Chapter 1 - The Meeting

*A/N: IMPORTANT:

Before anyone gets confused and asks me questions, know that the ages of Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are:

Kate: 16 1/2

Reynie: 16

Sticky: 16

Constance: 14

I do not own Trenton Lee Stewart's work

Reynard Muldoon grabbed his coat and rushed out of the house the moment he heard the news.

4 years.

It has been 4 years since the Mysterious Benedict Society's last meeting. The Perumals had relocated to another house 3 years ago, just a block away from the Washingtons.

Reynie himself didn't know what happened to their once invincible friendship.

Before that incident – Reynie grimaced at the memory – they were inseparable.

A wave of nostalgia immediately hit Sticky Washington as he stepped into the house that he once considered as his home. Still considered.

Rhonda literally fell out of her chair as he entered. It has been 4 years since he last placed a foot in this house. He gave a shy smile then proceeded up Constance's room without any difficulty.

He opened the door and was met with the blank faces of his old friends, sitting on the floor, cross-legged. They all stiffened once he entered. Without saying anything, he took off his sweater and sat between Reynie and Constance.

It was Reynie who broke the awkward silence. "Why did you call us here for, Constance?" he asked, somewhat stiffly.

The youngest member of the group sighed. "I don't know where to start…"

"You better begin now and spare wasted time." said Kate

Constance, having reached a mature age, lost most of her snobbish ways and didn't snap back. Instead, she gave Kate one of her infamous glares.

"Why so impatient, Kate? I remember how eager you were before that you even wished for something unpleasant to happen just for a meeting." Reynie said.

Kate's body became rigid. "Circumstances change…" she replied.

"And so do people." Reynie muttered under his breath.

But Kate had been blessed with keen senses and her eyes snapped back to Reynie who was looking at her with the same vehemence.

Oh no. Sticky thought.

"That's funny coming from someone who I once thought cared for nothing but the welfare –" Kate hissed.

"When will you realize that I had no choice?" Reynie cried out.

"WE ARE NOT HAVING THIS!" Constance yelled. But it was no use. Reynie and Kate were now on their feet, shouting.

" Don't say that. Don't ever say that! You know as well as I do how much risks I took just for the –"

"You're not the only who took risks –"

"You weren't in my situation! If you only knew how hard it was for me – "

"HARD? You think it was HARD for you – "

By now their faces were only an inch apart, their eyes glowering with rising fury. Vaguely, Kate noticed how much Reynie had grown. His jaw had lost all the boyish roundness it used to have. The freckles that once decorated his face were now gone. But the most noticeable thing about him was his height. He now towered over Kate, but she refused to cower and shrink under his gaze. Instead, she held her head higher.

"JUST SHUT UP!" Sticky shouted so loudly, he was sure the whole village heard it.

Reynie and Kate swiveled around to face him. There was a short moment of silence. That's when Kate said, "That's it. I'm out of here."

"Go then." Reynie snapped.

Before she could make it to the door, a hand gripped her wrist so tight, it hurt. And that was saying something since it took a lot of effort to hurt Kate Wetherall.

"Let me go, Constance!"

"If you haven't spent so much bantering, then you might've known how important our discussion would be!" Constance snapped back at her.

Kate yanked her arm free and went back to her place. With a dark look at Constance, she said, "Start. Now."

Constance took a deep breath. "We have a problem… and a serious one at that."

The heated argument that happened not five minutes ago was momentarily forgotten by Kate and Reynie as this statement settled in their heads.

With a dead serious face, Reynie asked Constance, "What is it about?"

Constance held her breath, as if preparing herself for everyone's reaction. "It's about the Whisperer."

*A/N: Wahaaha! So what do you think? Speak to me! I have great plans for this story and you can expect the next chapter by Saturday. What do you think is the "incident"? You'll find out soon enough ;)

And to those of you who read my 39 clues fanfic entitled the Hidden Identities, I've deleted it. Sorry, but I just don't feel like continuing it anymore….*