"I'm not going to go with them." It wasn't something to be argued with, especially when Perry used the tone she did. If Nicole thought she was still as gullible as before, he'd be brutally wrong.
"Perry, please. I promise.. I'm not lying. The organization told lies to keep their real motive a secret. Please believe me.." Nicole practically pleaded, his lips twitching onto a slight frown.
"..No. Nicole, you've gone up and completely ruined it. My trust. I can't believe you anymore, not if you're being serious or not."
No matter how hard Perry tried to convince herself Nicole was lying to her, to get her caught, she couldn't help the part of her that still believed him. The tone he used, the one when he really was telling the truth.
So, with a begrudging agreement, the group started to plan. Waylen, who was really skeptical at first, finally started to help with the planning.
"Hey, uh..." A small pause. "I'm sorry about everything, Ruby. I know I messed up. Really, really bad. And…—" Nicole didn't get to finish his apology. Ruby walked away towards Christian, not sparing Nicole a single glance. But Nicole never missed the pained glint in her eyes.
All he wanted to do was apologize non-stop. He felt so— too guilty for messing up so bad. Especially with Ruby. With the person he'd started to cherish more than Perry herself.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Was she seriously going to ignore him the whole time?
Seems so.
"..Told you." Perry mumbled under her breath, walking past Nicole.
He rolled his eyes, landing on Ruby. But he quickly looked away, starting to walk in the same direction as Perry.
It hurt, it really did. So he was going to make it right— no matter how long, how much convincing it took.
"Let's start then, shall we?" Nicole entered the room they had all been lounging in, stepping in front of the room. "The organization will most likely be looking for you, Perry, so if we catch them off guard, I'm sure we'll have a chance at getting the truth out of them. They have the kind of information you should be afraid of."
Perry let out a soft huff. This whole thing was too confusing for her. From what Nicole had stated earlier, it made it sound like the organization was the victims. Perry couldn't believe that even if her life depended on it. And now, here they were, planning a plan based on what Nicole knows, and even if they liked it or not, they'd have to go along and trust Nicole. For the last time or not would be decided by the outcome.
"So what? We're supposed to sneak in? All of us?" Waylen asked, giving Nicole an unimpressed look. Nicole shook his head. Though he's technically still a traitor, many of them had forgotten he's got brains. Not brawns, unlike Waylen who was still confused.
"No. Of course not. Only three of us will sneak in. The rest have to stay inside the van." Nicole ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "And just so you all know, they have cameras around. I'm not sure exactly where, but they have a few inside the house." he finished, before leaning back against the wall, staying silent.
Ruby, Christian and Perry shared a glance. Perry looked over at Nicole before speaking up. "So then how do we choose who's going inside and who isn't?"
"That… We have to discuss. It varies. Who can run the fastest? Who can be the quietest?" Nicole looked around for an answer for a moment, before Waylen snickered.
"Definitely not Maverick…"
"HEY! I'm just as capable as anyone to do either of that." Maverick argued, a frown playing at his lips.
•───────•°•𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋•°•──────•
Silence filled in as soon as the van started moving. Perry drove, Nicole instructing her towards the organization's house. Axelle, Rexine and Waylen collectively held a staring competition. Eli and Maverick did absolutely nothing at the back while Christian and Ruby sat in silence watching Nicole instruct Perry. Mainly only Christian, though. Ruby stared out the window, lost in her thoughts.
"Here, go left here." Nicole said, before leaning back in his seat. Perry, Christian and Eli had been picked to go inside, to sneak in. "Yeah, we're here." he added at last.
And so, the three stepped out, Perry looking through the window. Nicole had said they wouldn't be there right now, but she just had to make sure. And once they were sure, they entered through a window Nicole knew would be open.
"What are we here for?" Eli asked, and in response Christian just sighed.
"The information, genius."
"Hell, I'm just askin', mate." Eli replied defensively at the irritated tone Christian used.
The three entered, cautiously and quietly. "Nicole said the files are in the room to the left." Perry said, already turning, not expecting anyone to disagree. But for gods sake, who was she kidding? She was with Christian.
"No, he said to the right."
"What? No. He clearly said left, Christian."
"No, he said right. The room near the basement. The basements to the right."
"Nicole said the room towards the right is their 'meeting' room. The one with all the information is—"
"To the damn right, Perry."
Eli sighed. Loudly, hoping for them to stop. Who was he kidding? Of course they didn't even hear him. "Guys, for the love of god, let's not argue. Let's go for the…" his voice trailed off as he realized neither of them was listening to him.
"Left. Fine. You go whichever way you want. I'm going right."
"Fine. I will." Perry turned around abruptly, walking off towards the left, Christian went the opposite way.
Eli was left there, torn between following either Perry or Christian. So he stood still, waiting for them to return. Perry returned before Christian, about to boast to him, but saw he hadn't returned. Eli leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"So?" he asked.
"He's not back?" she replied, walking towards the room now.
Eli mumbled a soft 'yup' under his breath which seemed to go unnoticed.
"Chris?" Eli called out, walking alongside Perry towards the room.