*Disclaimer* Gallagher Girls is the intellectual property of Ally Carter. What an ingenious writer!

This is my first fan fic, so please comment!! Thanks.

Chapter 2

"And so, y'know, prom is a big deal," my cousin Molly is saying. She's leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping a glass of water, as I cook breakfast. Yes. Me. Is she helping me cook? Not at all. According to her, I'm spoiled because I go to Gallagher School, so I need to learn how "real people live life." Direct quote. Plus, apparently she is helping me by offering me entertainment as I cook.

I'm on my grandfather's ranch in Nebraska. I'm far away from Roseville, Virginia, where I could be crawling in secret passageways or planning the next covert operation with my best friends. But instead, society decided that summer was a good idea for us to "relax" and "take a break." Oh, Molly was relaxing all right. She had come to the ranch just for the summer, like me, to visit our grandparents. I hadn't seen her since I was two, so I hadn't the faintest idea that she existed. Apparently she comes here often. But I know she doesn't, because in all my years coming here, I've never seen her once.

"It was so amazing," she continues. "They decorated the gym all pretty, and the music was nice. We had punch. Oh, did I tell you how cute my date was?"

"Yes," I murmur. I transfer the eggs to a plate and walk over to the toaster, where I take out the bread and butter the toast.

"Oh. Well he was so cute. Y'know, most of the guys at my high school are like, ew! Are the guys are your school cute? Oh, Cammie, I'm lactose intolerant. Didn't you know? I'll just have jelly."

I grit my teeth and glance at the already buttered pieces of toast. "I'll toast another piece."

"You're a sweetie, Cam. So, are the guys like, hot, or what?"

I put another piece of bread into the toaster before replying. "I go to an all girls' school."

"Oh my gosh. I totally forgot. Then you're like, totally spoiled." Her eyes widen. "Do you ever talk to boys?"

How can my cousin, who is supposed to be genetically similar to one of the world's most brilliant spies, be so…stupid? I decide to forgive her lack of knowledge. She goes to high school in a small town in Kansas. Maybe she doesn't know what the world is really like. I can't help but think of how lucky she is, despite her stupidity.

"Yeah." The piece of bread finally pops out of the toaster, and I open the jar of grape jelly.

"But how?" She cocks her head, confused. Strands of her strawberry blonde hair fall out of her ponytail.

"Well," I say, deciding to mess with my cousin's head. "I mean, I've said hi to like one or two boys. But since I live with girls, I don't really see boys." It's not a complete lie. So maybe I've already had a boyfriend before and kissed an exchange Blackthorne boy. But it's true that I usually don't see any boys, other than the really hot Mr. Solomon, at school.

She makes a face. "That's just too bad. But…" her face lightens up and she claps her hands. "There's probably some very nice boys around here, and I could totally teach you how to talk to them. Not just talk, y'know. Flirt." She winks at the last word.

I pretend to take in her every word with admiration and slowly nod my head. "You are so amazing, Molly," I say sarcastically. But I'm so trained as a spy that it comes out sounding true, and she believes it.

"I know, right? I totally came out here this summer all upset because I broke up with my boyfriend…the prom date…long distance just wouldn't work. But now I'm thinking that I could find myself – and you, of course, Cammie – some cute boys in Nebraska." She smiles wistfully. I'm almost tempted to make a comment about the long distance thing, because if she thinks that's bad, she needs to think again. What if she were a spy, and this boy who maybe she liked and who maybe liked her, was a spy? And what if that meant they could never actually see each other?

Grampa comes into the kitchen. "Mhmmmm," he says. "Sure smells good, Cammie."

"Doesn't it, Grampa? She's a quick learner. I just taught her, and look at her now!" Molly drawls, patting her strawberry blonde hair.

He smiles at Molly, then winks at me. "I'm sure, Molly. Well, girls, today I need to go into town. It's some miles away, and I was wondering if you two would like to come."

"Of course," I reply quickly and set the dishes on the table. Molly grimaces, then nods.

This was going to be a very long summer.