Applications

An Anagramma Story

By: Stephanie Lafond

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In a near‑future Southern California shaped by smart homes, AI companions, and hyper‑connected teens, Ixchel “Nine” Cortez has her life carefully planned: excel academically, earn a place in a top engineering program, and build a future with the girl she’s loved since childhood.

Kelly, vibrant and unpredictable, dreams of independence, cheerleading, and a life lived on her own terms. Together, they plan to escape their conservative families and share an apartment as college freshmen. But as senior year unfolds, Nine discovers that Kelly’s world is far more complicated—and far more secret—than she ever imagined.

When a popular “safe hookup” app becomes central to their unraveling relationship, Nine turns her formidable technical skills toward uncovering the truth. What she finds forces her to confront questions of trust, loyalty, identity, and the limits of unconditional love.

Caught between her faith, her family, and her devotion to Kelly, Nine navigates a world where privacy is fragile, danger hides behind friendly interfaces, and love doesn’t always look the way she imagined. As she digs deeper into the app’s vulnerabilities, she uncovers real threats—and must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect the people she loves.

Applications is a near‑future coming‑of‑age story about first love, betrayal, resilience, and the blurred lines between safety and surveillance. It blends emotional intimacy with grounded technology to explore what it means to grow up, choose your own path, and love someone who doesn’t always love you the way you expect.

For mature readers 17+. Contains adult themes, trauma, and complex emotional relationships.