Disclaimer: I am on for a reason and one reason only—I am a fan of Ally Carter and want to write about her masterpiece. Henceforth, I am not Ally Carter and do not own any characters she made up, ideas she created, or the general awesomeness that is Heist Society. I own the general plot and any Original Characters and anything Mrs. Carter did not come up with. Understand, People? ME NO ALLY CARTER!

Life. It's a powerful thing. Not to be wasted. Not to be ruined. But who is allowed to tell us how to live our life? Our parents? They can't. not really. They lived their lives, we live ours. They can't make us be them. We're different people. Maybe that's why I didn't feel too bad years ago when I started to steal things. Yes, I, Ever Hale, am klepto. But at the same time, I'm not. Or at least, I don't see it that way. I do it because I know I can get away with it—because I'm good at it. I'm not like my brother. I'm not like my parents. I can't be the high and mighty Hale, that they are. So, I settle for this.

But you know, I'm kind of glad I'm this way. If I hadn't, I probably would have never learned my brother's secret, and we wouldn't have bonded over it.

It happened a few months ago. I was at the mall with my friend Hazel. We were stealing two dresses for the Chestnut Ball. Hey, even though I hated the whole royalty routine, my parents forced both me and my brother to attended all balls and parties, just so we can keep up appearances. This year, Mom said I could bring along one friend. The dresses were stunning blood red and brilliant sea green. The red one was strapless, but came with a glittering matching red see-through shawl to wear, and the green one had an off the shoulder look. I wanted the red one, so I quickly smuggled it into my purse, undetected. Hazel followed my example and soon enough, we were on our way back to the house we had in New York.

That was where my real story began. Hazel lived with me there, with Kristen as my nanny. She watched over us, while my parents were away. Which, was all the time. It was always the three of us alone, but Kristen wasn't really our friend, so she just stayed out of our way. Sometimes it got really lonely, with only Hazel to hang out with, but we managed.

Maybe that's why I was so stunned to see my brother and his friends hanging out in the kitchen.

"Oh my God," I screamed from shock. "What you doing here?" Hale looked at me quizzically.

"It is my house, too, you know. Just because I don't come often, doesn't mean I am not allowed to be here. Why do you care?"

My face felt hot. He's going to notice the dresses and know you don't have enough money to get them yourself… "Because I actively live here—as in all day, every day."

He studied me for a moment then turned to Hazel. "Hello. Who are you?"

"Hazel Jackson," she replied with a sweet smile. Only I knew better. That was her I-really-don't-want-to-be-here-right-now, save-me smile.

"And… Do you stay here as well?" Hale continued to inquire.

"Um… Why do you care?"

"Because, as I already said, this is my house. I have a right to know how many rooms are being taken."

I sighed. "Well, brother. Know that everything is okay, Hazel sleeps in the spare room beside my own, and please know that you can leave any second you want."

Please leave, please leave, please leave! I begged internally. I loved my brother, but I had to hide them dresses before he saw them. After all, they cost more than the budget I was given. He'd question my… activities.

"Yes, I know. I think I'll stay for, hm… How about an entire week?"

I nearly fainted. I could only imagine all the secrets he'd find that I've tried so hard to hide. I wanted to scream, argue, fight back, but I found myself saying, "Okay, no problem."

There was an awkward silence between my brother and I, making everyone else in the room squirm around slightly.

Just as I was about to leave, Hale said, "You're a horrible liar."

Once Hazel and I reached my room, we threw our dresses in a bag and stuffed it up the fireplace. Hey, it was the first place we thought of!

"Are you close with your brother?" Hazel asked, washing her hands from the fireplace filth in the conjoined bathroom.

"Not really, no. We used to be. I would always be with him, play with him, and tell him secrets. Then we got older, and he didn't want to hang out anymore. I hated being alone, but had to come to terms with it, when he moved," I sighed. "And ever sense, we've acted like we've never seen each other before, except when we got to parties and smile for the camera."

"Wow."

"Yeah, not a happy memory, but it's okay. What's past is past. Oh, no more thefts while Hale's here—he's like a hound. He'll notice something and it would not be pretty."

My best friend nodded, understanding the delicateness of the situation. "And what will I tell the boys? Not to come over?"

It took me a minute to realize what she was talking about. Oh yeah, Tray and Mathew are coming over to finalize the plans for the diamond in the rough. "Um… Yeah, we can't pull that heist off, with Hale and his friends around and if we don't do it tomorrow, we can't do it again for another few months. Just call it off."

"Okay, anything else I should tell them?"

I shook my head, unable to think of anything else. "No, that should be all. I'll call Kristen to see if lunch is ready yet, I'm hungry."

Hazel laughed. "Please do!"

Later that night, before I was able to fall asleep, my brother knocked on the door. "Hi, again."

I looked up from the book I was reading, Cross my Heart and Hope to Spy. "Hello. If you need anything, Kristen can help you. She'd be able to help you better than I could."

He shook his head. "No, I need to talk to you. So… How are things around this place?"

"It's fine, bro. How's your… Where do you live now?"

"For now, I live in Rome. It's cool."

There was another awkward silence between us, and I wasn't too surprised. He was my brother and we haven't talked for years. It's like… I'm not sure how to explain it. Like having a best friend fight with you and they leave you, then they come back and it's like, 'Well… What now?' only a lot worse.

Then I felt my heart break. "Why'd you leave? You're my brother and I missed you. Friends are nor family. They came come close, but Hazel, Tray, Mathew, Kristen—all of them, can't compare to you. And you left me."

"I make my choices for reasons. I don't need to explain them to you," Hale shot back.

"Fine, then don't. I'm not asking for that. All I want to know is why you left me. Me, of all people. Not to be cocky, but really? Really? Do any of your friends sing you to sleep at night, knowing that in a few hours, you'll be awake again, because of your insomnia, and be willing to sing you back to sleep? I may be younger than you, but I take care of you, like a mother. And you took care of me like a father. And you left me."

Hale turned his head in shame. I struck a nerve and I knew it. But it was true. He needed to hear the truth in a world full of lies. I just wish I'd done it is a more graceful way.

"Hale, I'm so s—" I was cut off by Hale. He put his hand up and sighed.

"No, don't be. You're right. I did leave you. I always leave, never fight back. I don't even remember why I left you. But I swear, Ever, I will always be there for you. I love you, you know that right?"

I nodded. "Yup, I do."

"Good. Can we start over?" Before I could say a word, he launched into talking again. "I'm here with my friends, Katrina, who was call Kat, Simon, Gabriella, or 'Gab', and Hamish and Angus. They're coming to the party with me. I'm staying here, because, well… The party is in New York, you know?"

"It would make life easier to stay here," I agreed. "I plan on bringing Hazel, and my two other friends, Tray, and Mathew. They live about an hour from here."

Hale raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"What? What'd I say?"

"Tray and Mathew? Which one are you crushing on?"

My face flushed a bright red. "For your information, brother, neither of them. And why's it matter? I could have thrown a Kat or Gab comment, if I'd wanted too."

"You're still a horrible liar… How about a trade? I'll tell you, if you tell me. Deal?"

I looked at my brother quizzically. "Sure…"

"Kat."

"Tray."

Hale nodded. "I knew it. He sounds like your type. So, when do I get to meet these fine friends of yours?"

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, God, Hale. Why?" I couldn't help but giggle at his knowing stare.

"Hey, I have a right to know who my baby sister hangs out with… And which trouble maker better not break your heart."

I laughed, making Hale laugh too. "You and your rights!"

Hale gave me a quick hug and was about to turn in for the night, when I said, "Wait, your song. I want to sing it."

"Are you sure? If you don't want to—"

"No! I want to. Ready?"

Hale nodded, listening to the sweet lullaby.

"Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, smiles await you when you rise. Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry, and I will sing you a lullaby. Cares you know not, therefore sleep. While over you, a watch I'll keep. Sleep pretty darling, do not cry. And I will sing you a lullaby. Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, smiles awake thee when you rise. Sleep little pigeon and fold your wings, little blue pigeon with velvet eyes. Sleep to the singing of mother bird swinging, swinging the nest where her little one lies. Away out yonder I see a star, silvery star with a tinkling song. To the soft dew falling I hear it calling, calling and tinkling the night along."

By the time I finished the sweet song, Hale was already sleeping on my bed. I didn't want to disturb him, so for the first night in many years, I let him sleep in my room.

Maybe life can stay like this, I thought, seconds before I, myself dozed off into a dreamless state.