Hi, remember us? :) We're back for the sequel, and we're so excited! I hope you guys still remember this story! .

Sorry if the chapter seems a little short and not clear; we'll clarify that in the next chapter. We just wanted to get this chapter out asap. Sorry for the long wait! Please read and review! :)

In the Gallagher Academy, contraband things, are, well, seriously contraband. We've all seen those busted wine coolers and pot, but to be honest: it's way more than just getting caught. But you know that already since you're reading this, don't you?

Next to me, Erika sighed for the third time that hour as she stretched across my large arsenal of stuffed animals.

"What is up with you," I scowled, my hand easily moving across a page of written Chinese. "Because I think no one in this room has Mother Nature's calling at the moment."

She rolled her eyes, sitting upright on the bed. "I've been trying to message Tyler for the last 24 hours, and he's just been ignoring me!"

Liz, after our begging and whining last year, managed to set up an unhackable network for us to use and contact people, ahem, boys.

Unfortunately, such things are not allowed at Gallagher (not that we care) so we have to be extremely careful. Especially with Madame Dabney.

"Maybe he's in that hating cycle again? You guys have the weirdest relationship ever."

Erika looked at me dubiously. "Uh, no, Tyler doesn't do the silence thing. Ever. He's usually throwing stuff and insults and horrible nicknames, remember? And for the record, what about you and Jake?"

I pretended to concentrated on my Chinese homework, which was already done. Not that she had to know. And yes, Junior-level Chinese was much more harder than seventh grade. Practically everything is.

"There is nothing with me and Jake, Erika. We're just friends."

"Right, because friends act so boyfriend-girlfriend together. Are you seriously friendzoning him?"

"First of all, there are no zones. There's just friends, oka-"

Cam and Remy poke their head into our room, and I fall silent.

"Who is just friends?" Remy smirked.

"Oh shut up," I grumbled. "What are you guys doing here anyways?"

"Headmistress," she commented easily, while Cam nodded.

I warily glanced at my roommates, who looked none too innocent. "What did you guys do?"

Cam widened her eyes, a smile on her lips while Erika blinked, acting confused. "Do? Nothing, Ellie. Well, I mean," and here she smiled lethally, and I began to think of the possible prospects. "Just some, you know, contraband. That's all."


"Girls," the headmistress commented, her smooth hands that know how to make a man scream for his life, were folded delicately on her desk.

"Hello, Headmistress," we droned, like the good Gallagher drones we are.

A thin smile crept up her face. "Good morning. I apologize for the last minute call, but..."

She trailed off, as Erika hastily continued with a, "It's all good, Headmistress. We didn't have class, anyways. So what's up?"

Remy cringed at Erika's lack of polite respect to her elders, while Cam's eyes crinkled with humor.

The headmistress smiled at Erika, her head tilted to the side. "Why, thank you, Erika. And how is Tyler doing?"

Oh. Shit.

Remy, who recovered from the shock in just a second, acted confused as she half-smiled at the Headmistress.

Maybe it was her skill as a natural double agent, but her lies were smooth and clean. "God, Erika, you didn't tell me you were with Tyler!" She giggled, acting like a total girl.

Erika managed a weak smile, and I was about to bring up the next lie, but the Headmistress interrupted us.

"Girls, there's no need to lie. I already know," she airily smiled.

Double shit.


So I should have been reassured when she didn't immediately expel us or shoot us down with a machine gun. But I wasn't.

Okay, maybe not enough credit is given for our headmistress, but really, she's the headmistress of a female spy academy with enough spy missions under her belt to be able to have millions of secret stories she can never tell, and extremely gorgeous.

And she's the mother of Cameron Morgan, the chameleon.

"It's very good tea, this is," Remy commented awkwardly as we sipped tea in the supposed parlor, which was really the planning room. The headmistress had, miraculously, managed to brew us cups of tea. The rumor was that despite her perfect aura that she had, her cooking skills were pretty terrible.

"Thank you," she replied graciously. "I got them from a friend who was in England, for, erm, some holiday."

We all knew and used that excuse too often to question it.

There was a silence as we all quietly sat there like English socialite ladies, sipping tea with the Queen. Bex would be proud.

"So, girls, you must be wondering why I called you here, right?"

Cam nodded as her eyes were trained directly onto the Headmistress.

Seeing this, she laughed. "It's not like you are going to be expelled or anything. In fact, you'll probably get some extra credit."

Extra credit? I thought, but someone got to it first.

"But what about that network that Liz set up?" Erika blurted out, sitting on the edge of her seat.

I whacked her on the arm, mentally and physically glaring at her to stop it before something happens.

"Ah, about that, oh, Eleanor, don't look so worried. I suppose we could use it for our operation instead. Such a waste of good computer skills."

"Operation?" Remy whispered, her eyes wide.

The headmistress daintily plucked out a sugar cookie from the glass jar on the table in front of them, ignoring Remy.


We step out of the van cautiously, shaking the last of the car ride sleepiness as we can. I'm anxious thinking of the top young spies that I'll have to trust with my life soon, but I remind myself that I'll have Erika and Cam and Remy, and what great CoveOps extra credit this would be. Deep breaths, Ellie.

The van stops on a secluded gravel path skirting the woods. I expect to see some stainless-steel door with a huge keypad or some secret trap door hidden behind big boulders, but all I could see is a beautiful picture-esque cabin bordering a lake. Honestly, it looked like someone's vacation home.

I didn't imagine a CIA-certified safe house could be so... so open.

I look at Abby uncertainly, an unspoken question on my face. Is this for real? Is this it?

Oh yeah, she seemed to smile, better believe it, kid.

"It's.. beautiful," Erika said in awe, almost disbelieving. "Do we really get to stay here?"

"For the while being," Abby replied, not wasting a minute and already walking toward the cabin.

I watch her sure steps and I squint. At first I think that her zigzag pattern is because she's avoiding the mud pies form the last rainfall, but I see it glint in the sunlight, almost invisible.

A trip wire.

"Guys," I hiss, "wires."

Remy cocks her head and studies the lawn. "You're right, Ellie," She says. "How'd you know?"

I shrug, and start shadowing the steps Abby took, who was already inside.

One by one, we carefully make it across the lawn in one piece, more or less. If not for Cam and Remy's sharp eye to detail and Erika's way of voicing them out, ("Oh, my god! Ellie don't step there! Yeah, right there. By your left foot, no, your other left foot! Well, it was my left, anyway!) I probably would've found out exactly what these wires did.

When we reach the front door, Abby pulls it open to us with a smile.

"Good job, girls. You pass."

I was surprised. I didn't expect having a test this early. What if we had failed? Would we be sent back to Gallagher?

She let us through the door and we enter cautiously. From the trip wires on the lawn, what were we to expect next? Booby traps?

Abby is quiet until our eyes rake the room, a typical living room/kitchen setup.

Her face is suddenly neutral, her smile faded.

"Girls, the rest of your team is waiting for you in the next room. Get to know each other well. Your other mentor and I will join you tomorrow and discuss the mission onhand."

Without another word, she slips through the door and vanishes.

"Well girls," Erika said, breaking the silence, "I guess there's only one thing to do."

She saunters up to the door and practically flings it open.

And nothing, not even five years of spy school, could stop me from gaping at who stood on the other side.

Tyler Hale and Aiden Parks were lounging around the living room as if it were their own, and laughing at a joke someone just told. My eyes trailed next to them, and saw none other than Jake Adams laughing along with them, sitting very close to a pretty girl I had never seen before.

I suddenly felt sick.


I want to say she looked like me, but I would be lying. Sure, she had a slight build like me and blonde hair and blue eyes, but she was so different from me, like a pigeon and a peacock.

Her eyes were a darker blue than mine, the kind made you want to stare at them all day. Her blonde hair wasn't as dirty brown as mine, and hers had a golden quality to it. Even though she was about as tall as me, her body was built like a ballerina's, all length and grace. Her face had a certain beauty that most girls would kill for.

All the hours I spent prepping and encouraging myself that I was good enough for this, how ready, my self esteem deflated and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Hey guys," Jake greeted easily, rising out of his seat as if this was natural and we did this everyday. I carefully rearranged my face into a blank smile that I usually reserved for strangers.

"Ellie," He grinned, "Erika, Cam, and..." He trailed off looked at our latest addition.

"Remy." She finished for him, in a strong, clear voice. I feel baffled. This wasn't the Jake I remembered. Four years was barely anything in a spy's memory. How could he have forgotten Remy's name so easily?

"Right," His eyes lit up in recognition, "You're the-"

I watched as Remy's face harden slightly.

"girl who challenged Jake to a sandwich eating contest at seventh grade finals, right?"

He transitioned easily, but I have a feeling that he was going to say something else.

"Yeah," Remy said with a tight smile.

"ELLIE!" Tyler messes up my hair, "How has my favorite little sister been?"

I laugh and so does everyone else. "Hey Tyler, how much have you grown since seventh grade? Like four feet?" He was, like Jake and Aiden, now towering over us girls. "At least you voice doesn't crack as much." I quipped.

He pouts playfully and grins. How is it that I'm more comfortable with Tyler, than Jake who I've spent numerous life-death situations with?

After a pregnant pause, Aiden smiles weakly and pulls each of us in a hug.

"Oh right," He says, slapping his forehead, "God, Madame Dabney would murder me. Guys, this is Lena, Lena- Ellie, Cam, Erika and Remy."

"Hello." Lena smiles a bright smile and shakes all of our hands. It takes all of my willpower not to stare.

"So, um, we'll go put our stuff in our room? If that's okay?" Erika, who has been uncharacteristically quiet this whole time speaks up.

Jake looks at me for a minute longer than necessary. "Sure, the only other bedroom is down the hall. But don't unpack- Abby says that we might not stay long."

"Sure thing," Erika calls over her shoulder, regaining a little of her swagger back.


Once we reach the only other bedroom, we drop our bags and make a beeline for the beds almost in synchronization.

"What the heck!" Erika shrieks. "'Get to know them'? Way to drop the bomb on us, Abby!"

"Shh!" Cam claps a hand over Erika's motormouth, "They could hear!"

"I don't care!" Erika responds, but gets quieter, "Why can't they stay the doofuses they were in seventh grade?"

"I know right," I chuckle, "It's like their mouths are moving, but some middle-aged man is lip-dubbing their words."

Remy snorts with laughter and high fives me over Erika's head.

"Guys, this is a serious matter! What if they all have girlfriends now? Oh, my god! That must be it! I mean, how could I think that just because... Is that why Tyler hasn't been responding-"

It's Remy that claps a hand over Erika's mouth this time, effectively cutting off the endless flow of words. "Erika. God. Just shut up for a minute, okay?"

Erika, under the submission of the assassin's hand over her mouth, nods obediently.

"Maybe she's not that far off..." I trail, avoiding my friends' eyes.

"You're talking about Lena and Jake, aren't you?" Erika says, squirming under Remy's gaze, "Because, Ellie, I'm pretty sure there's nothing going on. You and Jake are like, soul mates. Everything is in your head; It's an ugly little monster called jealousy."

"What?" I gasp in indignation, "I'm not jealous!"

"Exhibit A," declares our resident sociology expert, "Denial."

"What? No, I'm not! It's.. just.. argh." Yes, I am quite masterful with the words.

Was I, though? Lena, the only girl that could hold a torch to Erika Hart, prettiest girl in our grade with the guy I've liked since seventh grade?

Hm...

Reversing roles, I am the one ending up getting consoled.

"It's okay, Ellie. You'll get over it and realize that you have nothing to worry about." Erika takes my hand comfortingly and smiles, "It'll be fine, I promise."


Later that night I lay still in my bed, my mind still turned on alert. I try to match my breathing with my roommates', but there's something that keeps me on edge, something that wants me to stay awake.

I roll over quietly and look at Lena, who is sleeping across the room from me with her back turned to me. I feel a sad pang in my chest and remember what Erika had called it today. Jealousy.

What was she really to Jake? And how does she know the Blackthorne boys?

I close my stinging eyes from trying to strain them in the dark. While my eyes were closed, I hear a strange, soft tapping on the walls. The cabin walls are thin, but its so soft that I don't think I would be able to hear it asleep. Many taps, one after another with pauses in between.

I hitch my breath, trying to hear it better. Is it morse code? But then I think, "Who the heck would be trying to talk to someone through morse code at this hour?" Doubtful. And I don't think it's rats, either. Mr. Solomon might leave this cabin vacant for frequent periods, but I don't think he would allow rodents free to roam. I mean, spies must hire exterminators too, right?

And a security breach is out of the question.

I listen as it keeps on going, and I suddenly remember.


"Ellie," Jake whines on day at lunch. He extends one side of his earbuds to me. "Just listen for a second, okay?"

"What?" I sigh, accepting it and putting it in my ear.

"It will, like, change your entire life. This song is like musical poetry, I swear."

It takes a second or two for me to recognize it, a catchy song that has been monopolizing radio stations.

"What is this?" I laugh, "I was expecting some anthem or slow, inspiring song. Not a pop song with a 'La, La, La' chorus."

He puts a hand over his heart, mock- wounded. "Ellie, you take that back! 'You Belong With Me' by Taylor Swift is a beautiful, heartfelt song!"

I just roll my eyes as Erika, balancing a full tray, approaches our table.

Jake taps on the lunch table, insistently as she plops down next to me.

"What? Practicing Morse Code or something?" she asks Jake.

"It's our song!" Jake grins.

Erika makes a funny face. "Loose mice in the attic?"

More importantly, "We have a song?" I snort.

"Funny, Hart." He sticks his tongue out and ignores me. "For your information, that was 'You Belong With Me'".

"By Taylor Swift?" she asks.

"Yep. Jealous?" He grins cockily.

"Oh, yeah," She says, "definitely. So jealous." Heavy sarcasm.

"Just you wait, Ellie." He turns to me, "This song will save our lives one day. Like, say its a code. What if we can't talk and we need to? Bam! Instant code."

I nod absently, just watching the excitement light up his eyes.

Erika laughs out loud, definitely amused. "Ellie, I would be paying more attention if I were you. You fate is in the hands of Jake, literally."

Jake puts his palms out in a defensive gesture.

"Hey, I'm still working out the kinks. Ellie, pass the ketchup?"


I listen for a while longer and I realize that's it. I bite on my knuckle to keep from laughing and waking up the others. Silently, I slip from my bed and glide across the floor and out the door without a sound like I was taught to do.

At the other end of the house, a light was on in the kitchen.

"Hey." Jake greets me quietly, with his hands around a cup of water. His voice is more deeper than I remembered. Wordlessly, I slip onto a barstool on the kitchen counter, but he remains standing.

"Hey." I say.

He doesn't say anything after and just looks at me. I squelch the urge to squirm under his gaze.

"You look different."

"So do you," I smile tentatively.

"You remember?" I don't have to look at him to know that he's grinning.

"Of course I remember."

He runs a hand through his messy hair and looks very tired.

"That was a long time ago." He says.

"Not that long," I say, faintly trying to have my double meaning come across.

"I guess not."

After a pregnant pause, he sighs in frustration. "I hate this."

After seeing my eyes widen, he amends quickly, "No, not you! I mean, this weirdness, this awkwardness. I wish we could just go back to the way things were in seventh grade. Can we... rewind?"

"Yeah," I smile, "I'd like that."

He grins, but it fades slightly when I continue, "But, then you'd be the annoying jerk I hated in the beginning for taking our seats in CoveOps."

We both laugh, remembering that incident.

"Maybe I should take yours now, too," He smiles deviously, and steps closer as if he'd shove me off.

"Oh, no," I say, my voice getting louder, "Do and you die. I'll sic Erika on you, I swear, I'll- JAKE!"

He lunges grabs me around the middle playfully, like a move we learned in P&E. Except this time, no one was pinned to the ground.

"Okay, okay," I laugh. "You-"

"Oh."

Both our heads whip to the doorway and we freeze. She leans on the doorframe, her arms wrapped around her.

Lena.

"Oh- I didn't, I mean- Sorry! I didn't think I was... am I interrupting something?" Her porcelain forehead creased in worry.

"Oh, no," Jake cut in easily with a smile, "you're not interrupting anything. What's up?"

Well, ouch.

Score: Lena-1, Ellie- 0.

"I think I'll just go." I mumbled, pushing past them, "It's getting late anyway. Good night, Jake, ''Night, Lena."

I walked down the dark hallway back to the bedroom and I wondered how I let Lena eclipse me again. Feeling defeated, I involuntarily grit my teeth. Maybe I haven't lost after all, I thought, maybe the game hasn't even started.