Chapter 8: A piece of the puzzle

No.

I don't believe it.

I refuse to.

No.

I'm just being paranoid.

They couldn't know… could they?

Sky paced his room furiously as he mulled over the days strange events. Jack and Z had been already acting really strangely earlier in the day. He had simply thought they were planning another prank for him as Jack tended to get twitchy when he lied. Z on the other hand usually was calmer than this but today she looked like she had just committed murder and was ready to bolt. It just didn't make any sense.

They couldn't possibly have followed me…no way. Not without me noticing. Neither of them even owns a car and I would have noticed if there had been a taxi following me around town…unless they already knew where I was going. But how? How could they? No one's ever questioned what I've been doing or where I've been going. There hasn't been one hint of suspicion so how could they know?

Sky reached into his pocket and pulled out the yellow piece of fabric he had found the other day.

Maybe it was just Z. No. No, Z would never do something as stupid as follow me around town, not unless she had been forced into it by Jack. Not mention both were acting really weird earlier today. Why else would they have been acting so… nice.

Sky paused, studying the yellow fabric in his hand.

It could just be a coincidence. Maybe Cruger talked to them or something. Maybe I am just being paranoid and this is all just a coincidence. These things do happen as rare as they are… but what if it's not. What if they tell Bridge or Syd? What if they tell Cruger? It's not like I could get in trouble for all this. It's not a crime to have an alcoholic mother. But still… it's none of their business. It wasn't their place to follow me at all. UGH! Stupid Jack! Stupid thieves!

Sky lashed out at the punching bag in the corner.

What do I do now? Do I face them? Talk to them? Or just pretend like I don't know they know? If they really don't know and I face them then they'll… well, they'll know. I could just wait and see if they say anything but then there's the chance they may not ever. Also, if I don't talk to them now then they might tell someone else or accidentally let it slip. Oh God! I'm starting to sound like Bridge! Ugh! Damn them! Hell! Damn me! What the hell am I going to do? I mean, there's no way to know if they even know anything.

Suddenly a thought hit him. Sky looked down at the piece of cloth in his hand.

Now, when did Syd say she'd be back this afternoon…

&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Are you sure you dropped it in here Sky?"

"No, that's why it's lost Syd. If I knew where it was I wouldn't be looking for it. Besides, I told you before, I'm just trying to cover all my bases. I know I had it on Sunday morning and I know stopped in here to talk to Z in between the time I put it on and the time realized it was missing. I've already checked my room and the halls and the common room. So this is the next logical place to look."

Sighed and continued her search. When Sky had approached her earlier this afternoon asking for her help, she had hoped it might be on something like his wardrobe. Instead, he had her crawling around on her hands and knees searching her own room for his "lucky SPD pin" that he had apparently lost. Why on earth he cared so much about a pin he could easily replace just by going down to the supply room was beyond her. It was partially her own fault that this was so difficult. Neither she nor Z was very good about keeping their room tidy. It wasn't her fault though that SPD didn't supply her with enough closet space. Where else is she supposed to put her clothes?

"Find anything yet?" Sky asked.

"Nope, nothing," Syd replied.

"Just keep looking," Sky replied.

Sky smirked as he heard Syd begin to mumble something under her breath. He couldn't quite make out the words but it sounded thoroughly annoyed as she huffed about on all fours. This only made Sky smile more. It may be juvenile to say but Syd was really cute when she was annoyed and Sky couldn't help but take some pleasure in the fact that he got to spend some time alone with her. This was partly why he felt slightly bad about lying to Syd like this. Unfortunately he couldn't think of anything else to do. He needed to find out if Z knew anything but he wasn't ready to start breaking into people's rooms, no matter how suspicious he was.

"So," Sky said, deciding to be the one to break the silence, "What were you and Z talking about earlier with that shirt of hers?"

Syd turned and gave Sky a curious look. "Why Sky, are you, our resident Mr. Unsociable, actually attempting to make small talk with me? I feel so honoured."

Sky rolled his eyes. "Never mind," he muttered to himself. "Forget I even asked."

"No no no!" Syd replied laughingly. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I'll tell you."

"Nope," Sky replied, mock hurt. "I don't want to know now."

"SKY!" Syd whined, giving Sky her best pout.

"Sorry Syd, but the moment's passed. You missed your chance."

"I'll be your best friend!" Syd sang.

"I already have a best friend." Sky replied flatly.

"Please Sky!"

Sky gave Syd his best annoyed look before turning back to his search. Syd pouted silently at her friend's response and began searching again.

They were silent for several more moments before Sky spoke up. "So Syd, what were you and Z talking about earlier with that shirt of hers?"

Syd stared a Sky in shock but was met with a defiant smirk. "You jerk!" she said smacking Sky on the shoulder. "But- if you must know…"

Sky stared curiously as Syd began to rummage through a pile of yellow clothing and shouted in eureka as she found what she was looking for. Syd pulled out a dirty yellow cotton shirt. It was simple but classy and would definitely have looked quite nice on Z.

"You see this?" she said holding up the shirt. "It took me four shopping trips before I could get Z to buy anything. And then FINALLY we find something that she likes and I actually approve as fashionable and look what she does to it." Sky's eyes widened as he stared at the large gash in the shirt. Not only was it the same type of fabric, the gash was the same shape as the piece of cloth that was resting in Sky's pocket at that very moment. Sky's worst fears had been confirmed.

Thinking Sky's shock was at the destruction of the shirt, Syd continued. "Shocking! I know! I still can't believe her! Ptsh! Trying to make it more rockish? Yeah right! She just doesn't want to admit she wrecked her shirt. How she managed it is beyond me. She's only had it for two weeks." When Syd noticed Sky was still staring at the shirt she began to grow concerned. "Um, Sky? Are you okay? It's just a shirt. It's not that big a deal."

"What?" Sky asked, breaking from his daze. "Oh, um, I'm fine. Listen, I don't think it's here Syd," Sky replied distantly, standing up. "Thanks for your help though. I appreciate it."

"Uh, okay," Syd replied, slightly confused at Sky's change in demeanor. "You need help looking any where else?"

"Um, no. Probably not. I'll tell you if I find anything though. Thanks." And with that Sky walk swiftly from the room leaving Syd, once again, alone and confused.

As Sky walked down the hallway his fist clenched around the torn fabric.

They followed me. I can't believe it. I can't believe they actually followed me like I was some… criminal. Them, of all people! Jack's probably laughing it up now that he knows my secret. I bet he was probably even going to use it against me if I stepped out of line or something. It wouldn't surprise me. He's probably still trying to get back at me for getting him in trouble with the fight. It doesn't matter that he started it. You know? I bet he thinks he can use this to surprise me. One day we'll just be talking and he'll bring it up, just to throw me off balance. Or worse, he may even try to blackmail me with it. Well… I won't let that happen. He wants to know the real Sky Tate? Then when he and Z get back he's going to get more than he can handle. Just wait Jack, because I'm going to be ready.

To be continued...

Well there you go! Another new chap! Thanks for the encouraging reviews so far! They are much appreciated. Also, FYI, NO: there is NOT going to be a Syd/Sky romance. I said it once, I'll say it again. As much as I love those romances I am horrible at writing them and would just end up taking away from the story. Trust me when I say it is for the good of the story.

ALSO, Please review! Whether good or bad, fab or flaming! All critisism is much appreciated!

Thanks!