She's Stronger Than You Think

Plans...and Threats

"Okay, so we'll meet at the café that's just a mile away from the docks," Nate said. He moves the little figures across the map.

"Remind me why we're using wooden people to represent us?" Felix asked, crossing his arms. His voice had a sarcastic edge.

"Because it was easier than pulling up the plans on my phone, and I didn't feel like making a PowerPoint," Nate snapped. His voice also had an edge, but it was more threatening than anything. I squirmed in my seat. Tyler and Ethan stared at the floor.

"Mark and Tyler, you two take out the guards," Nate continued. The two guys nodded. "Felix, you're a look out. It seems unimportant, but if the police show up..."

"I got it," Felix said.

"Now, (y/n), you're the smallest, so you're going to be doing a lot of the work," Nate said, turning to me. "You're going to actually be going into the ship and gathering as many of the artifacts as you can.."

"What?" I asked in shock.

"What?" Mark repeated through gritted teeth.

Nate leaned back into his chair and crossed his arms. "Problem?" His eyes flicked back and forth between Mark and I. Judging by his tone, he was not in the mood to be defied.

"No," I answered, shaking my head.

Mark was little more stubborn, but he just glanced from Nate to me, then said, "No."

"Good. Now, Ethan. I need you to be in charge of communications. That involves getting us stuff when we need it, and relaying information to and from us. We only have one headset that can connect to all of us at once, so that one's yours. The rest of us will be using the three-way sets."

Ethan nodded and so did Felix and Tyler. When Nate asked if there were questions, Mark raised his hand. I wasn't even surprised.

"Why isn't Ethan the one 'collecting' the artifacts?" He asked. "I feel like maybe he and (y/n) should switch places. It might be better for her to start in communications."

Nate bit the inside of his cheek. I shifted and averted my eyes as he looked at me again. He seemed to be thinking it over. After a minute, he looked back at Mark.

"Ethan has only been a part of this gang, or any gang, for a few weeks," Nate explained. "This is our first big project in months, and I'm sure (y/n) can handle it."

The way he said it made me feel compelled to nod, so I did. Mark glared at me, but I didn't flinch. Why? I had no idea. That's how I had been with Nate before, but not now? What was happening to me?

"So, like I said before, we'll meet up at the café, at sundown, Friday night. Are we clear?" Nate says.

The guys all said, "Yes, sir!" Not exactly at the same time, but it was good enough for Nate. He dismissed the men, who disappeared up the stairs within a few minutes. Soon, it was just me and him.

Nate extended his arm towards the staircase. "Shall we?" He asked.

I said nothing, and instead walked toward the staircase and up the steps. Nate came right behind me. No one else was up there. I assumed they all left. I turned to go up to the second floor, and to my room, but Nate stopped me with a comment.

"I assume you've had some experience with burglary?" It sounded like a question, so I answered.

"Some, but-" I hesitated, "-never anything this big."

"Listen, there is a lot riding on this heist," Nate said firmly. He took a few steps toward me. "You were second in command in Black Leather, so I'm expecting a lot from you. If I wasn't, I would have put Ethan in your place, and you would have been in the communications with Felix."

"Not like it really matters," I muttered as I turned to go to my room again. But suddenly Nate grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"If you screw this up, I will have you taken out before the sun comes up," Nate threatened through gritted teeth.

I laughed a little. "You'll have me taken out? What, you can't do it yourself?" I asked.

Nate clenched his jaw and pulled me a little bit closer. I could feel the tension between us as I stared into his hard, brown eyes. I bit the inside of my lip, while trying to figure out what to do. Just then, the front door opened. Mark entered the house, but stopped when he saw us. Nate let go of me, and I took a tiny step back.

"I just--dropped my keys," Mark said as he bent to pick up his car keys. He stared at us for a second, before saying, "Goodnight," and leaving.

I pressed my lips together, then hurried up the stairs to my room, before anything else could stop me. I only wished  I could talk to Matt. I had never been so confused about myself before.

*third person POV*

Mark hurried outside. He couldn't believe what he had just seen. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he was blowing the whole thing out of proportion. Maybe he had just imagined it. No way.

Felix was waiting for him. "Got your keys?"

"Yeah, and--" Mark looked back at the house, "-something else."

"What are you talking about?" Felix squinted at his friend, obviously confused.

"Nate and (y/n)...there's something going on there," Mark said, scratching his chin.

"What? That's insane, that can't be what happened," Felix replied. "Nate doesn't even like her."

"That is not what it looked like when I went in there," Mark stated firmly. "There's something not right. He was hanging onto her arm, and they were standing really close to each other."

Felix looked back at the house. "Hmm. Well, whatever you're thinking he's gonna do, he can't. Even if he wanted to," Felix said, shifting uncomfortably. "She is not one of us! We'll have to keep an eye on them."