Upgrade (Augmented Duology Book 2) by Heather Hayden (the top 100 crime novels of all time .TXT) 📕

was against the rules to move on the bus while it was in motion, but at the moment, I didn’t care. I walked down the aisle and plopped onto an empty seat.

The bus window was cool against my cheek, and I breathed out a slow sigh that misted the glass. I finally did it. My heart twisted a little, but it also rose on a swell of relief. I’d fretted over our friendship for months, but no more.

There was a skip in my step as I headed to my first class of the day, chemistry. Dan was already in his seat, focused on a thick textbook, so I walked by and sat down at my desk in the back of the classroom. My gaze kept moving to him through the lecture, searching for any sign that he wasn’t what he appeared to be—an attentive student who asked bright questions. Please let Halle be wrong.

The bell rang, but I was caught in the rush of students heading out of the room and couldn’t reach Dan before Neela waylaid him at door. She dragged him off toward physics, the opposite direction of my English Composition classroom. He didn’t seem pleased by her attention, at least. That matched with what he’d said last night.

I barely listened to Ms. Steven, doodling more than taking notes.

At the end of the class, she assigned us an essay due next week, and a groan rippled through the class. I bit back one of my own. Why must it always be essays?

After casting about a stern glance, she said, “Essays are an important tool for your future. We will work on a range of topics this semester, but for this essay, you will choose a law that exists now, once existed, or is in the process of being passed. You will make an argument either for or against the law. The essay will be graded on the strength of your argument.”

As I jotted down the information, inspiration struck. I could write about a law relating to artificial intelligence! The idea percolated as I walked toward the cafeteria, and I grabbed the first items that looked appetizing, wanting to get to a table as quickly as possible.

Dan and Mel had claimed a table already, one on each side. I approached them at the same time Annabelle did, and we took our seats with a mutual look of agreement. I whipped out my notebook and started writing down notes for the essay.

“That’s unusual for you,” Neela commented as she sat down across from me.

I was so caught up in my work I almost didn’t register it. “Hm?” I glanced up, trying to keep a pleasant look on my face. “What do you mean?”

She pointed her fork at my pudding. “No toppings? Are you not feeling well?”

I pressed my lips into a smile. “I’m fine, thanks. You’re only having a salad?”

She shrugged. “I’m not super hungry right now. Besides, we’ll eat plenty tonight, right, girls?”

Annabeth and Mel shared a frown.

Dan glanced at me. “Are you going out tonight? I guess that means we won’t be gaming?”

He still wanted to game, despite last night’s near-disaster? I breathed a silent sigh of relief and was about to correct him when Neela cut in.

“You’re welcome to join us, Dan,” she purred. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Dan shook his head. “I have some things to take care of this afternoon for my parents; wasn’t planning to game until this evening. Besides, if it’s just the four of you, you aren’t going to want a guy hanging around.”

“I bet she would,” Annabeth muttered into her burger.

I held back a snort of laughter by taking a sip of my juice. Neela, thankfully, didn’t hear.

“Thanks, Dan, I’d be happy to game this evening,” I said.

“But what about girls’ night?” Neela asked, her expression falling.

I hesitated, not sure if I really wanted to say the words that were on the tip of my tongue, then opened my mouth and let them out. “I wasn’t aware I was invited.”

“Of course you are.” Neela forced a laugh. “Why wouldn’t you be?”

Dan looked up from his burger and said in an even voice, “Probably because of how you’ve been treating her since last spring.” He took a bite of his burger, chewed, and swallowed.

Neela stared at him, eyes wide with shock.

I was in shock, too. Had he just defended me? Unsure what to say, I looked down at my pasta. His words from the day we’d met echoed in my mind. Outsiders should stick together, right? No one had stuck up for me like that before. Emotions twisted together and my left hand drummed on my leg, expelling nervous energy. Halle’s words were in my mind as well, warning me that I might not be able to trust what I was seeing. But why would an AI program a cyborg to act this way, anyway? I was more certain than ever that Halle was wrong, and I was right.

“He has a point, Neela,” Annabeth said, setting down her burger. “I thought we talked about this.”

Neela’s jaw dropped. “What—”

“We did,” Mel agreed, looking up from her bowl of soup. “You promised us you’d stop treating her like that, but you keep doing it. It isn’t Viki’s fault what happened.”

Emotions flickered across Neela’s face—frustration, anger, sadness. “I thought you two were my friends.” She jerked to her feet and yanked her tray off the table.

“We are your friends,” Annabeth said in an even tone. “But we’re also Viki’s friends, and we’re tired of the way you’ve been acting around her and us. When are you going to grow up?”

Without responding, Neela turned on her heel, tossing her hair over one shoulder as she stalked away. She all but bristled with anger.

I looked from Annabeth to Mel and