I lean against the lockers, my fingers tapping against my thighs. Thoughts running rampant.

Jackson walks down the hallway. I narrow my eyes as he stops, leaning against the wall closest to the principal's office.

The bell rings, people hurrying to their classes.

I start edging my way towards the door. Grabbing my phone from my pocket and pretending to message someone on it before looking up.

Jackson peers over his shoulder. I look back at my phone, watching him from the corner of my eye as he walks into the office.

The hallway clears quickly after that and I hurry toward the door. Peering in through the frosted glass window to try and get a look inside.

Faint voices erupt from the room, Jackson's the most prominent.

I crouch down by the door, my hand slowly inching its way up the door and towards the handle. I silently open it and peak in.

The principal stands in front of his desk, Jackson pacing in front of him.

"- away from her."

I tilt my head, trying to listen further but their voices get quieter.

The door squeaks and I gasp quietly, spinning away from the door.

"What was that?"

I quickly get up, running down the hall silently and opening the closest door, shutting it behind me.

The dozens of eyes that gaze at me make me swallow. Though the familiar ones peering into mine relax my thumping heart slightly.

"Windsor." Ryland gets up, walking over to me. "Are you okay?" I nod and look at the teacher in apology.

"Sorry, I need Ryland for a short moment."

He nods his head, more interested in the book in front of him than the interruption.

I grab Rys' hand and pull him out the door, the hallway clear.

"What's wrong?" He whispers as soon as the door shuts behind him.

"Nothing." I whisper back, glancing down the hall at the principals door.

They'd closed it.

Ry follows my gaze.

"Windsor." He grabs my chin and pulls my head back so I'm facing him. "What's going on?"

"I-"

I look back at the door as I hear it open.

"-Kiss me." I hush.

Ryland wastes no time, his lips descending on mine.

A quiet sigh leaves my lips, my hands clutching at his black shirt as I lean into him.

Rys hands come up, clutching at my hair as he pushes my face into his gently.

"Windsor." he whispers against my lips, his fingers hovering over the back of my neck. "Will-"

"No fraternizing on school grounds!" Comes a harsh voice. I pull away from Ryland, my lips swollen and breaths escaping my lungs in harsh, quick spurts. "Get back to class." The man snaps, turning back to his office, Jackson nowhere to be seen.

"Yes, Principal Russo." Ryland mutters as he steps away from me, back towards his class.

He smirks at me, trying to hide his smile before turning and walking into his classroom.

I bite my lips, turning around and shaking my head.

Stupid move Windsor.

I breathe out roughly, starting to walk down the hallway again.

I walk around the hallway, slamming into a body.

"Whoops sorry."

I look up, seeing the smirk on Jackson face as he walks forward again, slamming into my body once more.

Using the opportunity I quickly shove my hand into his pocket. Retrieving his phone and subtlety put it into my own.

"It's okay." I mutter, edging past him and walking down the hallway. Feeling his eyes on my back. I glance back and face forward again quickly as his eyes follow me, a shiver racing down my spine.

• • •

I wait till dark.

The window is heavy as I try to shove it open, and eventually I succeed. The hinges squeak mercilessly as I grind my teeth in annoyance.

I pull myself up and through the window, before sliding gracefully down the other side.

The room is dark, a faint glow coming in from the lights outside.

I exit the room and scrunch my nose at the chill that races down my spine once the door shuts.

There's something about being in an empty high school at night that gives me the creeps.

I start to walk down the hallway, listening for anything out of the ordinary. A sound of the approaching guard I know patrols the school at night or a wandering teacher or student.

I make it down the hallway quickly, crouching down in front of the principals door.

I test the handle.

Locked.

Of course.

I spin my bag off my shoulder and set it in front of me. Grabbing the lock picking kit out, I quickly open it and select the right tools.

Placing one in the bottom end of the keyhole. I apply slight pressure before inserting the next tool at the top. I twist it back and forth until I hear the faint click on the pins setting in place.

Quickly removing the tools, I shove them back in the case and place it all back in my bag before opening the door. Quickly rushing in and shutting it behind me.

I glance around the office suspiciously before walking to his desk chair and taking a seat.

I dig through the bag until my hand closes around the phone.

I place Jackson's mobile on the desk and retrieve another small box. Sliding the lid open before removing the case on Jackson's phone.

I place the small listening device, about the size of an ant in the corner of his case before slipping it snuggly back on the phone.

I grab my laptop out and boot it up, plugging Jackson's phone into it and waiting as it gathers all the information.

While that happens I get up and place another one of the chips on the back of Principal Russo's phone.

I glance at my laptop, seeing the loading bar only at thirty-seven percent.

I wheel the chair back slightly, furrowing my brows at the desk drawers.

Trying the first one, it opens swiftly. I rummage through pens and notepads but not much of anything else.

I try the next one, this one filled with files. I grab the first few.

Alessio Vitale.

Enzo Vitale.

Jackson Linden.

I flip them open, but they hold the same information I already know.

Stuffing them back in, I shut the draw and try the third.

It doesn't open.

I quickly get off the chair and get down on my knees by the draw, looking up once to check the progress on my laptop.

Sixty-one percent.

I focus back on the draw, retrieving my lock picking tools once more and repeating the process.

Slight pressure.

Wiggle and twist.

Lock click.

I drop the tools and pull the draw open, furrowing my brow at the files sitting in there. I grab the only two files there.

Harry Reign.

Xavier Hollow.

I flip them open, my eyes widening at the photos taped on the inside.

I focus on the information, but it only goes back three years.

I glance back at the photos in both files.

Jackson's unmistakable face glaring back at me.

I slam them shut before looking into the draw. I knock my knuckle against the bottom part to check for any hollow parts. A dead giveaway of hidden compartments.

A dull thud hits my ears as my knuckles hit a spot close to the back. I feel around the edges until my fingertip runs over a slightly raised corner.

Blindly grabbing a tool, I place it on the raised edge and use it to lift the drawer bottom out.

A gun sits idly in the compartment and I quickly grab it, looking for any engravings. Nothing.

I check the magazine, collecting the bullets from inside. Clutching them in my palm as I see the engraving on the polished metal.

Human heart entwined in thorns.

I hastily shove them back in the magazine and put it all back in the spot exactly as I found it before replacing the lid.

I open the files once more and grab my phone, taking a photo of both before folding them back up and shoving the away.

I lock the draw once more and stand up, looking at my laptop.

One hundred percent.

I grab Jackson phone, unplugging it and shut my laptop, placing it back in my bag.

A shadow passes over the frosted window and my head snaps up before I grab all the items and quickly get on the ground. I shove myself under the principals desk just as the door opens on squeaky hinges. Footsteps make their way into the room before the door shuts.

I hold my breath, counting silently in my head as I wait for the security guard to leave once he deems the room empty.

The footsteps stop and I can see the shadow of them at the desk, as I clutch my bag to my chest and Jackson's phone in my grip.

They start moving once more, rounding the desk and I scrunch my face in annoyance.

"Windsor." A voice whispers and I flinch, my head snapping out from under the desk, red hair swishing past my shoulders.

"Ryland." I snap and quickly get up, punching his shoulder. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I'm sorry." He whispers but he doesn't look sorry at all.

"What are you doing here?" I question harshly, quickly finding a place to put Jackson's phone.

I place it on the corner of the desk, in plain sight.

They won't question Jackson's phone being here if Jackson was here just this morning. And if they do, how the hell are they going to trace it back to me.

"I followed you."

No cameras, no proof. Even if there were cameras, I would've disabled them.

I grab Rylands hand and start pulling him to the door, opening it and looking out into the still empty hallway.

"Why the hell would you follow me?"

"I was curious." He shrugs. "and worried. I had no idea where you were going." I walk through the doorway, Ryland at my side, his hand still clutched in mine though I don't let go.

"That's because I didn't tell anyone."

"That's not how a team works, Windsor." He scolds but doesn't actually sound that upset.

"Well you're here now, and we make a pretty good team." I say without thinking and curse myself for it, quickly letting go of his hand.

"Yeah." Rylands hushes as we rush down the hallway. "We do."