Chapter 21: Operation E.X.P.O.S.E.D

A/N: Sorry for the super late update and the very short chapter! I know nothing much happens here but I didn't want to make it too long (and I honestly was so busy). The next chapter will hopefully be longer.

Her eyebrows furrowed. Didn't Chad say he had to go home or somethin'? Alarm bells set off in her mind as she peered at him with squinted eyes. He sat in a booth with...an unfamiliar brown-skinned teenager with wild curly hair. She was wearing a short pink top and loose jeans, and since her back was turned to Abby, she couldn't decipher who exactly it was.

Looking around, Abby subtly moved closer to observe, making sure he didn't see her arrive. She wanted to confront him, but Chad's eyebrows were furrowed, and his lips were pulled down tight into a deep frown. Abby had never seen that look on his face before.

Nevah say nevah girl, you don't have much memories of him from before, she reminded herself. Her back was to them as she slinked down in her seat. She overheard their conversation, covering her face with a menu as subtly as she could.

"How's the plan going?" A slightly husky but feminine voice spoke up softly.

"It's going just as planned. I've got Abby wrapped around my finger. She believes anything I tell her and even took my side over the Kids Next Dorks; it was all too easy," The deeper voice belonging to Chad responded. A gasp got caught in her throat, and her chest constricted uneasily.

That little punk! She yelled in her mind, face contorting in anger. Her chest tightened as he had said all this with no guilt or regret in his tone. She was beginning to think he saw her as a friend considering he was revealing his personal feelings to her, but it had all been just an act. She was the only one having fun, whereas to him, it was just an elaborate plan.

That realisation was like a knife to the gut; piercing and ardent. It hurt to admit that Abby's team-mates had been right, and not even a day had passed before Chad showed his true colours. Not only did that mean he was never going to help, bringing up her hopes, but it also indicated that she had gone against her team members and friends for someone who never saw her as a potential friend.

Was he always like this?

The feminine voice chuckled, the sound rich, coming from deep within her gut. "That doesn't sound like ma sister, at all." A pause. "I like it."

Sister?! She couldn't help but let her jaw drop, then. None of it made sense. That person couldn't be her sister. She just couldn't.

"And you'll like it even more when she willingly comes with me to meet you next time we meet up. I plan to do that very soon and then, we can take her down once and for all. Once we do that, the rest of those losers will follow like a bunch of puppies."

"And we, along with Father, can finally take over!" Cree said, voice filled with exuberance.

"All thanks to the Delightful Kids memory ray and your stupid sister."

"I always knew she would betray them eventually. Just didn't know it would be this soon."

They continued talking in hushed voices, planning how to trap her and where to put her once she was caught, but Abby couldn't hear anymore. She wanted to so she could relay it to her team, but every part of her felt like it was being crushed. Abby had had enough. Her hands were clutching the menu tightly. Despite it being laminated, she was crushing it with the force of her grip.

She wanted so badly to walk up to them and slap them both, to give them a taste of their medicine but letting them know she knew that Chad was a fake seemed like a bad idea. Additionally, rather than slapping them, she wanted to slap herself for being so gullible. For trying to see the non-existent good in someone.

Her veins boiled with fiery rage but she managed to keep it under control as she subtly slinked away without being caught. The way back was unpleasant, to say the least. She felt like Godzilla, and she channelled all that anger into her steps as she stomped through the streets.

Can't believe Abby wasted a whole day with that loser, she snapped at herself. Although mad, her whole body shivered before her clenched fists relaxed. Her mind was blank as she roamed. Her throat felt dry and rough that even swallowing was a difficult task.

Who could she trust, really? Chad claimed he was a good guy, but he was anything but. Her team members seemed kind enough, and photos proved that they were friends, but she didn't remember them, so how true could it be? What if they were taking advantage of her lack of memories, too?

Abby didn't know what to think or how to feel anymore. Except for the fact that Wally had been right. Her mind buzzed uncomfortably, and her breathing was rapid.

Even though she had only seen Chad recently after her memory wipe, she was actually beginning to trust him. She felt stupid for believing him and his words over Wally's and the others. But, they were all lies. And her sister...she hadn't even met her, but as siblings, she thought she would at least not be evil. The numb feeling subsided, and rage once again consumed her being, her heart beating like a stallion.

She didn't understand what was going on. Why was Chad tricking her? Why was her sister evil and against the KND so much? The 'Delightful Kids' were the reason for her memory wiping, she could gather that much from what Chad had said. But none of it made sense. All she knew was that she had to stay away from the teenager before things got worse.

However, she couldn't help but think about what had just happened. Were all his words a lie? Her head throbbed from overthinking about the situation, and her body was becoming stiffer as she neared the treehouse. She just hoped the others hadn't gotten back early.

If they had, then she had a lot of explaining to do.

No one had come yet. So, Abby did what she had been doing before she had snuck out. But she couldn't concentrate. Her mind was elsewhere, on a certain teenage blond boy and a girl that was supposed to be her sister. She didn't remember them, but that didn't mean the feeling of betrayal didn't still cut through her vulnerable heart.

When the others had come back, Abby didn't even realise. She sat there on the sofa as she had when they had left, staring idly into the distance. It was as if a void was further drilled into her heart and in her mind. She just felt so lost and confused. Who would she confide in about this without sounding like an utter fool?

"Whatcha watchin', Numbuh 5?" Hoagie plopped down next to her only to tilt his head at the blank TV in front of him. "Uh...you okay there?" he asked, uncertainly, turning to look at her. Abby didn't notice everyone's gaze on her until pale fingers began clicking in front of her face.

"Numbuh 5, are you alright? You look a little pale." Abby didn't know how to react. Numb, she glanced up at Nigel who observed her with tightly knotted eyebrows.

Automatically, her eyes drifted over his shoulders and to Wally who stood beside a worried Kuki, arms crossed. Since his hair was covering his eyes, she couldn't tell if he was watching her or not. She wished she was, though. If only he was talking to her, then that would have been one less problem to worry about. Maybe she could even confide him.

Abby rubbed her forehead, the bangles on her arm clinking lightly with the action. "Yes, Abby's fine. Just...a little tired is all. I'll be up in my room, ya'll."

Wally watched, eyes on her back as she disappeared further into the treehouse and to her room. He tore his gaze away and to the floor; his shoulders slumped forward, and he let his head hang, chin resting on his chest.

He had been acting like such a little jerk that he hadn't even considered Abby's feelings. Sure, he may have kissed her and he was embarrassed but at least she wanted to talk about it. And yeah, maybe she was close with Chad, but that didn't make her a traitor...she just didn't know what he was capable of because her memories were gone.

Wally couldn't really blame her for that—it was something that she couldn't control. If anything, as her friends, they should be the ones sticking by her. He sighed and plopped on the couch, next to Hoagie. They had talked and planned to watch the Monster Movie marathon that was going to play at night, but he was starting to think he wouldn't be able to focus because of a certain girl.

Especially since the kiss, happily received or not, he had to admit that his emotions were insanely heightened than they were before. Just seeing Abby was a trigger of what had happened and what they could be if only she felt the same.

Wally's lips parted to let yet another sigh escape them. Hoagie nudged him harshly in the forearm.

"Hey, you alright? Why so glum, chum?" He shot him a look and the masked boy smiled, sheepishly. "Sorry, can't help it."

Wally, after sighing at his friend's 'joke', shook his head. "I was just thinkin'."

"Our marathon is still on, right? Don't forget about all the awesome monster trucks we're gonna see, Numbuh 4!"

"There ain't no way I'm gonna forget about that." He scoffed, eagerly getting back into conversation though his mind was far far away from any monster trucks. Wally could feel a gaze on the side of his head and, unintentionally turning, his eyes met with Nigel's hidden ones.

The bald kid had his arms crossed as if he was disappointed in the short blond.

"What're ya lookin' at me like that for, Numbuh 1?" Wally asked, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. This caught both Kuki and Hoagie's attention.

"You know exactly why, Numbuh 4."

Wally's shoulders slumped forward, and he resisted the urge to groan as he pushed himself off the couch. He knew what Nigel wanted; he wanted him to go apologise to Numbuh 5 for acting the way he had. If that was the reason she was so upset, Wally understood. He had wanted to say sorry so many times, as well, but facing her after everything...he just wasn't too confident.

He lingered in the entrance of the hall that led to their rooms, hands buried deep within his hoodie pocket.

"Do I have ta?" Wally asked as he turned to look over his shoulder at the others.

"Yes. You do."

"Alright, foine." Turning around, he reluctantly headed in the direction Abby had gone in, mumbling to himself. "Here goes nothin'."