Bree slammed her locker and ran down the hallway. She sneaked into the class and sat down.

"You’re late again," he teacher fussed, "that’ll be ISS. Wait for me in the hallway."

Bree picked up her books and marched out of the classroom. It wasn’t her fault that she was always late. She had to watch her seven younger brothers and cousins while her parents went out clubbing and so she had to walk to school. She hid the marks on her wrists under her long sleeved jacket, "I’m sick of this," she told herself, "I’m running away."

♥§ ¨ ª

Jerry shook his head and reread over the note he found in his locker.

"I have seen you at work and I know you are a genius and unless you pay one hundred dollars to the masked figure tonight at nine, the whole school will know you’re a fake."

Jerry felt goose bumps flood up his whole body as he glanced up at the shadowed figure across the hall.

It seemed everyone knew his best kept secret and they all were after him.

"How will I ever get that much money…" he said himself and the bell rung.

♥§ ¨ ª

Kat turned on her new Alien Ant Farm CD and threw herself onto the bed. The music suited her mood perfectly. It made her feel powerful.

"Tonight’s the night," she told herself, "I get to go to John’s house."

John was a bad boy at the high school and Kat knew he had a thing for her. She had made it very clear she was in need of someone when she had dramatically broken up with Dan in front of him.

She would finally get what she wanted. A night to be free and get past her innocent exterior.

♥§ ¨ ª

Ben crept back into the shadows and counted his money. Three hundred dollars in earnings today. He got one hundred out of it for himself and shoved it into his pockets.

He went back to the warehouse and knocked four times, paused, and knocked twice. It was the secret code.

The door opened and he walked inside, "Here's your money, Joe," he whispered handing his boss the two hundred to him.

"You’re a great seller, kid," the man laughed.

Ben nodded expecting more praising.

The man continued, "Now that I am done with you, perhaps you will tell everyone our secret?"

Ben shook his head, "I’d like to continue working for you."

The man smiled, "Of course I’ll have the drugs tomorrow. Just come by and pick them up."

Ben nodded and walked out the door. He had made over five hundred dollars in the past two weeks for his secret work. Now, he would attempt to undo his bad choice. He would volunteer too be a spy for the police and get something even better to put on his college applications…that is if he didn’t die first.

♥§ ¨ ª

THAT NIGHT:

Bree threw her outfits into her backpack and smashed her piggy bank.

After counting the money she figured it’d be enough for a week. She could always get a job. She put the money in her pockets and started to leave.

"Where are you going?" her mother demanded.

"To the library," Bree replied opening the door.

Her mother shrugged, "be back before eight, you have to watch the kids."

"I’ll be back, mom, don’t worry," Bree smirked and walked out the door to freedom.

♥§ ¨ ª

Ben left the police station satisfied in his work. Now all he needed was to catch them in the act.

Just at the perfect moment, Jerry walked by.

"The dumbest people work wonders," Ben whispered and yelled Jerry’s name.

Jerry came running over, "Ben, dude, I’m being blackmailed and need one hundred dollars."

Ben smiled, "I can give you the money if you help me."

Jerry nodded, "Okay, whatever you need…"

♥§ ¨ ª

Kat shut the door to John’s slick black corvette and followed him up the stairs.

"So, how’d you like dining at the fanciest restaurant in town?" he asked opening the door for her.

She wanted to say he was crazy and that she had been too much more fancy restaurants but she wanted everything right

"It was great," she smiled.

He let her into the living room and unfolded the couch into a bed.

He opened up his collection of movies, "What do you wanna watch?"

Kat’s eyes beamed at the collection, "Wow, uh, do you have the black and white wolfman?"

"Yep," he said pulling it out and putting it in the VCR.

"Oh yes, I love it," Kat smiled and jumped onto the futon."

"So why did you and Dan break up?"

Kat looked at him seriously, "He’s gay."

John looked at her funny and sat down beside her. He put his arm around her and she kept herself from squealing. Little did she know she had herself in a dangerous situation.

♥§ ¨ ª

Jerry waited on the street corner for the man to arrive with the drugs. All Jerry knew was that if he called for them and got him to come, then he’d get the money from Ben and that it would get Ben out of a tight problem.

"Hey, kid, you wanted this," a man whispered and handed Jerry the drug.

"Sure," Jerry said taking it.

"Now where’s my money?" the man asked.

"Sorry, sir, I don’t have any."

"Then how do you expect to pay for that?" the man asked and pulled out a knife.

♥§ ¨ ª

Bree walked up to get her train ticket, "One to California please."

The lady at the window smiled sweetly at her, "Where’s your guardian?"

"Guardian?"

"Yea you can’t go without one or a permission slip."

Bree glared at the woman and walked over to a bench, "I’ll just sneak on."

She felt the bench move as someone sat down beside her, "Running away are ya?"

"I, uh, yea you caught me. How did you know?"

"I know you," he laughed and then grabbed her wrists, "What’s that?"

"I tried to kill myself. I’m so sorry, Abs, I don’t know what to do."

Abs smiled, "I’ll talk to your mom for you. I’ll make it all better and I won’t tell you ran away or attempted suicide."

Bree laid her head on his shoulder, "Thanks, you’re the best."

♥§ ¨ ª

Ben watched the policeman hit Joe on the back of the head and Jerry dropped the drugs and started screaming.

"The drugs aren’t mine! I swear!"

"I know," the policeman said handcuffing the man.

He turned to Ben, "Thanks, we’ve been after this one for a while now. What do you want for a reward? Money?"

"No," Ben said, "I want you to keep the money. I just want a good word when I apply for college."

The policeman nodded and pulled the fighting Joe into the car.

"That kid helped me sell them! You don’t understand! He deserves to go to jail!"

The cop slammed the door and drove off.

♥§ ¨ ª

After five minutes alone with John, Kat decided he went too fast. He kept trying to get his hand in her shirt and on top of her.

"Come on, Kat, do you think Dan kept it secret how good you kiss? I know you aren’t so innocent."

The not innocent comment almost made her give in but she knew that he knew how to get to girls. She pushed him away, "Yea, kiss, that’s it."

He pulled her to him roughly, "I know you can’t resist. No girl can."

He kissed her fully on the lips and began to trail down her neck.

"John, stop, I have to call someone."

He shrugged, "Well, Dan won’t come for you cause he’s at football and you broke up."

Kat knew he was right and put on her cutest smile, "We haven’t begun, baby," she kissed his cheek and raced to the phone. She quickly dialed up Skeeter.

"Hello?" his tired voice answered.

"Hey, Skeet, can you get off work?"

"I don’t know why?"

"I need a ride. I’m at John William’s house."

Skeeter laughed, "What the hell are you doing there?"

"I just ended up here. I thought we were just gonna watch a movie but he’s trying to force me to…":

"Say no more, chick, you are so blind if you trusted him. Give me ten minutes."

"Thanks, Skeeter, I knew you’d come," she blew a kiss into the phone, grabbed her stuff, and sat on the porch.

♥§ ¨ ª

Jerry stood at the corner of sixth and Ninth Street waiting for the blackmailer.

He fiddled with the money in his pocket and pulled it out when a masked figure approached. He held out the money.

The familiar voice giggled, "Thanks Jerry, you’re a great guy."

Jerry breathed a sigh of relief. His secret was safe.

As the figure walked away, he noticed the newly died red hair of Skittles.

Jerry slapped his thigh, "Darn it, I screwed up again."