[Part One]

You know, I probably should have realised that robbing a store in broad daylight probably wasn't really a good idea. Especially not in peak business hours. However, me being me, I didn't really think about it too hard. And my friends being my friends, neither did they.

Also, word to the wise, if you're going to rob a store, you should probably have a plan in place beforehand. Don't do what I did and just decide to do it on the day. No, don't do that.

In all honesty, I could have paid for the books. The only reason I didn't was because I was doing it to impress my friends. They were constantly teasing me for being such a nerd, such a buzzkill. Eventually I got sick of it, as anyone would.

They drove me to the local bookshop and parked across the road. I looked to the window and looked back at the floor.

"Don't pussy out on us now, Mara," the leader of our little group, Connor, laughed while looking back at me from the wheel of the car. I bit my lip and took a deep breath. I could do this.

I hopped out of the car and began to walk across the road, remembering to watch for cars before crossing. I could hear them laughing from behind me.

I really didn't want to do it. Like, really didn't want to but I felt like I had no choice. It was either this or be teased for the rest of my miserable life. Mum had always told me that they were bad news. I should have listened.

"Mara," I heard Finn say from behind me. I turned and raised my brow at him in question.

"Gotta make sure you don't just pay for it and then come back out," he grinned. Damnit, how did they know that was what I was going to do?

"Aw, come on, man. You don't think I'd actually do that do you?" I asked, smiling at him. His grin widened.

"I'm not an idiot, Mara." Coulda fooled me.

I pushed the door to the shop open, hearing the homely ring of the bell that signalled the person at the counter that there was a customer approaching. I walked into the first aisle, already feeling incredibly nervous. Finn stood to my left, watching me look at books.

"This is like a right of passage, you know. You pass this and then you can officially be a part of the gang," he said, patting me on the back. I faked a smile. I was a good girl, a nerd, someone who would never even dream of doing something like this and yet here I was, about to commit a crime in the name of fake friendship.

"Does it really matter what one you take?" He whispered in my ear. I looked back at him, putting the book I had in my hands back on the shelf.

"Yes. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to take one I will actually read," I hissed, stalking into the next aisle. He merely sighed and followed me.

I walked into the Young Adult section and smiled. This was more like it.

I spent another five minutes or so looking for the right book. Eventually I settled upon Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. It had always wanted to read it but I had just never gotten around to it yet.

"Fuckin' finally," Finn groaned. "They're just books."

"Maybe to you."

I slipped open my satchel and I placed the heavy novel into the front pocket. My heart started to beat faster. What was I doing?

"Alright, you ready?" Finn asked me. I nodded, swallowing thickly. I was starting to feel sick.

"We're just going to walk out, yeah?"

I nodded, ignoring the fact that this was wrong and I should be able to be pressured into doing something like this. It wasn't too late yet, I could still put it back. However, despite thinking all of this, I didn't put it back. Instead, I followed Finn out into the front of the store.

Almost home-free.

"Excuse me, miss, may I check your bag? Sorry, its a new rule that we have to follow. Manager's orders," the guy at the counter said. I froze, blood running cold. Fuck.

"Do you have to?" I asked, feeling the fear well up in my gut. Shit, shit, shit.

"Its the rules, so, yes."

"Alright," I said, stepping forward. I watched as Finn tensed up. I handed over the bag and heard crashing behind me.

Finn was out the door in seconds, not even giving me a second thought. I sighed and turned back to the guy.

"Look, my friends have this shit right of passage bullshit where you have to take something from a store. I swear to god, I was going to come back and pay for it. Please, you have to believe me," I said when I saw him holding the book and glaring at me.

"Why should I believe anything you say? You just tried to steal from us," the guy said.

"I'm telling the truth, I swear," I said. He frowned. Outside, I heard a car start up and the tires screech as my friends sped away. Yeah, friends...

"Even if you are, I still have to call the cops."

I felt tears spring to my eyes. Shit, this wasn't good. Mum was going to kill me.

"I, uh, I understand," I said quietly. He nodded and pointed to the chair next to the wall.

"Sit there and don't move until the cops get here," he said. I nodded and sat down.

"This is disappointing. A girl like you, you could have done so much. Now you probably won't even be able to get a job," the guy said, phone pressed to his ear. I sighed.

"I know."

(a/n: sorry, I know it's pretty awful but anyway. I hope you enjoy this first chapter and let me know what you think? Alright, peace out Misfits!)

Updated on the 8th of February, 2016.