Confidence Creeping

Jason sleeps through his first alarm. His blood has dried underneath his nose from the other night. He stirs awake from a gentle nudge and holds his head bobbing to the pain. Poor Ana looks at him with worry-stricken eyes. She leans on her two crutches awkwardly after nudging Jason awake. The knowledge from yesterday still works it's way through his brain, some pieces he can feel like breathing others are lost and distant within his mind.

Jason looks up at his little sister and before he can speak she speaks up. "I- I thought something had happened to you. Are you okay Jay?"

Ana hasn't called him that in so long. Not since their parents died.

"Yeah I'm okay Ana, just over did studying." Jason tiredly smiles to try to ease her concern but she easily sees through the pain.

"Come on, Ana. Can't be late again!" Kyle calls from the living room. Ana gives Jason a pained look and begins to move away.

Ana looks back, over her shoulders, one more time. "Please.. Take care of yourself." Then she walks off to school.

'Of course I will. I just got a little careless. She doesn't know how important this is right now.' Jason thinks. He slowly gets up as he thinks about making Ana worry. All that matters right now is getting revenge on the people that have hurt them. The rage that Jason has hidden underneath begins boiling as he thinks about what today begins.

He has buried it within his current relationships with Vivian, Carry and his amazing siblings. However his feelings are just underneath the surface and with him finally able to start.. It bubbles. It bubbles into a ridiculous angry laugh.

His laughter penetrates through his room.

'Open System and put hacking in slot 1 and 2'

[Hacking skill available]

[Idle System: Lvl 2] [Exp: 16.3/25]

[07:45:03-24:00:00]

[07:45:03-24:00:00]

[Slot 1: ] [Hacking: Lvl 0] [Exp: 0/10]

[Slot 2: ] [Hacking: Lvl 0] [Exp: 0/10]

[Skills: Speed Reading Lvl: 2 ; Improved Memorization Lvl: 2 ; IT expertise Lvl: 2; Python programming language Lvl: 2; General Programming Lvl: 2; Information Security Lvl: 2; All Programming Languages Expertise Lvl: 1; Gaming Lvl: 1; Hacking: Lvl 0]

Jason chuckles even more as he gets ready.

He begins listing their names in his head. Imagining each of their faces until their destruction is palpable. Ashley Cortez, Thomas Stain, Veron Hawk, and the Principle that protects them; Mr. Larry White. They are just the beginning. Them and their families. He will find their corruption, their weaknesses, bank accounts and all their dirty secrets until they are underneath his boot and feeling the same pain he felt.

Now it's just another day at the library. On his way out the door Jason quickly looks up some things on hacking. Small things he can do, and with his knowledge of programming and information security he can already think of ways he can make them work. Today he plans to do one thing, begin studying and hacking whatever he can.

The library this time feels more alive. It feels like a foundation for everything he will ever need. The excitement drills into him and he quickly gets to the computer. He looks up article after article on ethical hacking until he feels he has enough information to get double experience. Then he begins.

He starts with hiding the IP address of the computer in the library and then uses the public wifi of the library to access the router, allowing himself to access any data going through it. Without having to use a downloaded piece of software, he acquires admin privileges and begins working. This is obviously illegal. He is not employed by the library and he isn't doing this for noble purposes. However if he doesn't download any of the information or tamper with anything he can act as a silent observer that allows him to see everything.

[Hacking Exp Gained]

[Hacking Exp Gained]

…

[Hacking has hit level 1 congratulations. Someone could mistake you for being smart]

The condescending words of the system echo in his mind as Jason peers over the blue screen. Either way his knowledge of programming and computers because of the system allowed him to begin hacking immediately after a few articles. The foundations are there and now he can think of so many ways he can use them. App development, software, hardware and whole engines. His knowledge that floods through his mind has already made him someone that can fit into any tech sphere. He almost died for it but his smile can't fade.

All the things he can do with this knowledge, the world's he can tap into and soon enough his desire will lead him to more and more. His smile twists as he slowly closes out of his work. Unseen.

'This power.. It's exhilarating.'

"There you are Jason. I was looking for you." Vivian pops up behind him. Just in time for him to close out of the last tab. He turns around to look at her. Her enchanting smile gnaws at him. Everything that happened with Carry makes him self-conscious but he quickly pushes any feelings down.

"I had a project to work on. So I went to the computer first thing today. Do you want to go to the usual spot?" Jason says while getting up.

"Sure. I've got to actually do work today. My parents are testing me on advanced physics and relativity by the end of the week and i'm only half way through the material." Vivian complains as they walk to the couch they usually sit at.

"I can't even imagine, I'm just working on English today thank goodness." Jason plops down on the couch and pulls out his textbook. A few hours should be enough for this information. "Hey if it goes well maybe you can come over again?"

Vivian looks down and sighs.

"Maybe, it's a lot but I'll text you later this week if i get through it." She pulls out her own book and they both get to reading.

Although Jason reads through it and takes notes relatively easily. The size of the textbook is oddly larger than some of his others, and his mind wanders more than he cares to. Jason thinks about his next steps over and over again.

Computer parts. Network setup. Hiding his IP. Getting access to their home networks. Hacking their computers and accessing encrypted data. Over and over he devises how he will pay for the parts or whatever he has to do to get them. Beg even. Whatever. All that goes through his mind is revenge.

Vivian is stuck in her book when he finishes. Her attention and focus is admirable, leagues above his own. Without his speed reading he wouldn't have the nerve to read as long as she did. The boredom sinks in and he excuses himself for books on computers and hacking.

He reads through them as he waits for the time to tick down to go home. He spends his lunch with Vivian and the little breaks she takes and they talk. It's gotten a lot easier for him now they regularly text. He feels comfortable with her like he does with Carry.

But soon it's time to go and he does.

When he gets home Carry is waiting again. Wearing plain clothes again, although this time he is slightly disappointed.

"I was hoping to see you wear something like Monday." He says without thinking. It was soft. Just under his breath as he opened the door. Just soft enough for Carry to ignore but to hear completely. The red fills her face and Jason realizes quickly what came out of his mouth.

"I'm sorry Carry. I had a long night last night. I couldn't get much sleep." He says quickly ashamed at his forwardness. At the weird surge of confidence, as if the world is at his fingertips. This isn't like him at all.

"It's okay Jason. Just please be respectful. Let's see how you are with the rest of your math and then move on to English okay..." Carry tries to move forward professionally, but a spark sits in her mind. A spark that she is having a hard time ignoring. Something immoral eats at her.

They study easily. Jason still struggles with some Math but as he practices, applying becomes easier. He will be all caught up for classes on monday no problem. Now when Carry goes over English he flies through it. From sentence structures, writing essays, formatting, everything flawlessly memorized. Rote memorization is nothing with his Improved Memorization skill.

They finish early and this time Jason asks. He drums up the courage but for some reason it's easier this time. He doesn't notice how getting the hacking skill and using it has changed his confidence. He can't see how the validation is changing him and the closeness to revenge is freeing him from the chains of his past.

"Would you like to stay for dinner? As thank you for everything and for being my friend when I needed it most."

Carry is taken back. She stutters and before she can say no she speaks. "I-I would love to. You have also been a friend to me at a school that constantly seeks to harass me and stop me from doing good. Of course…" Carry blushes.

'She's cute when she's honest like that. Dinner will be fun.'