Sabine Wren – New iMessage

"—now the best peer consensus journal on the topic of data breach prevention is 'Data Today'…" Professor Logan continues on as the text from the slide changes to the words he's going to say next.

He doesn't deviate much, but when he does it tends to be important. Those moments tend to pop up on the clicker questions. And unlike Calhoun, he sprinkles them in while he's lecturing.

I smile to myself, then swipe open the notification, opening Sabine's text.

"Hey, Whatcha doooooin?"

I quickly fire back "Lots of o's there. In Comp Sci. What's up." Under the sliding desk part before sliding my phone back into my jeans.

The desk part isn't enough to be a desk and an armrest. It's so dumb. Just take out three or four chairs, expand the desk parts and they can really be used. Instead I have to hold my arm in a really awkward spot in anticipation of taking notes.

Sabine Wren – New iMessage

"Oh. Sorry. Text me later when you get out? I've got an off day and want to do something I want to do for once."

I set my phone on my thigh for a moment and listen to Logan lecture for a minute or two more.

-He's even more by the PowerPoint than normal today.

"Nah." I reply to Sabine impulsively. "He's reading from the PowerPoint I printed off. I'm free. You sure you want to hang out with me?"

Instantly, the grey dots appear on her side of the conversation.

Huh.

"We never did finish talking yesterday. I got kicked out."

Oh yeah.

"I can explain that." I quickly answer her.

Sabine Wren – New iMessage

"What Hall are you in?"

Replying "Lothal." I quietly gather up my notes and slip them into my bag while facing forward to give Logan the idea that I'm still paying attention. "We're about to get out."

And he hates it when people pack up early. He wants our attention the entirety of his class.

"Okay!"

When I glance up at the PowerPoint, it shuts off, signaling that he's done for the day as people have clearly been waiting for him to get done and instantly start toward the door. I slide into the crowd and out into the main hallway, take a few steps then stop abruptly.

How is she already here? She can't have been close.

"Sabine." I say with a laugh, causing her to glance up from her phone then smile and stand up.

"Hi." She smiles. "Surprise!"

"How'd you get here so fast?" I laugh before giving her a quick hug and taking in her outfit, a blue shirt over some stretched jeans and tennis shoes.

Sabine quirks an eye brow at me. "I was close by."

"You asked me where I was at like a minute ago." I reply, getting another smirk from her.

"Hey!" Somebody yells, causing both of us to turn in that direction. "Cubs suck!"

Cubs suck? Like the Chicago…oh.

"Hey! Guess what?" Sabine replies, her shirt actually blue with the red 'C' of the Cubs logo on it. The guy frowns as Sabine gives him the finger, then spins to take the other exit.

Okay…

"What was that about?" I quietly ask as Sabine grabs the first of two doors that lead outside.

"We're playing the damn Dodgers this weekend. I wore this shirt just 'cause, and Dodgers fans are assholes."

Isn't the rep that Cubs fans are the worst?

Sabine must see my skepticism and shoves me lightly. "Don't say a word. Nope. Nothing. How'd it go with Mira today?"

"Oh." I say blankly. "Okay. She didn't seem enthused with her bear, so her Dad and I decided I'd keep it at my house so she has a toy there when she comes over."

"Aww." Sabine frowns as I grab the second door. "So what'd she do that told you guys she didn't want it? Push it away?"

"Play with her toes." I smile, causing Sabine to glance back at me. "I tried getting her attention. She loved seeing me. Hugged me, let me hold her but the bear? Nah, my toes are more fun."

Sabine laughed and shook her head. "She sounds goofy."

"She's starting to be like that. She was petting Ghost the other day, but actually was like hitting him with her hand because that's what she thought we all did."

"She's learning." Sabine counters. "She was imitating everyone. Finest form of flattery."

True.

"Where are we going?"

"There's an item on that scavenger hunt checklist that's right nearby. One of those weird twisted metal objects they call art?" Sabine shrugs at me. "We're supposed to take a picture with it. Figured we'd knock that out along with a few others nearby. Then maybe get some food together?

"Sure." I smile, causing Sabine to turn and look very pleased with my answer. "Sounds fun."

"Cool. By the way, how'd last night go with Agent Sinara? How do you know her? How does Cayle know her?"

I bite my lip and arch my eyes at her. "You weren't nice. And why didn't you say anything to me about what you saw on my phone?"

"Awkward topic. I try to avoid those, I'm weird enough as it is."

"We're all weird, Cayle thought he pissed you off."

"He thought you were sleeping with me, especially after that neighborhood fiasco." Sabine frowns.

"Now he doesn't."

"Clearly." Sabine frowns. "How's your girl?"

"Aubrey? She's fine." I say firmly, then notice the tension between us.

It seems to be what we're best at. I don't back down and Sabine loves being a immovable object.

"Sorry she barged in on us. We were talking things out."

Sabine nods strongly once. "Yeah. I was just about at the part last night that I was saying sorry. I was wrong for what I said. I shouldn't have said it."

Okay.

"You weren't you. I'm not mad." I turn and smile at her. "You had some points. I've heard them before."

Now lets' see if the carrot works where the stick didn't.

"Well still, I shouldn't haven't—wait, what? Heard what I said before?" Sabine stops, mid train of thought and looks back to me.

I nod once as we arrive at our normal crosswalk, but headed the opposite way. "It's all kind of connected. Mind if I explain?" Sabine gives me a confused look, then gestures for me to talk.

"My parents, the whole scene, whole life I grew up in. Very southern, East Coast. Class is real, the whole WASP thing matters. Important people know each other. My parents…"

"TV. Right?" Sabine jumps in, looking anxious.

She wants to prove that she listens to me. Since it's another flashpoint between us.

"Right." I smile. "They know people. Those people know people in the police department, who know people at the state level. They both live in New York mostly. I was raised by my Mom's family and nannies mostly. Mom and Dad did the whole single scene, worked the inner circles to advance their careers. Met people like the Deputy Director of the FBI…and all the agents under him." I stop, then look back to Sabine to see that she's understanding where I'm going with this.

"So I've had people all over me my entire life. When I was 16, right after getting my license, I got pulled over for going 8, 9 over. Not much, but enough. Highway Patrol. Ran my license and insurance, asked me about my parents. Got off with a warning. But boy did I hear it when I got home."

"You've never been able to breathe." Sabine says quietly.

I clap my hands once, getting Sabine to smile. "Exactly. I told Matt this, and I bet he told you—"

"You didn't party."

"I'm terribly socially." I confess. "It's foreign to me. Private school, I mean, look at Trey. Cool dude, here's the problem. There were like five black people at my whole damn school. I don't know how to act around him. I'm not trying to be weird or think he's bad or anything, I just don't know. I don't even know who I am."

Sabine and I keep walking while she's silent for a moment. "That doesn't sound very fun."

"Aubrey came from that same school of thought. Hence the weirdness." I smile sheepishly.

"You know what…everything makes a lot more sense now." Sabine says quietly. "It's like I get a different version of you every single time I see you. You're like a Ditto. Transform into whatever fits you best."

Ditto?

"A what?"

"Ditto. The Pokémon?"

"I didn't play Pokémon."

Instantly Sabine's eyes bulge. "WHAT?! Oh my GOD Ezra…What did you do for fun? No video games, no Pokémon, what'd you do, read books and work on homework?"

"Kind of." I smile. "Strict house. This is the first chance I'm getting to find out who I naturally am."

"You know the discipline. Doing the right thing every time. Feeling things out."

I nod, encouraging her. "Trying to branch out with parties, making new types of friends…I didn't quite get why you latched onto me, but I'm not complaining."

"I didn't latch. You're cool. When I walked into Calhoun's class I looked around, didn't see anybody cool, drifted to the back, saw you and it just kind of clicked. Like 'hey, he looks cool. Let's sit with him.' That's it."

"Still don't get it."

Sabine reaches out and grabs my hand. "it doesn't have to make sense. Not everything has to fit inside some grand master plan Ezra. It sounds like your parents tried raising a robot from afar. Don' follow a path that was set out for you. Find your own."

"That's…I've never thought about it like that before. This was always a step. I'd graduate high school, come to college. Major in something STEM or computers, get a good job, and boom."

"If you like that stuff, awesome. But maybe next semester, take all liberal arts classes. I think I'm going to have to take a dance class. Take that class with me." She squeezes my hand insistently.

"Dance class?" I blurt out.

"You have to have a phys ed. Part of the Core. Even though I'm the opposite of your major idea."

Tilting my head, I ask "I know the Core. What are you looking at majoring in?"

"Art." She smiles at me.

Huh—What—HUH?!

That makes no sense at all…

"Huh?" I sputter after a moment of Sabine smiling at me, which only causes her to smile wider.

"Yeah. Art. I draw. And paint, I really like it. I'll show you some of my stuff sometime." She says softly.

I can't help but just stare at Sabine, my Sabine, who apparently IS AN ARTIST before saying "What do you draw? What is there to draw?"

"Everything. You can draw anything. Like I can draw the dumb look on your face."

"I've just never understood art." I confess.

Sabine shrugs. "Sounds about right. I don't mean that bad, but you've been installed as Ezra-Bot. Art is creative, free flowing, inspirational. I start with a general idea then just let the work go wherever it takes me. I've wanted to draw something happy, and end up drawing something sad before. A lot of times. I just let it happen. That's art."

Sounds a lot like Makashi. I try to be creative with a lightsaber in my hand, following basic guidelines but improvising during my sparring sessions with Master Dooku.

"It's gonna take me a minute." I smile. "Sorry."

"It's fine. At least you're not like 'PSSH, art's lame man. What are you going to do with it?' Like most people. I just like it. That's not a bad thing."

"It's never a bad thing to do things you like to do."

Sabine turns and smiles widely. "There's the actual Ezra."

"I'm telling you, I don't know who he really is." I laugh, trying to throw her off the true honesty of that statement.

"You'll find out, and I'll find out." She smiles again. "We're here by the way. Just have to take a picture with a time stamp on it. I was thinking of just using Snapchat and swiping left so that it does the work for me."

"Nice." I smile, pulling out my phone.

I miss Twos. She's currently being combed over by A.

I take my picture after Sabine takes hers, and before she moves to take another one. "You don't do this kind of art, do you?" I ask, gesturing to the twisted, partially graffiti marked metal…thing.

"No, I only work on canvas. I've never really sculpted or done anything physical. Just painted. Juuuust…painted." Sabine explains, taking another picture from a new angle.

"Have you considered photography?"

"I have!" She lights up, then frowns at her phone. "That'll have to do. I want to take a class at some point. Question."

I blink at her. "You're bouncing around."

"I'm excited. Matt and Jaicey are having people over. You want to grab some food and hang with them? Test out social, new, fun Ezra?"

I guess?

"Sure. But I won't drink."

"I'm getting you hammered." She responds.

"No, you're not." I bite back at her.

"So?" She frowns at me. "I can take care of you. You need to learn your limits."

Limits are dangerous.

Sabine silently rolls her eyes at me. "Did you drive or walk? To class. My car is at my dorm and that's across the planet from here."

"I drove. I was lazy today."

"YAY!" She cheers. "Lazy! Are you hungry for anything? I am, but I'll let you choose."

"No, you choose."

Sabine slaps my arm. "No, I'm being nice."

"No, I'm being nice, you choose."

"YOU CHOOSE!" Sabine jokingly yells, then playfully shoves me, getting the attention of a group of students walking near the closest building.

Oops.

"Too loud." Sabine cringes

"Maybe."

"Choose."

I frown at her. "I don't have a preference. You do. What is it?"

"Matt recommended a burger joint I've seen all over. I'll call him when we're close to see what we should get."

Okay.

We bthwalk side by side in silence for a moment before I turn to Sabine. "That was heavy."

"It was, wasn't it?" She smiles at me.

"Yeah." I nod back at her. "Let's not do that again."

I'm supposed to be avoiding stressful situation and anxiety, not causing it.

"I;m sure it'll happen again, but we can work it out. We've worked it out a few times before. And I've only known you for what, a couple of months?'

I nod in agreement. "Speaking of months, aren't your parents supposed to be coming down soon?"

"Two weeks. My whole family really. Mom, Dad, sister. Everyone. I'm looking forward to it. The last month has…sucked." Sabine says, the smile sliding right off her face as we stop to wait to cross the street to my apartment.

"Yeah." I sigh.

"It's not your fault." Sabine quickly chastises me.

I turn to her. "I thought we said no serious stuff."

The walk signal goes off and Sabine glances at it, then start across the street. "Yeah."

"How are your other classes?" I change subjects.

"Boring. Homework's a lot better now that I have more time. Nothing excites me. Everything just feels like a grind."

"Like your being ground down to nothing."

"From the stress." Sabine nods. "I don't know what I'm doing."

I think that's the point. It's our first semester.

"You'll get a better handle on it." I reassure her, pulling out my car keys and unlocking the door. Sabine follows, hopping into the passnger's seat.

"You can sync your phone to the wifi…just let me know where we're going."

"In & Out." She says as I start the engine.

I blankly turn to her as my car purrs to life. "One more time?"

"I'll get directions. Head toward soccer." She dismisses me then starts typing on her phone.

"Alrighty…" I nod to comply.

Orders orders orders…

I slide into the appropriate lane before Sabine starts quickly playing some sort of fast paced hip hop and bouncing around in her seat, singing and dancing.

(Flashback)

"Our intelligence suggests five main targets. Everyone else is expected to resist. Use ofr Force to encourage compliance is proffered, My Lord."

I nod, then flip my sunglasses down, even though it's night. Immediately, Infrared pops up, revealing a heavier presence than believed. "There's more here."

"The Board has given you the ability and freedom to improvise. The primary point is the mission, with a slight emphasis on secrecy."

Lights and power.

"Copy." I say, then flip on over to the architectural plans that were filed with the Canadian government.

(End Flashback)

"—turn here, then it should be up here on the right Ezra."

I nod, signaling my turn before executing it and spotting the large red sign. "Okay, now what?"

"Now…I call Matt."" Sabine doesn't look to me, instead at her phone as a dial tone floats to me thru the speakerphone. "Hey."

"Hi. You coming?" Matt's voice replies quickly.

Sabine nods to dead air. "Bringing ezra with me."

"Sounds good. Hi Ezra, if you can here me."

"Hello. Sabine said you had a food recommendation?" I ask him before Sabine shoves my head.

Too linear.

"Huh?"

"In & Out." Sabine fills in the gap.

"Oh! Yeah! Here's what you get. A double double, animal style. Fries and a shake. Well, I'd get the shake. You get whatever." Matt says as I pull into the drive thru, behind two other cars.

"What comes on it?" I ask.

"The normal, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, cheese if you want it and their house sauce. You have to have that."

"Mustard?" Sabine asks.

"Uhhh…" He sputters. I don't know, honestly. You can ask, I always just get two of 'em." Before I hear JJ behind him.

"Are you getting food?"

"Yeah." Matt replies.

"Can I get a double with lettuce instead of bread? They usually call it protein style." JJ asks nicely. "And Sabine knows what Jaicey wants."

"Yeah, I know. I'm not ordering some veggie burger garbage." Sabine fires at him.

"It's not a veggie burger, it's just no bread, with lettuce!"

I roll my eyes. "That's weak."

"I'll pay you back Sabine."

Sabine sighs. "Fine…we'll be there soon."

The call clicks off and Sabine rolls her eyes at me. "Locals are such health freaks. Wouldn't know indulging if it him 'em in the face."

"I'll let you order for me, but if you order quinoa on mine you're walking."

Sabine's face contorts in shock before she lets out a bunch of derisive giggles. "Okay…no quinoa. What do you want to drink?"

"Whatever's fine."

The car in front of us pulls away, we pull up, and I let Sabine take over.

(Flashback)

They must be grilling.

My suspicions are confirmed by the sizzling of something as it's turned over and amicable chatter before I hear something get pulled open and the clinking of glass bottles.

This would be a good way to obscure my entrance…latent explosive. Toss that onto the grill and…

I pull the stick of c3 out, peer out over the fence before I naturally see the arch of the throw that would be useful, then execute it.

One…two…

A massive explosion rings out, sending debris everywhere, parts of the grill flying into the alleyway I'm in and flinging fire everywhere before screams start ringing out.

Go time.

I tap the side of my glasses twice, bringing down the armor guard for my face and breath out, instantly hearing the mechanical noise that indicates that it's working before moving to the gate as it opens and two large men run in fear.

"NOPE!" I snap, grabbing both by the throat and slamming them into the house before dropping them, spinning on a dime and pulling out a pistol.

"Holy…" A guy in a large t-shirt says, kneeling beside a friend of his before starting to rise before falling to a bullet in the chest. His friend's eyes widen in fear as I grab the meat thermometer and stick him in the neck.

You're done.

"Hey!" I hear someone yell before I turn around and let out a breath.

"Gushh…Shhhh…"

"Oh god!" Someone yells as I see one guy in front of me with others running toward us. "Tell everyone upstairs it's—GAH!"

Pinching my fingers, I feel his pulse blink once, then twice before I throw him at his friends in the direction of the door, knocking all of them down before the one I threw hits the doorframe hard, head smacking directly onto the concrete and begins to bleed profusely.

Fool.

Silently, I breathe out and march toward the house as people scream and run away from me, into the house.

(End Flashback)

"You're going to be full if you drink all of your drink Ezra. I'm glad you like their lemonade." Sabine chastises me. "Should have got you a large drink instead of just the large fry."

I blink twice and try to ignore the nearly inaudible sizzle of our food. "Sorry." I say, then set my drink down in my cupholder.

"Question."

Distraction.

"Answer." I play along then smile at Sabine as my chest remains tightened.

"Why do you keep your hair so short?"

Oh. Uhh…quick, have to think of something.

"It's summer." I shrug. "It's hot."

"But your hair is a buzzut. You could grow it out a little, style it and have it still be short-ish. You look like a Jarhead."

"Like a Marine?"

Sabine shrugs. "I guess, it's not that short, it's not high and tight obviously…" Sabine gestures as the road as we pull into the right neighborhood. "I just think you could do something with it."

"I haven't really grown out my hair before." I lie.

"You'd look really good. A little spike, little fluff, some gel. I'll be dragging my teammates off you. They can't have you. You're mine."

I laugh and shake my head. "I don't think they'd think that."

"You haven't heard the conversations they've had in the locker room. Especially after the saw you at the pool. Which, apparently…"

"It was the water." I cut her off as I park on the street. "It was generous to me."

"Well, guys get to objectify me all the time, so next time I work out you're swimming so I can see what the fuss is about."

I don't objectify Sabine. She's pretty, but I don't ogle at her.

I could…but I don't.

"I don't objectify you. I like your personality over your looks."

"And you've said I'm beautiful." Sabine suddenly smiles. "So you've noticed. I've got you in the palm of my hand."

I sigh, grab two of the four bags of food along with my drink, which is mostly empty before following Sabine up to JJ's house.

"You go first, thru the gate. They're supposed to be in the back. I want a look at this." Sabine says, smiling at me.

"Whatever."

Instantly, Sabine laughs. "What do you leg press? Do you leg press?"

"400. And yes, I leg press."

"FOUR—." Sabine exclaims as I open the gate, causing Jaicey to peer around a fire pit at me. "He just said he leg presses four hundred pounds."

"I know he box jumps. He leaped out of that pool. Makes sense." Jaicey says, then smiles. "Hey Ezra."

Trey and Matt look over. "I heard box jumps. Oh, hey. Food's here."

"I didn't know…" Sabine quickly sputters.

We didn't order for him.

"No, it's cool." Trey cuts her off while gripping my shoulder reassuringly. "I just got here. I'll order a pizza. You guys eat."

"Come play bags. Ezra, Sabine, come play bags." JJ calls us over.

Matt waves me toward one side of a wooden box with a hole in it with no bottom surrounded by beanbags. "Bags?" I ask. "This is cornhole."

I played it when I was a kid. I was really good.

"Same thing, Georgia boy. You call it cornhole, we call it bags." Matt shakes his head as Sabine is handing out food.

"Thank you Sabine." Jaicey smiles, then hugs Sabine.

"You're welcome. It's cornhole, Ezra's right." Sabine smiles, then extends my burger and fries to me as well as a plate.

I smile in Sabine's direction. "Thanks."

"How can you call it cornhole? You're from Chicago." Trey asks Sabine.

"Because that's the name." Sabine counters, then grabs a few fries and smirks at me.

Hah. Very funny.

I roll my eyes in her direction as JJ walks over and drops the beanbags at Sabine and I's feet. "Winner stays on, loser has to drink."

"Hah!" Sabine yells triumphantly and smiles at me. "Told you, you have to have fun."

"I never said I didn't want to have fun." I answer her defensively.

"WE'll loosen you up." Jaicey smiles at me.

Uh oh. I know that I'm not going to like this.