A/N: I apologize for being the most unreliable updater ever. I will try super hard to update more frequently. Just as a warning the relationship between Ben and Cassandra will simmer for a while before actually exists. I hope you enjoy. Andy feedback is greatly appreciated.

I was involved, deeply involved, in a deception... I have deceived my friends - and I had millions of them. ~Charles Van Doren Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception. ~Sophocles

Duplicity

Every once and a while the adults permitted the teenagers camping trips outside the barracks. This usually involved every teacher and one parent per student combined with a half an hour hike from the pylons. This trip was orchestrated by Lydia to stop me complaining about my restricted access to the Island. Juliet helped. Needless to say it was not sufficient to appease my urge or curiosity. I didn't tell Lydia this of course, it would make me look petulant. Juliet and Lydia needed more basic environmental test subjects and had recruited the teenagers to help gather plant life. While most teenagers would find hunting for plants a boring affair one might be surprised by the excitement that permeated the group. In truth they were just happy for the chance to see outside of the barracks, myself included, even if the trip only took us about a mile from the camp, wherein any adventure had a minimal possibility at the best. Alex declined to attend quoting that she had seen everything worth seeing. I found this very unlikely but didn't care to comment. This Island, it was hardly something Alex could fully understand, even with the extended area she had been allowed to amble through.

Once the group was returned safely to the barracks, the following morning, most of my classmates' cabin fever had been cured. Mine, which had been simmering since I arrived, only grew. The pull I had been feeling towards this Island was hardly determined null and void by one night mere feet from the barracks. This trip however marked he turning point. I could no longer ignore the connection I felt towards the Island. Perhaps the inadequate excursion combined with that fact that my latest in counter with Ben (the memory of which had since been unable to leave my conscious) highlighting my current feelings of despondency lead to this vigorous determination to explore. What I needed was a plan.

A surveillance of the pylons, done from up a tree near one the more common entrances, revealed that only Ben and his security personnel had the access codes to the pylons that allowed safe passage to the rest of the Island. Supply orders were too well observed by the security teams to use as a valid escape and too irregular for a re-entry plot. My best chance for safe exit and return would be to obtain the security codes for the pylons. Although my surveillance from my roof provided me with a plethora of information the pass codes did not fall into that category. Jackson Barlet, however, did.

Jackson had finished school last year then joined the security force rather than the kitchen detail with his mother. He lived three houses down from Lydia and myself. He was rather nice to me when I had first gotten to the Island, showing me around and explaining the school dynamics. When Alex had began to show a dislike towards me he had continued to talk to me. Being me, I had never fostered the friendship preferring to be left alone, but felt no need to deter the conversations. No use burning that bridge in an attempt to avoid the feelings of isolation that cropped up whenever I interacted with anyone, a fact for which I was grateful for now considering he had access to the securities codes.

And because he was terrible at remembering numbers.

School had just let out for the weekend and I felt confident in my surveillance of Jackson Barlet. Jackson although only having been in the security detail for a year seemed to have a rapport with the other agents, who seemed to regard him highly. This meant that he would certainly have the codes even if I had yet to see him enter them in the pylons. As an added bonus he seemed to be lonely since the departure of Bonnie, his girlfriend, the month prior.

I had taken extra time gathering my books and papers into a precarious pile once school was dismissed. The afternoon shift would soon be starting for security personal. I walked through the courtyard hoping that my timing would permit the two of us to be in the courtyard at the same time. Luck seemed to be lending a helping hand because Jackson was just walking out of his house when I conveniently dropped my pile while trying to readjust the large stack. Jackson always had been a bit of a gentleman.

"Oh let me help you with that," Jackson said hurrying to my side. The two of us made quick work of gathering my belongings. "Hey Cassandra."

"Hey Jackson," I say smiling up at him before grabbing the last paper and standing up myself. "Thank you so much guess I brought a bit too much to class today."

"You always were prepared," he says. "How is Mrs. Conroy treating you?"

"The same as always, as if I'm butchering the Latin language." He laughs. I smile back allowing the slightest blush to form.

"You know we haven't really hung out since I finished school. Would you want to catch up later tonight?" he asks in response.

"I'd love to," I answer tucking a stray hair behind my ear. "As long as you don't attempt to steal my math homework, like you did the last time we hung out."

"Never proven. I still hold that I was just making sure you put your name on it."

"Likely story," I flirt.

I had spent the last month spending sporadic and lengthy time with Jackson Barlet. Although he was gone for periods of time on expeditions throughout the Island he made a point to spend an exceptional amounts of time with me when he was stationed at the barracks. For my part I flirted, blushed, and laughed at his jokes while keeping the relationship from extending to the physical level. Jackson was nice if not a little to gentlemanly for my liking. I hadn't spent any of that time looking for the pass codes for fear of being discovered while our relationship was so fresh.

A month was long enough.

Jackson had just gotten off duty when I surprised him during my lunch period. I met him outside the security headquarters sandwiches in hand. When he saw me walking up to him a smile broke over his face.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked jovially.

"Lunch," I said shifting my weight and tucking a stand of hair behind my ear nervously. Jackson picked up on my apprehensive attitude. "I thought we could eat at your place?" His smile widened at my insinuation.

"Of course," he said hastening me towards his empty house.

"Do I get a tour?" I asked when we entered.

"Of the identical Dharma houses? Of course," he said. I blushed. Once we got to the bedroom I sat on the bed and unpacked the lunches I had brought while Jackson went to get drinks. When he got back we both made fast work of the sandwiches while lounging on his bed.

"I'm glad we started hanging out again," I say staring at him.

"Me too," he says. I can't help but note that this moment is lacking the intensity so vivid from my dream of Ben before I put my plan into action. Moving slightly I spill my drink all down the front of his security pants.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry," I say as the two of us jump up from the bed. "That was so not what I wanted to happen."

"It's fine really Cassandra," Jackson says smiling. "I'm just going to change and grab a towel from the laundry room. I'll be right back." Once the door closes behind him I jump in to motion. It only takes me a moment to find the pants he was wearing for duty yesterday slung over the desk chair. Rifling through the pockets I found a slip of paper with the numbers 794742 written followed by the dates of this week. Guess they change the codes every Tuesday I think to myself as I read the numbers over one more time before returning the paper to pocket. When Jackson reenters the room I am right where he left me. Together we mop up the juice from him bed.

"I should be getting back to class," I say reluctance entering my tone.

"It is about that time," Jackson says. I smile at his reluctant tone I head towards the door before he could close the space between us. Once outside I couldn't stop the smirk that emerged on my face due to the fact that I had been right in my assumptions and that today was Friday.

Although it was close to midnight the air was still warm. I had a jacket with me but I didn't have need for it at the moment. Lydia was on the other side of the Island for the next week with Juliet so the time I had spent this afternoon preparing for my weekend on the Island unsupervised went unnoticed. The backpack slung over one shoulder was packed with the essentials food, water, and the like. I had snuck out of the courtyard using the cover of night and had found my way to the pylons. I stood staring at them unable to move.

It had been a little over two months since my encounter with Ben at Bonnie's going away party. The two of us continued in the same routine we had going for the last two years, which meant a bare minimum of interaction. He continued to spend most of his time leading members of the barracks and with Juliet. I continued to go to school and whatnot with the added job of hanging out with Jackson. However, when I was out and about, I often felt as if someone was watching me. I never saw him. Yet, I knew from the exited tension that washed over me at random times that he was watching me. To what end I was unsure. We had bumped into each other two weeks ago. I had just rounded the laboratories when Ben was walking in the opposite direction.

"What are you doing out so late Miss. Kendrick?" he asked when I stopped at the unexpected sight of him.

"I'm on my way home, I was helping out Harper with some filing," I answered. He was dressed as usual in a button down and khakis, a bag in hand. He was watching me, determining weather I was telling the truth, which I was. I couldn't stop the blush that rose from his inspection. "Filing you say? Are you sure you weren't collecting more data concerning Goodwin's intimate liaisons?" he joked a smirk playing prominently on his face. My blush extended without reserve.

"No, sir. I haven't collected data on the liaisons of anyone," I respond. "Plus he is hardly a desirable candidate if i were to take up voyeurism full time." He laughs, it's a low and deep laugh which barely makes its way to my ears. I can't believe I just said that to Ben.

"Really one would think he would be a prime candidate," he says.

"Hardly," I scoff but quickly add a "Sir" to the ending. I can tell that he wants me to elaborate.

"He's a bit of a joke, tame, and not exactly attractive," I expand. He stares at me.

"Stay out of trouble," he says before making his way towards the pylons.

I stand recalling my interactions with Ben, real and created through dreams, as I stare at the Pylon ridden boundary. My recent contemplations are born of my inability to cross the threshold, my inability to enter the codes illegally. The pylons could be overcome easily enough while the command of another prevents my passage. As I stand in the shadows a lone figure makes it's way towards me.