My Life As A Teenage Robot Porn Story: Luck of the Devil Chapter 2
“Jenny? Hello? Earth to Jenny, come in space girl!”
Brad was being super annoying today. But then again, everything seemed to be really getting on my nerves. I rolled my eyes and slammed my fist on the lunch table.
“What?!”
Too hard, apparently, because a chunk of it fell off. Tittering nervously, I covered the hole in the table with my lunch tray. Maybe no one would notice.
“Geez! Whats with you? Youve been acting so weird lately. Youre not yourself, Jen.”
“Well.. Whatever. I guess I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” I sighed thinking about how I really woke up today. Depressed. Nothing feels right. Im getting talked to by all the popular kids, but their conversations seem so empty and stupid. Maybe itll be better on Friday.
“Im sorry, Brad. I really didnt mean to snap like that Im just having a bad week so far.”
“A bad week? Yesterday you said you were having the best week of your entire life.”
The bell rang and we started walking back to class together. Infront of us, pink pigtails bopped alongside a nerdy kid with horrible posture. Giggle. Giggle. Giggle.
“Come on,” I scoffed, “Theyre so mismatched. I mean look at them! Shes a good three inches taller without the platform sandals, mind youand hes so smart and she has no brain!”
Brad gave me that look. The one that screams disbelief.
“Uh.. Gee, Jenny.. Youd think you were jealous or something.”
“Im not! No way! I just dont see what she sees in him, thats all.”
I ran into Don Prima as he was getting books out of his locker for his next class.
“Hi, Don!”
“Oh.. Hi, Jodie.”
“Jenny.”
“Huh?”
“Um.. nevermind, are we still on for this Friday night?”
“Oh, of course, babe. Wear something nice. See you then.”
If little cartoon hearts could float around my head they would.
“Isnt he charming, Brad?”
“No, actually, he isnt.”
“Youre just jealous because youre not that cute.”
“..Sure.”
Brad walked away without saying goodbye. Great. Now Id lost Brad and Shelton. Not like I minded losing Shelton or anything, its just that.. Well I might miss his company. But only because he was so nice to me. I dont miss the clumsiness and all the stupid jokes. The way his hair always smells like that gel he uses. Ugh. And those clothes! Theyre so un-cool. Everyone always makes fun of him. And seriously, does he have to make straight As all the time?
Suddenly, Moms alert signal interrupted my thoughts. I pressed a button and the screen in my chest folded out to show my moms distressed face.
“XJ9! Theres an emergency in town square!”
“Oh.”
“A fire broke out at the polls during election! Hundreds are still trapped inside City Hall! Hurry!”
“Oh. Ok. Sure.”
I got excused from class and flew out the window to the center of the city. Its not that hard to find, really, just look for the huge tower of billowing black smoke. People were screaming as they poured out of the building like ants, trampling the elderly and the people who were just too slow. Its crazy how these humans act. Theyre all for charity, but when it comes to a fire its all about them. They never care who they kill just to get out the door.
I pulled a hose out of the compartment in my chest and hooked it to a fire hydrant, and forced my way into city hall.
“Everyone stay calm,” I yelled unenthusiastically. “Just try to get out in an orderly fashion. Its gonna be okay.”
By the time the fire trucks arrived, Id put out almost all of the flames. The only injuries were from those who had been trampled, and luckily no one was killed. A news reporter approached me.
“XJ9! These people owe you their lives! What do you have to say to the city you just savedagain?”
“Um.. I dunno. Dont smoke, I guess.”
The entire act had been a blurred whirlwind of instinct. Just reminding me that Ive been programmed to save things, and I dont even have to think about it. Sometimes, I feel a little used. I started walking home. By the time Id get back to school, it would be out. I looked down to glance at my watch and noticed that my hand was starting to rust from handling the water hose. Go figure that my date was tomorrow and Id be rusted!
That evening, as Mom was polishing my hand she tried to strike up a conversation.
“Hows school, XJ9? Any science projects coming up? Any essays? What did you make on your Geometry test last week?”
“Yeah, Mom, Sure.”
She stopped polishing and peered at me over her glasses.
“Jenny,” This grabbed my attention since it was so rare to hear her say that.
“Jenny,” she repeated, “Youre apparently in some proverbial funk. You need an attitude adjustment. Why dont you tell me whats the matter and Ill see if I cant give you some motherly advice.”
“Im not really sure, myself..”
As I spilled my story, she nodded intently and continued to polish the rust off of my hand.
When I was done she was silent for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, she spoke.
“Well, Jenny.. When is this date? Tomorrow night?”
I nodded.
“It seems to me that you miss Sheldon.”
“No I dont!”
“Maybe my calculations are incorrect, however, it would be incredibly ironic, wouldnt it?”
“What do you mean?”
“The little boy that youve avoided and hidden from all this time is finally giving up on you, and now you miss him.”
Giving.. Up.. On.. Me?
Woah, Woah, Woah. Sheldon? Giving up on me? Now that she puts it like that I feel like a major heap of junk. All those times I just shrugged him off, even though hed always be there for me. Even though he always showed me how much he cared for me. All those times Ive hurt his feelings. Ive just been walking all over him and it made me feel like I was that much closer to the top, didnt it? I was using him as a step in the social ladder. As long as someone was less cool than me, Im not too bad, right? Is that how Ive been thinking all this time? And now.. maybe he doesnt care about me anymore. I mean, why should he? I certainly dont seem to care about him. I mean, I do. I say Hi to him enough. I dont flat out tell him to go away.
“Aaagh!” I yanked my hand away and flounced out of the room. This internal struggle was too much for me! Surely no real human teenager ever goes through this!
My alarm went off and Moms screen popped up.
“XJ9?”
“Just leave me alone, Mom. I dont feel so good.”
“Alright, just one thing.”
“What?”
“You should apologize to both Sheldon and Brad.”
She was right as always. Apologies were always so humiliating. But if it would get things back to normal, Im ready.