Barcode: Legend of Apollo by Kashif Ross Read Free Book Online Page A

of my bed and pick up several gifts.
    I notice a huge square on my carpet where it seems someone removed a heavy box recently, but I ignore it. With all the people working in this building, there is never any telling what comes into my room.
    “What are those?” Michelle asks lightly.
    “Birthday gifts.”
    “But I thought you didn’t like birthdays.”
    “I never said that.”
    Michelle faintly murmurs, “I knew it.” I’m not sure if I’m hearing her or reading her thoughts, but the words were clear enough to understand. After opening each of my gifts, I collect the paper and throw them away. Michelle watches patiently, and seems a bit disappointed at my lack of excitement.
    “Who gave you all of these?”
    “One’s from Hayley. She gave me a gift card to buy the Playstation XD I told her I wanted. The 6D in my game room gives me headaches so I…” I trail off. Games are all I have in life. If I begin complaining about my systems, we’ll be here all day. “Anyway, my grandad got me the Google UV.”
    I hold up a transparent phone that looks like a block of glass tinted green. Then, I slide my hand over the surface. Colors rush to the screen and Indian drums boom through the speakers. A light scans my face before a cartooned version of me stumbles across the screen. It falls and begins rolling down the display. I hold the phone horizontally and he stands up before dusting himself off.
    The avatar and I wave at each other. “I should probably take this to the office and activate it. It has a better hologram projector.”
    “What about that one?”
    “Chocolate. I’ve gotten a package like this ever since I started at the academy. It always comes with a prayer written for me, which is sweet, and some very rare chocolate,” I say before biting a piece.
    Michelle steals one and croons, “Oh. That’s good.”
    “I know. This chocolate is amazing. I don’t know who it comes from, but it’s really nice. It’s the only gift I ever receive from anyone besides Hayley or Casey.”
    “Why?”
    “People don’t know what to get the great Apollo  that can buy whatever he wants. Anyway, we should take off. We’re already an hour behind.”
    As we exit the apartment, I ask a burning question, “Did you always bite me to control my powers?”
    “Yes. I’d bite or hit you the moment you were within in range for a reason. You were always sharing your senses with me and others. Why do you think all the girls blush when you’re near?”
    “So, what now?”
    “Well, I guess I don’t have to be mean to you anymore.” Michelle gives me a warm hug and buries her face into my chest plate. “Thanks for letting me do this. I always wanted to.” Then, she skips to the elevator with her legs glowing.
    “We should stay away from each other today.”
    “Why?” Michelle holds the elevator door open.
    “People might suspect something if they notice our armor is matching.” The old man probably thought Michelle was my girlfriend and purposely gave her my signature black and red armor.
    “You mean Hannah might notice? Don’t worry; I won’t get in your way. I’m the last person she’d see as a threat. But this is the best armor I ever had. I’ll never stop wearing it,” she pauses, “And Spence?”
    “Yes?”
    “The chocolates make four compliments.”

Five
    Michelle and I managed to make it to campus by lunchtime. I couldn’t find my seat with the others before Leonardo began stalking me. He tailed our group for an entire day carrying the embarrassing oversized case with him. I thought he’d lag behind at one point or another, but somehow, he managed to keep up.
    God level students are very accustomed to the entire school watching as we roam the halls. Kyle and I often make fun of the Apes’ infatuation. Today the undesired attention comes from the clunky briefcase that the nerd refuses to put down.
    Even Hannah and Michelle are agitated by the constant clanking sound trailing our every step, and