|Wrench ❌❌|

'Come on, (Y/n).' -Message sent at 12:34

'Why won't you answer? I can see you reading my messages.' -Message sent at 12:36

'I really miss talking with you... you haven't been responding to me for weeks.' -Message sent at 12:36

'I know you're upset and heartbroken but could you send me a sign to let me know you're okay?' -Message sent at 12:37

"I'm okay, Wrench." -Your message sent at 12:40

'Thank goodness you're okay. Hey, look, I have something planned for you. Y'know, to get your mind off things.' -Message sent at 12:41

'You don't have to come if you don't want to. But my invitation still stands. ^ ^' -Message sent at 12:41

"Thank you for everything. I'll definitely be there. It would be nice to get out and see you again." -Your message sent at 12:43

'Really? Okay, okay! Meet me at our usual place. See you there!' -Message sent at 12:44

You stare down at your phone screen, face holding no emotion whatsoever. You wanted to smile at how many messages he sent you, but there was just nothing to feel. For the past few weeks, he would text you every morning and around every night. You never replied to any of them. Either way, broken or unbroken, his messages always made your heart melt for a split second. No one was ever kind enough to continually come back to help you through the emotional mess you're in. Even Marcus messaged you at times.

After your apartment being burned all the way down to the ground, along with your brother, you had to move back in with your parents until you could get back on your feet. Problem is, no one around your area likes to take you as an employee. Stories of you losing your temper at certain times and the bipolar mess you are made people refuse you. If you had to count how many people had fired you from a job that you desperately needed, there would most likely be over a hundred people standing in front of you. How could you get the money to move back out and leave your parents be?

Pulling yourself out of the bed, all that was running through your head was the way Wrench would look at you through his mask. Sure, you've envisioned what he looks like many of times, but seeing you after weeks of not replying, what expression would his face be holding? Complete disappointment?

You head out of your spare guest room and down the stairs to greet your parents that are catching at the isle in the middle of the kitchen. You rarely ever came out of you room to see your devastated family. Instead of letting them see you cry your eyes out and throw things out of anger, you hid in the guest room they offered you. When you moved out of the house, Dylan got your old room. You weren't brave enough to step in there ever again, and you certainly weren't going to take his old room either. There was just no winning.

"Hey, I'm going out to see some friends. I'll see you two later." You mumble a quick bye, grabbing the car keys off the counter, and speed walking out of the back door before they could get a hold of you.

It hurts not to live close to Coco Love anymore. The café was your get away place and it was fairly close. It was. Now you live miles away from it in a little community that doesn't bother to talk with you.

***

When you get to your destination, you parallel park your close down a block from the café and climb out of the car with keys in hand. The shadow of a soft smile passes over your lips when seeing the pink café not too far away from where you were standing. You close and lock the car doors before shoving the keys into your right front pocket. Outside of Coco Love, Wrench leaned against the building with his arms crosses over his chest. His head was flung back to meet the pink brick wall and the eyes his mask usually had was no where to be seen. It looked like he was sleeping. You quickly stumble over to the café and friend you haven't seen in what it feels like forever. Inside was Marcus and two other people you didn't recognize. They were all laughing and drinking steaming cups of coffee like really good friends.

You lift a hand and press your fingers to Wrench's forearm, waiting him to notice you were standing right in front of him. The eyes on his mask flicker back onto the black screen and he looks down to see you staring up at his covered face. The first thing he noticed is how dull and lifeless your eyes looked. The other thing he immediately notices is that you held no smile. Just a stiff expression. Usually people greet another people with a smile. Even if you have to fake one. But did he care? Not in the slightest. He was just ecstatic that you actually came.

His eyes turn into exclamation points and he gasps dramatically, instantly scooping your tiny frame into a warm embrace. A very tight embrace. It takes you a moment to hug him back, and you didn't mind the spikes. They weren't as bad as you thought they would be. He didn't say anything and you didn't say anything. You two just hugged like it was the end of the world. Sitara notices the two of you hugging outside and points towards the door to alarm everyone else of the situation. Everyone passing you by on the sidewalk just scowls and continues with their day.

"Nice to see you again, Wrench." You whisper into his shoulder, avoiding the spikes once again.

"That's what you said last time. Get some new material." He pulls away enough to send you those cute, fake eyes of his.

You crack a rare, real smile and cover it up with clearing your throat. His eyes turn into minus signs and he shakes his head while letting go of your waist.

"Bad cover up. Anyway, I'm so glad you came! I was starting to doubt you for a second..." He trails off, looking to the distance with wide O's.

"I, uh, almost didn't come. I'm sorry I didn't answer you for that long period of time. I'm just not over..." You cut yourself off, closing your eyes to stop yourself from breaking down in front of him. It wasn't the time nor place to do so.

"I don't blame you. Just try to forget about it for a day?" He smiles yet you can't see it. Sometimes he wishes he could give one simple smile and be satisfied with it enough to show it.

"That's nearly impossible but I'll try. What did you have planned?" You change the subject around to him, unable to keep the original topic on a roll.

"Oh! I want you to meet my other friends before I explain." He sends an emoji wink after grabbing your hand and tugging you into the café.

"(Y/n), meet Sitara and Josh." He stops at the booth they're all sitting up.

Sitara, the woman sitting beside Marcus, had a lot going on with her style. Bright colors like purple and neon green. She had knee high skull socks that said DedSec all over them. Around her neck was a purple scarf and her eye makeup was nothing but different shades of purple. Dark purple. She really liked purple. Her hair was braided on one side and the other side was pulled into a high pony tail. Honestly, she looked good. She doesn't hesitate to send you a wave and friendly smile.

"So you're the (Y/n) Wrench won't quit talking about? Nice to see he picks good friends." She winks at you, making you go into a flustered mess and scoot closer to Wrench. She's very intimidating.

"Shut up. Don't make me sick Wrench Jr. on you." Wrench warns in a sickly sweet sounding tone of voice. She just laughs and shrugs his threat off.

You look over to Josh who was sitting all by himself across from Marcus and Sitara. His head was down and his chocolate brown bangs hid his eyes slightly. The green hoodie he was wearing had the hood flipped over his head, another way to hide himself. You guess he is just as shy as you are. He doesn't say anything after the introduction.

"He doesn't mean to be rude. Josh is just a little shy." Marcus speaks up whilst pushing Sitara out of the booth so he can stand up.

He stands from the cramped booth and hugs you. Not as tight as Wrench did, but you tight enough to know that he was sorry for you. You guessed Wrench already told them of what happened with Dylan. If he didn't, it was going to be a long visit. You both pull away and Wrench sends some bad vibes Marcus' way, glaring.

"Boys, I need some alone time with my new friend." Sitara slings an arm over your shoulder.

"What?! Hey, I saw her first!" Wrench fusses, stomping his foot like a child.

Marcus grabs the back of his shirt and drags off Wrench to the other side of the café, Josh hot on their heels. Sitara offers you to sit down and you accept, sliding into the booth.

"Wrench told me what happened. I'm very sorry, (Y/n)," is the first thing that passes through her lips. You saw it coming.

"Oh, you don't have to be sorry. It was meant to be, I guess." You shrug it off even if it chipped off another piece of your heart like glass.

"What I wanted to talk with you about is a proposal. If you're up for it?" She holds out a hand, her other hand tucked under her chin.

"Depends on what it is." You lean your elbows onto the table, eyes wide open.

"Do you currently have a job? Where are you living? If you don't have a job and you're living somewhere crappy, I can help with that." Her neutral expression switches into a curious one at seeing your eyes brighten up.

"No, I don't have a job. Can't seem to keep one because of... reasons. And I live with my parents. It's the only place I can live. No other family will help me." You pry your eyes away from hers to look over at the boys.

Wrench was sticking straws in his ears while Marcus and Josh stared at him like he was insane. The sight brought a smile to your smooth lips. Sitara notices your expression and softens her bluntness.

"You know about DedSec, right? The hacker group trying to take down ctOS?" She pipes up.

You turn your head back to her and nod your head. She lifts an eyebrow, her head tilting without even noticing.

"Yeah, I'm actually following them." You admit with a fake sheepish smile.

"Whoa, what? You're a DedSec follower? That makes things so much easier." She rubs her chin and thinks. Pretending to think, that is.

"I'm guessing you and your friends are, too? I could tell by looking at your socks and Marcus' hat." You slip her a knowing look.

"Something like that."

***

"You are not putting that bag over my head." You hiss, backing away from Marcus who held a brown bag in his hands.

"Wait, no, guys, we can't put that bag over her head. Why can't we let her see? You said you would trust me!" Wrench steps in front of you, snapping at the others.

"Wrench," Sitara goes to argue but gets cut off by Marcus.

"We did say we would trust him. If he trusts (Y/n), then we should too." Marcus nods his head to Josh who just silently agreed.

"Okay, fine. We'll let her see. I guess the job wouldn't work if she didn't know where the HackerSpace is anyway." She gives up, waving them off.

"I'm so lost." You admit with glossy eyes.

These people, including Wrench, starting acting weird when bringing you over to a club building filled with geeks and nerds alike. No, they didn't step inside before arguing. They did it in the middle of the sidewalk.

"It's better if we show you." Sitara scoffs at the boys before walking into the building and into the back hallway.

Everyone follows her while keeping a close eye on you. So far, you didn't like what Wrench had planned for you. Actually, you felt threatened and untrusting towards all of them. In the back hallway was a metal door with a panel next to it. Sitara types in a code and it takes awhile for the door to slide open. Everyone walks inside but you keep your feet glued to the spot you last fell still, arms curled up to your chest in fear. Wrench stayed by your side, looking down at you.

"I'm so confused, so confused I have a headache." You press your forefinger to your temple.

"I trust you, so you trust me." Wrench slides into the doorframe, holding a hand out to you. His X's stared at you, eagerly waiting for your response.

What else do you have to lose at this point?

You slip your small hand into his and allow him to pull you through the door frame and down the stairs leading into a bright painted room with many different designs. The designs DedSec uses. It was a little secret hideout that you would have never guessed to be down here. Marcus sends you an encouraging smile and Josh just eyes you down like you're the enemy. Sitara was giving mixed signals. Did she like you or not?

You were speechless to say the least. That, and what would you say to all of this without sounding stupid?

"My job offer is if you would like to be our assistant. Marcus usually does the running but he gets himself into trouble most of the time." Sitara tries to break the tension by chuckling. Marcus glares at her.

"Could someone please explain what this is before I agree to anything?" You give a sudden burst of anger, covering your mouth after with a whispered apology.

They all look at each other and then to Wrench waiting for his reply. He looks down to you once again, the X's rolling over your ghostly pale face that held little anger. You were really his responsibility now.

"We aren't followers of DedSec," his robotic voice hums, his X's turning into ^'s. "We are DedSec."

You rip your hand linked together with his and press it to your forehead, eyes wide and staring down at the unswept floor. Everyone has a concerned expression sweep over their face at seeing you back away from them. You didn't have much room to back away, so you kind of just scooted away from Wrench who looked hurt. Just by his posture you could tell he was hurt.

They most likely know everything about you. They're hackers. All they have to do is look you up or profile you with the signal touch of a button. That means that they know you have schizophrenia and that you have problems. Many, many problems. What hurts the most is that they know everything about you but you know nothing about them. Especially Wrench.

"Oh god," you breathe out, eyes brimming with tears.

You look up to meet Marcus' eyes and then slowly make your way down the line until you're staring Wrench in the face, hands now clutching your hair tightly.

"Oh god," you repeat again, closing your eyes. "What have a gotten myself into?"