I shut my locker and checked the time. The Social Action meeting would be starting soon and I was worried about how Tyson was going to act. With Mallory involved, he wasn't thinking clearly anymore. This was probably a bad time for him to be testing me on a revenge job.

                As I started to look up, there was a blur of movement in my vision and then I was being slammed against my locker. I groaned and wasn't even surprised when I looked up at Drew.

                "Grades come out soon," he said, hitting me against the lockers again.

                "This information could've been passed along without physical force," I said.

                "We'll see where you stand," he said.

                "I doubt I'll be standing because I think you just broke my spine," I said, wincing when he hit me again.

                "How did you get into the Social Action Club?" he demanded. "They don't let anyone in. Just a bunch of stuck up pricks who want all the glory and attention to themselves. That Strazio asshole made sure no one but his friends got the privilege of being in that club."

                "Maybe Tyson and I are best friends now," I said, wincing. "Please stop hitting me against the lockers. I have no muscular abilities and very fragile bones."

                "Outcast! You look like you're having a great time!"

                I looked past Drew to Talon and Nyssa. Talon laughed a little as he saw me and started heading down the hallway.

                "Catch you at the meeting," he said.

                Nyssa reached out and caught his blazer. "Wait, Tal." She dragged him over to Drew and released him. "Drop Nolan. He's got a meeting to get to."

                "Strazio's exclusive club so he can get himself a good resume without sharing the chance," Drew said.

                "Tyson lets people volunteer. Instead of taking your jealousy out on Nolan, why don't you go fuck yourself with your own ego," Nyssa said.

                "Big talk from a little girl," Drew said.

                "Oh shit," Talon said in amusement. "You're about to get your ass kicked, dude."

                "I'm better than dropping to beating on the helpless," Nyssa said, shoving Drew away from me with surprising ease. "Let's go, outcast." She glanced at Drew. "Go get yourself a gym membership and come back to threaten me when you can actually follow through."

                "You butch bitch," Drew snapped.

                "Tal, let's make sure Tyson knows not to let Drew on the volunteer list. He doesn't play well with others," Nyssa said.

                "You got it, Nys," Talon said, grinning. "Let's go. I'm bored of him."

                "Let's go. I'm scared of him," I said, ducking behind the twins.

                They started walking and I hurried to follow them as Drew glared at us. When we turned down the junior hallway, I let out a relieved breath.

                "Thanks," I said gratefully.

                "Why don't you stand up for yourself? You were just letting him do it. You weren't even trying," Nyssa said.

                "I..." I rubbed the back of my neck. "I don't know, I'm not strong. He'd beat the life out of me three times over before I put a scratch on him. Besides, fighting back wouldn't solve anything. It'd just make him angrier."

                "$20 could fix that, you know," Talon said.

                Nyssa elbowed him. "You can't just walk away when you see stuff like that."

                "Why not? It's bullying. It happens all the time around here. Toughen up or do something yourself," Talon said with a shrug. "He seemed fine to me."

                "You're both hopeless," Nyssa said, shaking her head.

                We went into the Social Action room, where Bishopp, Farren, and Tyson were waiting. The three of us sat down with them.

                "Where is Connor?" Tyson said impatiently.

                "Thought he was with you," Talon said. "Maybe his rat escaped."

                "Shit talk Jonesy and I'll load your computer with every virus known to man," Connor said, entering the room and shutting the door. "I was looking for an assignment in my locker."

                "I didn't need a backstory. Sit down and let's get started," Tyson said.

                "You're so moody," Connor said, but sat down with us.

                "Farren, twins, give me good news or face my wrath," Tyson said, gesturing at them to speak.

                "My dad drove to the station after I told him and talked with them. They think it's a great idea and they're down. I told him with the police force cooperating with us, we'll raise the money," Farren said. "This is a bigger project that'll involve a lot of smaller projects to get the money we need, but we're setting up a donation site online. I messaged Connor about it."

                "I'll have it up by tonight," Connor said. "We'll update our social media with the information."

                "Our dad's in," Nyssa said. "He said as long as we help fund it, he'll supply the tools and manpower that he can. He'll lead the project."

                Tyson ran a hand through his hair, and I realized just how tired he looked. But his face was composed as stared out at us.

                "Alright, alright," he said. "With that secured, I'll look into areas that need fixing up and text Corr about it. Once we agree on something, I'll send you two the information and you can pass it along to your dad so he can start doing whatever the hell it is he needs to do. Once all of that is settled, we'll advertise the fundraising aspect heavily and run different ideas for cash."

                "On to Dexter?" Talon said, sounding a little too eager considering he'd almost been caught last time.

                "Yea, sure. Did you get anything on him?" Tyson said.

                Talon shook his head. "Not yet. But I'm sure I can rig up a situation to get some physical blackmail."

                "Then do it," Tyson said.

                "Tyson," Bishopp said, shooting him a look. "We don't 'rig up situations' that put other students in danger."

                "No, but we like to work with blackmail," Tyson said. "Do what you need to do, Talon. I've done some digging and Dexter isn't very careful about hiding his cheating. I had Connor hack into his emails and we found a few documents his mom sent him. She wrote three of his last five papers for him."

                "Braxton High School will not like that," Farren said. "Anything else?"

                "I'm working on it. I'm a busy man," Tyson said. "Talon, make sure you get me a video or a picture or something good. Preferably a video."

                "When do we hit Dexter?" Farren asked.

                "When we have whatever Talon gets for us. As for the outcast, we need to send him off with someone else. It'd be too suspicious if both times he stays at my house, the revenge service strikes. But I want him with us the whole time on this job. The next job, he's on his own," Tyson said.

                "You just don't want your mom to make me lunch again," I said.

                "I bet she even cut the crust off your sandwich for you," Tyson said, shaking his head. "That traitor."

                "So where's he supposed to stay?" Nyssa asked.

                "Farren's," Tyson said.

                "Farren didn't volunteer for this," Farren said.

                "No, but I volunteered you for it. You'll tell your parents he's helping you work out the fundraising ideas. Surely officer Corr would notice if his son and his son's friend were missing the night the revenge service struck, so it'd clear you of suspicion," Tyson said. He held up his hand when Farren opened his mouth. "No bitching. Just do it."

                Farren didn't look pleased, but he slumped back his chair and didn't argue anymore. Tyson flipped through some papers in front of him before gathering them up and putting them in a folder.

                "We're done. There's nothing more to discuss until we have what we need," he said. "All of you, get out."

                "He's in a mood. I'm gone," Talon said, hopping up and pulling Nyssa with him. The two left the room together, Connor hurrying to follow them.

                "If this is too much work, I can look into a location for the police idea," Bishopp said.

                Tyson shot him an annoyed look. "Don't coddle me. I can handle the workload."

                "But you can't handle Mallory being involved," Farren said. "Keep your head. You certainly haven't been keeping your temper."

                "He was on TV last night, ranting and raving about the need to protect our beloved families and uphold our good, God-obeying values," Tyson said, getting up and shoving his folder into his bag. "The shit that dude pulls out of his ass."

                "Just ignore him," I said.

                Tyson looked over, seeming to have forgotten I was even there. "Ignore the man who shoves himself down your throat? Patrick Mallory is not a man who lets you ignore him."

                "You have to admit that you seek out his speeches just to bitch about them," Farren said. "I see the dude on TV and I turn it off."

                "I'm curious what he has to say. I'm trying to learn how to be a better liar, and why not learn from the best?" Tyson said. "Take the outcast home with you so it's not as suspicious when you do it whenever we hit Drew."

                "Just volunteer me for babysitting," Farren said. "Fine, whatever, outcast, come on."

                "You guys can try using his name," Bishopp said.

                "Are you still here? Get out," Tyson said.

                "I could give you detention," Bishopp said.

                "Good luck with that," Tyson said, straightening his tie and giving that charming smile of his. "I've never been a problem student, you know. Just community-loving Tyson Strazio."

                "Go home," Farren said, shoving him. "God, you're also full of shit."

                "See? I'm learning," Tyson said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Catch you later, unfortunately."

                Bishopp sighed. "Have a good evening everyone."

                "Come on, outcast. You can follow me back to my house," Farren said, leading me out of the Social Action room.

                We went down to the parking lot together and got in our cars. I followed Farren's car back to his house, parking behind him and getting out.

                "Just pretend we're brainstorming ideas and plan to solidify them later," Farren said, gesturing at me to follow him.

                He led me into the house, his dog barking and racing to greet us. Farren pet him, fur flying everywhere.

                "Dammit. Dad! Mickey is shedding everywhere again!" Farren called.

                Corr poked his head into the room. "I'll brush him out after dinner. Oh, hi there."

                "Nolan's staying over for a bit to help me brainstorm fundraising ideas. Tyson is looking into areas to carry out the project," Farren said. "He'll text you when he has something."

                "Alright. I hope isn't stretching himself too thin between the club and his schoolwork. I saw his parents yesterday and his mom's worried about him," Corr said. "I hope you're not working too hard either, Farren."

                "I'm working just the right amount. And Tyson can watch out for himself," Farren said, leading me past his dad. "Just brush Mickey out. I hate when his fur gets everywhere."

                Farren went into his bedroom, shutting the door once I was inside. He brushed fur off of his uniform and shrugged out of his blazer, pulling his tie off.

                "Let's just do our homework, you'll eat dinner with us, we'll kill a little time, and you can go home," Farren said. "Then you won't be out of place here when you come back for the Dexter job."

                He sat at his desk and I sat on the end of his bed, setting my bag next to me and digging out my homework. I texted Brian quickly to let him know where I was before setting my phone down.

                "Hey, Farren?" I said. He seemed much more approachable than Tyson. "I'm not trying to be noisy, and I don't need to know what happened. But is whatever bad blood is between Tyson and Mallory enough to be worried about Tyson handling the club?"

                "A fair question, since you're the one he's pushing on this next job," Farren said, leaning back in his chair a little. "Let's just say Tyson has a very deep-rooted hatred of Mallory for very valid reasons, and you should think for yourself. If Tyson makes a call that doesn't feel right, do what you need to. You're responsible for yourself."

                "I'm worried about him," I said.

                Farren laughed. "Didn't expect that from you considering how Ty treats you."

                I shrugged a little. "I try not to judge people. I don't know what makes him act the way he does."

                "He said you were a Mary Sue façade," Farren said. "He wasn't wrong, I guess. Tyson doesn't get warm and friendly with people. Tyson is spoiled, egotistical, and has the emotional capabilities of a toddler. The best you'll get from him? He'll call you Nolan and take you seriously when you talk."

                "You're saying all this like he's a bad person, but you're his best friend," I said.

                Farren grinned a little, similar to Tyson's grin. "I've known him for a long, long time. I've watched him become the little shit he is today. He was different when he was younger, but he's not younger anymore. You don't have to like him. Most people don't. You just have to trust him and tolerate him."

                "I can do that when he's thinking steadily," I said.

                "Then tell him to pull his head out of his ass. He doesn't listen to me anymore. He's got his eye on you, so maybe he'll listen to you," Farren said, turning back to his homework. "Let's just get our work done. I'm not pulling an all-nighter for this."

                I fell silent, trying to focus on my work. But Farren was right. Tyson wasn't listening to his friends.

                If he wanted to partner with me for bigger jobs, though, maybe he'd have to listen to me. I could be the only one who reached Tyson in his current unsteady state.