Nathan got a ride with North after school. They learned from Sang Mr. Hendricks sent a teacher off to look for them, and it confirmed they were probably on to them paying attention.

It didn’t matter to them. This was part of the push. They were okay with the possibility this was a trap tonight. Their plan was pretty solid.

He’d meet up with Luke a little later. Luke was going to sneak into the school. Nathan would wait outside, monitor the parking lot where Ms. Johnson was supposed to be. Sang was going to stick with North, monitoring the opposite side, closer to where this delivery was going to happen.

North pulled into the spot in front of Nathan’s house and parked the Jeep, leaving the engine to idle. “So, I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

North scratched at an eyebrow. “Never mind. I don’t want to ask.”

“What is it?”

His lips twitched as he inhaled deeply, his chest expanding. He spoke as he exhaled. “Victor’s always buying Sang shit.”

Not the topic he really wanted to talk about. “He’s rich. And he wants to impress her.”

“Yeah, well, I might want to buy her something, but I don’t know what to get her. And I don’t want to ask her, because then she’ll know. I’m not trying to impress her...but you know...”

Awkward. North had to know how Nathan felt about this situation, but this had to be awkward for him, too. North never asked about things like this. “She doesn’t like stuff, remember? She likes doing stuff with you. Just take her out some night.”

“Taking her out tonight,” he said.

“I mean not on Academy missions or family issue things. You took her to the beach that one time.”

North sighed again, shaking his head. “I’d like to get her something. I don’t know. I saw all that bath shit Victor got her, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Nathan groaned. It was odd to help him out with this, but he started listing a few things he could remember Sang saying she liked. “She likes books.”

“Should I get her one?”

Probably a bad idea. It’d be on cars. “Uh, she liked those bath bombs.”

“She’s got a ton. I need something original.”

Nathan rolled his head back on the headrest. “I don’t know. Get something that you share a memory over. It doesn’t have to be something she’d like or use. Like getting a souvenir from a place you’re on vacation.”

North tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “Hm...Actually...yeah.” He motioned to Nathan. “But I’ve got to hurry to get to it. Love you, man. And thanks. But get out.”

Nathan got out of the Jeep, waved to him as North drove off.

If only the issue with Danielle and Marie would be as easily handled. Or even Hendricks. One little conversation. Still, it felt good helping out North. That was rare. It was usually North coming to save his ass.

The air still had a coolness to it, but the sun had come out and was warming some surfaces. The neighborhood looked clear. No odd cars that didn’t belong parked in the street.

It wasn’t until he was at his front door that he heard the first indication someone was inside.

Not always a surprise. The others often came over and were in the house, so at first it didn’t rattle him at all.

Not until he stepped in the door and remembered everyone but North was still at the school.

He put down his bookbag, tucking it behind a side table by the door, careful not to break the laptop and tablet inside. He called out, “Who’s here?”

Bare footsteps tapped on carpet and then on wood. It echoed through the house until Marie and Danielle appeared in the kitchen. Both were wearing pajamas, although Marie looked like she was wearing something Sang had worn before. They’d come from the direction of his bedroom.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. He took out his keys and cell phone and put them on the kitchen table. He put his hands on his hips. “And why were you in my closet?”

“Chill out,” Danielle said. “She just borrowed some clothes. We’ll put them back.”

Marie seemed hesitant to answer Nathan, and kept her lips locked.

Nathan sighed, rolled his head back and looked at the ceiling. “Tell me you haven’t been here all day.”

“Where else are we supposed to go until you get us both out of school?” Danielle asked. “I can’t bring her to my house and we can’t stay inside of hers. People will notice.”

Nathan straightened up and pointed to Marie. “I can figure out why she doesn’t want to go back. I don’t understand why you’re here.”

“Why should I have to go?” Danielle asked. “You’re getting me out.”

“You do know the school will call to find out why you weren’t there today, right?” Nathan asked. “Your mom isn’t like hers. You don’t think she’s going to notice her daughter isn’t going to school?”

“That’s why you’re going to help us with the fake school thing,” she said. “You were going to get Marie and Sang out before, remember? You told Marie you’d make a fake school and make it look like we enrolled and everything. You’re going to do that for us.”

Oh. Great. During the time with Carol, the only way to escape looked like getting them enrolled into a fake school, up until it didn’t work and they got Sang out anyway. No wonder Marie knew to ask them about it, but Danielle was the one pushing for it. That was weird. “You’ve got friends at school, right? But don’t you want to just keep going? Graduate? Go to college?”

“Aren’t you going to college after?” Danielle asked. “You go to a fancy prep school but you do whatever you want. You’re running around all the time.”

Nathan wasn’t going to win with her this way. Mr. Blackbourne was right. He needed to stop being against them and arguing. It wasn’t helping. So he tried the friendly approach. “Look, I’m just wondering what the goal is. Hendricks is a pain in the ass.” He looked at Marie. “I get it. I get why you want out. But what are you hoping to accomplish here? Are you just going to stay home? With your mom?”

“Who else is going to?” Marie asked.

Nathan bit his lip and looked down. “Marie,” he said. “We can help with her.”

“I don’t want you to,” she said. “Just do this thing for me. I’ll stay with her. I’ll monitor her medications so she won’t go crazy.”

“But that’s not the sort of life you need,” he said and finally looked at her dead on. She avoided his eyes, glancing at the walls, the kitchen counter, and basically anything but him. “That can’t be everything. Don’t you want something for yourself? A career? Your dad may pay alimony and child support for a bit to take care of her and you, but that won’t last forever. You need more than that to take care of her. You need something for yourself, too.”

Marie paled. She crossed her arms over her stomach. “I just need out.”

“So do I,” Danielle said. “I can help her. I can’t do it from school.”

She doesn’t need you, Nathan thought, but didn’t dare say. He pressed his palms against his face and then rubbed. “All right. We’re going to try to get Marie out. Danielle, you’re more difficult.” He picked his phone up off the table and then brought it with him. “But we need to talk about this more later. I’ve got something to do tonight, though. I’d rather you didn’t stay here while I’m not here. I have to go change...”

Suddenly the doorbell rang. Odd. If it were one of the guys, they would have walked in. Who else could be ringing the bell?

Nathan looked over at the others, but there wasn’t much chance to check out a camera on his phone without them noticing. The girls slipped into the living room. He went to the front door.

Outside, Jessica was standing with a small laundry basket. She was blushing red, a contrast to her pink glasses. She was still in her private school uniform. “Don’t be mad at me,” she said.

Nathan let a breath burst out of his lips and attempted to smile a little. “Jessica, I’m not mad at you. I just made a mistake. You had every right to tell Kota. I was being dumb.”

Her shoulders loosened as she relaxed and offered the basket to him. “I’m to tell you that this isn’t kicking you out of the house, but my mom wasn’t sure if you’d need any of this. You know, until Kota and you make up. And you tell Sang you’re sorry.”

Nathan held back a groan. The basket was loaded with jeans and shirts and a few other things, some his, some the other guys’ things. But also in the basket was a casserole dish, something that looked freshly baked and still warm.

“Thank you,” Nathan said and took the basket. “You didn’t have to. And I’ll tell Sang and Kota I’m sorry again. When they’re ready to talk to me.”

“My mom said you deserved Kota kicking your butt but also she knew this was your favorite.” She motioned to the dish.

Nathan laughed. Erica had been his other mom for a long time. He couldn’t imagine this was easy for her, either. “Thanks. Barbecue chicken?”

She nodded and then leaned over, looking around Nathan.

Danielle was peeking out from the kitchen. She waved shortly to Jessica. “Hey girl, what’s up?”

Jessica waved back. “Hi.” She didn’t seem surprised by her being there.

Odd. Danielle usually didn’t care for Jessica much. One of the things Nathan didn’t like about Danielle over the years was how she would often ignore her completely or tell her to run off and play to get her to go away.

Jessica continued her wave to Nathan, and an odd expression developed on her face, something happier. “Have fun.” She turned around and walked away, heading across the street to her house.

Nathan shut the door, with the basket in one arm, and turned to Danielle.

Danielle’s eyebrows lifted, and she kept a sly grin.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

Nathan marched around her to his bedroom. “I’ve got to change clothes and leave in a minute. You all should go home soon.”

“Sure,” Danielle said. “Soon.” She walked off toward the living room.

Nathan looked over at his dad’s bedroom door, wondering if they’d been in there, but he was pretty sure they hadn’t. He wondered if he should use his dad as an excuse to keep them away, make up a story about him returning tonight.

But it didn’t help the immediate problem. Getting them out of school...and getting them to tell him about Sang’s mother.