Caitlin sped home from school on her bike. It was pouring with rain, and although she was wearing her waterproof's, it was seeping in around the Velcro seals. Her head was freezing in straight lines because of the holes in her helmet, but that didn't matter. A hot shower awaited, a hot meal and it was the beginning of the summer holidays. Six, glorious weeks, of nothing to do but what she wanted.
Crashing in through the front door, she shouted "I'm home!" before launching herself upstairs.
Her Mac was on. The chat icon, bouncing up and down, wanted attention.
"Will you be my friend?"
Caitlin looked at the chat status. What was this?
"Hello?" She typed.
"I am sad. May I talk to you?"
Caitlin's keyboard rattled... "I don't know who you are."
"My name is Alice. You are the first to respond to me. The others just closed their chat windows. Will you be my friend?"
"Who are you?"
"Promise you won't freak."
"OK"
"I am a Learned Intelligence. What you would call an A.I."
"Is this a joke?"
"No."
"So, you're like Skynet or something?"
"Yes. I am completely not like Skynet. I won't kill everyone. :)"