- Part One -
"What are you two doing here?" Avery asks Chasity and me, staring at our attire strangely. Our business style was a complete one-eighty compared to how we were dressed when Chasity and I held a surprise intervention with Avery and her big brother, Cameron a while back.
Avery, on the other hand, was her usual sporty-self. She had a comfortable part of track pants and wore one of her soccer jerseys. Either she just came from a game, or she was heading to one. "What are you doing here?" I accidentally blurt out.
Avery narrows her eyes at me. "I asked you first."
"Good point, um," I stall as I send Chasity the panic look, silently begging for her to step in with her excellent lying skills. If we ever needed a made up excuse, the time was now.
"We're here to meet with Melinda Chang," Chasity answers curtly, "now it's your turn."
Avery frowns. "Why are you meeting with my mother?"
"Well, we're here on behalf of—" Chasity began to explain out of habit but stopped abruptly. "Did you just say mother?"
I was gaping at the fourteen-year-old who nodded her head to Chasity's question. "Biological?" I asked out of surprise, eyeing Avery. Melinda Chang was Asian; Avery was purely caucasian just like her brother.
Avery had to have expected my doubt because she rolled her eyes. "I'm adopted."
"Does Cameron know?" Chasity asks.
Avery shakes her head. "We haven't gotten around to that conversation yet."
Now the three of us were stuck in awkward silence, waiting for Purity's CEO to make her entrance. At least, that's what I thought we were doing until Chasity began making her way out of Melinda's office. "Where are you going?"
"Bathroom," then Chasity turns to face Avery, "do you know where I could find one?"
"This place is like my second home, come this way," Avery says, and the two of them start walking away.
I quickly follow after, refusing to wait by myself for Melinda Chang. Besides, I had an inkling suspicion that Chasity was up to something.
The distance to the bathroom from the CEO office wasn't that long. I still didn't know our orientation inside the building, and if I were to lose Avery and Chasity, I would probably never find my way back. Nonetheless, it was a short walk.
"I'm gonna wait out here," Avery states while staring at her phone. "I need to make a call."
That's odd, but I don't question her. I follow Chasity into the bathroom. Chasity goes to the farthest stall, making me doubt my initial assumptions. "Do you actually have to go?" I whisper sincerely.
Chasity scowls.
"I'll take that as a no," I mumble.
Chasity doesn't comment. Instead, she ushers me inside the stall. The cramped space gives the two of us little room. I'm forced to leans as far back against the wall as possible while Chasity gets down to work. She pulls out the same drive she used to hack Melinda Chang's computer, and she takes out her cell phone that she hid at the waist of her skirt.
I raised an eyebrow at the sight of her cellphone. I didn't think she actually brought hers because I left mine back at Bailey's.
"We're allowed phones," Chasity says as she hooks up her driver to her phone thanks to an adapter that she also happened to bring with her. Makes me wonder what else she's hiding.
"Did you bring your suit?"
Chasity smirks.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"I'm sending everything we've found to Reece. He'll have enough time to analyze it all quickly thanks to Cameron." Chasity explains as she texts furiously.
"What did Cameron do?" I ask curiously.
"He's currently talking to Avery over the phone, keeping her distracted from us."
I was certainly surprised by this detail. "How did he know to call her?"
Chasity smirked. "I sent him a quick SOS text."
I wanted to ask how but I learned in this short amount of time that Chasity has skills of stealth that I can't begin to comprehend.
"So what's the game plan now?" Ignoring what we found was not an option. The Super Trio had the right evidence to begin an investigation. The question was where did I play a role in all this? Do I have to continue or could I go? Because, at the end of the day, I don't want any of the action. I'm not made to get into trouble, especially with a multi-billion dollar company.
"I'm going to use the suit and sneak into the one-hundredth and thirteenth floor. Reece and Cameron will meet me there. It's time we uncover what Purity is hiding." Chasity quietly explains.
I gulp nervously, dreading the next question I have to ask. "And me?" Please don't give me a role, I silently begged.
"You're going back to Bailey's. You will use this drive to access the mainframe of Purity. You and Bailey will be our back up to warn us of any troubleshooting that we may encounter. For instance, any new guards, laser beams, motion detects; stuff like that. My suit will also be connected to Bailey's monitor, recording everything that goes down. You'll be able to watch all the action from afar," Chasity calmly instructed.
I couldn't help but sigh in relief. Babysitting at a computer was certainly a job for me. Laser beams were not.
Chasity chuckles softly. "Did you really think I was going to force you to come along with me for this next part? Reece would kill me."
At the mention of my best friend's name, my heart swells, and I blush automatically. My reaction doesn't go unnoticed. "He truly cares for you, Zada. All he can think about is your safety."
I turn a shade redder. I didn't need to hear that right now. Deep down, I know he cares for me. And I'm thankful that Reece and I are back to speaking terms. I'm curious though what the future has in store for us, and I can't help but be hopeful that the future is bright.
I notice strange movement from the corner of my eye, making me look up at Chasity, only to blush even more. "Why are you stripping?" I shriek quietly while covering my eyes in embarrassment.
Chasity was already in her bra and underwear. I had to force myself to stare up at the ceiling.
"I have to put on my suit," she simply states, either oblivious to my bashfulness or she just doesn't care.
"Where'd you even hide it?" I ask while I continue to stare at the ceiling.
"In one of my jacket pockets. The material is incredibly light and foldable." I hear Chasity shuffle around as she puts the suit on. "Done."
I finally look back down only to find no one. Chasity had already activated her suit. Invisi-girl was back in business.
All that was left was Chasity's clothes. She hid all her gear with her. "What am I supposed to do with all this?"
"Roll up the pants and shirt and hide them in the inside pockets of your jacket." I did precisely as Chasity instructed. Surprisingly, the two pieces of fabric didn't take up much space. "Now, hide the shoes in the two front pockets." Thankfully those pockets were passive enough to hide Chasity's stilettos. The pockets still appeared full, but no one would be able to tell that I have shoes in them.
"Okay, and what about your jacket?" I stare skeptically at the large black coat. I definitely don't have a big enough pocket to hide that.
"You're going to have to improvise with the coat." Suddenly, the coat began to float in the air as Chasity picked it up and handed the material to me. "You're going to walk back out there and come up with any excuse to leave. Go to Bailey's apartment right away. Do not stop for anyone. Ready?"
"As I'll ever be." I open the stall and go to the exit. I purposely hold the door opened to give enough time for Chasity to leave. I feel a gentle pat on my shoulder in support before Chasity vanishes completely.
I take a deep breath in for encouragement and face Avery who is still talking on the phone.
She glances my way briefly. "Listen, I have to go." Cameron must be talking on the other end because Avery pauses. "Okay, see you then. Bye!" Avery hangs up.
"Who was that?" I ask, trying my best to keep my voice levelled.
"It was Cameron. He wanted to know my soccer schedule. In detail. Like every bloody game," Avery shakes her head while trying to hide her smile but fails. "He promised he'd come to my game next Saturday."
I couldn't help but smile with Avery, happy that the relationship between the two siblings is heading in the right direction. Though they have a lot to discuss in regards to Avery's adoptive family and Cameron's parttime job as Fortis; if Cameron decides to confess to Avery the truth.
"Where's Chasity?" Avery asks.
I feign surprise. Hopefully, I look the part. "She isn't out here?" Avery shakes her head. "That's strange because, by the time I was done, there was no one else in the bathroom. Chasity even left her jacket."
Avery gave me a weird look. "I swear I didn't see her leave the bathroom."
I didn't know what to say, so I shrugged helplessly.
Avery scratched the back of her head. "I must not have noticed because I was so focused on Cameron."
I nod my head. "Well, I don't blame you. The two of you need to catch up on all the missed conversations. Chasity must have made her way back to your mom's office." I was impressed with the words coming from my mouth. Maybe its because Avery is younger than me that I'm able to lie.
Avery beliefs my words. "Let's head back then."
One step accomplished but I was not yet done. The closer we got to Melinda's office, the more nervous I became because I knew Chasity wouldn't be there. But how could I leave abruptly by avoiding the office?
I had a bad idea.
"Avery?" I call out anxiously.
"Yeah?"
"I'm not feeling so good," I admit.
Avery looks confused. "What do you mean?"
I hold onto my stomach. "I had a bad accident in the bathroom. I thought I'd feel better afterwards but I feel worse."
"Do you want to go back to the bathroom?" Avery appears uncomfortable, not knowing what to do. I could use that to my advantage.
I shake my head. "I need to go home."
For a second, Avery is conflicted so I put in the extra effort to make painful moans. "I really don't want to embarrass myself in front of your mother, Avery. Please."
That seems to do the trick. "I'll take you to the elevators."
I had to bite my lip to stop myself from grinning out of triumph. Avery and I bypass Melinda Chang's office and go straight to the elevators. I almost forgot to tell Avery goodbye because I was so excited to get out of Purity.
"Get well soon!"
"Thank you," I say sluggishly as I walk out of the building slowly, pretending to be sick because Avery was watching me retreat with Chasity's jacket still in my arms. I will count my blessings that Avery didn't question me about the coat.
Instead, I walked as far as away from Purity in the shortest amount of time possible while maintaining the illusion of sickness.
Only once I was out of Avery's line of sight did I sprint to the nearest subway without looking back.