Keeping Secrets

2

The seven hours of hell that was school was finally over. Tam opened his locker door to put away his school supplies. He was so ready to leave this hell whole. He didn't notice the folded-up piece of paper that fell out of his locker. 

"Hey, Tam," Biana said walking towards him. Beside her were Sophie, Keefe, Fitz, Linh, and Dex. Keefe and Fitz were trying to comfort Sophie who had grown more and more worried about whatever the Neverseen were up to. It wasn't working very well. She tugged on her eyelashes and barely seemed to notice anything around her, she was too busy trying to come up with her next big plan. 

"Hi," Tam said shutting his locker door. "We were thinking about going to Sophie's house after school to hang out or something. We all need it with all of the things that we've been through recently, and we've all been working hard trying to figure out what the Neverseen are up to. If we don't take breaks every once in a while, then we'll work ourselves to death and that won't help anyone except for maybe the Neverseen." She sounded like she was trying to convince not only him but the others and herself. 

Sophie definitely would've protested and said that they could hang out without her if she hadn't been too absorbed with whatever she was thinking of. Tam didn't particularly want to hang out with anyone, but he also didn't mind it as much as he usually would. "Linh's going," Biana added. That was all Tam needed to know. If Linh was going, then he would too. 

"Hey what's that?" Dex asked pointing at the folded-up paper on the floor. Tam picked it up and unfolded it. He quickly read what it said, turning pale when he realized who it was from. It was a pretty simple and somewhat cliche message, but what the message was wasn't important who it was from was important. 

You should know by now that the Neverseen aren't the only ruthless killers around. Enjoy the time you have left with your friends. 

Tam quickly folded it back up before anyone else could see what it said and shoved it in his pocket. "Nothing. It's nothing," Tam said a little too quickly. His odd reaction shook Sophie out of her thoughts. "Was it from the Neverseen?" Her voice sounded a tad bit hopeful. Tam couldn't really blame her, at this point getting a message from them would at the very least put an end to the constant, helpless worry. 

Tam shook his head, "No. It wasn't anything important. I can't hang out with you guys though. I just remembered that I have a ton of homework from Lady Zillah that I have to do. Most of it is shadow flux stuff and since we aren't getting anywhere with figuring out what the Neverseen are up to right now, I figure that since they've used shadow flux in the past it might be good if I learn as much as possible about it now in case they use it in the future too. You guys have fun though. If you make any progress Linh will probably tell me." 

He walked away as quickly as possible, not giving them a chance to call him out on his very obvious lie. They watched him leave curiously. Sophie was desperate for clues that would help them, and the note was the only thing that had showed in promise. She was also pretty sure that Tam was not willing to talk to them about it and that if it helped them in any way that he'd tell them. Keefe was worried about what could've made Tam turn so pale. For all of their fighting he really did care about Tam. You kind of had to care about someone when you've been in life-or-death situations together. Linh was also worried; she was worried that whoever had experimented on her brother had finally found him.

Biana turned to Linh, "Do you know what that was all about?" Linh shook her head. "You don't have any idea?" Sophie pressed gently. She wanted information but she didn't want it to come at the cost of her friend's trust in her. Linh pursed her lips, "I have an idea, but it's not my secret to tell." Keefe raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Tammy has a secret? Is it about his crush?" Linh shook her head, "No, it's way more serious than a crush. It's about as serious as finding out your mom was part of the Neverseen, except it doesn't have anything to do with the Neverseen. At least that he's aware of. With the things the Neverseen have done I wouldn't be too surprised if they were at least a little involved, but so far they don't seem to know anything." 

Sophie opened her mouth to ask more questions. "I'd rather not say anything more than that. Like I said it's not my secret to tell. If he decides that he's comfortable with sharing it with you than he'll tell you, but it will be his decision only," Linh said before they could say anything else. 

Linh went after her brother. "So, we're definitely going to be trying to figure out Tam's big secret right?" Keefe said. Sophie shot him a dissaproving look, "No, we're not. We'll ask him about it and try to be there for him so he'll feel comfortable enough to share it." 

"But what if it really does have something to do with the Neverseen. If Alvar could betray his own family than how can we know for sure that they won't betray us!? Especially since they apparently have some big secret?" Fitz argued. Sophie frowned and shot him a slightly more intense version of the disapproving look she gave Keefe, "They have risked their lives to help us again and again. The first time they barely knew us, and they helped us. We can't just expect them to tell us everything about themselves and then start to think that they are secretly working with the Neverseen when it turns out that they have a secret. Besides with that logic then I would definitely be working with the Neverseen with the number of secrets I keep."

Sophie knew this was the wrong thing to say immediately after she said it. "Then don't keep secrets," Fitz suggested. Sophie tugged on her eyelashes, "It's not that simple. I can't just tell you all of my secrets. I know from experience that having the people close to you try to pry your secrets out of you isn't pleasant." Fitz looked like he wanted to argue more but Dex interrupted him. "Why don't we just go hang out like we planned. All of this arguing isn't helping anyone. I'm pretty sure we're all just tired from working so hard and not taking breaks. I know I'm exhausted. I've been making gadgets nonstop." Sophie looked at him worriedly, "You don't have to make gadgets nonstop. You've already done so much." Dex shrugged, "It's fine. Let's just hurry up and go to your house. I want to turn Iggy neon pink this time." 

IDK how to continue this chapter so I'll leave it like this. Hope yall enjoyed.😁