"CICI UPDATED ON A SATURDAY? WHAT IS THIS?" you may be asking as you look at your inboxes, the fact that FFS is updating and it's 4:30 AM for me on a Saturday morning. The only reason I'm updating today and at this hour, instead of Sunday, is because I have to make this announcement, and it kind of sucks, but whatever.

THIS STORY WILL BE GOING ON A BRIEF HIATUS FROM NOW UNTIL THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 12TH

If anything, updates will resume regularly after December 16th, but it could be sooner. I'm in finals hell, and I have plenty of papers and projects I need to do, and sadly, I do actually need to put school first (which is weird considering I spent Sunday and Monday reading a whole book and writing a paper over said book... that was assigned back in AUGUST lol guys I'm a terrible student).

I usually write these chapters ahead of updates, and work on the whole story in huge chunks, but like to spread them out for posting and motivation purposes. So, I'll be writing this in what little free time I have when I can, but not posting. That being said, I'm not entirely sure how much time I'll be able to spend on this, if I'll even want to at all, considering the fact I have five papers due between now and December 16th. College i D.

That being said, we're getting closer and closer to the end... it may not seem like it to you, but where I am at with what I have written up... o boi. Als D. I'm torn on what the next project will be, honestly. I have two I want to write, with a third I've been THINKING about but that one we'll see...

My tumblr, ciciives, isn't usually very active during the school year, BUT I do check it enough that if anyone wanted to shoot a message or ask over that way to me during these dark times of hiatuses and no updates, I'll respond.

Thanks for understanding about the hiatus and thank you everyone for the support on this project! I'm glad you all enjoy it and I can't wait for the updates to come.

The Five Fabulous Suspects
Shunned

"Yao Wang? But why?"

Mathilde sat with her legs crossed on the top of the picnic table outside of the school. Erikur leaned back against the table as Svea began to pace nearby. Erikur added, "Yeah, he's so nice. Are you sure?"

"Positive." Crossing his arms, Timo shook his head. "I don't know why. Like, I asked Eduard to pull everything on him. Yao is clean as a whistle. I mean, he's not popular, but isn't doing terrible in gym. Never had a bad mark…"

"It's always the nice ones," Lukas said with a smirk. Mathilde rolled her eyes and elbowed him. Svea groaned. "What's up, Svea?"

"Ugh, this is great. I don't know what his issue is," she muttered. "When I see him… oh, is he going to get it!"

"Wait, Svea," Mathilde spoke up, raising her hand. "You said… Anya had a thing with him?"

"Yeah, she did." Svea made a face. "Like I said, it went sour. Ended because he's a senior and didn't wanna be held back or hold her back. Something like that." Timo tapped his chin and snapped his fingers.

"Svea, you and I can talk to Anya!" Timo exclaimed. "Maybe she can give some insight. She'll know if something is up. She'll tell you because you're her best friend, and she won't mind telling me since she's really into me."

"He's gotta point." Lukas shrugged. "Okay, so, you two can do that. What's up with the second car?"

"Not on school record." Timo sighed. "That means someone stole a car or borrowed one or something. Eduard's pulling all the stops in for this one, but it may take a while to hack into the DOT or whatever he's doing."

"Can someone please tell me why half of our high school knows how to do some FBI type of shit?" Erikur groaned, rubbing his temples. "Anything else we should note?"

"I got something for you."

Lukas stiffened at the sound of Feliks' voice as he made his way over to the group. "Feliks!" Svea exclaimed. "Glad you could make it. What's up?"

"So, as your eyes and ears," Feliks began, smiling at the group. "I would like to report that I overheard Antonio talking to his little girlfriend and Afonso. Antonio mentioned something about Alfred."

"Of course, the little shit," Timo grumbled, earning a glare from Svea.

"Did you know Alfred has the keys from Jonah? He has access to the gym at all times?" Feliks asked. "And that's not all. Turns out, the two had a falling out a while ago. According to Antonio. I'm not sure."

"I remember that," Svea said. "Something about the starting job and giving it to someone else or whatever. I think he wanted Matthew or Carlos to start." Svea shrugged. "So, you're saying Alfred may have a roll in this?"

"I'm saying it's likely he does, but the guy's too smart to get his hands dirty." Feliks examined his nails, feigning boredom. "I overheard Traian say something to Indre…"

"If it's about Raya, we know." Lukas gritted his teeth. Feliks nodded. "God, I still can't believe that. It's like everyone in my group knows but me."

"Well, Traian said Alfred was paying Raya for something, never explained what."

"Okay so, looks like we have a lot of investigating to do." Mathilde clapped her hands together. "Thanks a ton, Feliks. You know we owe you."

"Trust me, when I talk to Indre, I'll throw in a few good words," Lukas said. Feliks laughed, nodding his head. "Plus, I should probably talk to Traian… and Raya…"

"I've got Alfred…" Svea shook her head as Erikur spoke up.

"Let me get him." Timo shook his head and she glared at him. "He'll tell me something. Trust me." Nobody argued and everyone just ignored Svea's pleas. Mathilde forced a smile, placing a hand on Lukas' shoulder.

"Well, we got your guys' back. No matter what."

Feliks smiled. "You guys are actual squad goals."

x x x

"Hey guys."

Raya rolled her eyes as Lukas approached their table. Traian lowered his gaze as Arthur mumbled, "Look who decided to join us. You guys remember Lukas?" Arthur smirked. "After all, he used to be a friend." Lukas frowned as the table looked over at him. Indre inhaled sharply as Lukas crossed his arms.

"I still am a friend," Lukas sneered. "Sorry I expanded my circle."

"Yeah, with a bunch of fucking criminals," Raya sneered. Indre elbowed her as Traian offered a cautious smile. "What do you want?"

"I didn't know I wasn't allowed to sit with you guys."

"Well, we figured you'd be skipping school to go get drunk with your new girlfriend." Indre covered her mouth as Lukas glared.

"Okay, what the fuck?" Lukas shouted. "You know, I was going to come over here to tell you something about a certain someone who wants to take you to prom, but…"

"Well, get lost. She's not interested in someone who sleeps with potheads." Raya slung her arm around Indre as Traian opened his mouth, but closed it right away.

"It's not me," Lukas grumbled. "But I guess it doesn't matter. Since apparently, we used to be friends, so I don't owe her or you or any of you jack shit anymore." Lukas clenched his fists. "And may I remind you, Raya, I'm not the one going being my friend's back and fucking them over!"

"What the hell does that mean?" Traian interjected, his eyes narrowing.

"I don't understand how you guys can sit here and not understand that I'm being framed…!"

"And you choose to hang out with the people who are the issue!"

Lukas glared at Raya, ignoring Indre's false claims as he placed his hands on the table, leaning across and holding eye contact with her. "You can sit there, and have everyone protect you, but I know. And you're in for one hell of a rude awakening…!"

"Back the hell up, Lukas," Traian shouted, pulling him back from the table. "What the hell is your issue?"

"Don't act like you don't know, Traian!"

"He's irrational." Raya crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes in attempt to look strong and firm. Lukas glanced at her and saw a glimmer of shock and fear hidden behind her façade. "That's what you get when you hang around Mathilde Densen all the time…"

"Leave Thilde out of this!"

"Just leave," Indre blurted out. "You're acting irrational and quite frankly, Raya's right. Your new circle of friends…"

"Actually have my damn back!" Lukas shouted. "Unlike some people."

Lukas huffed and stormed out of the lunchroom, leaving the group in shock.

x x x

"Where's Lu, Thilde?"

Mathilde blinked, looking over at the empty seat next to her as Erikur sat down across from her. "You're late," Timo snickered. "Swapping spit with Sripuy?" Erikur flushed, tossing a pencil at Timo as he laughed.

"We've been on one date!"

"You could've still made out!"

"Guys, but really," Svea interjected, rolling her eyes as Timo began to laugh. "Where is Lukas? He wasn't in class after lunch." Mathilde nodded in confirmation, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her texts, typing up a quick message as she shoved her phone away quickly when Mr. Willie entered the library.

"Where's Thomassen?"

"Haven't seen him since lunch," Erikur said. "Did he leave early for an appointment or anything?"

"Would I be asking if I knew that? He never checked out."

"I love how we can't sass you but apparently it's okay for you to sass us." Mathilde rolled her eyes as Mr. Willie scowled. "Did you call home?"

"We did, his mother answered and said he wasn't home."

Mathilde paled as Mr. Willie scowled. "If you happen to see or hear from him, tell him I'll be expecting him bright and early tomorrow morning." Mathilde watched as Mr. Willie walked back into the office and she jumped to her feet, grabbing her bag.

"What are you doing, Mathilde?" Svea asked.

"Listen, I'm a bit worried. Lukas… he wouldn't miss school for anything unless it was really serious. He can't afford it." Svea's jaw dropped and Timo raised an eyebrow as she pulled her car keys from her bag. "I just…"

"You're fucking crazy!" Timo criticized. "You can't leave, Mathilde!"

"You're going to get in more trouble!" Svea added. The two began to speak over the other as Erikur crossed his arms, clearing his throat.

"Mathilde, go." Erikur glared at Svea and Timo. "You're right. Something's up, and someone needs to go check on him. Now. We'll cover."

Mathilde smiled. "Thanks, Eri!" she shouted, running out of the library.

x x x

"Uh, hi."

The woman who stood in the door was almost a female image of Lukas. She had long, thin blonde hair and the biggest, bluest eyes she had ever seen. She was petit and had a scowl to match that of her son. "Who are you?"

"I'm, uh, Mathilde. Lukas' friend." Mathilde winced at her tone. "He, uh, missed the last few classes so I'm bringing him his homework."

"Oh, well, that little unruly boy is in his room. Tell him I'll be back later." She opened her purse and put the keys back in it. "And lock the door behind me, please."

"Uh, yes, Ms. Thomassen."

"Call me Emilie, please. The boy's in a mood, so don't feel obligated to stay too long, sweetie."

Emilie swayed and Mathilde stepped inside. As she stepped closer, she could smell the alcohol as Emilie walked by her, closing the door behind her. Mathilde inhaled sharply, shaking her head as she made her way through the small house, reaching Lukas' room.

She knocked gently on the door and heard stirring from inside the room. She rocked back and forth between her heels and the balls of her feet as she listened to the music playing quietly in the background. "It's open. Not like I could lock you out if I wanted to…"

Mathilde gulped, but grabbed the doorknob. "I would hope not. You would never get to see my gorgeous face again!"

Mathilde forced a fake smile, opening the door as Lukas shot up, the big bottle of wine in his hands slipping and spilling all over the carpet. Mathilde's smile faded. "Lukas."

"Shit, I, uh… thought you were my mom."

"No," Mathilde said, shoving her hands into the pockets of her sweatpants. "I, uh, skipped detention… to find you. I caught Emilie – er, your mom – on her way out. She seemed upset with you."

"Yeah, she is." Lukas leaned over, picking up the bottle of wine as he frowned, avoiding Mathilde's glare. "She accused me of stealing her wine. I called her names, called her a drunk, and we fought."

"Is that why you left school early?"

"No," Lukas deadpanned. "The argument was of result of when I left school early." Mathilde's frowned deepened as Lukas snapped at her as if she was suppose to know.

"How much have you drank?"

"Maybe a glass and a half, not sure, it's all on my carpet now."

Mathilde glanced at the stain in the dingy, blue carpet. She shrugged and crossed her arms. "So, like, what's up? What triggered this? I thought you tried to stay away from alcohol."

Lukas shrugged, looking down at the carpet as Mathilde approached him, collapsing onto the foot of the bed. "You know how we always talked about the 'what-ifs' to like a little group? Like how our friends would react?"

"Uh, yeah." Mathilde swung her legs up onto the bed, crossing them.

"Well, uh… how do your friends feel about our group?"

Mathilde huffed, shrugging her shoulders. "Jake and Kiet don't care. I mean, Jake is just really friendly so he's fine with everyone. Kiet… I mean, his only issue was with Erikur, but like, I guess they talk all the time now and he says he's cute. Otherwise, he doesn't mind everyone else."

Mathilde shrugged again. "Jan's said his peace, but he also doesn't enjoy trying to get to know others. He's only semi-okay with Timo, but again, he kind of doesn't enjoy talking to people…"

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that in reality, she never had to have this discussion with her friends. She didn't even think that the rest of the group was having this issue – at least Timo wasn't, since they shared a similar friend group.

"Did your friends say something?"

Lukas frowned and huffed. Mathilde crossed her arms and Lukas shrugged. "I went to see them and sit with them at lunch. They, uh, they're not happy."

"Why?"

Lukas frowned. "They don't like that I'm friends with you. And then I lost my cool, blew up on Raya which didn't sit well with Traian, and so… I kind of had a breakdown and left school."

Mathilde sighed loudly. "You know, that's really shitty of your friends." Mathilde uncrossed her arms and reached out, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "And like, I know that when we do talk about what happens when this is done, we kind of assume we won't be friends. But like…" Mathilde inhaled, her cheeks turning pink.

"I don't think that's true. At least not with you. I think you're one of the coolest people ever… and you're really smart and loyal and you really have a big heart, just sometimes you act like a little bitch and don't show it."

Lukas rolled his eyes. "Okay, that made me feel so much better." Mathilde scoffed, flicking his cheek as he swatted her hand away. "Well, it actually did. So, uh, thanks. You know, you're pretty cool too."

Mathilde shrugged. "Eh, I guess I am." She leaned back against the wall, humming in thought. "So, since Indre won't talk to you, and well, I guess we promised her off to Feliks, who's going to be your prom date?"

Lukas shrugged. "Nobody. I'm not going. Are you going with Jan?" Lukas ignored how his voice sounded so tense when he said the other male's name. Mathilde grinned, shaking her head.

"No, he's got Lien. He asked her. And well, Kiet may be tied up with someone else…" She giggled and Lukas nodded, rolling his eyes again at her childish demeanor. "I probably will skip out. It's not like boys are dying to take me like they are with Svea."

"Eh, Svea's dates are probably all assholes anyway," Lukas responded. "You wouldn't want them, and you don't need them."

The two laughed as Mathilde motioned towards a bookshelf. "Hey, read me something. We watch so much Netflix, this'll be a change of pace."

Lukas smirked, walking over to his bookshelf and grabbing a small, paperback copy. "How do you feel about The Outsiders?"