All Chapters of From Glitch to Glory: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

There was a loud buzzing noise around me. I forced my eyes open, realizing I wasn't dead.I had been reborn.I fumbled for my phone, checking the date. It was August 28th, the day before I was supposed to turn in the most important project of my life.My teammates crowded around me, eyes shining."Kelsey, you're seriously amazing. No wonder you're a special admit student. You even solved the hardest problems as if they were nothing. Once you wrap up the last bit of code, we can finally submit, right?"My advisor gave my shoulder a firm pat, smiling with pride."I know how much work you've put into this. Without your core design, we wouldn't even have a shot. With your program, I'm sure we'll take first place. A full-ride scholarship is basically guaranteed for you."Their words made my chest ache.Because in my last life, when I was accused of plagiarism, my teammates and teachers had stood up for me, too.But their voices got drowned out fast. Haters doxxed them online, and t

Nicole's new post popped up on my screen.[So I guess people can steal someone else's code and still compete with it, huh?]My stomach dropped. A thought hit me that maybe this was the exact post that had started everything last time. It was the reason I got torn apart online.Nicole was always the one people adored. She had professor parents, that sweet-girl image, and a smile everyone noticed. Meanwhile, I was just an average face with no family connections. And in this world, looks and status would win every time.The comments came in fast.[What's going on, Nicole? Did someone copy your code?][Tell your parents right now. Let the dean handle it and kick that cheater out of school!][Plagiarizers like that are the shame of Arkenville University. Right before the competition, too? That's just disgusting.]As I read their words, I felt as if I was being dragged back into my past life—the bullying, the hate, and the endless comments that ripped me apart.Back then, I'd get hu

Mark's eyes darted around nervously before they finally landed on me. He jerked his chin in my direction and said, "You got it wrong. Nicole's like a sister to me. That's my girlfriend right there."The whole table went dead silent. You could've heard a pin drop. Somewhere in the back, I swore I heard someone whisper, "Seriously? That's his girl? Honestly, Nicole and Mark would make a better couple."For a second, the awkwardness was too much to breathe through. Then Nicole leaned in as if she was saving the moment, looping her arm around my shoulders with this fake-friendly smile."Oh, come on. Don't be mean. Kelsey is basically the computer science queen of Arkenville University!"But instead of helping, that just made everyone look at me differently. Their eyes were filled with a mix of doubt and disgust, as if they'd just uncovered something nasty."So she's the one who plagiarized Nicole's work? Damn. Didn't expect that. She's not even cute, and on top of that, she plays dirt

The next morning, it took us nine hours on the train and another two on a bus before we finally got to my grandmother's house.She stood at the entrance of the little town waiting for us, holding onto a huge black dog."Kelsey, you finally came back to see me. You've lost so much weight!""Grandma, I missed you so much!"I threw myself into her arms, breathing in the warm, sunny smell of her clothes, and my throat caught.My grandmother thought I was scared of the big dog, so she snapped at it right away. "Rocky, hush! Don't you go scaring Kelsey like that!"I laughed through my tears, wiped my face, and reached down to pat Rocky's head. "It's okay, Grandma. I'm just too happy to see you and Rocky again."But my touch didn't calm the dog at all. Rocky, usually the most obedient dog ever, barked at me nonstop. It even jumped up, pawing at my hand as if it were desperate to tell me something.My grandmother's smile faded. She narrowed her eyes and asked me in a serious voice, "Sw

After telling Jesse not to use my idea, I stretched out on the rocking chair in my grandmother's yard, trying to think of a way forward.The country sky was ridiculously clear, with stars scattered everywhere, like tiny lamps showing lost people which way to go.That was when my grandmother walked over, holding half a watermelon, and handed it to me."What's on your mind? You look so deep in thought."Looking at her kind smile, I hesitated. "Grandma…"She touched the tip of my nose and shook her head with a knowing grin. "You can't hide anything from me. Just tell me: What's really going on lately?"My voice dropped low, thick with a lump in my throat. "Grandma, I don't know why, but all my work somehow gets stolen. And worse, the person who takes it always turns it around and makes me look guilty. No matter what I think about, she ends up thinking the exact same thing. It's as if…""As if she already knew your thoughts ahead of time?" My grandmother finished for me.I nodded h