It was now Sunday and none of the boys had spoken to Derick after the day when he secretly left for Limbo without them which was during a school day.
They knew they had to stop him from going back alone, especially if he was going to do secret dealing to get extra money.
Kendall, Sam and Levy were sitting in Sam's bedroom, trying to come up with a plan to stop Derick. "What the hell are we gonna do?" Kendall asked, clearly exasperated.
"We all know he's going to take it too far!" He was breathing rather heavily at this point, and it was obvious he was angry about Derick and him going behind their backs, as well as not telling them why.
He'd double-crossed them!
How could they not be mad?!
Sam, after being quiet for a while as he was lost within the thoughts in his mind, decides to speak up. "If I'm honest, I really wanna know what he was doing there and why he didn't wanna tell us. I mean, he didn't have any magazines on him- so.. It- it can't have been him selling them..." He gingerly explains.
His explanation left the boys in shock as they hadn't noticed that before.
They looked at Sam. Was this the same guy?
He was hunched from where he sat, his eyebrows furrowed and both hands on his chin, supporting it. He merely continued to stare at the floor.
He didn't notice the way the others stared at him.
Not long after the boy, Levi pipes up, both hands clenched in bare excitement at the newfound knowledge he had just gained.
His eyes literally shone.
"Sam, you're a genius! You are a freaking genius!" His voice matched with excitement as his fingers ran through his smooth locks.
His smile brightens, leaving the others staring at him, their faces showing that they aren't surprised by such enthusiasm.
No one would honestly be upbeat in this situation, not once would anyone be kinda excited about this, but this was Levy we're talking about.
Kendall merely blinks at the boy before turning to face Sam.
"So that's one option out of the window. But we still don't have any ideas on what he was actually trying to do." Kendall responded, almost instantly ruining the triumphant mood.
He couldn't help it though, they didn't have a single clue.
Why would he leave during school hours anyway?
Sam had pointed out that he didn't have any magazines, but why not?
"So, what washe doing then?" Sam asked, puzzled.
Without any guidance, they were pretty much stuck back to square one again.
Why was this so confusing!?
What was Derick planning?
Had he intended to betray them in the first place?
The group could feel anxiety start to drown out within the room, but they could not help it, this was far too serious to even bat an eye on. Some had already started fidgeting within their seats.
Kendall groans, he moves his hand around as he responds, his voice pitching up with a tint of agitation. "That's the thing! We don't know! And we will have no idea until we ask-" The red-haired boy was cut off as Sam interrupted him.
"We're not asking him." Sam spoke sternly.
Levy's face had went from hopeful to a bit bummed out, he scrunched his brows together at Sam's orders.
If they wanted to make a good plan, they'd have to ask him, he's their best option!
The other boys were annoyed, but they couldn't blame him.
Levy speaks up once more, his voice shifting a bit to be more convincing. "Come on Sam! We need to do whatever we can to stop him!"
Sam furrowed his brows, and stared at Levy who grew a little nervous under his gaze. The boy looked down and started playing with his fingers, eyes slightly wide as the boy's eyes bore into his soul, as if he were asking him if he would ever dare go against what he had said.
Sure, Sam is nice, but he could be intimidating when he wanted to be.
Even Kendall can agree with him, since his fire from earlier died down when Sam had started to be the dominant one in the conversation. The boy started looking at his legs, his eyes avoiding eye-contact while he picked at the sleeves of his clothing.
"Anyway, we'll find out another way. We don't have to ask him. We do not need his help." Sam's words held a clear sign of finality, there were no more room for convincing, or changing his mind.
None of the boys said anything after that, what could they say?
How would they get Sam to agree to them?
The boy left no room for arguments, and he's far too stubborn to be convinced right now.
The black-haired boy paced around the room, face scrunched up even more, an indication that he was deep in thought again.
Thoughts swarmed around in his brain, making his head hurt.
They can't ask him.
Anger flashed through his eyes as he kicked his bed violently, the other boys jumped at the sudden action, they all stared wide eyed as Sam's body language started going aggressive.
So what are we going to do!? Sam thought.
He was still extremely angry at Derick, how could he do that to them!?
They'd already tried to stop Derick once, they needed to try something new on him. They were doing their best to brainstorm, but they had nothing, they only ended up being frustrated and going back to the same block again.
Feeling sorry for themselves weren't getting them far either. They had to come up with something, but what?
The room quiets down, only small mutterings and fast paced footsteps from Sam could be heard.
Levy decides to lead the conversation again, not wanting to leave Sam who was starting to suffocate in his own head. "All we know so far is that we have to stop Derick from going." He points out.
At this point his brain was filling up with theories about why Derick cheated them like that. He breathes rather shakily at his next words. ".. Do you think we should go to where Derick is going?"
He hated how his voice falters a bit at the end when he hears the other occupants of the room pause their breaths.
"You mean Limbo?"
"Yes. L-Limbo. We have to help him somehow, don't we? Even if he backstabbed us, we should help him, we all know he'll take it to far. Otherwise we're just as bad as he is."
If they left him - god knows what would've happened.
The others remained silent, the boy was right, but the pain in their hearts don't just die down easily. They're not as selfless and kind as Levy, Sam bites his bottom lip out of frustration.
He just couldn't figure out what to-
"I know what we need to do!" Levy follows up rather loudly, catching the other's attention.
They stared at him, what idea did he have?
Levy looked excited about his new plan and waited for someone to ask him what his idea was. They just sat in an uncomfortable silence. Until an agitated Sam broke it.
"Just tell us your plan!" He snaps at the boy.
The other boys looked surprised, this was unlike Sam. Everyone could feel the aura around them seemed to shift before settling back, Levy falters a bit.
He does not like it when Sam raises his voice, nevertheless, he shoves down the slight pang before regaining back the confidence he had earlier.
"Well, my idea, which you probably won't like, is to go to Limbo after asking him what his idea was and how to stop Derick. I know you won't like it but -"
Sam cuts him off with a slam of his feet against the floor, the black-haired boy seemed to know about what the other boy was suggesting.
"...Right." Levy shrinks back to himself, he knew that his plan was dumb, but what could they possibly do?
They aren't Heroic Protagonists of an action story where plot armor covered their entire body, nor were they magical kids that could change the universe with a snap of a finger.
They were just measly boys that needed an answer from their traitor of a friend.
There's really no other opt-
"Fine. We'll ask him later."
At this point, Sam knew that he needs to set everything aside if he actually wants to move somewhere.
They needed him to answer all of the unanswered questions he had left behind.
He just had to. Nobody understood anything about what Derick had done.
He'd double crossed them. They needed answers- closure. So he shoves down his pride, and decides to do just that.
The two other boys seemed relieved by his sudden reluctance, and it's not as if the boy expects a pay for them- it's just.. Fucking weird.
Especially since earlier, he had sounded really adamant about not needing his help. Yet nevertheless, they're over the moon.
They're glad that Sam finally understood their idea which popped out, and honestly, they're pretty excited about the fact that they might finally be getting somewhere.
"When do we start?"
"You know, when I meant when, I didn't mean now." Levy huffs once they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"If we want to stop Derick, we have to act fast." Sam grunts and he turns to the two, "Wait here." He continues go run towards the kitchen go say his farewells to his parents.
Kendall smiles at Levy reassuringly, he pats the boys back, "Cheer up dude, we'll be done in no time."
Levy sucks up his breath and beams once again, "You're totally right! And then we'll make Derick answer all of our questions!"
He deepens his voice. "Like the FBI would interrogate a criminal."
Kendall nods his head, faint amusement flickering in his eyes.
Now, the boy wouldn't lie if he says he's incredibly nervous and scared.
His hands lay in his pockets, hidden to the rest of the world, both were trembling slightly but he tries hard to stop it and push it down his system for a few sacrifices had go be made in order to ameliorate the situation.
One of those are his feelings right now.
Sam steps out of the kitchen with a big lipstick mark on his cheek, his face was far from amused. Levy does not hesitate to laugh at the black-haired boy and Kendall does his best to shove down a giggle.
"Yeah. I know. A lipstick mark, funny." Sam dryly says, and that made the two burst into a fit if giggles.
The scene right now is a bit too friendly and warm.
Let's best enjoy it while it's still here, then.
As Sam wipes the lipstick off his face, Kendall goes ahead and opens the front door while Levy goes behind Sam and pushes the boy along with him.
Kendall kindly closes the door, and once they stepped off the porch, their shoes hit the snow hard, making crunch noises that sounded quite muffled under them.
Their feet were slightly swallowed up by the snow breaking down from the pressure of their weight. Kendall raises his feet one at the time, as if he's trying to get used to the feeling he's felt over a million times.
Levy kicks a piece of a rock-covered snow and watches as it passes over the boundaries of Sam's home and into the road, where it lays still. He looks back at Sam who continues to rub his face with his coat.
With a grunt, he finally finished taking off the make-up from his face, and he raises his arm down as he breathes out deeply. "Are you guys ready?"
They look at each other, unable to read one's eyes at the moment before Kendall gives a firm nod. "Ready as I'll ever be." Levy grins. "Then so am I!"
And with that, the three walked away from Sam's house. Unsure yet desperate and ambitious.
The trio stood outside of a company. To be more specific, a playboy magazine company.
Sam pinches his nose bridge as he grunts, because there was no way in hell they were literally doing... THIS. Kendall shuffles in his feet before looking at Levy who shrugs at him with his dumb, nervous smile.
They're all undeniably nervous, and questioning their hopeless situation, with an even more hopeless solution
The building is intimidating, to say the least. It's painted white with black and gold accents around it, which gave off an illusion of an expensive building. Specially with its highly modern windows, which glinted harshly due to the sun.
It stood about 20-35 feet tall, and looms over the entire street, even the doors were large and expensive looking. The gates were too, of course.
The whole area beyond the gate was owned by the owner of the company, and the boys can't say they don't want this kind of house.
Of course they won't. They're not spoiled.
The middle had a large sign on it, the production logo.
And holy shit was it fucking terrifying.
In pure metal, painted black, and shining brightly under the suns harsh gaze, stood a logo of a woman with a voluptuous body and in a severely explicit pose. On the bottom, glistened the company name.
JG'S SLUTTY BUNNIES
All in a fancy, bold, font.
"I'm starting to re-think about this decision. Really." The black haired boy monotonously voices out, earning a shifty nod in agreement from Kendall. Levy stands his ground- well, slightly.
He's unsure too, but they need this.
So they'll do it, but-
"Okay, let's just- let's re-think about this." Sam looks at the two of them. "First of all, out parents will literally- emphasis on literally, MURDER us if an adult catches us and tattles on them. Second, we just came here and that's it. We- we don't even have a plan." Sam's brows furrowed at their impulsive act as his arms move along with his frustrated speech.
His voice drones out a bit though, probably tired.
Kendall clasps his gloved covered hands and blows on them, "Okay. Let's brainstorm then." Levy raises a brow. "Right here?"
Kendall rolls his eyes, "No, Levy. Of course not! we're not going to scheme in front of a shady building like we're some- I dont know? shady fucks!"
Levy huffs and Sam looks around momentarily, his breath fogs around as he breaths out, just across the street, he notices a bench.
With that discovery, he turns to Levy and Kendall who gave each other funny faces as a form of.. argument? debate? retaliation?
Whatever. He doesn't have all the time in the world to figure out what they're doing.
He quickly snaps his finger thrice, earning their attention. "Over there." He points at the bench and his legs start to move.
The two boys follow, quiet on the way as if they have already forgotten their little feud from earlier. The snow seemed to swallow their feet as they continue to march towards the bench, all that could be heard were their sharp breaths and the crunch of snow under their feet.
Levy inhales sharply, his nostrils start to sting and grow numb from the cold, he cups his glove covered hands around his mouth and nose, then he breathes out heavily.
The hot air momentarily soothes his suffering.
They soon reach the bench and Kendall sits first, placing himself warmly in the middle, he slouches and waits as Sam dusts off the seat beside Kendall, he then makes himself comfortable beside him.
The black-haired boy sits properly and leans his back on the bench. Levy sits criss-cross applesauce, resting his leg on Kendall who ignores it.
Kendall looks at his own fingers as he moves them, "My plan is, we sneak in the building through the vents. The entrance to the ventilation system should be.. Uh. Behind the building..." He trails off, unsure.
"Wouldn't the vents be on the rooftop?" Levy asks, his head tilting slightly. Sam nods, "It probably will, but I have a question."
The two wait for to continue.
"What- why on Earth will we need to sneak in? Lets, you know, just knock. Then ask for him, ask for Derick, and go on our merry way."
"I mean. I don't think it would be a great idea to knock through the front door, especially since someone could see us." Kendall shrugs.
Sam pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Okay then, let's say, we did go with your plan. We barely have any supplies for that, what comes next? Ask our parent for money who- by the way, will absolutely interrogate us and will ground us more when they find out about our mission." He motions for Kendall to answer.
Levy pipes up, "Let's buy it ourselves! And- and just so you know, I bought money. It was supposed to be for our snacks..." He rummages through his pockets and the two watch in anticipation, breaths hitching as he finally and hastily pull out five dollar bills and twenty cents.
"But that doesn't matter. So here. Five dollars and twenty cents." He proudly hold out the money.
Kendall makes a sound of something similar to a whimper while Sam almost- obviously visibly frowns in disappointment. "It's not enough, Levy."
Levy deflates at that. "We'll have to think of something else then."
Kendall suddenly shakes his head, "No." Sam raises a brow at him while Levy ushers to him with a confused hum.
Kendall stands tall, his hands lay comfortably by his hips as he looks up at the clouds, "I still have my piggy bank. We can use that."
"The light up one?"
"Weren't you saving money for you console?"
Levy and Sam both asked a question with an entirely different content yet same subjects.
Kendall only shrugs, "To answer that, yes."
He turns to Sam with a nod. "And yes, Sam, I was planning that but- You know, this is more important. I still have loads of other days where I can earn it all back anyways."
Levy wipes an imaginary tear out of his eyes, "K-Kendall.. You're so.. Heroic."
Kendall chuckles at that while Sam reaches over to ruffle Kendall's hair, a wry smile on his lips.
He cant help but feel that something bad is currently stirring up as they have a light-hearted banter and conversations with each other, Sam refuses to ignore it.
His clammy hands and fleeting eyes prove so.