TUESDAY AFTERNOON

The seconds hand on the clock was moving more slowly, she swore at one point it actually stopped all together. Advanced physics was her worst class, metaphorically speaking. She still had a 91% overall grade, an A-, but the fact that it was beginning to run together with her other classes and her attention wandering elsewhere made it her worst class. She didn't care about advanced physics, or why a bowling ball and a feather fall at the same rate of travel. She didn't care who Einstein was or what his Theory of Relativity was about. Newton and his apple could screw themselves, for all she cared.

Tess twirled her pencil, her petite chin resting comfortably in the palm of her other hand. She annoyingly blew a strand of brown hair away from her eye, anxiously watching the clock. She needed to get out of this classroom, rush to her car and leave campus as quickly and quietly as she could. After Danny's suspension, she had broken up with him completely, not even considering a twisted sort of friendship. As far as she was concerned, he didn't exist, even though she was now structuring her day around avoiding him. She had narrowly secured a scholarship to Princeton and was set to graduate early and head to the east coast after the summer. Tess admitted her future didn't go up in flames when Danny was suspended, but it at least set off a spark that had to be stomped out before it was too late. She couldn't afford to be in a relationship or be seen with him, period. It made her heart throb with pain at first, but eventually she came to the realization that it was a necessary sacrifice.

The bell finally rang and the students around her simultaneously grabbing their bags and loading up their belongings. She hesitated, choosing to watch the window near the door, waiting for Danny to walk by, to be waiting for her. The classroom cleared and he was no where to be seen. She hurried out, knowing full well he would be leaving his English composition class down the hallway. Tess' eyes scanned the faces of her fellow classmates, not seeing him anywhere. She smiled and greeted a few of them, buying her time. He wasn't here….

Tess felt the warmth of the sun hit her face as she left the east wing of the school, her white Taurus parked just down the street. Only a few more seconds and he was….standing right next to her car. The bottom of her stomach fell out and her heart went cold. Danny had his hands in his pockets, a wicked yet kind smile on his face.

"Tess…"

The sickness gave way to resentment, and Tess turned on her heels and began angrily stomping down the sidewalk.

"Tess, come on!"

"Get away from me, Danny," her voice was quiet, an angry hiss seeping through her lips. She contemplated swinging her book bag at him.

"I just want to talk," he was following her.

"We have nothing to talk about," Tess still wouldn't look at him.

"I'm afraid I have to disagree…."

She finally stopped and twirled around. Her hand went stiff, ready to slap that smug look off his face. "You told me you weren't doing it anymore. You said you had grown up! You lied to me!"

"Tess…"

"You lied!!" Her voice raised, wiping his face of any expression, "So many times I tried to understand, I tried to look past all the stupid bullshit you do, and I just can't do it anymore, Danny!" Tess' voice cracked, her throat swelled, tears ready to stream down her cheeks. She wasn't sure she had ever sworn in front of him before. "I have a future outside this stupid town and I'm not going to let you hold me back, not anymore,"

"If you would just listen to me,"

"I'm done, Danny. I don't want to hear your excuses anymore!"

"Is it Benedict?" his words stopped her cold. "It is, isn't it? Look, whatever he's been telling you, you need to understand he's going to do whatever it takes to drive us apart!"

"I think you do a good enough job of that on your own,"

"Does he make you laugh?"

"He doesn't make me cry," her words drew blood.

"I just need some time," she finally looked him in the eyes, full of what she thought was sincerity. She wrote it off as desperation.

"I don't have any time left for you," she whispered. A hand fumbled in her pocket for her keys and for the first time in her life, she didn't look back.

--- --- ---

What the hell am I doing here?

Linus bit his upper lip. It was almost five o'clock and already everyone was gathering by the huge pool in Reuben's backyard. His parents decided to up and leave for Hawaii that morning and left him all alone in the huge house, with nothing but free time on his hands. Linus thought the house was beautiful, but had failed to mention it to Reuben. Or anyone else. In fact, he hadn't mentioned anything to anyone. He sat quietly on a tanning chair, studying the lines in his hands.

The others there were getting along quite nicely, chortling and exchanging jokes and old stories. Linus died to be a part of it, but couldn't find that bit of courage buried deep under several layers of social handicap. His stomach growled for some of the food laid out on a long table poolside, but getting some would require walking across the yard and risking being pulled into a conversation, which would no doubt lead to humiliation and uncomfortable conditions.

He watched the various interactions going on around him: an older kid was talking with the twins, but he was concentrating more on the free food than the brothers arguing about Scarlett Johansson being hotter than Katy Perry. Rusty was talking with the Asian kid in a foreign language, and proceeded to show each other what appeared to be their favorite karate stances. Another kid with a laptop was showing some sort of video to two black kids, who laughed hysterically. Everyone looked happy, carefree. They were getting along, having fun. Linus realized he was already standing, prepared to head in a random direction and speak with someone for the first time when Danny emerged from the house, Reuben alongside him. Linus quickly sat back down.

"Everyone, if I could have your attention," Danny spoke up, everything settling down, "Everyone get enough food?" Linus' stomach rumbled again. "Good. Most of you know who I am, those of you who don't or need to be reminded, my name is Danny Ocean. Some of you I've worked with before, others it may be our first time. What I'm about to propose is both highly lucrative and highly dangerous. It could lead to what would be certain expulsion from your respective school, but if done successfully, we could all go down in history. As what, well it all depends," he smiled.

Linus had no idea what was going on. He wondered if anyone would notice he had jumped over the hedge and ran for his life.

"If that doesn't sound like your particular cup of tea, god speed, help yourself to the food and feel free to leave, no hard feelings…Otherwise, follow me," he turned and headed back in the direction he came. Everyone followed him. Everyone, that is except Linus. He sat frozen on his seat, afraid of what exactly he had gotten into.

"You're that new kid, Caldwell?" Reuben's voice startled him.

"Yeah," he said meekly, nodding.

"From Chicago? You like it there?"

"Yeah, it's nice,"

"That's wonderful," Reuben said, "Get in the god damn house," a grim expression on his face. Linus let out a sharp exhale. That settles that, he thought.

--- --- ---

"Okay, we have here South Shore, West Mountain and East River, by themselves normal high schools but on Friday night, we shall make them immortal," Danny said.

"Three schools in one night?" Turk asked.

"That's the plan. Three different pranks for three different schools, all done simultaneously,"

"Jesus," Virgil added. Everyone was gathered in the game room, a bunch of papers scattered atop a pool table. They stood in around it, trying to take everything in.

"Smash and run job, huh?" Linus chimed in.

"Slightly more complicated than that," Rusty said.

"That's why there are so many of us?" Basher asked.

"Partially," Rusty answered, "A few of us will be doing multiple jobs, but for the most part it should be pretty straight forward. Turk and Virgil, you're our drivers. You'll be transporting us from place to place. If we time it right, it should basically be one big circle," he traced his finger along a map, along three major highways connecting the three towns.

"Now, Northwood is hosting West Mountain for their homecoming game that night, the westside should be practically abandoned, but it's still going to be the hardest school. It has a brand new security system including, but not limited to motion detecting night vision cameras, thermal sensors that immediately contact the police department if tripped and several armed guards patrolling the area. Livingston, we need you to find a way around them,"

"All of them?" Livingston wiped sweat from his brow.

"All of them,"

"Won't that be breaking the law? I mean, I don't want to break the law,"

"You won't. And we won't," Danny said.

"And one more time, I'll be heading to South Shore with Frank and Turk, Reuben and Saul will be at the game, Rusty will take Yen and Livingston to West Mountain and we need a volunteer to lead the team to East River," Danny said. For a moment, no one said anything until everyone looked up at Linus.

"Me? No, no, no I can't,"

"I'm not doing it," Basher said.

"I'm just the driver," Virgil smiled.

"You'll do fine," Rusty said.

How can he lead a team of people he barely knows? Linus' mind was racing, trying to formulate an excuse for being unable to help, but failed.

"All other information will be a need to know basis, as soon as something comes up or changes, we'll be the first to let you know," Danny gestured to Rusty. "Last chance to get out,"

He put a hand forward over the table, Rusty put a hand over his. Everyone followed in turn.

Except Linus. He gave an exasperated laugh and shook his head. The first syllable of several random words escaped his mouth before he piped down and places his hand on top of the pile.

What the hell am I doing here?