"Jeeze," Lucas muttered as he turned away from the window. He couldn't explain why he was going to do what he was about to...couldn't understand it. Ignoring Rick's voice, he headed for the other door, the one that lead to the pool. He was sure that there would be no one there as the men were most likely heading in the direction Peter had gone. He shoved the thoughts of how in any other situation with ECHO his actions would have compromised the mission in such a way that he would face dire consequences. You never look back, a voice echoed in his head. Never go back. One shot is all you have, so you better make it count.

Lucas snorted. He pushed the door to the pool area open a crack, not making a sound. Peeking through he saw there wasn't a person there. The pool had been completely covered once more, showing no trace of the boys' earlier presence.

Opening the door further, Lucas slipped through and headed for the door leading into the rest of the building. He had to act fast if he wanted to build a distraction big enough to help Peter out. A plan was already forming in his head. He needed to do this in a way that looked like he was just another high school student to anyone watching the security cameras. Anything that could give him away for who he really was had to be left out.

I could go for the supply room...but that alone might not give Peter the time to escape... he scowled as the layout of the area flashed through his mind. He would only have around thirty seconds to get back to the window...unless... a grin spread across his face as he remembered the lasers in the trophy room. The more chaotic, the more confusion.

He slipped through another door into the next room. As expected it was the volleyball room. He heard voices and footsteps elsewhere, coming from the corridor he knew was next door.

His feet not making a sound, Lucas sprinted across the room. He reached the door just as it burst open. In one smooth movement Lucas had turned and pressed himself against the wall just in time.

A figure burst passed. Lucas recognized Peter at once. He stayed where he was, watching silently as Peter made his way to the door leading to the pool. He was on the way to make his escape, yet then door at the other end began to open. Someone had run around to cut him off. Another figure ran out of the door next to Lucas. With two options out, Peter turned and ran for the third door.

Lucas stayed as still as a statue. They wouldn't notice him, not when he wasn't moving. It was human nature to not take note of ones surroundings when fixated on something else. Another person burst out of the door leading to the pool.

"That way!" the person who had run past Lucas, yelled as he pointed at the door Peter had disappeared through. The two ran off after Peter, the beams of their flashlights going all over the room.

Lucas resisted the urge to snort. Looks like their security guards are just from some firm in the area...then again...who knows.

That was when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He resisted the urge to search the area and find the new presence.

Don't make a wrong move, he told himself. Instead, he turned and headed through the door Peter had burst out before, showing no sign that he had noticed the presence of someone else.

So...their security is better, he noted, for he was sure that the figure was someone watching from the shadows...evaluating the situation. Or perhaps not just the situation, Lucas thought. Looks like they're more suspicious than I gave them credit for. A smile spread across his face, Maybe this situation was a better opportunity than he thought. Time to prove I'm nothing but a normal high school kid, Lucas noted as he ran across the basketball courts.

He was upon the trophy room faster than he had expected. Knowing full well there were lasers, he would usually stop in this situation and assess the situation before finding a way around it. Yet he was supposed to be nothing more than a clueless kid trying to find a way out.

Acting on this, Lucas threw the door open and surged forward. As expected, it took but one step and he broke through the first laser. Alarms screeched, lights flashed, warning of an intruder being near the precious trophies. Putting on his best panicked expression and looking around like a lost kid, Lucas turned and headed right back through the door he had come.

That's sure to attract their attention, he noted with a grin as he went for a different door than the one that led to the volleyball courts. He knew that a lot more people would be coming to the facility, but at the same time, those already inside would all be heading to one place; the trophy room.

Lucas ran down the hallway he was in. Hearing footsteps, he skidded to a halt and opened the door to another room, slipping in he pulled the door to close it, but didn't shut it all the way. He watched through the crack as two security guards sprinted past.

He noticed the presence behind him a second later. Whirling, he raised his hands, blocking the blow for his head just in time. He looked up just in time to make out a face with a stocking pulled over it.

"Whoa! Peter, chill!" Lucas hissed.

He hadn't expected to find the other boy there.

"Lucas?" Peter asked as he stared at him in surprise.

"Jeeze, man. What would you have done if I was a security guard and you hit me?" Lucas scolded. "You would have been done for!"

"My bad," Peter rubbed the back of his head. "But, what are you doing here?"

"No time," Lucas replied. "We've got to go," he threw the door open. "They won't stay in the trophy room long."

"Wait, you did this?" Peter asked motioning to the flashing lights.

"Time's ticking," Lucas replied as he sprinted off down the hallway. Peter followed closely at his heels. Once again, Lucas noted that there seemed to be someone watching, yet whoever it was made no move.

The two boys managed to make it back to the locker room without incident. They burst in, pulling the stockings off their heads at the same time. To his relief, Lucas found that the window was still open. Somehow, he had expected someone to have found it...then again, he had the suspicion that someone already knew about it.

ECHO wouldn't have sent me here if it was just a normal school, the thought flashed through his head.

Peter was already half way through the window.

Lucas paused, shooting a glance back. He felt the shiver of excitement rush through him once again. They're letting us off easy because we're just normal high school kids, he realized. Somehow, the thought intrigued him. Things had never been this easy before...he liked the change.

Turning, he bounded after Peter, easily going through the window and landing on the ground outside. In ECHO the rule was to leave no trace, meaning Lucas should have closed the window back to how it had been when they found it. Yet, right now Lucas wasn't Lucas of ECHO, he was simply Lucas a high school student having a little fun. He didn't know why, but he kind of liked the idea.

As expected, the other two guys were already gone. Without a word, Lucas and Peter sprinted across the grounds and back towards the dorms. They ducked low, pausing in the fields where they dropped to the ground, a security car screeching past them towards the sports building.

Peter and Lucas exchanged glances. They got up and ran all the way to the dorm. Upon reaching it, they slowed down.

"That was epic!" Peter exclaimed. A grin was plastered on his face.

Luuas nodded in agreement, smiling from ear to ear.

"Probably better to go through the window to our rooms," Peter suggested. "With all the commotion if we come in dressed like this..." he motioned to their clothes.

Lucas nodded in agreement. He turned to head off.

"Lucas," Peter's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Hm?" Lucas turned to find the other guy looking at the ground and tracing his toes in the dirt. "You coming back and going out on a limb for me and all..." Peter looked up. "Thanks, man."

Lucas felt taken aback. He had never been thanked before for risking anything. It was usually his job. There was no praise, not one that came from the heart anyway, only the expectation that he would succeed.

"Uh..." he wasn't sure how to respond or to explain the warm unfamiliar feeling rising inside him.

"I'll pay you back one day, I swear!" Peter added. "Ask for it and I'll help."

Lucas smiled at the offer. "Thanks."

Peter nodded. "Sure hope tonight paid off," he added with a grin before he turned. "See you at practice." He raised a hand in farewell and disappeared around the corner.

Lucas watched for a moment before he turned and headed in the direction of where the window to his room was. He got to it and peaked in. To his surprise, Brian wasn't there. In fact, only Nathan was there, pacing back and forth.

Reaching out, Lucas rapped a knuckle against the window. He saw Nathan jump and then whirl around. The boy's eyes widened as he saw Lucas before they filled with relief. He hurried over and pulled the window open.

"Dude, where were you?" he hissed.

"Things got complicated," Lucas replied as he pulled himself into the room through the window.

"You don't say," Nathan replied sarcastically. "Rick and Sam got back a little while earlier. They said you guys ran back inside!"

"We got out fine," Lucas replied.

Nathan's eyes narrowed. "It worked?"

"Everything got done," Lucas replied.

Nathan let out a sigh of relief. "Dude, you had me scared. I though you guys were goners for sure!"

There was a knock and the door burst open without the person waiting for a reply. Auden walked into the room.

"Room check. It's eleven," he announced. He froze as he caught sight of Lucas and Nathan standing next to the open window. His eyes slowly travelled up and down what Lucas was wearing.

"Brian's not here!" Nathan announced at once to try and create a distraction.

"He got permission to come back later. He's studying at the library," Auden replied, his eyes still on Lucas. They darted back to the open window. "Too hot in here?" he asked.

"Fresh air helps you sleep better," Lucas replied.

"We do have air condition," Auden replied. "Anyway, looks like you're both here. No absence." He ticked off something on the clipboard he was holding. "I'm proud of you, Nathan," he told the boy. "Looks like you're going for a better record this time around."

Nathan muttered something under his breath.

"Alright...next room then..." Auden was about to leave but paused. "Take a shower."

"Was just on my way to," Nathan said as he immediately headed for the bathroom.

"Not you," Auden told him. "You," he pointed his pen at Lucas. "I suggest washing those clothes too. Get rid of the grass stains...you know?" he grinned as he said it.

Nathan let out a groan as he realized Auden had caught on.

Of course, Lucas wasn't surprised. The evidence was all over him after all.

"I'll let you off since it's the first time," Auden told him. "I sure hope whatever the reason was that it was worth it," he added.

Lucas grinned.

"Don't let it happen again. Be back before eleven," Auden added as he closed the door.

"Phew," Nathan let out a relieved sigh. "Am I glad he isn't uptight." He turned to Lucas. "Mind if I shower first?"

Lucas shook his head.

"Alright," Nathan grabbed the boxers lying on the end of his bed and headed for the bathroom. He closed the door and Lucas could hear water running seconds later.

Turning around, Lucas closed the window. He turned back to the door and couldn't help but smile. He liked this carefree feeling. Shaking his head he walked towards his bed and picked up his laptop. He was about to sit down when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Lucas called.

There was another knock.

Seeing no other choice, Lucas got up and headed towards it. Upon reaching it, he opened it a crack. He found a smaller figure of a boy with tussled brown hair and piercing grey eyes, standing there. Lucas recognized those eyes right away.

"Jamie," he said. "You here to see Nathan?" he asked.

Jami didn't reply, staring at him.

"He's showering," Lucas told him. "You should come back." He began to shut the door but Jamie shoved his foot inside. Lucas looked up at him.

"I know your secret," Jamie whispered.

"Huh?" Lucas asked.

Jamie looked around, as though making sure the corridor was empty. "I've been watching you. I know exactly who you are," he hissed.

Warning bells went off in Lucas' head at once. Threat! He was suddenly on high alert. Any threat must be eliminated, no questions asked, his training reminded him. Yet, as Lucas stared at the boy before him he couldn't help but hesitate.

Jeeze...how do I handle this one?

a) Knock him out, figure out how to deal with him after.

b) Wait, find out more about the situation. Find out what exactly Jamie thinks he knows.

c) Ignore him, shrug him off as crazy. No one will believe him anyway.