Chapter 1:
Taz
My day started out normal (well as normal as it can ever get as a spy at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women). Sophie and I were sitting in our room, watching as the computer loaded:
100% Loaded...
"Finally!" I sighed, walking over to sit on the bed. "What are you waiting for; let's hack into Ella's computer and find out where she is!" This was our normal first day; I would arrive first, mess the room up and wait for Sophie to come along and scream at me that messing up the room leaves us less time to hack into Ella's computer and find out where she is. Usually, after Ella arrives (making sure her entrance was grand enough), we would hide away from Gail, who would be looking for me.
"You know, I would have found her by know if some random guy hadn't started talking to me on the computer, literally. Come see, Taz," Sophie said. I jumped up from the bed and ran over to Sophie. Sophie pushed her glasses up her nose. "Read it." Sophie said, shoving the laptop over to me.
RandomGuyNo.2: hi...
Sophie911: wat do you want?
RandomGuyNo.2: how r u?
Sophie911: did u even read the last comment?
RandomGuyNo.2: meh...
"What do I say?" Sophie panicked.
"Calm down," I said, awkwardly patting Sophie on the back, "I'll take it from here."
"NO!" Sophie squealed.
"You know, by now I thought some alarm would've gone off from my computer." A voice came from the doorway. I turned to find Ella leaning against the door, posing like some supermodel. I love my best friend, but sometimes, she can be a bit of a show-off. I rolled my eyes. "What, no hugs for the prettiest girl in school?" Ella took her arm down (probably just so we could hear all her bracelets clanging together).
"Shut up and come over here," I said. BOOM! CRASH! CLICK! "And let me help with your- how many bags do you have this year?"
"Ha, ha. I only have 7 this time, not like last year's 12! I have 2 for my shoes, 3 from my clothes, 1 for my bags and 1 for accessories! Oh, and then there's my makeup bag and my wash bag," Ella listed. I walked over and took 4 of Ella's big suitcases and her makeup bag and wash bag.
"Just put them-" BOOM! I dumped the bags beside Ella's bed and walked back to Sophie and her computer. Ella walked up behind me and slapped me on the back. I turned on my heel and stared down Ella. The thing with you should know about me is that I can stare down anyone into doing anything. "Sorry!" Ella cried. "Now, what did you want to show me?"
"Look at what Sophie has been doing instead of tracking you down." I turned and looked at what the computer said now.
Sophie911: i asked you, what do u want?
RandomGuyNo.2: i wanted to talk to someone, someone like u
Sophie911: r u flirting with me, cos 2 things; 1, u barely know me and 2, how do u even know im a girl?
RandomGuyNo.2: 2 things; 1, i wouldn't tell u if i was flirting with u and 2, how do u even know im a guy?
Sophie911: you're irritating me.
RandomGuyNo.2: but i barely know you!
Sophie911: now you're just imitating me!
"Why isn't he responding?" Sophie said, standing up to face us. "It's been 5 minutes!"
"Sophie?" I said, surprisingly calmer than I thought, considering I just got slapped on the back.
"WHAT?" Sophie screamed, not so calmly.
"Um...don't worry." I said, turning back to the computer.
"You wanted to ask me something, so WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Sophie slapped the table every word she screamed.
"Um, well, why do you care if he respond's or not?" I said nervously.
"I don't," Sophie said flatly before turning to face the computer screen. Ding! That was the sound of 'RandomGuyNo.2' responding.
RandomGuyNo.2: wat school do u go 2?
"Should I tell him?" Sophie said nervously.
"NO!" Ella and I shrieked.
Sophie911: the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women.
"What did you do?" I shouted.
"I responded," Sophie said flatly.
"TAZ?" There was a voice coming from across the hall, followed by the sound of running footsteps. "TAZ?"
"Hide me!" I whispered.
"Where?" Ella whispered in response.
"There you are Taz!" Gail burst in to the room, her red hair falling out of its messy bun, her blue eyes looking as crazy as ever.
"What do you want Gail?" I sighed
"I-" There was a knock on the door and I walked over to find Headmistress Morgan, standing there, waiting for us at the door.
v
"Girls." Headmistress Morgan nodded.
"Headmistress Morgan." We all said in union.
"I was wondering if I could have a quick word with you. All of you." She said, mostly looking at Gail. We all nodded before Headmistress Morgan left the room to head for her office. We all looked at each other before following. Hardly anyone was ever called to the Headmistresses office, especially by the Headmistress herself.
Well there was the time when there was a...no that couldn't be happening, I thought. No, not to us, this couldn't happen. My thoughts filled up in my mind and by the time we got to the Headmistresses office, my head was full of all different reasons why they could be there, all coming down to the same idea that... No, I thought. Not to us.
"Taz," Sophie nudged me in the arm. "Welcome back to the real world," she whispered. We all walked into the office while Headmistress Morgan took her seat at the desk. All of us stood a little further away from the desk. Gail stood next to me and took my hand. I shoved it away.
"Sit girls," Headmistress Morgan said. We all obeyed, squeezing into the couch that was made for 2. "Now, why I summoned you here. It's hard for me to say this to you, you girls are so close." I gave a sidewards glance to Gail, who looked half excited, half nervous to be here. Headmistress Morgan sighed.
This can't be happening, this can't be happening. Please no, please no! My thoughts were interrupted by an elderly lady who shuffled into the office like it was hers. After my 4 years of training, I have learnt not to trust anyone, but this lady looked so innocent, so I couldn't help but jump up and help the lady, but Headmistress Morgan stopped me.
"Topaz," I flinched, I hated being called by my birth name. "I think our guest is fine on her own." I swivelled on my heel to face my Headmistress and was about to speak up before the whole room went black and black lights started flashing.
"INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!" The intercom was shrieking. There was a horrible scream as Sophie was knocked out.
"WHO ARE YOU?" Came the voice of Headmistress Morgan.
"WHO DO YOU THINK?" I heard someone shriek. Who's that? I thought.
"Back off!" Headmistress Morgan shouted. There was the sound of Headmistress Morgan being attacked behind the desk before I heard something coming from outside. BOOM! I heard the door burst open before I was grabbed by a rough hand.
"Get off!" I shoved the hand off.
"Come with us, please. We're here to help!" A voice came.
That's a boy's voice, I thought. But this is a school for girls. Unless...
"Are you 'RandomGuyNo.2'?" Taz asked.
"Oh my god! I'll explain later! Just come with me!" The voice sounded panicked now.
"Fine," I agreed. I wouldn't let the boy take my hand though so he finally realised that I would just follow him, so we ran out. "What about our Headmistress?" I shouted over the intercom, which was still shrieking. From out of nowhere I saw a pair of dark eyes.
"She'll be fine," the voice said. They stopped running and all of a sudden I felt very tired. The boy sat me down and my eyes started to drift close.
"Can't sleep..." I whispered, "Must...save...must..." I never finished my sentence before I blacked out.
v
I woke up a few times. The first time, I felt a hand on my forehead. On normal circumstances, I would have smacked the hand away, but today I was too tired to and personally, I actually liked the warmth the hand was giving me. I fell back into my deep sleep.
The second time I woke, I heard people who must have been in the midst of a conversation.
"We have to stay!" I could have sworn I had heard that voice before but I couldn't remember where.
"It's not safe here." Another voice was saying.
"Exactly why we should stay!" The first voice protested.
"But we don't know when-" The second voice stopped and looked over to where I was supposed to be sleeping. I quickly closed my eyes, and just as quickly, I fell back to sleep.
The third time I woke, there was no hand on my forehead, nor was there any voices. I slowly (and painfully) sat up. I checked out my surroundings and found that Ella, Sophie and Gail had also been taken into this mysterious room. They were all asleep. What I also found was a girl I had never seen before. The girl had long, black wavy hair that was falling into her face; a pair of daggy jeans and a Gallagher Academy shirt.
Why would she do this to us? Why? I thought. The door opened on the other side of the room and 3 boys walked in.
I thought this was a girl's school! My thoughts exploded in my mind. All 3 boys walked up to me. The one on the left had dark eyes (I couldn't tell whether they were brown or black) and dark red hair, the colour of fire. He seemed to be tilting his head in every direction trying to find something. He had on a 'Keep Calm and Carry On' t-shirt and a pair of jeans that seemed 2 sizes too big for him. The one on the middle had dazzling, bright blue eyes and short black hair. He was (how Ella would put it) really hot. He was wearing a black t-shirt covered with a leather jacket and loose skinny jeans. The one on the right had bright green eyes and blond hair that looked like it hadn't been touched in 3 months. He had 'Harry Potter' glasses that kept slipping down his nose. He was wearing a purple plaid shirt and a pair of loose jeans (which he probably thought made him look 'cool'). Skinny Jeans walked right up to me, where as the others stayed back. Glasses seemed to be glancing at Sophie and Keep Calm was glaring at Glasses.
"I'm James," Skinny Jeans said, "That's Aiden," He pointed at Keep Calm, "And that's Xavier." James pointed a finger at Glasses.
"What?" Xavier asked, dreamily.
"Oh, and you should know you've been asleep for 2 days…what's your name?"
"I'm Taz." I told James flatly.
"What's your full name?" Aiden stepped forward and asked.
"Why do you need to know?" I asked, with a strong voice.
"It's Topaz." The boys turned to find Ella standing shakily and smiling dazzlingly. I stood up and almost collapsed, and would have if Aiden hadn't run up and caught me. I shoved him off and stood up myself. There was a groan from behind us and Sophie came waddling up.
"Who is that?" Sophie asked, pointing to Lady Glasses.
"That's Jasmine. She's new." Xavier recited this like his life depended on it.
"What room is she in?" Before I had even said it, I knew what the answer to that was.
"Yours." Xavier finally tore his eyes away from Sophie, but only long enough to give me my answer. I hadn't realized this before, but now all 6 of us were standing in a circle.
"Hi Taz!" Gail grabbed my hand, but this time I didn't shove it away. I needed the warmth. I realized something again. What I realized was that each boy seemed to have a girl to lay their eyes on. James was staring at Ella (who was smiling back), Xavier was staring at Sophie and Aiden...well Aiden was staring at me. I pulled my hand away from Gail's, only long enough to clap my hands in the middle of our little circle. All boys and girls were suddenly staring at me (no change for Aiden). I tried to grab Gail's hand again but Gail wouldn't take it.
"Well...um...just one question for our visitors, why are you here?" I asked. I knew it was rude but I seriously needed to know.
"We're here because...well because...we're here to protect you." Aiden stammered.
"What from?" I asked, trying to us a strong voice (and it worked).
"Well...um...we don't know." Aiden rushed his words.
"Oh." I sighed. Apparently, we weren't going to get any answers.
"AAAGGGHHH!" There came a piercing scream from behind us. We all turned to find that the new girl had sat up and she had a worried and panicked look on her face. Xavier ran over and the rest of us followed. Xavier knelt down and felt her temperature.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Where am I? Am I in the hospital? Did I faint again? Was it my asthma? I had a dream! Am I in the-"
"Wait, what was your dream?" Xavier looked confused, but he kept a steady voice.
"I-I was in a limo and I-I came to a-a big s-school and everything went b-b-black with black lights and yelling. And then a-a bomb. And then-and then-" She stopped. "I don't remember."
"Um, well, Jasmine, that wasn't a dream."
"What?" Jasmine was looking around the room, staring at the pack of teenagers that were, in turn, staring back at her. She is so playing dumb for Xavier I thought.
"Well. That wasn't a dream. You're a spy. This is a school for spies and the lights, well the lights; they were there because, well, we're spies. With being a spy comes great responsibility and you have to be good at fighting because sometimes there are missions. And then there are things even grander then a mission and, well, there is a war coming."