Chapter 20

"A wise man fights to win, but he is twice a fool who has no plan for possible defeat"-Louis L'Amour

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The cold was freezing my bones. My breaths come out as puff balls. Rubbing my hands together did not create enough friction to warm me up. Moisture damping the soles of my shoes. With all this though, I try to concentrate what Isa was saying. She and Sam on either side of me and Penny in front, we made a small circle outside the school. It was pretty early so no one came to school, whose gates will be opened in a few minutes.

"Are you guys ready?" Isa asked us. I shivered due to the cold and for what we were about to do. Nevertheless we all nodded. "Here." she gave us what we need to have. Mine was a small black box that I now know will record voices. Penny stretched her hands, palms facing outward. We all put our hands on top of her in a similar manner until Isa's left hand closed over.

"Whatever you guys are doing, I want in." I heard an annoying voice before I felt his hands on my shoulders. "So what are you plotting?" Matthew whispered, and I held back a groan. "I can help. I have muscles." he continued ignoring our frustrated state, pointing to his arms and getting them on Isa's shoulder once again.

"If you want your arm, you will remove it. If you want your life, you will get 10 miles away from here." Isa suggested, nonchalantly admiring her manicured nails. Matthew searched her eyes for any hesitation, but she glared at him.

"Whoho." he said, his hands falling from our frames.

"This attention seeking-" Isa cut herself off before any profanities escape her. The school gate opened and with one final nod we got to position. Matthew followed us in, but he didn't get in the school, choosing to stroll the compound. I am not even surprised he came here early probably to do Matthew stuff, which is not good-I am sure. The echo of our shoes seems magnified in the quiet hallway and it's unnerving. I know this hallway flowing with students and graced by chaos. Isa carefully opened the lunch room and both of us got in leaving Sam and Penny to patrol the area. It was easy to find what we came for. In school everyone has seats corresponding to the amount of influence that they have, like Justin and his friends sit in the middle of the lunchroom. I got under the table, and Isa squatted besides Justin's chair, which he sat on for 4 years. I attached the voice recorder to the edge of the plastic table. My body is filled with warmth and excitement unlike before.

"Does it work?" I whispered to Isa. I don't know why I was whispering when no one was around but the gravity of what we are doing is suffocating me. I don't feel bad at all. I am humming with adrenaline.

"Yes, You can get out," Isa instructed. She was also whispering. I got out being careful not to bump my head and went to where she stood. "Check." she shouted for Sam. The good thing about these devices is they have no red light when they are activated. I don't know where Isa found them. Me and Isa engaged in meaningless conversation and after a minute Sam poked her head, giving us thumbs up. I wiggled the table to make sure the device stuck. Isa laughed at my actions, but I didn't care. I shrugged while wiggling the chair she was in charge of.

"Everything good?" Penny asked once we come out.

"Yes." I answered her. Penny's mischievous expression caught me off guard since she was in a somber mood this morning.

We scattered around the locker room and Lucas was the first one to arrive. He went straight to the boys locker room, opening it for us.

"Pen Pen, you got this." Isa shook her. Penny nodded, clutching a key and recording device in death grip. "Go." Isa smacked Penny's butt when she entered the room. All of us at the door, waiting for her to get back and to prevent anyone from getting in. How would we do that? I don't know but we are hoping it won't come to that and Penny will come out safe. The key Isa gave her will open any door, and all Penny needed to do was attach the device to the corner of Justin's locker. I started to sweat in a few minutes. What if she did not reach the edge? I mean she is short. What if Lucas comes out of shower and sees her? What if-,

"I am back." Penny panted at my back, cutting my train of thought. I exhaled in relief. We checked the device and it was working. Now only one thing left.

Students started to filter in and it was not long before Justin arrived. We followed him and waited for the perfect opportunity, which came when he was momentarily alone and focused on his phone. Sam held a recorder pen on her hands and purposefully run in to him.

"I am sorry," she whispered. Justin just glared at her, reaching to collect his fallen bag. Sam got up quickly and started to dust his jacket, mumbling I am sorry in between.

"It's fine," Justin snapped, getting her hands away from him.

"Where did you put it?" I asked once she came to us, smoothing her hair.

"In his bag." Sam smiled and when we checked it worked. But all we heard was rustling resulting from his movement. We noted Justin has a habit of twirling his pen between his fingers whenever he is in class. What was left was for Penny to steal his pen in the first period and forcing him to use our present. Easy. Pissy.

***

Boys are disgusting. That's what was filtering in my mind the whole lunch break. All they talked about is girls and who had the biggest boobs in the school. We have been hearing their lunch room conversation, and I for one, got nothing out of it.

"Hey Justin. How are things with T?" I heard Benjamin ask, and I lifted my eyes to see Justin's reaction. He grinned and shrugged. "Naa," Benjamin shouted, hitting Justin's shoulder. "You like her."

"Maybe." was Justin's answer, a smile creeping in his mouse.

"Justin has a girlfriend!" Benjamin started to tease, and I got burned in jealousy. Justin has been stealing glances in Tiana's direction the whole lunchtime. She is enjoying the attention too much. Isa assured me that he didn't like her but he is desperate- aka- confused about his feelings towards her. It doesn't mean I should like it though. Justin picked his phone and started to text Tiana, his eyes on her when she received notification. I got really annoyed when they continued to text each other and closed my phone to stop the notifications. It's more than I can stomach for one day. Isa signed and closed the tablet that we were using to listen to their lunch room conversation.

"We need to investigate her starting today." Isa declared

"Vanessa hates her more than ever now that she is dating Justin." Penny said, and I am not surprised the information is out now. If I saw them being cozy yesterday anyone could, and the information could be leaked. I saw Vanessa and she was glaring at Tiana from her seat. The fact that she was texting Justin didn't seem to escape her. Even Georgina has a frown etched to her beautiful face. She got up and left the room, Vanessa following behind. I don't blame her. Imagine your ex giving lovie dovie eyes to your former friend. It hurts.

"So Cassi, I will pick you up." Isa said, and I realized I wasn't paying any attention to the conversation, engrossed on the sense in front of me.

"What?" I questioned.

"We will start to follow that Tiana girl for today." I wanted to say yes, but then I remembered my mom's voice from yesterday.

"No I can't. I have a family thing." I said. Isa didn't push me to explain.

"Ok Pen Pen or Sam, who will come to an amazing adventure with me?" Isa smiled at them.

"I can't. Hen will be all alone." Penny said. I wanted to remind her that the baby sitter will be with him, but I bit my tongue. Penny is really possessive of Henry.

"I will come with you." Sam did not lift her eyes.

"Yes!" Isa clapped her hands. "Isa and Sam will rule the world." Isa sang with a high pitched voice. "We run the world." she continued. Here we go again.

***

I know nothing about music but the violin is depressing rather than relaxing. The air is stiff with tension, and the tight dress my mom made me wear is not helping. As a family tradition we go out to dinner once in a month, but I can say it did not serve its goal that was to bring us together. I have never seen my mom and dad argue but that didn't mean they loved each other. Far from it. They don't argue because they did care to fight; they have lost the energy to do so. All they talk about is work and they seemed content with their marriage. But I don't want this for myself. I want something like my aunt has. I remember how her husband looks at her, with so much adoration that it is still engraved in my memories.

"Are you okay honey?" My mom's eyes shone with concern. Both my parents adore me but they never gave me the most important thing. Their time.

"I am fine." I smiled weekly at my mom.

"How is school?'' My dad asked ,slurping his soup. My mom hates it when he does that but he never let the habit go.

"It's fine." The words stuck in my throat when my brown eyes connected with light blue ones across the restaurant.