I need to do something. Not murder, but something.

The same thoughts keep swirling in my head, a mantra forged from desperation and sheer stupidity. Rationally, I can't take Will on. I have no cards, no chips. What is there that I can do?

As it stands, I'm essentially in a still alien environment with rather unfamiliar people, and I'm going about my life as if it's completely normal. Just today I woke to find Atty had ditched me halfway into the night to work (he's still holed in there even now) and Collette and Jay insisted I spend the morning gardening with them.

The morning went fine, no problems. But the minute I'm left alone, stupid Will's smug face starts creeping into the peripheral of my mind. It's Sunday now, I need to be back by Thursday as per his majesty's command.

He thinks he can threaten me and I'll buckle? Sure, I don't have anything to work with, but that doesn't mean I won't try. It may have been pretend, but the time we spent 'dating' was not a complete waste. I learnt things, such as the fact that he takes the entire team to his forest cabin place during the weekend before the first game of the season.

That means I know exactly where he is right now. I don't have a plan but I have instinct, which will have to be enough.

My mind made, I slink down the stairs to find Collette. She's seated at the dining table, surrounded by spreadsheets and her laptop. Rectangular glasses rest on her nose as she sifts through a binder, jotting down notes.

A little further down the table is Atty, hair pulled back with a neon pink headband and a cup of coffee clutched tightly in his hands. He's staring off into space, taking a drawn out sip every now and then.

I clear my throat, putting on my most wholesome smile. "Collette, I'll just be heading out for a bit."

She responds before I've even pivoted. "Where to?"

Uhm, to battle. But I can't tell her that.

I'm not sure how she interprets my lack of response, but she puts the binder down and removes her glasses. "Honey, I don't ask to be nosy. It's just my responsibility."

Right, of course I know that. I nod, tucking my hands into the pockets of my hoodie, I rock on the heels of my feet. "I just need to pick up a few essentials from Arcadias."

Crap, shouldn't have said Arcadias. Its far, which is what I was going for, but it's super shady as well. Dammit, I'm really my own snitch.

Sure enough, Colette frowns. "In that case, take Atty or Jay with you."

I open my mouth but there's no room for protest, apparently. "No arguments sweetie. I promised your mom I would look after you when you're here. You're my responsibility. I don't feel comfortable letting you go somewhere far and risky on your own."

Yeah, I really create my own hurdles. Pull my own rug from underneath, so to speak.

I need to do damage control. I have to make sure Atty doesn't come with because he's more suspicious than Jay, he'll pick up on my intentions right away.

"Okay, I'll go get Jay then," I say. Instantly, Atty's head swivels towards me.

"I'll come."

"C'mon man. Don't you have something due tomorrow? I'll just go with Jay."

"I finished it, Jay has a test. And also, you're up to something so I'll spare my baby brother the headache."

See, he bleeds suspicion.

I glare at him for a bit, and he glares right back. I sigh, shaking my head. "Fine. I'll wait for you in the car. Don't take too long."

This is not a problem, I'll just have to step up my trickery game. I fasten my black hiking boots and slip into my car. The familiar grinding and creaking untie a knot in my shoulders. This will be fine. I'll find a way to ditch Atty, sneak into Will's cabin, delete the pictures, sneak back out, unditch Atty, and return.

That's a pretty solid plan, I'm kind of proud.

"What're you all toothy for?" Atty teases as he crawls into the passenger seat.

"Don't dampen the mood stowaway."

When I get a good look at him, I can't help but giggle. He furrows his brows, tilting his head slightly.

"A hoodie and a jacket? You couldn't decide?"

"Some of us aren't hooligans," he mumbles defensively as he rubs his hands together. I smirk and pull out of the driveway, headed straight for the highway.

We drive for half an hour, silent but comfortable. It occurs to me multiple times that he, once again, prevented Jay from coming with me somewhere. My first thought is that maybe he doesn't want anything happening between us, but my gut tells me its something else entirely.

When I park in front of Arcadia's glass storefront, I know exactly what to do. I grin and usher Atty in, immediately pulling him into the bread aisle.

"You go pick up mango jam while I go to the ladies' section." The jam should keep him occupied, since I know for a fact Arcadia does not stock mango jam.

"You drove all the way out here for jam?" he asks incredulously, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Go Atty go," I cheer as I place both palms on his back and jostle him further into the aisle. He doesn't protest further so I take it as my queue to sneak away.

And I'm almost successful too. I've just placed my hand on the gear shift when the passenger door flies open and a fuming Atty barrels in.

"Why?!"

Wow, he looks really stressed. I kind of expect his hair to start standing up, to match the deep wrinkles on his forehead.

"Because, I really need to do something and you'll try to stop me so..." Yeah, I can't really justify this.

"SO? Instead of telling me to piss off you were going to leave me stranded 45 minutes away from home?!"

I should apologize. "Atty, you're an adult who knows how to use the bus." Damn, no going back huh?

He simply stares at me, lips parted, eyes wide. I groan, resting my head on the steering wheel. "Would you have pissed off if I told you to?"

Atty folds his arm, his jaw rigid. "No."

I'm about to respond when he holds up a finger and continues. "Because I'm supposed to make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"I wasn't going to do anything stupid," I grumble under my breath. He continues staring, challenging the truth behind my complaint.

"Where were you planning to go?"

"Will's cabin." The pesky cat was going to come out of the bag anyways. I can't keep secrets.

Now his eyes really widen, I don't think I've ever seen anyone this perplexed. "A revenge spree?" he whispers.

"What? No!" What does he think this is, Kill Bill?

"Then?"

"Can't you just trust that I have good reason to do this? Trust my decisions?"

"No. You don't have a good track record with decisions." So blunt, he goes straight for the heart.

"Please?"

Atty sighs and shakes his head. He drops his volume, his voice taking on a softer tone. "Listen, Jade, I can't let-"

He stops mid sentence when I take his hand in mine, pulling it close. "Please."

There's a moment where I forget where I am, when all I see is the never-ending depth in Atty's dark eyes. He pulls his hand back and strap his seat belt in. "Do what you want."

I feel heat building up in my ears and its all I can do to stop my hands from shaking. Atty doesn't understand, he doesn't know what's at stake. But I do, and I know Will better than anyone. If I go back, if I listen to him, he'll just use the pictures to make me do the next thing he wants.

It wont end, because a guy like him never gives up his leverage, ever.

The rest of the drive is silent. Atty doesn't even say anything when he sees the juxtaposition of log, glass, and cement that is Will's abode.

And when I pull into the brush nearby and turn off our lights, he only sighs. No matter. All I have to do now is wait for Will and his entourage to go swimming at the beach, their Sunday tradition.

Sure enough, the group of boys emerges after half an hour of waiting. It when I open my door that Atty finally says something.

"Are you sure about this?"

I don't bother to respond. If he's been quiet this long, he can handle more silence. Slowly, I tip toe to the entrance, sticking to the treeline for as long as possible. There's no point opening a window when I know the passcode to his high-tech lock.

It's only when I'm inside that the imminent feeling of danger strikes. I slump against the wall, gasping for air. Eyes on the prize Jade. Keep going.

So I do. However slow, I find my way to Will's room. Not a hard task, the biggest one is obviously his. He wouldn't stand for anything else.

The room permeates a Victorian feel and is insanely immaculate, everything has a place and nothing is out of place. The only flaw is the unmade King-sized bed and the change of clothes draped on the mahogany chair.

First is the laptop, and since it's not on the desk, I have to look for it. I pull open the drawers lining each side of his worktable, most are empty. Next, I try the Chester drawers. Still nothing. Finally, I skim through the closet.

There's nothing in there, not even clothes- wait. Maybe he's already packed up? Usually they take the Monday off but maybe he's not doing that this year. From the corner of the room I drag out the smaller of the suitcases.

When I unzip it, I see the gleam of sunlight reflecting on silver. There it is. Within minutes I've found the folder containing my pictures. Will's smart, but he's not enough of a tech whiz to hide these in an impossible way.

I'm almost giddy. There's nothing I can say about the relief I'll have once these are gone. And yet, dread shrouds me as the images load one by one. I hate this, so much so that there's a massive lump in my throat.

My heart sinks when I see what the seven images are labelled. Each picture is assigned a letter followed by the number 3. The one that captures my front and face, C4.

Tears prick at my eyes. He has two more copies. Will's nothing if not thorough.

I delete these, wiping them completely. But I know there's no point, he can just make more copies. I should leave, now.

From the main hall, I hear voices. Faint, as if they're hovering outside the main door. It's only when I hear Max's signature howl laughter that it truly settles in. They're back. 

/\/\**/\/\**/\/\

I would love to hear you guys' thoughts on this chapter and its events :)

Did anyone's perspective of Jade change?

Note (24/10/21): A lot of people commented on Atty's use of "babe" in this chapter. I know it's out of place, that was intentional. Originally, I had a plotline tied to it (would've occurred at around Chp. 50-55) but my plans have since changed. Therefore, I have now removed it and modified the chapter; since w/o the subplot this line doesn't make sense.