— Doesn't It Kill To Be Rich —

I get up from the lunch table to use the restroom.

"I'll be right back Jenna," I say. "I got to use the restroom."

She nods and pulls out her phone.

I walk out and across the hall is the bathroom. I go in and do my business. I wash my hands and then splash water in my face. It's gonna be a long night.

I walk out, only to see Jay and Devin. They're talking to each other.

"Alright dude, let's go eat," Devin says, grabbing Jay's hand and starting to walk.

Jay doesn't follow, pulling his hand away.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Devin asks. I stay hidden in the door of the bathroom.

"Let's just not hold hands. We can just walk in normally."

"Well, why not hold hands?"

"I just don't think we should, ok?"

"Is this because you don't want people to know Jay? If so, this isn't going to work. You can't be afraid to show who you really are."

"Never mind," Jay says, walking into the lunch room by himself.

Devin runs his hands through his hair as I step out from hiding.

"Hey, Devin," I say. "Don't be mad at Jay. He just isn't used to change, and he definitely isn't used to being different. He just doesn't want people to hate him. Can you do that? For me? For him?"

"I don't know Jack. I can't not show my affection the entire time. Cause are we even anything at that point?"

"Yes, you are. Just give him a minute to warm up. His parents don't even know yet."

"Oh. Well it's nice of you to tell me that, and I'm sure Jay will appreciate you."

"Of course," I say, walking into the lunch room.

—

At home, Daniel is already there, sitting at the table on his laptop.

"What's up kid?" He says, smiling. "Alright, you ready to learn something?"

"Sure thing," I say, smiling.

"And then after, I was thinking we could go to Nike and get you a few more clothes do you don't have to wear the same seven outfits."

Shit. I have business to do.

"Oh um—."

"Of course you would like to. It's my treat."

There's no way I can get out of this without looking suspicious.

"Of course," I say as he starts pulling stuff out of his backpack.

He sets it's all on the counter.

"So, this is the dummy as I call it," he says, pointing at a square of what looks like fake skin.

"And these are the tools," he says, rolling out an array of sharp, metal tools. "And these of course are gloves."

"Yes, I can tell you that," I say, laughing.

"First, grab some gloves. Put them on and pull them over your wrist accessories like watches and bracelets, including those bad boys," he says, pointing at my silicone wristbands.

Right as he pulls his on I say, "What's that?" I point at the dark green bracelet on his right wrist. It's made of rope and sits amongst other manly bracelets. "I saw that Monica, Jay, and Jenna each have one in different colors."

"Oh, this is the Reed family bracelet. It symbolizes our family and how we can never be torn apart. The color is just our favorite color. I even make them myself."

"That's so neat. I wish I had a family with that amount of love," I say, looking down at the counter.

"Hey dude, it's good. You know what? I'll make you one. What's your favorite color?"

"You don't have to make one if it's gonna take up your time."

More like I can't show any relation to them. They'll think I'm getting too close.

"It'll only take one night, and that'll be after I teach you this."

I smile, and he starts to teach me how to sew skin. "Navy," I say. "Navy is my favorite color."

He shows me the best weaving techniques and how to perfectly cut it off at the end.

—

We both pull off our gloves and take a look at the dummies.

"I think you win for neatness," I say, laughing.

"Well, that does come with my age," he smiles.

"If you'll throw this junk away," Daniel says, throwing away his own gloves. "I'll start getting ready to go shopping."

"I got you," I say.

I collect the dummies and toss them in the trash along with my gloves. I roll up the tools, but then I get an idea.

I unroll them. I take a picture and search it up. They're going for two hundred and fifty dollars from certified sellers. Imagine the money I can make reselling them to hospitals.

I quickly roll them up and shove them in my pocket. I run up the stairs. I shove the tools into the closet and then open the flip phone.

I dial Gavin.

"Hey, we are going to have to make the deal later. I'm being forced to go shopping. And I have something for you."

"Ooh, is it something fun, if you know what I mean? I'm just getting bored with pictures."

"What are you talking about, no."

"Hm, make your shopping fast. Or I'll make you get it," he laughs. "That would be too funny."

"You're disgusting. Now, I've got to go. Remind me to go through your mother and not you."

I hang up and shove the phone back in my pocket.

I go downstairs where Daniel is waiting by the door on his phone. As soon as he sees me, he quickly clicks it off.

"You ready kid?" He asks.

"Yeah."

"Alright, let's go."

I follow him out to a beautiful truck. It somehow manages to be nicer than Jay's.

We get in.

"What type of music do you like?" Daniel asks me.

"Um, country I guess."

"Just like Jay I see."

We travel down more unrecognizable roads and I start seeing tall buildings. They tower higher than the main Program buildings.

Daniel pull off of the interstate and takes a few turns into a large parking lot. Many buildings connected together make up a mall.

The sun looks like it's about to start setting. I need to be out of here, fast.

We get out of the car and I follow Daniel. After all, I literally have no clue where I am.

He leads me to the Nike store and inside is a huge assortment of all types of clothes. Sports clothes and winter clothes.

"You pick anything you like, I'll pay for it."

Doesn't it kill to be rich?

I guess this can count as my intake of money. Some nice, durable clothes that are most certainly overpriced.

At first, I act like I'm picky and choosy. But then I start going ham, trying to fit everything I can into my hand.

When I finish, Daniel and I are both holding piles of hoodies, sweatpants, shorts, and t-shirts. I even got a puffy coat.

I smile as we lay the clothes down onto the register counter. The cashier's eyes widen and then starts scanning.

"Your total is seven hundred fourth two, and sixty seven cents," he says.

"Damn kid, you're expensive," Daniel says, looking at me. He continues to hand the man his credit card.

The cashier hands us seven bags filled with clothes.

Personally, I say that it's a success.

We walk out to the truck and get in. Daniel drives back to the house and parks in the driveway.

"Hey, um Jack," says. "Have you noticed anything off with Jay? Not the whole yelling, that's normal. Just with openness?"

"I can't say that I have," I say, concealing Jay's personal information. I'll let him tell them when he is ready.

"Ok, now let's get this butt ton of clothes in and wash them."

I giggle a bit and then hop out of the truck. I grab some bags and Daniel grabs the rest. We haul them in and Monica is at the counter cooking. She looks at us in shock, but also with disbelief.

"Well, I see you were pretty successful. Jack is gonna be a walking advertisement now," she says, her eyes wide.

"And Jay isn't?" Daniel asks.

"Yeah, you got me there."

"What's for dinner," I ask Monica.

"Just a handmade pizza. I made two in case you don't like pepperoni."

"Cool, but for future reference, I literally eat anything," I say, laughing.

"Same, but now you can try some of my fancier dishes," she says, trying to wink.

"That'll be wonderful."

"Say Jack, after dinner, you wanna watch Jack Reacher?" Daniel asks.

Dude, stop asking me to do things with you...

"I would, but I have a crap ton of homework I have to get done."

"That's cool, maybe another night."

"Sure thing."

I get a whiff of pizza sauce as I run upstairs. Way better than gas station pizza.

I go into the workout room and see Jay is there. He doesn't notice me because his is on the phone.

I lay down on the bench press and pull the weight off. Jay notices me.

"Hold on Devin," he says. He pulls out his AirPod.

"What's up Jack?" He asks. "I know I've said thank you a lot, but once again, thank you. Devin told me what you said."

Of course he did...

"You need me to spot you?" He asks.

"Ah, no. Thanks though."

"Ok, I'm just gonna work out too and talk on the phone. I apologize if I get too loud," he says, laughing. "It's these AirPods."

I continue lifting until it's time for dinner.

Two, magnificent pizzas are on the table. They're already sliced too.

Dinner is full of conversation until Monica says, "So, what did you do before you came here?"

Ok, remember my training.

"Mainly survived, if I'm being honest. The abuse happened quite often. I could never focus on anything and I was failing school. It wasn't exactly a great place."

After that, it's dead silent. I hate to kill the mood anytime I mention anything.

After we finish, Monica washes the dishes and Daniel sits on the couch looking at his laptop.

"Hey Daniel. Do y'all have a printer?" I ask.

"Yeah, what for?"

"I just got to print some of my homework assignments. It's on the class page."

"It will be called Reed Printer, I think."

"Ok, thank you."

I send my regular phone the link to the official fake money from my flip phone. I go upstairs to grab the money material paper which we Program people always keep with us. It's just a part of life.

I run back down the stairs to the office room, closing the door behind me. I push in my paper and send the information to the printer from my phone.

It immediately starts to print out individual sheets of exact replicas of money. Except these have no value to me.

I finish up and grab the large wad of money. I manage to shove it in every pocket on my clothes and walk out.

"Did you get what you needed to print?" Daniel asks as I go up the stairs.

"Yes, I did. Perfectly."

"That's great."

"Isn't it?" I whispered to myself.

I close the door to my room as I enter. I grab my bag and shove all of the fake money into it. Perfect. If everything goes as planned, I'll have secured a great ton of money tonight.

I zip my bag shut grab a syringe from the briefcase. I'll get an early dose tonight. After all, I'll be busy.

—

When everyone has fallen asleep, I grab my bag and leave my room. I silently close the door, just in case anyone checks.

I creep down the stairs and make my way to what the Reed's call their key station. If I'm being honest, it's the dumbest system in the world. Every key to anything they own is here and even their wallets. Easily accessible to any robber.

I grab the key Monica used to unlock the bakery and head to the door. Just as I'm about to open it, I hear footsteps.

I look to see Daniel who asks, "Where you going?"

"Oh, um, to get some air. Just needed to breath."

"With your bag?"

"Yeah," I say, looking at my back. I'm so dead. "It just reminds me of them, you know, my family. I was just going to take it with me so I can reminisce." I start the waterworks again, trying to sell this. This would be the worst time to fail.

"Oh ok. I'll leave you to it, but first," Daniel says, pulling something from his pocket. "I finished your bracelet. It's navy just how you like it."

"Wow, thanks. It really did only take you tonight."

"I wouldn't lie to you," he says, smiling. "Now hold out your wrist."

I give my wrist to him as he ties the bracelet around it.

I start to cry even more tears when he's done, but this time, they're real ones. I'm not used to this kind of love at all.

"Hey, kiddo, it's ok. You're safe now," he says and pulls me in for a hug.

You're safe.

I really am safe. I'm away from the true harm of The Program.

This is going to make this mission a whole lot worse.

"Now don't be too long out there," Daniel says, releasing from the hug. "It's a little chilly."

I nod and wipe away my tears. I grab my bag and walk out the door.

Gavin is waiting by the trucks, examining them.

"Aren't these some beauties?" He asks, caressing them like they're women.

"Yeah, I know," I say, obviously irritated.

One, I hate Gavin, if that isn't clear to see. Two, I can't decide if I want to continue the mission. I can't keep feeling too close to these total strangers. And that's the thing, they really don't feel like strangers.

"So what's that thing you were bringing me," Gavin asks as we walk down the street.

I pull the tools out of my bag and watch as he unrolls them. Once again, another blank stare.

"What the hell is this supposed to mean?" He asks.

"Hear me out. They're two hundred and fifty from certified sellers, so we can make at least a thousand if someone is desperate. That's almost a brand new system for The Program."

"I suppose your right," he says. "For now, keep it in your bag. I'll lose it."

We continue down the streets which I can barely remember, but we eventually get there.

I use the key and unlock the door. We walk in to the completely dark room.

"Here," Gavin says, handing me a pair of black gloves. "No fingerprints. I'll go erase the footage of all of this, you replace the money."

We part ways and I pull on the gloves. I go through the kitchen to the back room and there it is. Just a case of money that is completely unlocked and visible to the eye. Straight cash too.

I grimace and prepare for my cunning act. Then I remember Daniel as I tighten my glove. I look at the bracelet he gave me and I freeze.

I can't do this to them. They didn't do anything. But Gavin is going to check and assure that I did it correctly.

But no one ever said I couldn't scam him too...

All I have to do is sit here and wait for him. I'll leave the real money here and show him the fake money in my bag. Easy enough.

I wait for a few minutes and I hear Gavin shuffling around in the kitchen. He approaches me in the back room, and I act as if I'm closing my bag.

"Lemme see what you got in there," he says, smiling.

I open the bag to show him the money.

"Nice going," he says. "Now close that up and let's get outta here."

I close the bag. That went just as planned.

We stroll home and I give Gavin the tools and the money. He somehow manages to carry it all, but there is probably some vehicle waiting to take him back to The Program.

We part ways at the fence and I sneak back in. Luckily, this time Daniel isn't around. There's no explaining why I was gone for an hour or two.

I climb the stairs and go into my room. I change into pajamas and tuck myself into bed.

I stare at the ceiling, satisfied by my day, until my eyelids shut.

•—•

Phew, that was a long chapter! Hope you enjoyed it!

Any thoughts? —>