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I'm new at this stuff…gimme a hand here! Don't forget to give me a comment down below; all feedback appreciated.
Disclaimer: Yes hello, this is Ally Carter speaking.
-EDIT- okay, so I was feeling kinda ICKY about the whole Zach/Bex thing. I mean, can you say GROSS? So, I'm taking a new path with this story. The old one will still be up; that way, you guys can comment and tell me which one you like more! Thanks a mill guys, you rock my world!:)
*On the chopper, coming back to Gallagher from Austria*
"Cam," My mother shook my shoulder.
In any other situation, I would have bolted upright. I would have grabbed the arm that held me and twisted it backwards at an impossible angle. I would have jolted awake and gazed out of the window, just in time to see the helicopter sink lower along the inky asphalt of Highway 10.
But given that for the first time in my life, I had no idea what day of the week it was; I just rolled around and snuggled closer into my mother's warm side, letting out a pert yawn. The copter passed the high walls and electrified gates; the only defense that protected my sisterhood from prying eyes.
"Get up, kiddo. We're almost home."
After a number of various other coaxing and bribing methods (and yes, petty threats), I rubbed at my sleepy eyes and peered out the circular window.
There, the beautiful stone building stood against the horizon. Surrounding it, trees were ablaze with bright reds and vivid yellows – colors that had no place in the beginning of summer.
And suddenly I was overcome with a sinking feeling (that had nothing to do with the landing of the chopper.)
My mother must have felt me stiffen next to her, because she turned to look at me with wondering eyes. Her gaze strayed away from my eyes and over the hollows of my cheekbones, and the sinking feeling returned with a vengeance.
Wordlessly, she patted down my newly short, midnight black hair, her blue orbs never leaving mine. Neither of us spoke, but a powerful conversation passed through our eyes.
"I'm sorry mom," I whispered, my voice breaking.
She enveloped me in a hug and pressed her face into my hair, where I felt the wetness of her tears against the nape of my neck. And that's when I saw the greatest spy I'd ever known cry for the second time in my life.
"Mrs. Morgan? We're here." An unfamiliar voice came from the speaker.
My mother pulled away and gave me a watery smile. "Come on, kiddo. It's showtime."
When my mother pulled open the door, my flight or fight response almost made me flee away and cower in a corner. But the spy in me was stronger than that, and that's why I held my ground as the first rays of piercing sunlight slipped through the door.
Most of the freshman class stood halfway between the side doors and the Protection and Enforcement barn. An entire class of girls I'd never seen before stood huddled around Madame Dabney, who, I could have sworn, wiped a tear from an eye when I stepped onto the lawn.
It felt like my entire sisterhood was watching, and, when you're known as the chameleon, it isn't ever a good feeling.
But then, before I could run away towards the forest on the other side, three girls stumbled out of the crowd.
For a second, we stood our ground, looking at each other from afar. Then Liz broke the silence.
"Oh my gosh!" she screamed, filling in the rest of the space between me and the others. Liz seemed even smaller and blonder, and as she flung her arms around me in an embrace her feet left the ground.
Blinded by Liz's blond locks, I couldn't see Macey McHenry approach me until her hand touched my stiff hair. "That dye job is going to give you split ends, you know." I didn't know. And I didn't care. But no sooner had I reached for Macey, she pushed me away and held me at arm's length.
I felt squeamish and insecure as her blue eyes carefully inspected my appearance. "What did you do to yourself? You look like death."
Which was exactly how I felt, but now didn't seem like the right time nor place to say so. Everyone was listening, watching, waiting…for something.
"It's good to see you again, guys." I said meekly, shielding myself from the penetrating eyes of the freshmen from behind Macey's shoulders, which had gotten broader. "Though, it seems like I saw you not too long ago…"
I heard soft meows coming from my side, which turned out to be Liz crying with a wide smile plastered on her face.
"Bex!" I cried, turning to my third best friend who was standing a little farther away. She wasn't crying (like Liz) or cringing at my new look (like Macey). Instead, Rebecca Baxter just stood looking at me like she didn't know how to feel about seeing me in my current condition. Or, as I realized with a pang, seeing me at all.
After giving me a quick once-over, she turned her attention to my side. "Welcome back, headmistress." She gave my mom a small nod.
My arms, which had previously been positioned to hug the girl in front of me, lamely dropped to my sides.
Cautiously pushing my short locks behind one ear, I took the time to cautiously survey the crowd.
And my eyes locked with someone who wasn't here before.
At first glance, she was gorgeous. Tall, green eyes and long blond hair. Her uniform fit her perfectly, and she radiated a smooth glow.
But a double-take told more to the story. Confidence oozed from her pores. Her hands were on her hips and a daring expression held her face. I knew she was strong.
And something about her made me shuffle a few steps backwards.
"Em?" another voice came out through the crowd. A voice so deep it sent shivers down my back.
Moments later, Zachary Goode was seen coming out from the group of girls.
I can honestly say that for a second, my heart stopped beating.
He had changed. The boy who had dipped me in the hall was nowhere to be seen. His hair was longer and more ragged, yet perfectly disheveled. His emerald green eyes were sharp and sparkling. Most importantly, he'd gotten noticeably more muscled. His arms bulged from the white polo he was wearing, and it didn't take a genius to see his abs prominent through the material.
We'd been through a lot together; from the explosions of the tombs to every last kiss we'd shared. This was the boy who had asked to run away with me, for crying out loud, so it was needless to say I was shocked when he put his hand on mystery girl's shoulder.
And I was shocked when, instead of flipping him over, she melted into his embrace.
That's when my disoriented mind slowly realized things were never going to be the same.
"Ahem," my mother cleared her throat. It was as if someone had said the magic word, and everybody snapped out of a trance. The previously silent girls started buzzing with comments while Madame Dabney was escorting them back into the building.
Eventually, it was just the six of us remaining out on the field, shuffling slowly behind the rest of the crowd.
For sixteen seconds, a thick silence rang in the air. I tried meeting Zach's eyes – but without luck; he was already turning and leaving.
"Zach!" My voice called out subconsciously. Then, it was as if my feet acted on their own; one moment I was standing beside Liz and my mother, and the next moment I was making my way through the grass, towards him.
"Hi," I breathed. He turned to look at me with dead eyes.
I hadn't noticed how much taller he'd gotten until I was right next to him. His face was blank, but his eyes stared deep into mine, as if he was searching for answers.
Answers that I didn't have, and that I probably never would.