My mom came home and she asked me where Oliver was. I told her that he was having a surprise sleepover party and that it might be multiple nights. She looked at me and I was afraid she saw through my lie. If she knew she would panic and call the police. She asked me if I had the party thrower's number. I told her I didn't, though that was a lie. She just sighed and walked away, probably because she didn't want to get into an argument with a sick girl. I was alone and I was plotting such evil revenge on the bandit. If a bubble appeared over my head I'm screwed. I must have dozed off because I find myself blinking awake. I realized that my mom was on her phone with a worried expression.

"What's wrong?" I ask in a horse voice. She turns her head so fast I'm surprised she didn't crack her neck.

"None of his friends are at the party" She says. Uhhhh, she tried to check. Shoot.

"It was probably a surprise sleepover party for two." I said,

"Then I should know." She says, Shoot I can't make her suspicious or else she might call the police and the bandit might sic on Oliver and my other friends! I say the first thing that pops into min

"Don't worry about it, he's probably having the time of his life." I said, That seemed to comfort her a little. I decide to swallow my pride and ask for help.

Kat:Can you give my brother back?

Kat:mom freaking out

Kat: police might be involved if nothing done

Bandit:sadly we can not give him to you

Kat: police it is

Bandit: wait!

Bandit: give me a minute

Kat: 1

Kat: 2

Kat:3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Kat: 11 12 13

Bandit: OK OK!

Bandit: The other agree that we can strike a deal

Bandit: we'll give the child back

Bandit: But only after you do three things

Kat: tell me now

Bandit: Act like you hate Ace, Marcus, and Leah.

Kat: What!?

Bandit: Do we have a deal or what?

Kat:...

Bandit: Tick Tock

Kat: Fine

Bandit: good, we will return him later this evening.

Kat: how do you know where I live

Bandit: sources everywhere

Ok, so this guy is a stalker. Creepy... but I'm getting Oliver back! But I have to act like I hate Ace, Marcus and Leah... I don't- Nope nope! I'll nap it off! Oliver will be back and

the bandit will have forgotten. Yeah! I'll nap it off! So I close my eyes and fall asleep immediately. I wake up with a crick in my neck in the morning. I feel better enough to get up and use the bathroom. When I leave and get back to the couch my mom walks right in with a thermometer. I was apparently well enough that I could go to school. So I went. When I get to school I bump into the last people I want to see. Leah, Marcus, and Ace. You have got to be joking.

"Kat!" they screamed and Leah tried to hug me but I dodged it and sped walk away. Leaving them confused. After a morning of teachers actually teaching, some parents complained to the board. They tried to approach me again at lunch.

"Kat?" Leah asked carefully. Refuse to answer

"You good bruh?" Marcus asked. Refuse, refuse, refuse. I ducked my head and walked straight into the girls room. So then they couldn't see me crying. I just barely made it before the dam broke. I didn't even go into a stall, I just settled down against the door and cried my eyes out. At the end of the whole meltdown my eyes were so puffy. I had to wait for a while before they went down, and even then they were bloodshot because I can't go to class like this. I sneak up to my locker and grab my "emergency kit" . I grab the beanie hat and put it a little over my eyes. I can still see, so it's probably a good idea. I go into class and sit down, trying to keep my eyes forward so that I don't see their eyes. The moment class ends I rush out. I try to make the whole day without making contact with them but they are everywhere. It's almost impossible to avoid them. At the end of the day Ace corners me.

"What's going on?" he asks, sounding a little, hurt? Annoyed? I really don't know.

I opened my mouth to reply on instinct. But I slap my hand over my mouth and run past him as fast as I can. I feel like crying again. All I want to do is cry my heart out.

I avoided them the whole week. Ace started to become his old self again but he sounded way angerier. Then on friday. I just took my phone out from my pocket and saw a message from the bandit. I didn't notice Ace until he took the phone from my hand.

"Hey!" I shouted. I am jumping up to try to reach it, but he raised his arm above my head and read the text that was sent.

Bandit: get some rope

"The BANDIT!?" he yells at me outraged.

"It's not wh-" I start but he interrupts me.

" 'it's not what you think' is what you were about to say huh? I think it's exactly what I think." He says, not yelling but in a scary threatening voice all the same.

"You have been working with the bandit haven't you? All this time, you were faking huh." He says coldly. I keep opening my mouth but if I talk to him then... screw the rules.

"Ace, let me explain!" I say with a desperate tone in my voice.

"No, I know everything." He walked away and it was only when he was out of sight that I realized he took my phone.