Chapter 2
James drops an ice pack in front of Jason's unconscious figure. I raise an eyebrow at him.
"What, I can remember the first time you hit me." He shrugs, sitting down beside me. "He'll wake up, right?" He asks, looking at us with a worried expression on his face. I shrug but Owen laughs.
"Most definitely; but he'll have a wicked a headache in the morning. On the bright side, he won't have a concussion and he'll only have some minor bruising." Owen assures the group in general. James shrugs and Liam sits down across from me, still blushing.
"So can I ask without being hit?" Danny says. I feel the blush burning my cheeks once again. "Were you two….." He trails off, sensing his imminent death. I glance quickly at Liam before answering.
"No." I admit, blankly. Liam looks at me and it's almost as if I can read his mind. Unfortunately. I push that thought out of my mind. Liam and I together wouldn't work, it would be just too complicated.
"Okay then." Danny mumbles, a little surprised by my answer. I don't why everyone suddenly jumped to that conclusion. It's not like me and Liam had ever…. Sure I had a itty bitty crush on Liam when I was younger but we've always been just friends. "Should we wait for him to wake up or…"He asks, glancing at Peter for confirmation.
"I have some questions for him when he wakes up, but for now we're fine." Peter concludes, lying blueprints out on the table. As a group, we gather around staring at the diagram, with all the security measure outlined.
"That's a problem," James mutters, pointing at the later grid surrounding the target. Owen looks offended.
"I could shut it down." He reminds us. Peter shakes his head.
"Backup generators, motion sensitive cameras and live guards, all linked to his cell phone." Peter confirms, pointing at three different parts on the roll of paper. Danny shrugs and looks away from the sketch looking at Peter.
"I hate to say it but, we're not going to touch this thing, let alone get in and get out with it." Danny grumbles, essentially having given up. I send him a glare.
"Let's just take a minute. Liam could probably draw the guards away from the door, or... I could help them take a nap. Not to mention there are ways to get to something without touching the ground." I remind them all. Peter glances at Danny, who has spent plenty of time trying to grab at something while being suspended from the ceiling with cables. I tilt my head studying the diagram more thoroughly.
"What's this room?" Owen asks, pointing at the square next to the safe.
"Office" Peter tells us, looking at a different picture. I squirm, as it's starting to become uncomfortable with all of us jostling to see the paper. We all used to fit around this table easily; then again I'm pretty sure I was nine then, and could peer over the guys (excluding Peter). Danny's bony little elbow is jamming in my ribs, and I'm uncomfortably close to Liam, especially after our little incident earlier.
"I didn't do it!" Jason shouts, suddenly jerking up. "Wait, what happened?"He asks, rubbing his eyes as we all turn to look at him. Liam gives me a look like "your turn". I blush and inspect my nails feeling the blush rising on my cheeks.
"You were acting like a jerk." I mutter, like that explains everything. Jason looks at Peter and Liam for confirmation, and they just shrug.
"She beat me to the punch, literally." Liam laughs, wrapping a brotherly arm around my shoulders. I find myself pleasantly leaning into him. Happily, I tilt my head and smile up at him, until I realize how stupid I must look. Immediately, I shrug his arm off of my and step back towards the blueprints.
"So… what are we stealing?" Jason asks, holding the ice pack to his face and peaking over my shoulder. His hot breath hits my neck, bringing goosebumps to my skin. To my surprise, Peter rolls up the diagram before he can see it.
"You might not be stealing anything." Peter growls, his eyes locking on Jason's.
"What, you still don't trust me?" Jason complains spreading his arms wide. "Come on, Peter, I played your games, I passed your trial job… right Owen?" He turns to him who fervently nods. "And you agree, don't you Hannah?" He murmurs; turning towards me and grinning, I step back.
"I'm sorry, I can't say I do, but I recognize I liar when I see one." I spit, my voice laced with venom. Peter's hand lands on my shoulder.
"I can't help but say I agree with Hannah, you claim you're just a pickpocket, who stays alive by running short cons." Peter tilts his head, stepping a little closer and studying Jason carefully.
"And?" He demands, shoving his hands into his back pockets. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Liam step in front of the exit.
"I've met a few pickpockets in my day, and none of them know any of the things you know." Peter explains, his eyes cold.
"So what, I learn stuff." Jason grumbles.
"Not your best lie." Liam scolds, drawing Jason's eyes to the blocked exit.
"You wouldn't have noticed the camera, or the pressure sensors, or even the proper con voice without training." I tell him, perching on the counter. He looks me up and down like he's surprised I'm speaking up. I raise an eyebrow, and cross my arms over my chest. He just shakes his head. No guy will ever intimidate me, even if it's a guy who's kissed me. Even if that kiss almost drove me insane, and I never wanted it to end, even if...
"Fine, you want the truth?" Jason finally groans, running his hands through his hair.
"That'd be helpful." Liam sneers, and I can't help but agree with him. Jason looks at me, the pleading clear in his expression, and I urge myself to keep my features blank. I watch as he pinches the bridge of his nose and turns to look at Peter.
"Fine," He repeats and takes a deep breath. "My full name is Jason Harris." He finally admits, boldly locking eyes with Peter, despite the gasps of surprise and the shocked expressions of everyone around him. "I need a place to stay… and hopefully work."