The Game

The Library

After changing into sweats and a bralette, and grabbing a sweatshirt because I know the library will be cold, I head downstairs to find Sydney. I'm not sure if there is anything she can do to help but I know she would be very mad if she learned we had family emergencies and didn't at least tell her. When I get to Sydney's floor, I see her sitting at the kitchen counter. Her head is on the counter and she has books surrounding her, she must have passed out while working on something. 

"Sydney," I say softly when I'm standing next to her. I move the books away from her, organizing everything and stacking them together. "Syd..."

"Mmm?" Sydney stirs and looks up at me, smiling with sleepy eyes. "Hi, Nat. What are you doing?"

"Hey, you okay Syd?" I rub her back a little, trying to help her wake up. She sits up and stretches a little, yawning as well. 

"Mmm, yeah. I must have fallen asleep studying last night. What's up?" Sydney seems more awake now. She grabs her books and I follow her back to her room. She puts all the books back in their rightful places then she sits on her bed, yawning again. 

"Tom, J.T., and I are going to the library for a little project. Are you free?" I go to her closet and start pulling out a clean change of clothes for her. Sydney sits on the bed watching me, her eyes aren't completely focused yet.

"Uhm, yeah. Our mission doesn't start until tomorrow. When's your next mission?" Sydney asks offhand.

"We have a week off," I say and Sydney widens her eyes. 

"Really? Wow, that's weird. Nice, I guess," Sydney yawns and rubs the sleepiness out of her eyes. She looks at the clothes I've picked out for her and it takes her a second but she approves. Sydney changes quickly and I shoot a text to the boys to let them know we're on the way. 

"Come on, let's go."

I lead Sydney to the library and we find the boys in the back at a table. The library is mostly empty aside from a few students but no one seems to linger longer than necessary. We sit down with them, I pull a chair in front of me and prop up my legs. Sydney sits down next to me and looks at the guys then gesture for them to get Sydney up to speed.

*****

"A 'little project'?!?!" Sydney turns and stares at me when the guys have finished telling her everything they told me. "You said this was just a 'little project'. This is huge! What can I do to help?" Sydney gets over her initial shock fast and immediately jumps into action, needing to be productive. 

"I'll leave tonight," I say and Tom nods in agreement but J.T. stops us both.

"No," J.T. says firmly. "What about The Game?"

"Tom and I have a week off. We can come up with a plan right now and then I'll set off tonight," I say. "That way I will have enough time, a couple of days to get out there, find any evidence or clues and I will have enough spare time to move forward from there."

"No, Natalie," J.T. says. "Sydney and I won't be able to help tomorrow. You need to wait for us."

"I can't wait, J.T.," I look at him and try to get him to see my sense of urgency without giving away the fact that I am afraid. "I have to go find my sister and your brother."

"I know and I appreciate the desire to leave immediately but you can't," J.T. stares at me, trying to compose himself and determine how to respond appropriately.

"Nat, J.T. is right. You have to wait for us and I don't think you should go alone," Sydney says I start to object but she holds her hand up to silence me. I narrow my eyes at her but keep my mouth shut. "I realize that we could handle this alone but I think it would be smart if we had some sort of backup. I think Matt should go with you."