Not Just Another Number

Erica Joins The Troop

Sarah's POV

Dustin has been on the roof for a while. Steve, Robin, and I are waiting for him in the break room. I light one of my fingers on fire and transfer it to each finger, making it dance back and forth.

Robin watches, intrigue in her eyes. "So, that doesn't hurt you?" She asks. I shake my head and focus on the fire. "Not at all. But I'm not entirely fire proof." She tilts her head in confusion.

I point at my hair. "I burnt it last year. Had to cut off a couple inches of hair." I close my hand and the flame dies. Steve nods, remembering it as well. "Yeah, it was weird. I hadn't seen you with short hair since we were in first grade."

"And it was only short because someone put gum in it." I say, playfully glaring at him. He blushes, looking down and laughing awkwardly. Robin snickers under her breath.

Suddenly, the door to the break room opens. Dustin walks in, carrying the binoculars in one hand. "What'd you find out?" Steve asks, clearing his throat.

Dustin puts the binoculars on the table and begins to pace back and forth. "There's a key card that opens the door. Unfortunately, the Russian with this keycard also has a massive gun. Whatever's in this room, in those boxes, they really don't want anybody finding it."

Robin sighs and shakes her head. "Well, there has to be a way in." I open my mouth to speak, but Steve beats me to the punch. "Well, I can just take him out."

I roll my eyes and face palm. "Take who out?" Robin asks.

"The Russian guard." He looks at our doubting faces. "What? I just sneak up behind him, knock him out, and take his keycard. It's easy."

"Maybe easy for me, but definitely not for you." I speak up.

"And why would it be easy for you?"

I raise my hand and light it on fire, answering his question. Dustin sighs. "Did either of you two listen to the part about the massive gun?"

I extinguish the fire and cross my arms. "Of course. Pretty hard thing to ignore."

"Yeah. That's why I would be sneaking."

Dustin sighs again and squeezes his temple. "Answer me honestly, have either of you actually won a fight?" I snort and nod my head. "Of course." He raises an eyebrow, doubting me. "Really, Johnathan and Billy?"

I scoff. "For one, I didn't fight Johnathan. I only had a black eye because he elbowed me when I was trying to get him off of him." I say, pointing at Steve. "I'll give you the Billy one, but I did break his nose, but besides that, every fight I've been in, I've won." I count my winnings out for them. "The Demogorgon, multiple demodogs, and Jessica Forgin from 5th grade."

I smirk triumphantly and cross my arms. Dustin sighs and looks over at Steve, waiting for him to defend himself. They begin to argue, Robin and I watching in amusement, but after a while, it grows annoying.

I look over at the window and see Christine enter Scoops Ahoy, holding a large rolled up piece of paper. I put myself between them, cutting them off.

"Girls, girls, you're both pretty, but we have more important matters at hand." I say, making Robin laugh again. Christine enters the break room, smiling wide. I look up at her and point at the paper. "That it?"

She nods and unrolls it on the table. "Just like you asked, an entire blueprint of Star Court Mall, with vent system." I smile and look down at it.

"Blueprints?" The other three ask, looking at the blueprints as well.

"Yup, while you guys were freaking out, I asked Christine to get us these. With these, we can find a way into that storage room without getting caught." I point at the far end of the map, closest to me.