It's crazy how such awful and amazing things are happening at the exact same time. Here I am, sitting in class with my phone hidden in my lap. I've been texting Leo almost all day and, yeah, about twenty five percent of the conversation is flirting. I've tried bumping it up but Leo gets a little too embarrassed after so much and I have to tone it down. That's fine, I'll get him used to it eventually.

Beckett and Misty have not been directly told about this but, judging by their smiling faces at lunch, they know something is up. Both are easily ignored but neither actually bother me much. I think it has to do with the fact that I'm still in a bit of a bad mood from time to time for obvious reasons, not to them of course.

Seriously, why did all this with Leo have to happen now? I want to be happy about this but, with what's going on, it's hard to just stay that way. I can't really think about the whole fucking robbery things since we aren't all meeting until tonight. I pray to whoever is willing to listen that I see who all is involved. I need to get out of this mess before Saturday.

"You can't hang out tonight either?" Beckett groans after requesting that he pick me up from after my detention. I shake my head. "Why not?"

"Busy."

"With Leo?"

"None of your business."

Beckett grins, informing me that he thinks it has to do with Leo, which is a complete lie. It's better he think that on his own though since, technically, I'm not lying. He's lying to himself. I'm going to keep saying that to make me feel better. Thankfully, Beckett doesn't ask anything more, only claims that I have to tell him about any "new details" with Leo. I wave him off then head to my detention, which is as boring as the first but I much rather be here than where I'm meant to go afterwards.

It's easy to get to the requested destination. I know exactly where it is, have taken routes close to it before so have no issue getting there. However, I feel more uncomfortable than ever, even more so when I slip through the gates surrounding the closed off area to some old warehouse. Doesn't seem to be any cameras around, this place is pretty dead. I've seen a cop or two pass by through the streets patrolling but, other than that, nothing. It's perfect for a meet up for their stupid schemes. I hate it.

They are definitely already here. I find one of the side doors has been unlocked. One of them must have picked the lock because the door swings open. Inside is a single open massive room with huge beams supporting the building. There seems to be a general office in the back with stairs that lead to a second above it but, other than that, there's nothing else. Garbage is scattered all over, as well as a few blankets that I'm guessing were once, or currently, used from the homeless.

There's a smell of rotting food accompanied with just stale air. I cover my nose and head towards the table that's been set up on the other side. There's also a whiteboard, wow, they can write? Mop Head, Blondie, Clover and Stranger are all standing around the table. Each is watching me walk over.

"This place look familiar?" Blondie asks with a giggle. "We saw you in a place like it before."

I don't bother answering her.

"As moody as ever, aren't ya?"

"Leave the kid be," Mop Head says. He swings his arms around Blondie, holding her to his chest. "It's ok if he doesn't like us. We don't need him to in order to get the job done."

Blondie purses her lips but inevitably nods. I turn my gaze to the white board once I know the psycho over there won't try to cut me again. There's a surprising amount of information written across it such as time schedules for the tellers, security, even when the bank has the most money out.

On the right side there's a map of a few city blocks drawn out with three separate colored lines through the streets, likely escape routes is the only thing I can guess. I'm shocked they have done so much but, looking to Stranger, I get the feeling he has done the most work even if he's only been on board for a single day.

"Now that you're here, we can clue you in on our plan so far. Don't worry though, there isn't much you need to actually do other than steal the cash," Clover says like it's no big deal and we aren't a bunch of thieves in a warehouse plotting a heist. Wow, feels like I've been put into a bad movie.

Clover proceeds to explain that the issue isn't getting me in but has to do with me getting out. There are cameras inside the vault, will be kind of obvious something is very wrong when the money suddenly starts moving on its own. I am beyond shocked to learn that Mop Head is good at hacking. He catches me giving him a surprised stare then sends me a wink that has me grimacing. Guess it's his job to turn the camera's off so I can shove as much as I can in the bag, get out to the car then run back in to get as much more as I can.

They claim Stranger will be watching mom that day. Clover and Blondie are the ones that will actually be breaking me into the bank. I hate the thought of it but they're going over in detail their options, hell, they have four separate ones in case one doesn't work. They're prepared but, as they're going over that, I can't help but wonder, who's the driver? Mop Head is meant to be keeping watch on the security system, I take the money, the others are getting me in so there has to be a designated driver.

Damn, that means someone else is involved. Either they couldn't make it or Clover is smarter than I give him credit for and wants to make sure I don't know who the final person is.

After that, Blondie rolls out one of the sheets on the table. It's a blueprint of the bank. How they got their hands on it, I don't know but it's insane. She goes over all the exits that I can take, which would be quickest and what's a good second option if we don't get finished by the time workers start coming in. Sitting here hearing all this is making me ill. It's really hammering it in that they want me to rob a bank.

No, we're going to rob a bank unless I stop them.

"Saturday."

"Huh?" I stare at Clover after hearing the day we're meant to perform the heist.

"Saturday mornin'. In Clarity's case, there's a lot of full time workers that can't make it in to cash their checks durin' the week so Saturday mornin's are their busiest time. We get the freak in before they open, he snags the cash and we get the hell out of there."

But it can't be Saturday. I'm meeting up with Leo on Saturday.

Obviously I don't voice this because they won't care nor do I want them to know but, fuck, now I'm even more motivated to finish this. There's no way I'm robbing that bank. Before the end of the week, I'll be out of this mess and Saturday I'm going to the zoo with Leo. No more of these shit heads, no more looking over my shoulder, I'm getting this done.

"We are meeting back up everyday to go over this. I don't care if it bores ya, we aren't fuckin' this up, got it?" Clover looks around the table to all of us but he lingers the longest on me. I roll my shoulders and look away. "Good, now get the hell outta 'ere."

I am more than happy to do that, quickly scurrying out of the warehouse before any of these nutjobs can get their hands on me. I'm on the bus in no time, heading home with every intention to lock myself up in my room for the night and plan. I don't know what to plan though. Could I possibly fuck up the heist Saturday? No, there's a chance they won't all be caught. If that happens, if even one of them gets away, that would be the end.

What about this other gang? The so called Boss? I can't possibly get involved with them. Once they know my name or face I'm screwed. Is there a way I can clue them in though? Seems Clover and the group doesn't want anyone else to know. This is meant to be some sort of statement from them or just a way to move up by proving themselves, who knows. The fact remains that I'm in a lot of trouble if I don't get out of this fast.

By the time I hop off the bus the only thing I can really think of is disappearing at school, going to Mom's work to try and see the last person involved then get back to school before it ends. However, even then I will only know who all is involved, not how to get rid of them. This is getting more frustrating by the second.

What sucks more is I know I could use help with this. I want to tell someone, honestly, I want to be able to scream and shout about how unfair this is and ask for help. But the less everyone knows the better. If only I get hurt in this (or worse) then...then it's for the best. Doing this alone, it's what has to be done.

Damn.

With a heavy sigh, I go to walk to my porch when, suddenly, car lights start flashing. I flinch then squint my eyes at the familiar car that's sitting on the street. More threats? Seriously? I realize I can't do anything, they don't need to do that.

I shake my head and turn away but they do it again. This time I stand there in confusion when the lights keep flashing until they stop. I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean so, hesitantly, I walk forward. When the car doesn't suddenly start moving or flashing again, I walk a little faster until I'm standing next to the driver's door. The window rolls down to show Stranger. He must have drove here and switched with whoever was watching the house.

"Get in," he says without looking at me.

"Why?"

"Because I said to."

Well, that isn't an explanation but whatever. Rolling my eyes, I walk to the other side and slip in, shutting the door behind me. The car isn't running, it's dead silent. A car drives by, the engine softens in the distance. He isn't looking at me and I'm growing more uncomfortable by the second. It's at least five minutes before he finally asks, "How did Clover find you anyways?"

"He didn't tell you?"

"Nope."

"Then I'm not neither."

The man snorts and I'm half expecting him to hit or threaten me but he doesn't. Instead, he leans back in the seat and asks a different question, "You really want nothing to do with this? You have a single parent, seems you're well off but with all that extra money you and your mom could be happy."

"We're already happy," I growl. "Why the hell are you asking me that anyway? You already know I'm not here of my own free will, otherwise, you wouldn't be watching my house. Why are you talking to me? I just saw you."

"Because I can't exactly show them this."

Stranger suddenly pulls something from his pocket that has me going wide-eyed. It's a badge, a fucking police badge, which I immediately snatch. He has no issue with that, letting me look the thing over although I have no idea how to tell if it's real or not.

"What kind of joke is this?" I hiss, my paranoia is shooting through the roof. "Did that Clover idiot put you up to this? Act like an undercover cop and see if I'd work with you or something?"

"That's quite the scheme that he sure couldn't come up with so, no," he answers in a steady tone that should relieve me but it doesn't. Although his expression doesn't give way that he's lying, I can't help but feel he is. Great, my trust issues are multiplying. This shit is going to give me PTSD.

"Even if it is true, why would you tell me this? If you're undercover, you can't tell anyone or probably even carry this badge, especially tell or show a kid you don't even know."

"I know enough," he argues while taking the badge from me. He slips it into his jacket pocket before turning to face me with a serious expression that has my toes curling. There's a flicker of hope in my chest, so dim it's barely even there.

"I know that you have a gift, a crazy one, one that Milton is using to his advantage," he says.

Milton. I snort. Name doesn't suit him.

"If you think you are up shit creek now, wait till this heist goes down. Trust me, it will succeed then the man we work for will find out about you. When he does, this will look like a cake walk. There won't be men sitting outside your home. There won't be small time bank robberies. You won't see your mom again, he'll keep her under heavy lock and key to make you do whatever the hell he wants, things you can't even dream of. If you complain or go against his orders, death will be something your mother will wish for."

A lump forms in my throat, one I can't swallow. It's getting harder to breathe. My palms are sweating. The walls are closing in faster than they were before. Realization hits me that I can't do this alone, this is far more serious than I thought. No, maybe I always knew that but didn't want to accept it.

"I am risking my life by admitting this but, the consequences of anyone worse than Milton getting their hands on someone like you is far worse. I have no fucking clue how you did that but we've been working our asses off to destroy this group. All that will be for nothing because of one kid that I don't even know so–" Stranger rests his arm against the wheel and looks me dead in the eye when he asks, "Do you believe me now?"