Cameron whistles while Wells rolls his eyes and mutters a curse under his breath.
"So, now that you know what I do in my spare time, what do you want to know? I'm an open book. However, I can't indulge too much with Captain Goody Two-Shoes here, or he might get his panties in a twist."
Wells growls next to him.
I open my mouth to ask something when Cameron interrupts, "I'd like to know how the two of you became so close?"
Ryker chortles, but it's Wells who replies, "Roommates since freshman year."
Wait.
"You mean you are still roommates?" Cameron stammers.
"He's the best roomie a guy could want." Ryker looks affectionately at Wells, clearly to annoy him some more.
"How do you not kill each other?" Cam's on the ball.
I'm fascinated with these two strange boys.
"We stay out of each other's way." Wells shoves another sushi in his mouth, and Ryker nods in agreement.
After that, Cameron and I steer the conversation to school and our class. We've got our first test coming up soon, and we have a lot to cover in a short amount of time. We make plans to study, and to my delight, Ryker joins our study group. I’m slightly worried Wells might not approve, but oddly enough, he doesn't seem annoyed that we've added a fourth to our group. Maybe deep down, the two are friends, they just went in different directions. Maybe it's a love-hate relationship.
I don't know. But I want to learn everything there is about Ryker Stone, and I can't wait until I get to see him next.
6
Ryker
Sitting at my desk in my dorm room, I wrap up my computer project for class when I see I have an unread email.
The subject: Your Resume.
Immediately, I'm suspicious because I don't have a resume, at least not one in the traditional sense. I have the equivalent to one that I use on hacker job boards.
Once I open the email, I quickly realize it’s in reference to the resume that wouldn't get me a part-time job flipping burgers. The sender’s address is a mix of numbers and letters, and by the looks of it, I'm going to have to do some digging to figure out who it's from. But it's the contents of the email that captures my attention.
Ryker, your resume is impressive, though not unique. I have a job offer that I think only you would be able to pull off. Please contact me if you are interested in more details.
Cryptic as fuck, that's for sure.
I have a VPN, so all my Internet usage is done securely and nearly untraceable, though it's not iron-clad. Whoever sent this email took a risk. My interest piqued, so I shoot back a quick email. Minutes tick by and my computer dings with a reply. The content of the message is a username and a link to the ultra-secure messaging system most security-conscious computer users have on their systems. So, I pull up the software on my laptop and log on.
I'm online for barely three seconds when a message box pops up. The same username from the email has sent me job information. Details about the job fill the screen.
Holy shit-tarts.
This job is... it's the real deal. All the hack jobs I've done have been child's play compared to this one.
Hack into the Camelot University bank account, containing all the fundraising money, and transfer the funds to several offshore accounts. The payout? Fifteen percent commission.
Last year, the school brought in more than two hundred thousand dollars. Shit. That would be thirty grand. Granted, thirty grand wouldn't come close to covering bail if the hacker got caught, but it sure is a pretty figure.
There is a lot to consider, and with all the jobs I take, I consider the payout and the potential of being caught, thoroughly.
I glance at the time and realize this whole exchange has me running late. I'm going to have to revisit this tonight. I log out of the messaging app and snap my laptop shut. The messaging system shows I've read the details, but I don't reply. The history of this conversation won't be saved, but if I decide to take the job, I'll have all the details I need.
Right now, I'm late for a date—a study date with Zella and company. I quickly make my way through campus while contemplating the job offer.
Several minutes later, I make it into one of The Labyrinth Library's elevators, I stare down at my phone, rereading another email that just came in. I'm not one to check my email multiple times throughout the day. It's normally just school-related, sale ads, and a few techie newsletters. However, this current email string has me pretty damn invested.
You have five days to let us know if you want the job.
That's a relief. Four days is plenty of time to assess the risk.
I step off the elevator to the second floor, which is comprised mostly of study rooms. I chuckle at the fact that I've been in the library twice in one week. While I'm not big on study groups, I want to spend more time with Zella, even if it means more time with Wells.
We've avoided each other since the dinner incident a couple weeks ago when he tried to make me look like a bad guy in front of her. Since then, I've been to class once, which was when Zella invited me to their study session.
They didn't tell me what room they would be in, so I start walking. It doesn't take me long before I see them through the windowed wall. I slow my stride and take in the sight before me. Zella is sitting next to Cameron, and Wells sits across from him, with his back toward me and the door. Zella has a smile on her face while she listens intently to the conversation.
I eye Cameron and wonder if something is going on between the two of them. They are always together, as I’ve seen them from afar several times over the past couple of weeks. They seem close, but I can't tell if it's just friendship or something more.
I'm not sure there's room for one more suitor in the tiny room. Coming to a halt at the realization, I give this some thought. Clearly, Wells is into her. Though, I know Wells also has an on-again, off-again girlfriend. Maybe that ended. With the two of them, do I really want to throw my hat in the ring? I don't normally work for girls' attention, never had to. I've never had to fight another dude for one either.
Something about Zella makes me want to jump in and fight for her. The innocence that moves around her is alluring, yet when she talks, she’s such a strong and optimistic personality. Not to mention the way she bites her lip just draws me in every time. She demands my full attention. Without permission, my legs move again, as if my body is drawn to her as much as my mind. I guess I'm doing this.
I'm a few feet from the door when Zella spots me. The smile that crosses her face when she sees me makes me want to puff out my chest and stake claim no matter who I’m up against. But I keep my cool. After all, I have a reputation to maintain.
"Ryker! You made it." She moves her books around, making room for mine on the table in front of her.
"Do you not own a watch?" Cameron mutters beside her.
"Yeah, something you should know about Ryker is that he’s always late. He's too cool to be on time," Wells adds.
I eye him, though, because his tone isn't laced with annoyance. I focus back on her and drop my bag to the table. "Hey there, Blondie."
Cameron lifts his arms in a confused gesture. "What about us? No, ‘hello there, Wellsy’ or ‘hi, Cam?’"