Garrett dragged a small stool over to the table. "Sorry. This is all we have right now. We'll get you a chair next meeting."

It felt somewhat apt sitting on the three-legged contraption while everyone else was in a chair. It wasn't the most comfortable feeling but she'd make do. Zipping open her bag, she took out her books and phone. Several messages from her mother blinked on the screen. No doubt she was checking up on her. Frustrated, she closed the screen without looking at them. It took her several minutes before realizing everyone was watching her.

"Something on my face?" she kidded.

"Madison, I—no, we have a confession to make," Avery said, when no else spoke up. "We weren't necessarily honest with you about our intentions."

"What's this 'we' business?" Kelly asked, thrusting her nose in the air. "You were the one who lied to her. Not us." She looked at Madison. "I'm morally opposed to lying."

"Oh. Well...sure. That's a good policy to have."

"I didn't lie to her," Avery exclaimed. Her gaze swung to Madison, her face earnest. "I didn't. I swear I didn't." She seemed to wait for some type of response so Madison nodded although she had no clue what they were talking about. Avery turned back to Kelly. "See?"

"You didn't tell her the truth," Kelly pointed out.

"Well, I couldn't exactly tell her the truth now could I? And if you had a problem with the way I handled things, then you should have asked stepped up and asked her instead of me."

"Why would I ask her when you were the one who wanted her to join?"

"We all agreed," Avery argued back. Her almond shaped eyes flashing with indignation. "If you didn't want her then you should have said something when we voted."

"You know what—why don't I just go?" Madison asked, shifting in her seat. Clearly, they had a few issues that needed to be ironed out.

"No, no. Stay," Avery insisted.

"I don't know what this," she motioned to the four of them, "is all about, but it seems to me that I'm not wanted."

Kelly winced and offered her a contrite look, her glasses slowly sliding down the bridge of her nose. "I'm sorry. That wasn't my intent. We're just a little wary of newcomers."

"We've been friends for years," Garrett explained. "Kelly and I have known Wyatt since we were in diapers and Avery joined our group during middle school."

"It's not that we don't like you," Kelly said, pushing the red frames back up, "it's just we don't..." 

"Trust me," Madison filled in.

Kelly lowered her head in a small nod. She seemed relieved Madison understood the score. 

Madison ran her tongue over her front teeth as she processed this. "If you don't trust me, then why am I here?"

The four friends glanced at each other, sharing furtive looks. It was Wyatt who spoke up, his tan face solemn as rested his forearms on the table. He clasped his hands together, the sleeves of his long-sleeved shirt straining against his biceps.

"We are offering you a chance to join our club."

"Club," she repeated, rolling the word around in her head. "Not a study group."

"A special club. One that requires discretion and complete secrecy."

The concept intrigued her. "What does this club do?"

Wyatt looked to his right. "Avery?"

Avery cleared her throat. "Do you remember the birthday party we were both at about a month ago? It was for Alex Chow."

"I remember." The only reason she had been invited was because their fathers' worked together. She'd initially refused to go, but her father forced her, believing she needed to make friends. It was an awkward party. No one talked to her except for Avery, who showed up halfway through the celebration. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I know what you did."

"Huh?"

"I saw you in Mrs. Chow's room."

She'd stumbled into Grandma Chow's bedroom after mistakenly thinking it would lead her to the bathroom. Bored and wanting to escape the uncomfortable situation, she stayed there it was time to leave. "So?" she asked, unsure of where this was heading. 

Avery leaned in and dropped her voice like she was parting with a state secret. "I know about the jade necklace."

A bolt of panic shot through her. She'd been trifling through the woman's things, looking at the various knickknacks and jewelry she stored when she came across a beautiful jade necklace. The dark green stone was rimmed with a gold scalloped edge and connected to a long thin chain. Memorized by the beauty, she held it up to her neck, admiring the piece.

That's when she heard her name being called from someone a few feet away. Startled, she concealed the necklace in her palm and hid her hands behind her back. Seconds later, Avery walked through the door and told her they were about to cut the cake. Unable to put the necklace back, she pocketed it and waited till she was alone again before racing to the bedroom and returning the jade to its rightful place. 

"H-How...." Dumbstruck, she shook her head. She'd been certain no one had seen her and Avery hadn't given any indication that she knew.

"Let's just say we know the signs."

Kelly seemed amused by Madison's dismay. "Don't worry. We would never tell anyone. But a word of advice? Don't wear it out in public. It's too noticeable a piece."

It was in that moment Madison realized they believe she'd taken the necklace, not returned it. "Wait. Are you telling me that you all...?" When they nodded, the implication of what they were saying hit her full force. "So, you're a secret club that...steals?"

Wyatt flicked a piece of lint off his shirt, acting like this conversation was normal, and she guessed for him it was. "You should feel honored to be invited. We don't allow anyone to join, but Avery begged."

"Why?"

Avery reached out and patted hand. "I always see you by yourself. I know how this compulsion can isolate you, leaving you with few friends and I wanted to show you that there are people who understand."

"You've got to be kidding me," Madison uttered. She dropped her head back and stared at the ceiling. This was not what she expected. Not even on the radar of possibilities. "Listen, I think there's been a misunderstanding—"

Avery cut her off. "It's okay. You don't have to pretend around us. We all steal. In fact, we make a game of it. We call ourselves the FEC."

"After the name of this room?"

"That was a lucky coincidence," Garrett reflected. "We actually named the club for the chemical properties of steel."

"Iron and carbon. Clever," she stated.

Avery shot Wyatt daggers. "I told you she would get it."

Garrett he walked over to the far wall and bent down in front of a rusty vent. After he wiggled his fingers between the bars, he gave a sharp tug and pulled it clean out. Reaching in, he grabbed a gray toolbox like the ones handymen used and placed it on the table. 

Madison eyed the box warily, noting the large lock on the front and the letters FEC drawn on top with a black marker. Wyatt inserted a key and popped it open. Against her better judgment, Madison leaned over the table and looked inside. The contents of the box ranged from jewelry to figurines to teacups. There was even a mint condition comic book at the very bottom.

"We only steal rare, valuable items," Kelly informed her, pulling out a bundle of cloth. Carefully she unwrapped it, revealing a silver and white glittering Christmas ornament. "This is my pride and joy. I picked it up at the mayor's house last year. He gave it to his wife for their third anniversary." She winked. "Three hundred Swarovski crystals. Not bad, huh?"

Her attitude was so crass Madison had to bite her tongue. God, this whole thing was a mistake. She should have stayed home like she wanted to.

"Every month we bring our new steal in and compare them," Avery explained. "You get points for how rare it is, how much it's valued at, and who you took it from. Then we tally up the points and the winner gets to keep the key."

"Here," Kelly said, offering her the expensive ornament. It shimmered in the room, each crystal reflecting the light.

Madison held up her arms to stop her. "I'm good."

"No, no. You have to see it up close." She pushed it in Madison's hands, forcing her to grab the ball or else it would drop to the ground and shatter. "Isn't it gorgeous?"

A bright flash distracted her from answering. Startled, she looked up to see Wyatt holding an old Polaroid camera.

"What the hell was that for?" she demanded to know.  

"Insurance," he responded, waving the 4x5 inch picture around. "You know our secrets. I'm making sure you keep them."

She shoved the ornament back at Kelly, her heart pounding in her chest. "Give me the photo."

"I don't think so," Wyatt snorted and put the picture in the box.

"Be nice," Avery told him. "It's okay, Madison. We're not going to show anyone."

"As long as you keep your mouth shut," Wyatt retorted.

Madison stood up and looked him straight in the eye. "How do I know this isn't an elaborate set-up so I take the fall? With that photo you can easily implicate me while the rest of you get off scot-free."

Tapping his finger against his chin, he held her gaze, quietly studying her. He seemed to come to some conclusion because he broke the link and smirked. Delving into the box, he pulled out another photo. It was a Polaroid of the four of them with the stolen items laid out on the table.

"Satisfied?" he asked, placing it back in the box.

Not really, but what could she do? Apart of breaking into the box and stealing the photo she was stuck. Of course, she could also just steal the box altogether, but then she would be in possession of those stolen items. And something about the glint in Wyatt's eyes made her think he would have no problem calling the police and telling them where to find it.

"Are you going to participate in the next round?" Avery asked, excitement lighting up her eyes. "We're going to meet in two weeks."

"I don't know," she hedged. "I'm going to have to think about it." Think about it till she got the hell out of the room and far, far away from them.

"Oh..." A wealth of disappointment sat in that one word and Madison had to wonder how a sweet girl like Avery got caught up in this mess. Wyatt, she could understand and for that matter Kelly too. She had a feeling Garrett was only in it because of his sister, but Avery? Nice, honor roll student, ribbons-in-hair Avery? Guess the saying was true—one can never judge a book by its cover.

Wyatt locked the box and stored it away while everyone else righted the room. As they sauntered down the steps and out of the library, Madison wondered if she should mention the police were looking into the thefts then thought better of it. She didn't want to become more entrenched with them than she already was. 

"Bye Madison! See you at school tomorrow," Avery called out as the four of them jumped into the same car.

 She waved goodbye and began her drive home. Deep in thought, she almost missed her dad's question when she walked in the door.

"How was the study group? You have a good time?"

"It was enlightening."

"Good, good. How do you feel about pizza for dinner? You, me and a thick crust with the works?"

She glanced at the family picture hanging on the wall. The three of them dressed in similar shades of blue, her mother's hand lying on her shoulder. She sighed, then turned her back on it and walked away. "Sounds perfect, Dad. I can't wait."