I really advise you to go listen to the songs mentioned in the chapter: 'You belong with me' by Taylor Swift and 'Counting Stars' by One Republic. You can find them in the Love Bug spotify playlist in the external link below 😉 Yes, yes, they have real music now!

"'You belong with meee! You belong with me!'" Andy's voice is almost overpowering the music blasting through the speakers of his car, and it's a mystery how he is still keeping the vehicle on the road with all his wide movements following the rhythm of the song.

Anastasia, by his side, watches him almost stunned, while she sticks with only laughing at her friend and humming the lyrics, although they are a little bit louder with each verse.

"'She wears high heels, I wear sneakers...'"

She must admit that it feels good to let out some of the pressure and forget the reality and its stakes for a moment. She isn't usually the one to sing along and dance to the music, but this one is catchy, maybe because, for the first time, the lyrics are exactly in sync with the beats of her heart. That's how powerful music can be; art can be. It reunites people.

"This Taylor Swift really knew what's up!" Andy exclaims, already squinting his eyes at the small screen of his car to search for another song in the flash drive she has given him, and her lips are stretching into an amused yet genuine smile as his gaze flickers from the screen to the road a few times, but it seems always more drawn to the list of songs than the empty lane ahead.

Maybe it's slightly dangerous, yet she doesn't regret sharing this flash drive with him, and it really strengthens her idea that their plan can work.

Every step closer is instilling more belief for a bright future in her chest, even though what they have discovered yesterday with Nathaniel are the darkest parts she has ever seen, and she will never be able to forget it. She will be changed forever, and a part of her has died with all those people she has read the names. However, it makes it even more necessary to stop this darkness, and if they succeed, the future will definitely be brighter without all those shadows.

The bright and the dark parts, all together, they form the perfect plan to convince the most people. Now, they have to spread it...

As if sensing the knots starting to tighten in her stomach, the typical ringing of her phone receiving a text pulls her out of her thoughts.

'I'm there. Are you still far?'

Another one follows instantly, adding to the long list of received texts, as she is still staring at her lit screen.

'Are you still mad? Je suis désolé.'

"You're still mad?"

She jumps at the sound of the question out loud, in Andy's voice, as he has settled on another song.

'Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep... Dreaming about the things that we could be...', and now, all his attention is on her phone's screen, peeking from over her shoulder before she quickly puts it away.

"No, I'm not mad," she replies what her fingers have been tempted to answer to someone else.

"Yet you've decided to drive here with me instead of him, and you're not answering his texts," Andy points out, tilting his head with a knowing look that makes her heave out a resigned sigh.

"I'm not mad." It's the truth. She hasn't felt an ounce of anger when she has been staring at her phone, or maybe just an inch of irritation because her heart has been beating too loudly just reading his texts. "But still, he's lied to me, and it was serious. I just want to make a point so he doesn't do it again."

"Ooh, fierce Anastasia! The sexy captain doesn't know what he's in for!"

"I mostly know what I'm in for, and I know that I'll forget why I've ever been mad as soon as I see his teddy brown eyes..." she mumbles, fiddling with her pendant to distract herself as the warmth is already reaching her cheeks and the rest of her body, slowly melting her resolve, and that, just thinking about his gaze.

She could even forget the rest of the world, if Andy's loud laugh wasn't abruptly pulling her out of her daze and rushing more blood to her face.

"Make fun of me." She squints her eyes, a smile still stretching her lips because that's how much she is in love with Nathaniel, and she is proud of it. "Who laughs last laughs longest. We'll see when you find someone and get all lovesick!"

It sounds more like a nice promise for the future than a threat, and thus, it only encourages Andy's chortles as he nods to the windshield. "In the meantime, I'll laugh at you!"

Following his gaze, she instantly recognizes the large warehouse, and her smile widens as Andy parks the car, and she throws a careful glance around. Nathaniel has been right; the place is less creepy by day, and with the beating sun, it could look like they are about to picnic in the freshness of the shadows by the water, except that there is no sandwich or sweets in the baskets on the back seats, and her squinting eyes aren't only admiring the scenery as they get out of the car.

They can try to keep it light and pretend everything is normal, but nothing they are doing is ordinary, or even legal. The dangers are everywhere, and the shivers running down her spine are there to remind her.

They can't leave their guard down again, she repeats to herself as she leads Andy to the door, taking a deep breath and another peek around before knocking. Though she is still caught off guard when her knuckles have barely connected with the hard metal, and the door opens on these famous teddy brown eyes, as Nathaniel has surely been waiting anxiously behind the door as eager to see her but also as nervous for everything as she is.

The intense chocolate shades she meets confirm this and also her supposition of earlier as all the knots in her brain and stomach are melting with her resolve.

"Hi, um... get in." Nathaniel lets them in after a cautious glance around, and as carefully, his gaze flickers from her eyes to her lips, probably hesitating on what to do because of this morning's argument.

Well, it hasn't really been an argument, and it's totally forgotten when he settles for a kiss on her cheek, and the smile stretching there immediately unlooses the knot in his chest, drawing his attention even more to her pink lips.

"Ahem..."

They both jump out of their daze – although they keep their foolish wide smiles – as they remember they aren't alone, and they turn to Andy.

Andy, Anastasia's best friend, Nate has been so anxious to meet him. He doesn't want to make a bad impression because he knows how important Andy is for Anastasia, and this man has now their future in his hands and computer. Yet when there's Anastasia around, Nate tends to forget there is a world outside their bubble, and it has led them to take too many risks too many times.

Andy doesn't seem to mind though, his gaze traveling between them with an amused twinkle.

"Um, oui, Andy, this is Nathaniel– um, Nate. Nathaniel, this is my best friend Andy," Anastasia introduces, her smile remaining but a light crease appearing between her eyebrows as her gaze follows attentively the interaction.

"Nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you." Nate holds out his hand, the awkwardness of the previous times he's been introduced to people close to Anastasia already weighing on his stomach.

But Andy lightens the mood with his knowing smirk and playful gaze trailing to Anastasia. "Same, and Anastasia told me a lot about you to– Ouch!" He doesn't have time to add anything as Anastasia swats him.

This is definitely not the awkwardness Nate has expected, but watching Anastasia's rosy cheeks and Andy laugh, for once, it almost feels normal, even when Andy's expression turns more serious.

"And you better treat Anastasia like a princess."

Those words should surely crush Nate with their heaviness falling in the atmosphere, yet on the contrary, their weight is making his chest swell with pride and hope because, through his threatening tone, Andy is the first one to really consider Nate as Anastasia's lover, as the one who could take care of her, and not as a bad influence, trying to divert her from the 'right' path.

Besides, Andy's handshake is friendly but strong, and it tells a lot about someone. Nate has learned to analyze those details with all the hands he's had to shake throughout his life, and it's surely a better judgment than when he's glimpsed Andy at the time he's been blinded by jealousy.

Now, Nate is glad that Anastasia has someone to protect her if the plan doesn't work, if... There are so many risks of 'ifs', and he's well aware of them; however, there is also so much hope.

"I try to treat her like the queen she is." He holds Andy's gaze like he's vowing in front of a judge or a priest, and indeed, Andy's narrowed gaze resembles one before his face breaks out into his usual smile.

"Okay, I like him!"

Of course, Nathaniel always has the right words, and he already has her heart no matter what; the fast beats rushing warmth on her cheeks with his words are proof of it. Yet it is even better if he gets along with her friend, and not only because they will have to work together for the plan.

For a second, she lets her heart wander farther, picturing Nathaniel joining their board games nights and helping at the shelter. It appears within reach.

But the ringing of her phone makes her land back on reality, even more rapidly when she reads the name on the screen.

"We have a problem!"

All the blood that has been tickling her cheeks leaves her face with Khloe's words, the worst scenarios already coming to her mind, and sadly, they look closer than her previous daydreams.

"W-what is it?" she barely manages to stammer, so faintly that she isn't sure her friend can hear her through the phone.

"Your bitch of 'future mother-in-law' has changed all your order, and let me tell you, it's hor-ri-ble!"

Anastasia doesn't even hear the rest, letting out a big sigh of relief, which carries all the scenarios out of her head. She makes out a few words like 'straw', 'olive green', and 'lucky fecundity rug' that her friend is listing with loud outraged gasps, yet they sound like nothing in comparison to the problems Anastasia has imagined.

Maybe those are problems for 'normal' brides, but 'normal' brides don't pretend to be sick and ask their friend to go to the decoration appointment in their place; they don't find themselves in an old warehouse with people they shouldn't even know.

At this instant, it hits her all over again: the sheet metal walls in front of her, the various flash drives, cameras, and phones, all set on piles of boxes, which are arranged to form desks, and ... the skip of her heart as she notes how Nathaniel has cleaned the room before their arrival. He has even tried to make it look cozier with more lights, some stools, and a few bottles of water.

Nothing in this is normal. Everything is surreal, from the man she is madly in love with to the arts from another time and the hope for a better future. Yet she is standing here, breathing in this reality and relishing it, as she can't take anything here for granted, and that's why she has to interrupt her friend,

"That's all? There's no other problem? She isn't there and doesn't know I didn't come?"

"No, no, of course, not."

"Then let her have the wedding of her dreams. With a little luck, it won't be mine." The words come out before she can even realize it, so naturally, and despite the stakes and heaviness they can bring with them, her chest is lighter as she is allowing herself to say it out loud for the first time.

It sounds surreal, and certainly more for her than her friend because Khloe doesn't sound surprised as she replies,

"Okay, good luck then!"

Of course, she knows about their plan because Anastasia and Andy tell her everything; they are a trio of inseparable friends, and this will never change.

"And good luck to me too!" Khloe adds, and Anastasia can easily picture her friend's grimace in front of whatever Naomi has chosen for the decoration.

"Yeah, and thank you once again. You're my savior!" It might sound playful, but it is only partially, and as she hangs up, she is conscious that this plan wouldn't be possible without Khloe, who is helping in her own way. Everyone has an important role to play.

"Is everything okay?"

She hasn't even put her phone away when Nathaniel appears beside her, his dark gaze searching hers, and the tensions in his clenched jaw let her know he has overheard her conversation.

"Yeah, just some decoration stuff, nothing important..." She waves it off with an uneasy smile, carefully avoiding his eyes but also pronouncing the sensitive word.

If usually speaking about the wedding makes her stomach churn, talking about it with Nathaniel, it is her heart that is shriveling, and she is now desperately searching for something to divert the conversation.

"Where's Andy?"

Of course, for once that this chatterbox could have been useful, he is nowhere to be seen, though the help comes from somewhere else when knocks echoing against the thick door appear like the perfect escape to the taboo topic.

"He forgot something in his car," Nathaniel explains, his penetrating gaze still fixed solely on her. "You're sure everything is okay?"

"Yes, we have more important things to worry about." She heads to the door, once again avoiding the subject like the many others they have implicitly agreed to not even pronounce in their 'let it be'.

Yet now, they aren't just cowardly turning a blind eye on them; they are looking to the future, and they have a concrete plan to face it, which speaking of... 

"I thought we weren't supposed to tell anyone about this plan?!"

The topic is indeed changed when Hadi's eternal disdainful gaze turns up behind the door. However, today, there is also Molly and her smile, and a man Anastasia has never seen before, and she quickly understands who he is as Hadi adds,

"And on top, it's another soldier! Why does it look more and more like a one-way deal?"

"I didn't tell him. He heard us the other nig– Wait, how does he know you're a soldier?" Nathaniel turns to Sacha, whose eyes are widening in front of the two imposing men staring at him.

"Uh, I don't know... Molly here asked me who I was, and I didn't really think..."

"So the first thing you say to join the rebels is that you're a soldier?!"

Put it that way, it could almost sound comical, but there is no humor in Nathaniel's clenched jaw, and Anastasia takes it as a sign to intervene.

"It's okay. At least, he's telling the truth, and they would have found out one way or another. Now, we know we're all honest here, and we all want the same thing." Her gaze slides around to each one of them, finding determination in their eyes, from Sacha to Hadi, even if they aren't showing it the same way, and she is glad to meet Molly's friendly green look.

"I agree! We're here to work together."

"By the way, we didn't even introduce ourselves. I'm Anastasia. " She offers a smile to Sacha, knowing how hard it is already to make this decision to join the rebels. She has been there not long ago, and scaring him away isn't the solution now that he knows all their secrets. "And this is Nate, Molly, and Hadi." Her hand points to everyone, as they haven't all met each other before. "And there's also Andy, the computer expert who should be back soon."

"Nice little introduction, but that's not how it works in the 'club'. We won't trust anybody that comes along." Hadi is already heading towards the door, not even waiting for more explanation.

Yet before her hope can escape with him, Nathaniel steps in front of the door, making sure nothing leaves the room, as they both know they need the rebels' technology for the plan.

"I made Sacha take a test."

"What?!" It's her turn to fume, her frown etching deeper into her features as she gasps, "You didn't tell me!"

"You didn't really let me talk..." Nathaniel replies, those damn teddy brown eyes dripping regret making it hard to keep her hazel ones narrowed.

"I thought we had agreed those tests were ridiculous? We really need to stop them. They're too risky and a waste of time."

"They aren't a waste of time. They test the motivation and truthfulness."

"I gotta agree with Hadi," Nathaniel notes, and as she lifts an eyebrow, his gaze takes that shade of transparent seriousness, which she is starting to know too well. "It wasn't a waste of time. We discovered some important things."

If there remained an inch of irritation that his tenebrous eyes hadn't melted in her, it is annihilated by the weight of his words and the flashbacks they are dragging back in her insides. They have found out enough important things recently...

"The AR is planning an attack on Labor day. We don't know much more, but I think they want to strike back for the hack and pass it as a rebel attack."

"Shit! There are so many events with lots of people on that day." Molly shakes her head, even her smile disappearing into a worried frown.

"They'll never stop..." Anastasia adds in a whisper, her voice cracking with the foreboding.

She is the one responsible for this... If at first, setting this hack has filled her chest with pride and victory, at this instant, it is all shriveling into nothing, along with her heart, and she can't imagine what will happen with the hope that has been growing with their new plan. More exactly, how will the government strike back if the plan works?

"That's why we'll stop them," Nathaniel replies to her spoken, and maybe also unspoken words with his determined dark eyes as he puts two fingers under her chin, lifting up her gaze and so much more. "And we have to do it before so they can't set people against us."

It appears so easy, so possible in those tenebrous shades, though Hadi's voice is quick to bring her back down to reality and out of Nathaniel's intense gaze.

"Are you sure about this info because it leaves us less than three weeks, and we have nothing concrete so far?"

"No, Sacha just saw the date in red on the general's agenda when he sneaked into his office. The rest was all secured, and he didn't have much time while I was distracting the general. But that's the only thing we could think about, and it wouldn't be the first time they plan something like that."

Here is the strong Captain Johnson she has met a few months ago, brave, strong, and risking his life to save people. His serious tone and focused gaze are the same, the breathless state he lets her in too, yet the knots in her stomach, as she pictures all the dangers he has put himself in without her even knowing, are tighter and bigger each time. "Whatever it is, I don't think that's good for us."

"You say 'us', but once again, we have to trust you without 'proofs', and it's the rebels who are taking all the risks in–"

"Oh no! We are all risking a lot here!" she cuts Hadi off, the word 'risk' making her snap as she can't hear it one more time. It is already echoing all the time in the depths of her guts, plaguing all her insides like a ghost haunting her at each second, and each time, taking a new form to sneak in everywhere.

If there is one thing Nathaniel and she know about, it's those 'risks'.

"You said it yourself, it's a 'life engagement', and I know it isn't easy to trust each other, but we don't have time to question and 'test' our 'trust'. If we fight against each other, we won't be able to fight the real bad ones."

"That's a leader's speech!'

This is not the reaction she has expected, but looking over her shoulder to find Andy and his proud grin by the door, it makes sense, and what is more surprising is the silence following as she steps aside to let him in the large room, and neither Andy nor Hadi opens their mouth. Well, their lips are parted and their jaws are hanging, yet they aren't saying anything for once.

"Here is Andy, Andy, Hadi." She points, not getting more reaction, not even a blink as they are staring at each other, obviously lost in a feeling that she is very familiar with, and she can't help her grin in front of their awestruck expressions. "Can I laugh now?"

Of course, she is always right, although it is even sooner than she has imagined, and she is happy for her friend, watching with great amusement as Andy doesn't even answer, narrowing his eyes briefly at her before holding out hesitantly his hand for Hadi.

"If I'd known it would make them both shut up, I would have introduced them sooner!" she notes as everyone chuckles at the truth in her playful words, and Nate pulls her into his arms, wondering if he's been that awkward when he's first met her.

He's stared at her like a fallen angel, speechless and breathless, as his fingers have trailed an ice cube on her chest, so it must not have looked less embarrassing. But it's been special, and he'll forever cherish this memory, like he's savoring the feeling of her body so close at this instant, his arms instinctively wrapping tighter around her waist to make sure she is really there, in his arms, at least, for now.

"Ahem," he imitates Andy's throat-clearing from earlier because, although the past and present might be sweet, the future won't be if they don't get to work. "Not to interrupt, but we don't have much time, and there's a wedding coming soon that I would like to prevent..."

That is indeed one of the bitter parts of the close future, yet he hasn't meant to let it out loud, and he realizes it too late when everyone's eyes travel from the two new lovebirds to him, especially Anastasia's attentive gaze, which leaves him as speechless as on their first encounter.

Thankfully, the topic is quickly diverted – if not the question under Anastasia's lifted eyebrow – as Andy finally comes out of his daze, patting his laptop. "Yeah, right. I got all my gear now."

"So what's the plan exactly?" Molly asks, turning to Anastasia and Nate as if they were the 'leaders' of this operation, and indeed, Anastasia is acting as a great one.

"Well, we have the pieces of art and also files about hell, I mean the imprisonments and people arrested as proofs of the government's act–"

"You got them?!" Even Hadi widens his eyes.

"Yeah, I told you we were serious and you could trust us." Anastasia shrugs, holding her compass pendant with a hidden smile that only Nate can notice, like he also catches the new shade she's trying to cover in her eyes. "We started selecting the info, but we still have a lot to do. I was thinking you could start working on the algorithm to diffuse with Andy, while we finish picking everything?"

"Yeah, I started working on something with the official encoding I know and the virus you created." Andy glances at Hadi, whose piercing eyes are already on him, as he switches on his laptop. "Of course, there's a lot to improve, but it's a nice base."

Everyone joins around him, and in no time, it looks like the strategy meetings Nate is used to. Although the desks are just piles of boxes, it doesn't bother anyone, neither does it take their seriousness away as they all grab a seat on the simple stools, including Hadi, his gaze now focused on the sequence of numbers on the screen.

Anastasia has convinced him because even though he would probably never recognize it, it's clear that he isn't staying just for his crush on Andy; he's too proud and protective of the rebels to do something like that. So he's still here because their plan can work, and if even this cynic guy, the Cerberus, believes in this plan, it brightens slightly Nate's hope, especially when everyone seems so invested, from Andy typing furiously on his laptop to Molly asking questions.

"And how much could we fit into that diffusion?"

"It depends on what we can work on," Andy replies, as he's the expert on algorithms and computers, and no one else can understand the sequence of numbers rolling out on the screen – no one, except Hadi, apparently.

"That's not the main problem here." He shakes his head, averting his gaze from the laptop. "We would still have to use one of the government's media. There's no other way to diffuse it all at once, right?" 

Andy only looks down in reply, and his quietness is obvious enough. Nate doesn't know him since more than a few minutes, but it doesn't take much to understand that it's a bad sign.

"Let me guess, it's another thing ultra-secured?" Molly voices out what everyone is already thinking in the heavy silence.

"Yes, almost as much as the archives..." Yet this time, Nate won't have a granted access.

"Of course, they don't want anyone to intervene in their brainwashing," Hadi notes with a tight bitter smile, the truth in his words even sourer as they fall in the silence, and everyone around is left to consider them with surely their own memories and their own reasons.

From the creases appearing between their eyebrows, they're also trying to search for a solution of course, but Nate can almost hear the questions echoing in everyone's heads; they are in the back of his, or maybe just in the depths of his guts. Are they already at the dreaded dead-end? Giving up without a fi–

"There must be a breach. I'm sure we can plan something." As if reading his thoughts, Anastasia's voice arises louder, not letting the doubts get to them, and around the table, it's her frown that is the most determined, contrasting particularly with someone else's lifted eyebrow.

"It's not because you got lucky twice that you're invincible, and I don't think you know someone at the official media, do you?"

Of course, Hadi is smart. He's quickly connected the dots, and he shows it clearly through his haughty gaze, making Anastasia lower hers.

She is conscious that she is lucky, and that she wouldn't have succeeded without help; she wouldn't even be alive. But hearing it louder than the taunting whisper in the back of her head, the powerlessness becomes deafening, and she is left stunned.

"The official media as in the PROP Tower?" Sacha, who has been silent until now, speaks up, his hesitant voice making Anastasia jump out of the cacophony in her head.

"Yes, among others."

"I think I could have something that might help." He chews on the inside of his cheek, probably still pondering to choose the right words, and not say another blunder, as everyone is now staring at him. "My dad is the architect who designed the building, so he might still have the plans. He always keeps them."

"Really?!" The expressions of everyone around the table light up with hope, though Nate only sees the sparkle in Anastasia's eyes. "So we could study the plan and know where to go, and maybe even how?"

"Um, yes, I think."

"When can you get it?" Nate rushes, his heart beating, maybe even ticking, too fast.

"Today. My parents live less than a mile away, and I rather go now before Ter– my best friend comes back home because she lives next door."

Nate notes carefully the seriousness behind Sacha's eyes; it sets some certainty in his chest, taming the restless fears in all his insides. Maybe this whole 'threat' has been useful. Sacha is already helping a lot, and even if it feels too good to be true, maybe this providential apparition has been sent from above. Maybe, just maybe, everything could finally work perfectly.

"The one who got matched?"

Sacha widens his eyes, not expecting this question, but Nate tells everything to Anastasia, or at least, he tries to.

"Yes, she doesn't know I'm here. She would never let me join if she knew..."

"Okay, then go now! And tell us as soon as you find the plan." Molly offers him an encouraging smile, and Sacha doesn't need to be told twice.

Though he's stopped before the door when Anastasia calls,

"I think you should still tell her. Maybe not the details because it's risky, but she's involved too..." her voice trails off, and even if her words may be directed at Sacha, Nate catches the underlying meaning, swallowing it harshly while everyone is already going back to the plan, Andy announcing with a large grin,

"So one point is settled!"

"Possibly," Anastasia corrects him, the same wide smile still timidly breaking through her features. "Does it mean we have a real plan?"

"It looks like it..." Hadi lets out a sigh, his lips stretching ever so lightly into what must be the closest thing to a smile they've ever seen him wear. That is saying a lot.

"We do," Nate adds in a breathless whisper that only Anastasia so close can hear, and maybe she also perceives the strong beats of his heart, although it doesn't have the time to do more than a run-up before crashing down again when a loud gasp echoes around.

"Wait! We still have a big problem!" Andy declares, freezing everyone.

"What?!"

"We don't have a code name for the plan!" he continues, his large eyes so serious that Nate's heart needs a few seconds and to hear everyone's breaths of relief to finally start again.

"Andy. Really?" Anastasia shakes her head, as she's used to her friend's dramatic antics, and she's already focusing on the notes she has brought with her, while Andy goes searching for some support in everyone's blinking eyes.

"Yes, a plan isn't a plan without a cool name."

"We never use code names in the rebels." Hadi shrugs, making Andy continue his quest for approval to Nate.

"Um, in the army we just use numbers generally..."

"Well, we need a code name, something catchy that people will remember when we succeed."

"To succeed, we need to work first. We don't really have time to search for a name."

"I gotta agree with her," Hadi adds, and Anastasia has to do a double-take because it is probably the nicest thing he's ever said to her, well, the only one that isn't in his usual disdainful tone. This day is getting more and more surreal.

Andy doesn't mind them though, going on with his idea. "Free the hearts mission? Open your hearts? Love diffusion?... No..."

"Love Bug?" The words leave Nathaniel's lips, and of course, they are the right ones, echoing so perfectly in his smooth voice.

"Yes! That's it! I like this name!" Andy exclaims, sounding too much like a tv presenter announcing the winner of the jackpot.

"Okay, so if everyone agrees, it'll be the name of the mission so we can start to work?" Molly laughs lightly, while Hadi just rolls his eyes, his attention going back to the laptop.

They surely aren't used to someone so extravagant and dramatic in the rebels. Andy is a unique phenomenon, and they haven't seen everything because the plan is just starting, the...

"Love Bug." Anastasia tastes the name on her own lips, and of course, she loves it.

There is no better name. This plan is born, made, and aimed with and for love, and her heart is already echoing the words again and again. It has all started with a bug, when she has met Nathaniel, and hopefully, it will end happily with a love bug.

"Does someone know what they're talking about?" Molly's whisper pulls her out of her thoughts before she can picture this happy ending, and she has to blink a few times to come back to the present and the piece of paper before her.

However, all these steps she has written carefully aren't that far from where her mind has been wandering; they are the path to this happy ending, and if she wants to see it become a reality, she has to focus instead of daydreaming.

Everyone has to work, and it looks like Andy and Hadi are already doing their part, at least from what she can guess from their serious gazes on the laptop and the flash drives they are exchanging. For the rest, she doesn't understand more than Molly the language they're speaking.

"That's the algorithm you used for the hack?"

"Yeah, and here's the blob we use to transfer everything inside the network."

"A closed loop?! That's genius!"

"Yeah, but it can't hold more than a few megabytes."

"And if you boost it with the same encoding?"

"Fuck, yeah! I never thought about it."

"Um, I think they're flirting in nerd," Anastasia notes, pulling her lips to the side before they turn into a smirk as she catches her best friend's rosy cheeks, and it is almost like they are observing an alien interaction when Molly adds in a whisper,

"Maybe we should leave them alone?"

Can they? Despite the lightness, Anastasia can't forget the plan, her gaze trailing back down to her paper, then to her friends again, and to her watch, although the time is already ticking clearly in her head. "Um, I guess we can continue selecting the pieces of art anywhere..."

"Yeah, let's head home." Nathaniel puts his hand on the small of her back, the simple contact slowing down the tick-tock inside.

This touch is so light and faint, but as he starts rubbing slow circles over the material of her shirt, and she takes in the people around, it becomes incredibly powerful. Andy and Hadi may not be paying them attention, yet Molly can see them, and she just casually gathers her things.

It is the first time they don't have to hide around people, the first time they can be together around people who won't judge or condemn them. She hasn't realized it before because it is so natural for her to lean in Nathaniel's touch; however, it isn't normal, and her heart is soaring with this little glimpse of freedom, a glimpse of freedom that everyone can experience in their own way, from Andy and Hadi to Molly.

"I'm gonna go to the swimming pool near since I still have time before having to head home, but you can give me a flash drive to select the pieces."

"Okay, thank you." Anastasia grabs one of the many flash drives she and Nathaniel have prepared, handing it to Molly. "Choose what you find the most moving and convincing, and don't let anyone see it."

"Of course," Molly replies with a single nod before walking out, and Anastasia is sure she can trust her if she has been a rebel for two years and is still alive. She knows what she is doing, just like the two men Anastasia turns to.

"Okay, then we'll leave you two alone." Even if they already look alone and lost in their one world, Andy barely acknowledging her with a wave of his hand, at least, until Nathaniel catches his attention with his serious tone and the key he is giving him.

"Here's a spare key, lock it carefully when you leave."

"And don't leave a mess behind," Anastasia adds, with the hint of an innuendo in her lifted eyebrows. It is only fair for all the times her best friend has teased her.

Though she still notes how focused they are on the laptop screen, where the sequence of numbers doesn't give her much information on the advancement, and she hopes it is on the right track, especially when they pass the door, and she has to let go of Nathaniel's hand.

Sooo.... THE LOVE BUG IS FINALLY HERE!! I've been so excited to finally let out the name because some of you often pointed out that the title doesn't fit the story, well, it does, and now, you understand why 😉

What do you think of this chapter? It's a long chapter, but so much is happening! Don't forget to vote ⭐ and comment your thoughts! 😉

Do you think the plan will work? It's really taking shape! 😈

Also, I think we need to talk about Andy and Hadi 😍 A lot of you were rooting for Andy to find a lover, well, it looks like he may have found one... Did you expect it? 😏 I think they're cute in their own way!

Speaking of cute... Natesia keeps getting cuter, even when Ana is a little mad 😏

Anyway, I need to stop! I'll leave you, and don't forget to tell me your thoughts cuz I love seeing your little notifs and talking with you, my little rays of sunshine 🌞😘❤

PS: For the French lesson of today: 'Je suis désolé' = I'm sorry 🤓