ILLEGAL

Chapter 22

The next day I rushed to work, anxious and kind of excited to tell Jack my idea.

And once I got there, damn, it was like a wild goose chase. I checked his office first, and he wasn't there. Then I began asking around, seeing if anyone had seen him today. And of course I tried calling him, with no answer.

I had nearly searched the entire building when I spotted his blonde hair up ahead. I picked up pace to get to him quicker. I called out,"Jack! Hey, so I was thinking-"

He made a sharp, sudden turn down a random hallway. I sighed, took a few steps back, then continued after him. But he had quickened his speed as well, walking away from me instead of towards.

I broke into a jog until I was at his shoulder."Okay, what the hell, Jack? Are you trying to avoid me?"I asked angrily.

He didn't look at me, didn't even glance in my direction. His mouth pressed into a thin line, and he just kept walking.

"Jack. Jack!" He kept ignoring me as I repeatedly called out his name. Fine. Force will have to do.

"Jack!"I shouted, grabbing his wrist to hold him back. He stopped and turn to me, very exasperated and pissed off."What?"He barked.

"I need to tell you something about-"I started.

"Well, frankly, I don't want to talk to you,"He said, ripping his arm from my grasp and turning to walk back the other way.

"No, Jack, listen,"I grabbed the back of his leather jacket. He whipped around and pushed my arm off, but he didn't walk away. I could tell by his stance and the way his arms were crossed that he wasn't happy about it."What?" He spat out.

"We need to talk about the mission. I think I have the plan for the next step. Cody and I figured out some of the details, and I've formed an infiltration plan." I told him.

He looked down at his shoes."I don't want to work on the mission anymore, Cole."He said mumbled.

I was taken aback."Wait, what?"

He looked me in the eye."I filed a report to take me off this mission. They haven't gotten back to me yet, but I know they'll say yes."He said.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my face twisted up in emotional pain."Jack, I didn't mean to hurt you, I just-"I started.

He interrupted me."And I don't want to hear it." He turned around and started walking away. I dashed a few steps behind him.

"Wait, you're not even giving me a chance!"I pointed out.

He looked over his shoulder at me."Just like the one you didn't give me?" He said.

That was a bullet to the heart. I balled my fists, and changed the subject slightly."Jack, you're being extremely illogical on the sake of this mission; this is the best opportunity you'll get, that I'll get, and you're just throwing it away like trash..."

He turned to face me."The affects of declining are better than working with you." That's a stab wound in between my ribs.

He turned to face the hallway again and kept walking. I grit my teeth, anger and frustration mixing with my want for acceptance."Jack, stop acting like a little bratty shit. You're being selfish and stupid and-"

"Being selfish and stupid is better than being a liar and a cheater, like you." Those were the last words he yelled as he stomped out of the hallway away from me. And there was the final crack of a hammer on my skull.

I stood in shock. My jaw was still dropped, and I forced myself to close it. How dare he? The things he said about me were so mean and hurtful. Each painful sentence was a brand new injury. And then I came to a sick realization.
That's how he's feeling right now. After I(well, Cody) dug through his records, he felt betrayed to the point where it hurt. So he's giving me a taste of my own medicine, and damn, it's bitter.

I wanted to sit down and pity myself and my actions, but there was no time. I needed to start with the plan. With or without Jack. But then an idea occurred in my head. He'a giving me a sense of what I created? Fine. Two can play at that game.
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I stopped by the gadgets and disguise department. Chelsea was down there working her shift. When she saw me her face lit up. She quickly attended the person in front of the line, before making her way over to me."Hey, what's up?" She asked.

I sighed, thinking of the five minutes previous, before saying,"Its fine. Jack and I were...arguing again. But I think I've got the plan for the next part of the mission."

"Okay, great!" She then offered me a quick comforting smile."Are you okay though?"

I shrugged."What do you mean?"

"Just yesterday, how I had asked you a question and you had randomly taken off. Out the window."

I shook my head."Yeah, there's just a bunch of shit going on."

She gently touched my shoulder."You can tell me anything." She reminded me.

I sighed."So, Jack kissed me-"

"HE WHAT?!"She squealed. I covered her mouth with my hand, hushing her.

"Shush! Not so loud!" I waited a moment before dropping my hand and continuing the story."But yes, so that happened, and then he told me he was in love with me-"

"Oh my god! That's great! What'd you say? Why aren't you happy about it?" She was bursting with excitement and questions. It was annoying.

"I'm getting there. But I told him I didn't love him back, that I liked him-"

"Cole!"

"What? I don't even know what love is! And you need to stop interrupting me,"I told her, and she shut her mouth."But anyways, Cody came in with these files that I had asked him to get- when I first met Jack- that went into Jack's history and figured out his secrets and weaknesses." Chelsea's look was a hilarious mix of irritation and shock."Shut up, I regret it too, but anyways, Jack found out about the files, he got mad and made me feel extremely guilty for it, blah blah blah, now he's pissed at me and is reading to work on the mission." I finished.

"Then what are you going to do? And I mean, to get him to participate?"

I smirked."I've got an idea." Chelsea raised her eyebrow."Lets just say that I didn't need to read the folder to figure out his weaknesses."

I began to walk away, but Chelsea grabbed my shoulder to stop me."Cole, what are you going to do?"She asked, but they sounded like a order.

"Relax! I'm not going to blackmail him...well, not in the usual way."

Chelsea looked off into the distance, exactly like thy did on The Office."Stop, that's my thing,"I whined.

She looked back at me."Cole, you really shouldn't-"

I interrupted her."Okay, I didn't come down here to solely be scolded by you, I actually need stuff for the mission."

She crossed her arms and sighed. She lead me over to the checkout."Okay, what do you need?"

"Umm...lets see...a wig, sunglasses, blueprints of the building, two small guns, a hidden knife,"I counted the items off on my fingers."And the air shoes."

Her eyes brightened at the last item, and she ran off to grab them. She came back with her arms full and set them on the counter. She started tapping on a tablet as she entered the stock changes. "Oh, and can I borrow a pen and paper?"

She gave a confused sort of smirk, and bent down to grab it under the counter."Yeah, sure. Why?"

I smiled to myself about my little plan."I've got a stop to make before I leave the building."

Just wanted to say thanks for 900 reads! I apologize for the slow update, I've been procrastinating and all that.

*If you liked this chapter of Illegal, leave me a vote and/or comment to keep me encouraged and inspired. Thanks!!*