Chapter Text
Oceanside, California. Great surf. Sunny beaches. Some would call it paradise. But not Hailey Banks. To her, it was just another place she didn’t belong.
At her old private school, she’d been the “weird girl” who spouted random facts. The one who face-planted at the awards ceremony. Or, more recently, the one who invented a fake boyfriend, Sanjay, to avoid teasing about her non-existent dating life.
Oceanside was supposed to be a fresh start. A chance to reinvent herself.
But Hailey knew better…
That’s not how her life worked…
Best to keep to herself, coast through senior year until graduation, and focus on creating and building things. So much simpler than people…
She glanced around her new room. Half-open boxes scattered across the floor. Most of her stuff was still packed…including the awful trophies she’d rather forget.
Hailey sank into her window seat, enjoying the rare quiet. Things had finally calmed down after her dad took her twin four-year-old brothers, Dwayne and Johnson, out for ice cream. Their attempt to help “unpack” had nearly ended in disaster.
She reached for her laptop.
Maybe now she could check on Beta…
A knock came at her door.
Her mom, Patricia, rushed in, phone in hand.
“Hailey? I’ve got a client call in, like, thirty seconds, but the Wi-Fi’s acting up. Can you help me?”
Hailey held out her hand. Her mom handed over the phone.
“It’s on airplane mode,” Hailey said flatly, after one look, tapping a few buttons and passing it back.
“Oh—that again? Thanks, sweetheart. You’re, like, totes amazing!”
Hailey winced. “Please don’t, Mom…”
“What? I thought I said it right.”
“That’s not-” She shook her head. “Never mind.”
Patricia’s phone rang. “Gotta go.” She pointed at Hailey’s laptop. “Don’t sit around staring at your computer all day, okay?”
Then she disappeared, heels clicking down the hall.
Hailey groaned and set aside her laptop.
What else was she supposed to do? She didn’t feel like unpacking. And she definitely wasn’t about to explore town.
She turned to the window just as a flock of birds soared past and disappeared into the clouds. Her brow furrowed.
Maybe they could use a place to rest.
***
Hailey stepped outside into the late summer heat, denim overalls on and her favorite birdhouse in hand. Her ponytail bounced behind her as she approached the large tree between her house and the neighbor’s.
She filled the birdhouse with seed, then climbed up and secured it with plastic straps around the rough bark.
When she climbed back down, she stepped back and admired it.
It fit perfectly.
A small red-breasted finch flew down and began pecking at the seed.
Hailey smiled.
Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad.
She wiped sweat from her brow and headed back inside. She went to the kitchen and poured herself a cold drink. Leaning against the counter, she took a sip.
Then, movement caught her eye.
She turned to the kitchen window…just in time to see her birdhouse fall…
... And smash to the ground.
“No! no! no!” Hailey slammed the glass down and bolted outside. She rounded the corner and froze.
Her birdhouse lay in ruins.
Standing beside it was a tall, dark-haired guy in a red helmet with a skateboard tucked under one arm.
“My birdhouse!” Hailey gasped.
He flinched, arms flailing. “I know, I know! I didn’t mean to- ugh, I’m so sorry!”
Hailey dropped to her knees, heart in her throat, checking the wreckage for casualties. She sighed in relief. There was no bird inside. Thank goodness.
She looked up, squinting up at him through her glasses. “What were you even doing?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I was trying this sick move I saw on MeTube. I almost did it. Well, until I didn’t…and ran into the tree.”
He winced. “I’m really sorry…”
Hailey began picking up the wooden pieces from the grass. It was one of her first projects. She’d poured her heart into it. It had hung at her old house for years.
He crouched beside her. “Let me help—”
“No!” she blurted.
He backed off, startled.
“I mean… no, it’s fine. I’ve got it,” she said, voice tight. She hugged the pieces to her chest and stood quickly, heading toward the house.
“Sorry again…about the birdhouse!” he called after her.
But she was already gone.
***
Back in her room, Hailey set the broken birdhouse on her desk, and frowned at the mess. She picked up the frayed strap, turning it over in her hands.
It was stretched too thin. Probably too small for a tree with such thick branches.
She should've noticed. She'd just been too eager…
Maybe…this wasn’t all his fault…
Hailey slumped into her chair, face buried in her arms. Ugh. How embarrassing. He probably thought she was a weirdo.
Her digital watch beeped.
She sat up with a sigh.
Beta’s weekly update reminder.
Time to take him out…and distract herself.
She grabbed her laptop, and booted up the AI interface.
“Beta? You there?”
“Where else would I be?” came a male voice. Bright audio bars danced across the screen as he spoke.
When she built him last year, she just wanted an AI with personality, capable of independent thought to keep her organized. She hadn’t expected him to have so much sass. She’d thought about reworking his tone, but… his bluntness kind of grew on her.
Lately, he was the only one she could really talk to.
“I’m glad you survived the move,” Hailey said with a smile.
“Hmph,” Beta scoffed. “And here I thought you forgot all about me…” If he had a face or a body, he would’ve crossed his arms and pouted.
“I didn’t forget you, Beta.” Hailey glanced at her door and lowered her voice. “I haven’t had a lot of time alone…”
She filled him in about the move and the new place, even told him about the birdhouse incident.
Beta paused. “So…this guy. Is he another Sanjay?”
Her eyes widened, offended. “What? No! He’s real!” she huffed, crossing her arms.
This was what she got for venting to an AI.