Liz POV:

After the torture (AKA makeover, courtesy of Macey McHenry) I was standing in front of the mirror, staring at myself wearing a blue skirt and a white blouse, blue colorblocked wedges (Macey knew by now that if she put me in stilettos, I would inevitably injure myself), and a crystal necklace. Macey had done my makeup. Bex was wearing a one-shoulder little black dress that showed off her curves, pearls, and sky-high black platform pumps. Mace had done her makeup also.

Macey clapped her hands together and said, "We're ready! I wish Cammie was here, she would look gorgeous."

I agreed, but for different reasons. Cammie and I could wallow together in misery of Macey's fashion escapades. The difference was, Cammie would actually look really good.

Macey pulled something up on her state-of-the-art laptop and slid it over to us. It had pictures of four guys, with names.

"How did you get this, Macey?" I asked.

Macey smirked knowingly. "You've taught me some, Liz. The CIA database had this much. These are the guys we're meeting. And, Nick is…" she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Bex raised her eyebrow at Macey's suddenly slightly possessive tone. Macey didn't usually have an interest in guys, because although they were all falling for her, they were never good enough.

I peered at the screen. First, there was a boy who half-grinned at the camera. His hair fell over his eyes in a very boy band-esque way, and the name read Nick Cross. This was Macey's boy, then. Second, there was a boy with a face that looked like a Greek God, and blonde hair. I noticed Bex staring at him and the name read Grant Newman. He didn't seem like anything special to me. But then again, I rarely think that any boys are special. Next, a boy with brown tousled hair that was smirking: Zachary Goode. I passed him over, too. Last, I saw a boy with glasses who made my heart stutter in a weird way. I shook my head, and saw that his name was Jonas Anderson. Macey noticed me staring at his picture, and smirked.

"Yeah, Liz, I had a feeling that you would like Jonas. He looks like your type."

"Wh-what? I d-don't even have a type!" I protested nervously.

Bex grinned knowingly. "Sure, Liz."

Macey threw the smirk Bex's way. "And what about you, Sexy Bexy? I saw you looking at Grant…" she trailed off as Bex punched her, partly out of embarrassment, and partly out of calling her that nickname. And Bex punches hard.

Bex retorted, "And Nick? It's the first time I've heard you actually mention a boy seriously."

I piped up, eager to get back at Macey, "Yeah!"

Macey stalked out the door. "Let's go, guys."

Grant POV:

"Damn, when are these girls gonna get here? And where the heck is my food?" I asked.

Nick rolled his eyes. We were waiting at a fancy restaurant for the girls that Nick had set us up with. Not an ideal place for a first date, if you ask me. But Nick's the chick expert; he's had twenty girlfriends in the past year.

Zach smirked. "Grant, these are actual girls we're talking about."

"Hey, no need to hate! It's not like you've gone out with many girls anyway."

"More than you have, I bet," Zach replied, still cool, still smirking.

Jonas's quiet voice interrupted our banter. "I think they're here."

Three girls were making an entrance to the restaurant. I laughed to myself that someone in our group, Jonas probably, wouldn't have a date. Then I my eyes landed on a dark-skinned bombshell, and I stopped thinking.

Jonas POV:

I'm not really into checking out girls and dating like the rest of my friends, but hey, that doesn't mean I don't have a heart, either. I noticed the girl hanging in the back. Elizabeth Sutton, Nick said her name was. She was beautiful, but she seemed shy. The question was: was she as shy as I was…

Macey POV:

As soon as we walked in, I saw a group of four boys sitting at a table, staring at us. And I saw Nick. Wow, he was even hotter in person. Snap out of it, Macey!

I lead the girls to the table, and said coolly, "Nick Cross?"

Nick raised his hand and said, "Yes, Ms. McHenry. That's me." He knew my name…they had also done research on us.

Grant, I thought, discreetly cuffed Nick (and from the way Nick rubbed his arm, it must've hurt, too) and said gallantly, "Nick, that's no way to introduce yourself. I'm Grant Newman." He smiled dazzlingly at Bex, and pulled out a chair for her, taking care to flex his muscles.

Bex flipped her hair, gave a half-glare to Grant, and sat delicately on the chair. I noticed Jonas doing the same for Liz, albeit more nervously.

Nick stood up and said, "Well, Ms. McHenry, I guess I'd better be a gentleman, then. Would you care to sit?" I glared at him and sat in the proffered chair.

Then I noticed the last boy who hadn't spoken yet. "Oh, you're Zachary. Sorry, Cammie couldn't make it," I told him.

Zachary smirked and said, "Did you show her my picture too soon? Rookie mistake. Girls get intimidated by my sexiness."

Despite his words, I didn't miss the flash of…something in his eyes, and I didn't think Liz or Bex did, either. But I let it pass.

"So, have you ordered yet?" Bex asked.

Grant smiled, eyes lighting up at the mention of food. "Yeah, we did."

Bex POV:

I sat at a meeting the next day, not really paying attention to what the manager was saying, and doodling Grant's name on a sheet of paper. Suddenly, my phone vibrated, and when I secretly pulled it out, the number was from Langley. I stood up abruptly, and said to the manager who was spouting goop, "Sorry, sir. It's an emergency," and walked out.

"Hello, sir. Duchess speaking."

"Hello, Duchess. We have an urgent mission for you. Pack for an indefinite period, and your cover will be emailed to you shortly."

"Thank you, sir. I was about ready to get out of this place."

I could hear the smile in the director's voice as he said, "Good. That is all," and hung up.

I was about to text Liz, Macey, and Cammie, when a message popped up on my phone:

CAMMIE'S MIA! DETAILS ABOUT MISSION IN EMAIL!

- Peacock

I hurriedly ran to my laptop, and sure enough, a new email was waiting:

Operatives: Rebecca Baxter (Duchess) – Ava Reed

Elizabeth Sutton (Bookworm) – Olivia Taylor

Macey McHenry (Peacock) – Kloe Davis

Grant Newman (Zeus) – Levi Walker

Jonas Anderson (Brainiac) – Asher Roberts

Nick Cross (Player) – Benjamin Thompson

Zachary Goode (Phantom) – Carter Miller

Ava and Levi – dating

Olivia and Asher – dating

Kloe and Benjamin – dating

Carter – single

Cover: Operatives are college students going to visit Atlanta, Georgia to spend winter vacation.

Objective – Find and rescue Cameron Morgan (Chameleon).

I tried to scroll down more, but there wasn't anything else. Geez, it was short – but that was to be expected. Search-and-rescue missions rarely have a set format, mostly relying on the instincts of the operatives. I smiled as I contemplated kicking ass for Cammie, and I packed up my things and opened my phone at the same time.

Walking out of the stuffy building, someone picked up. "Macey?" I said. "We need to go. Now."

Hey everybody! Thanks so much to my first few reviewers...I love you guys! :) I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Constructive criticism is appreciated, and thanks for reviewing!

- BubblesAndThings