as it typically requires a week of surveillance andplanning.

Cue sad face. My mood is not going to get any better, but it's not like I have anything else to do. Sadly, I have no other friends besides the aging school janitor (who knows every nook and cranny of the school), the kitchen staff (who make/teach me awesome food), and selective teachers.  

I crank on some music on my iPod and sigh. I really did not want to resort to this. I'm going to have to make some phone calls.

I dial the number I swore I would never call ever since I enrolled in Elite as Shay Kerr.

"Hello?" The phone is answered on the second ring. "Who is this?"

"It's Shay."

Silence greets me. I bite my lip in anxiety, hoping he won't hang up on me.

Letting out a heavy sigh, my ex best friend Skyler speaks. I call him ex because I don't know if he still considers me as a best friend. Actually, I'm scared he hates my guts and will never speak to me.

"You have a lot to explain." I let out the breath I was holding. He didn't hang up.

"I know."

"What do you need?"

"What if I wanted to catch up with you after almost four years?" I say lightly.

"Shay, you completely disappeared on your best friends four years ago. You and your mom just vanished off the map. Hell, I thought you died! I deserve more than an explanation actually. I'm your goddamn best friend. Pearl and I looked for you everywhere! Fuck, I was almost put in prison because I tried to hack my way through databases looking for you!" He fumes.

Okay, perhaps he isn't exactly happy that I didn't tell him anything...I wouldn't blame him either. I'm a terrible friend.

"But you never get caught..." I try to joke.

"I said almost." He says proudly.

"Did you find anything?" I start worrying.

"Yes and no. I've never encountered such a secure system so everything is just suspicious." He sounds sad. I knows he is upset I didn't tell him anything at all. I'm sure he found some type of info on my mom and I. Out of everyone I know, I would bet my money on Skyler and Pearl to put the puzzle pieces together.

Hmmm, maybe I should contact Pearl too?

"I'm sorry." I say sincerely.

"You still owe me a long explanation complete with coffee and sweets." He has a huge sweet tooth.

"Well, I can tell you in nine days." I promise.

"Nine...?" He sounds confused.

"Nine." I confirm.

"Okay then..." He groans. "So what do you need me to hack?"

"Oh you know me best." I smile a little. Why did I worry asking him? I wanted to protect him so I didn't contact him at all. I worried that he wouldn't want to be my friend anymore but never underestimate childhood bonds. 

"Please make a background check on Jacob Smith: born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He's quarter French, half Brazilian, and quarter Chinese. Blood type is AB positive. Height is 5'10. Age is seventeen years old. Relationship single." I state. It sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud. 

"Relationship status?" He teases me. I can just imagine him smirking with his eyebrow raised at me.

"He attends Elite Academy, or Elite Prep." I say reluctantly. "The system is too difficult for me, but I think you would love the challenge. Just be careful and secretive with what you find."

"When have I never been careful or discreet." He sounds hurt, but I know he isn't. "Wow, this program is intense. What is this? A secret government facility thing like they're hiding Transformers or aliens?" He starts getting excited. Most seventeen year old kids would get excited if they got a new car or money. Skyler is just interesting.

"I'll call you when I'm done!" He rushes enthusiastically.

"Wait, this number is private and unlisted..." I interrupt.

"Like that stops me from anything." He says casually.

I laugh. "My bad." Deep down, I'm a little worried because that means other people may be able to find my cell phone and track me down. Then again, I could be paranoid.

"Okay, I gotta concentrate even though I want to talk to you but..."

"I know..." I understand. He needs all concentration when he hacks.

I head out to run and workout. The campus is huge enough I can put in eight to ten miles depending on my laziness. I'm not in my school's cross country team but I do love running. I'm not in any of the sports teams here. I wish I could have been because all the athletes here usually move on to the big leagues. Sadly, that would gain way too much attention.

There are a lot of paths and trails that go on forever because all the land around are privately owned by the school. I forget who established or opened this school but he liked his secluded home.

I ponder between wearing my normal night running outfit or nerdy workout outfit.

Eh, nobody will recognize me anyways with my normal gear. Plus, I usually wear a wig to cover my blonde/brown ombré hair.For warm weather, I braid my hair messily due to the itchy wigs.

The weather is nice and sunny outside so I choose a black sports bra and neon pink running shorts with my Nike free runners.

Grabbing my phone and ipod with headphones, I put it in my fanny pack.

The run is peaceful and quiet as I run up and down the trails. There's a forest behind the school, though none of the students are allowed to go there unless supervised by a faculty member. There are wild animals and people also get lost easily. We all know teens love to do what we aren't supposed to do so everyone goes there anyways.

I stretch and start off a slow mile to warm up. I take out my headphones, listening to nature instead. Sometimes, we just need listen to silence.

By my fifth mile, the sun is setting, creating a beautiful assortment of reds, oranges, and yellows in the sky. I climb some rocks above me, hoping to get a better view above the trees. Huffing from the exertion, I lay my back on the rocks and look above at the sky. Far below, I can see the school. I grab my phone and take a bunch of pictures. Then, I climb back down.

Snap!

I hear a branch crunch under somebody's or something's weight behind me. I instinctively tense up and turn around quickly.

There's nobody there besides trees and more trees.

I scrutinize the trees and search for any indication that a person or animal is there. It may have been a wild raccoon.

I wait a couple more minutes and start checking my surroundings. The area is cleared.

Still feeling a but wary, I try to calm down and head back towards the school. It's going to be nighttime and completely dark by the time I get back. I blame Jacob for making me moresuspicious than normal.

I'm completely drenched in sweat as I finish the last five miles. I sometimes question why I do this to myself. I don't like exercising; I like the results of exercising. I do feel refreshed despite the dull, tired ache in my bones from ten miles.

"Stop right there." A sharp voice orders.

I'm assuming this is the night security guard on duty. Great. We have a curfew; those who violate this rule will be subject to detention and bathroom or janitor duty.

I'm not going to be cleaning toilets.

I use my remaining energy and sprint away.

"HEY! WAIT! YOU! STOP!" The guard yells. I hear his footsteps not that far from me. This guy is fast and well-trained.

"Stupid school with stupid guards." I mutter under my breath. Why did we have fit guards? He's almost my speed, and I'm pretty darn fast.

I give a small shriek as someone pulls me by my side into a dark alley.

"Ssssh." The person hushes me and covers my mouth.A man's calloused and rough hand immediately gets mepanicking. He can be a murderer, rapist, kidnapper, or all of the above.

I try to push the guy off me, though he doesn't seem to move too far. I decided to kick him where the sun don't shine. His grip loosens as he crouches in pain, enough for me to break free.

I run to my dorm room and lock the door. I groan at how my day has turned out.

Ring!

"Hey?" I take out my phone and answer. This is amazing timing.

"Shay, I got it." Skyler beams.

"Thanks."

"Just thanks?" He grumbles how unappreciative I am under his breath.

"I just ran ten miles." I yawn. I wasalso almost assaulted.

"Ew, exercise."

"Well, I'm sending you a copy right now; it should be printing." He adds.

"Wow..." I say, impressed. He never fails to surprise me. "Does that mean you know where I am?"

"Yep."

"Can other people find me?" I ask as I head to my printer and pick up the stack of papers on the ground. there's a huge stack.

"Nope," he chirps. "Unless they are super geniuses like me." He is surely one of a kind. The guy breathed computers from the womb. 

"You better keep your promise," He says. 

"I'm going to sleep, but thanks Sky. I owe you lots!" I grin, hanging up the phone after he says goodbye. 

I organize Jacob's file into one neat stack.

I glance at the first page and pale at what I see.

~A/N 9/24/2018 written. 9/11/2018 quickly edited~