"What the fuck are you wearing, Beck?" Ryder asks as soon as he sees me.

"What are you wearing Ryder," I fire back hands on my hips, giving him a disapproving frown.

"A sweater, sweatpants and a hat?"

"We are on a rescue mission and you come dressed like that! It is like you're asking to be caught!"

"You're so dramatic," he mumbles, shaking his head at me like he has never regretted anything more than what we are about to do. I don't know why he is being such a brat right now. I came prepared for the occasion.

"What is wrong with what I am wearing?"

"Beck, are you serious? You look like you jumped James Bond."

I huff and cross my arms as he leads me to his car. He is being ridiculous. I am wearing black leggings, a black long sleeve turtleneck, a black beanie, black gloves, sunglasses, and black shoes. What else would one wear when trying to sneak into a lab building to steal a rat? Sweatpants and a sweater? As if.

"Ok now we have to figure out how we are going to get in. I looked at a map of the building and it looks like there are tons of offices on the first floor. Hopefully we can wiggle one of the windows open and get in through there. If not, the building next to it is open usually and the roofs are close enough. I think we can jump and then hopefully there is access from the roof."

"Beck, please tell me you're joking right now."

"Well do you have a better plan?' I question still pouting that he made fun of my outfit.

"The front door? I have swipe access, remember?"

I feel my face heat in embarrassment from his reminder. I might have forgotten that detail when I was zoned out in class planning this little prison break for Penelope. "Oh yeah."

Ryder chuckles and pulls out of the parking lot to head to the lab building. I am freezing, shivering in the passenger seat but I am too stubborn to say a word. Quietly Ryder raises the heat and flicks on my heated seat but doesn't say anything. Most people get annoyed by my stubbornness but Ryder seems to only find it amusing, maybe because he is just as stubborn as I am. I don't find his stubbornness that annoying anymore either. Though this back and forth we still have with the money is getting old. He has given me enough rides now that the $15 is not ridiculous but today after practice I still found it inside my jacket pocket.

"Ready Bond," Ryder asks. We have pulled up to the lab building which is still pretty active and full of people at 8 at night.

"If you would have dressed right we could have been like Mr. and Mrs. Smith but instead you dressed like some normie."

"My apologies princess, next time I will text you and we can coordinate outfits."

"That's more like it," I smile as we both exit the car. I begin to walk toward the building but Ryder grabs my arm and stops me. "Hey," I object as he pulls off my beanie, gloves, and sunglasses.

"You look way more suspicious with all this stuff on than I do wearing my normal everyday clothing."

"Whatever, hater." As we approach the building I continue to mumble about how mean Ryder is and he continues to ignore my childish tantrum as he swipes into the building and sneaks me inside.

"Stay close and if anyone asks who you are just keep your mouth shut and let me explain."

"Ah, so you have been planning too," I muse, pleased I wasn't the only one obsessing over the details of our mission.

"Of course I have been, does this look like amateur hour butt?"

I want to say that the constant use of butt as a nickname annoys me but honestly it has grown on me a lot lately. Maybe because he doesn't use it often so it is not overused. Whatever it is, I have a small smile as we both get into the elevator and travel to the floor where Ryder's lab is.

"I brought my cross body and lined it with an old t-shirt, do you think she will be safe in here?"

Ryder inspects my bag carefully, feeling the edges to assure there is nothing dangerous for Penelope in it. "It is perfect, thank you Beck."

My favorite part about Ryder? His ego does not stop his sincerity from shining through in moments like this. The same when I went to his hockey game last Wednesday, his thank you even as we joked around was sincere and from the heart. He may not like to ask for help and be hesitant to take the help offered but he is not too prideful to say thank you when someone does something for him.

"Did you set up a cage for her?"

"Yes, just a small one but this weekend probably on Saturday after our game I am going to go to the pet store and really get her a good set up."

The elevator bings as we reach the floor and both of us get quiet. Thankfully the floor where Ryder's lab is located is empty and most of the lights are off. I follow close behind him as he leads the way, both of us looking around constantly for anyone who could catch us.

Ryder swipes us into another room with a few lab tables in the middle and walls lined with equipment and supplies along with a dry erase on the wall that is covered with doodles from people in here earlier. Flicking on the light, I spot the cage in the corner instantly.

"Over there," I instruct, pointing to the cage.

He nods and we both walk over to find the cage has three rats in it. Ryder opens it and pulls out the fattest one and holds it to his chest. "I won't let them kill you girl, I promise. Beck, open your bag."

I do and he gently puts her inside before shutting the cage. "Wait, what about the others?"

"What about them?" He has already begun to walk away as I look at the two rats who are standing up looking at me.

"We can't leave them behind Ryder! Look at them! They are going to kill them!"

Ryder covers my mouth as I become visibly upset and begin to yell. "Shush you're going to get us caught. We can't take all of them. They will notice tomorrow when there are no rats here. If we just take Penelope no one will notice."

"I can't." Tears begin to spring to my eyes as I look at the two helpless babies watching me, begging to be saved. "Please Ryder," I whisper.

Ryder looks conflicted. "Please," I plead as a few tears spill and I wipe at them aggressively. I am not usually this soft but saving one and leaving the other two is just too much for me. It is a special level of cruel.

Ryder reaches out and gently wipes a stray tear. "You are rat sitting when I have away games, you got me Beck?"

I nod my head as he pulls the cage back open and removes the other two rats. I open my bag and he gently puts them in with Penelope, who seems to be nicely settled in there. While I hold the bag making sure the rats aren't bounced around, Ryder makes it look like someone left the cage open and they escaped.

Once the fake scene is set up we turn off the light and exit the building the same way we came. No one asks us any questions or even pays us any mind but when we reach the car we both slump into our seats and release the breath we've each been holding.

"We did it," Ryder laughs looking at me with a wild look.

"I can't believe it," I counter while we both look inside my bag to find three sleepy rats cuddled up together.

"Let's get them home before someone notices we just stole a bunch of lab rats."

Back at Ryder's house he takes the bag from me and we both walk inside. The kitchen is packed with players stuffing their faces after a grueling weights session and puck bunnies who seem to be a never ending staple around here. I am honestly impressed, both that the guys can pull so many beautiful women and that these girls manage to balance school and this while remaining flawless. I actually envy them for always looking so cute and chic in their outfits while I roll up looking like a troll doll.

As we enter everyone stops and looks at us. Ryder is protectively holding my bag. "Captains," Bray says eyeing us both suspiciously. "What's in the bag?"

"Drugs," I blurt.

"Dildos," Ryder yells at the same time.

We both look at each other trying not to laugh as everyone else looks at us in horror. Guys from other rooms peek their head in to see what is going on. Before anyone can ask anymore questions we both take off up the stairs as quickly as possible.

"Dildos," I laugh when we get to Ryder's room and lock his door behind us.

"Drugs," he counters laughing just as hard. "Did you forget we are student athletes and drugs will get us suspended?"

"Better than everyone is the house thinking we are running so sex toy distribution ring!"

Both of us continue to laugh as Bray tries to open the door and curses when he realizes it is locked. "Lunatics," he yells before we hear his heavy footsteps going down the stairs.

"Is this the cage?" I examine the small little cage set up on the top of the dresser. It is really small, about half the size of the cage they were in in the lab.

"I told you it was small and I didn't think it would be needed for three rats."

I open the bag and pick up one of the rats gently. Rats are not the cutest animal but still I couldn't let them die. "How do we know if they're boys or girls? Can we leave them together? Won't they like, do the dirty and uh make babies?"

"We only used females so no rat reproduction will be taking place, no worries Beck."

Ryder places the two rats in the cage while I continue to hold the third. "The two new ones need names."

"Whichever one is most annoying should be named Francesca," Ryder says while I give him a dirty look. I know he doesn't mean it, the huge smile on his face gives him away.

"Rude. Anyways, I am naming this one Sofie." I hold Sofie to me and scratch her little head.

"Fine Sofie, and the other one can be Elle."

"I like that," I yawn. Ryder takes Sofie from me and places her in the little cage.

"Want a ride home?"

"Yes please." We both give the rats one last pet before sneaking out the front door so Ryder can drive me home without more questions from everyone.