1.

"Sodium pentothal?" Shaun Carter asked.

I smiled, and nodded. "Lying is a key part of every spy's life," I started, remembering the speech Mr Solomon gave us when we were sophomores. "We tell lies to our enemies, we tell lies to our friends, and after a while, we tell lies to ourselves."

"Now, am I right to believe that you've already learned to spot lies?" I asked. They nodded. "Good. So, Darren, tell me the three signs of someone telling a lie."

"Dilated pupils, atypical mannerisms and increased pulse," he answered without missing a beat.

"Listen, gentlemen," I said, as if he hadn't answered. "The hard part isn't detecting a lie, it's telling it. But, today, I'm going to make it ten times harder. With sodium pentothal. Now, can anyone tell me what sodium pentothal is?"

A few hands rose in the air. I pointed to Martin Scott. "Sodium pentothal is a truth serum."

I nodded. "Sodium pentothal is a truth serum. And we're going to learn to lie when you are under the influence of it. Line up and pull the sleeve of your left arm up to your shoulder." They did as they were told, while I got the needles ready.

Grant was first. I found a blood vessel in his arm and quickly injected him, before pressing a cotton bud to it. He went to sit down, while I did the rest of the boys. Once they were all seated again, I quickly injected myself.

"I'm not expecting any of you to be able to lie on the first go, but I am expecting you to try. Partner up, but I'm afraid one of you will have to go with me."

They all rushed to me, while I just laughed. "Sit down!" I laughed. "Okay, change of plan," I said, while moving to stand in front of Mario Dunn. "Mario, ask me any question and I'll try to lie."

He thought about it for a while. "What's your name?" he asked. Most of the class snickered or groaned but I just smiled, remembering a time back in kindergarten, when a very different boy, asked me that same thing under a very different circumstance.

"Mikayla Alexandra Robinson," I stated, purposely telling the truth.

"That's true, so, does that me you can't lie when you are under the influence of sodium pentothal?" he asked.

"Ask me again," I requested. He did. "Chantelle Marie Valentine," I said, using one of my cover names. The whole class looked confused. "Boys, you all know how to lie, yes?" I asked, and watched as they all nodded. "Then you all know how to lie when under the influence of sodium pentothal. The trick isn't to lie entirely; the trick is to edit the truth. Very few operatives can lie entirely, but every operative can edit the truth."

I moved onto Darren. He asked me how old I was. "8,935,200 minutes old. Next," I said, smiling as the class laughed at my answer, while Darren tried to work out how many years that was. Grant asked me if I had a boyfriend. "Yes, I've had lots of boyfriends. Next time, you might want to ask me if I have a boyfriend. Okay, that's enough Q&A from me; interrogate each other."

Once they started talking again, I walked out of the room, and into the store cupboard next to it. There I found a vial of andianto lithium. Andianto lithium was the name for the liquid that reverses the sodium pentothal. Walking back into the room, I found 14 more needles and told the boys to line up again.

They did.

After I injected all of them, plus myself, the bell rang, indicating the end of the lesson. "Your homework today is to find out the name of the liquid which counteracts the sodium pentothal – i.e., the liquid I just injected you with."

They left the room. Once they were all out, I quickly got back in the elevator and went up to the main level, to finish all my other work as I didn't have to teach any other lessons today.

After finishing all my work, it was about 4pm. I had missed lunch, and dinner wasn't until 7pm, so I sneaked into the kitchen and grabbed a box of pop tarts. My phone rang.

"Mikayla Robinson," I said my voice as cold as ice.

"Mikayla, we have a slight problem," Rachel Morgan replied.

My eyebrows furrowed, as I swallowed a pop tart. "What?"

"They tried to kidnap her and Macey. Cammie has a concussion, and Macey has a broken arm and bruises all over her body. We found them unconscious in a laundry basket. They must've have come down the laundry chute."

I sighed. "I can't come and help at all. When Zach comes back, I'll dismiss him from school to tail them and keep them safe. Our insider will keep us updated. I can't promise that she won't get injured at all, but I can promise that she will not die or get in the hands of- OH, MY GOSH! I just had the best idea!" I screamed.

"What?" Mrs Morgan asked, slightly wary.

"As Macey is the senator's daughter, and after hearing she was attacked, people will be expecting her to be protected better. Who can you think better to be her security detail, plus someone who knows the truth about the academy?" I asked, smiling.

"Please don't say it..." she said.

"Your sister! She's one of the best operatives, and she knows the truth," I replied with a huge grin on my face.

"She's irresponsible, Mikayla. I don't trust her. Not after what happened in Milan three years ago," she teased. I could hear the smile in her voice.

"They were 7 inch heels! She was bound to fall onto that button," I defended, and listened as she laughed. "Come on, give her a shot. If she makes one mistake, then I'll get the Director to pull her off immediately. I don't like her either, but you have to do what's right."

She sighed. "Okay."

"Thanks, Mrs Morgan. How's the school while I've been gone?" I asked.

"They all still think that you are on a mission. Cammie's getting suspicious, and when she asks, I can't lie to her," she replied.

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "I don't expect you to lie, I just don't want the whole school to know the truth." I started walking back to my office, before I was interrupted by Dr Steve. "Mrs Morgan, I have to go."

I put my phone back in my pocket, and took another bite in a pop tart. "How can I help, Steve?"

"Where has Zachary gone?" he asked.

"Zachary has gone to Boston with Solomon to keep an eye on Cammie and Macey. When he comes back, I'm dismissing him. Only whenever Cammie or Macey is away from the school. Any other time and he'll be here, finishing his studies," I said.

That was when he blew up. "He's 16 years old! He needs to be in school! Not around the country! He isn't ready yet!"

"Steve!" I growled, growing angry. "This is my school now. Zachary is perfectly ready. If you haven't remembered, his mother started training him when he was six, he is one of the best spies I've ever seen, and I've seen a hell of a lot of good spies. Do you remember how he saved your life back in August 2009? Or is that just a distant memory you hope to forget?"

It was a rhetorical question, but he opened his mouth to answer. However, I cut him off. "Don't Steve. The students, who go here, are my students. The teachers, that work here, are my teachers. Therefore, my actions should not and will not have to go through you or be questioned by you. If you wish to question my decisions or my students' decisions again, use a calmer tone and think about what you say."

Before he could answer, or retort anything, I walked away and to my office.

And then, for the first time since freshman year, I grabbed the bottle of tequila from one of my drawers, and drank. I wasn't a heavy drinker, always staying sober enough to be aware of my actions and surroundings, but sometimes, especially in the life of a young spy, life can get hard.

I took a sip, allowing the burning liquid to slide down my throat. I never allowed people to see this side of me, even though some of my best ideas evolved because I had a drink in my hand.

Now don't judge, I'm not an alcoholic or a drunk or anything, but like everyone else my age, I do like an occasional drink.

I took another swig, before moaning at the tingling feeling easing down my throat.

"Hey, Kayla, do you-" I heard Jonas stop what he was saying when he saw the bottle in my hand. "Are you... drinking?" he asked, ludicrously.

I waved him in, taking another gulp of the strong liquor. It definitely wasn't watered down. I winced slightly as it burned my throat, before putting it down and turning to him. "Jonas, hey," I smiled.

"Erm," he stuttered, uncomfortably. "Zach's back."

I jumped up, completely forgetting about the half full tequila bottle on my desk and ran to the foyer. And there he was, my brother from another mother, stood walking away from the door. With each step he took, he shed a piece of pocket litter.

His limp. His wig. His eyebrows. His glasses. His moustache. His fake wallet.

The smile was gone from my lips as I watched just how stressed he was. His eyes were drooping and bloodshot, his skin was scary pale, his hands were shaking.

And then I realized.

He wasn't stressed.

He was scared.

"Zach?" I asked tenderly. He looked up at the sound of his name. I remembered that the last time I'd seen someone that scared, was when Brian – Zach's Dad – was captured.

"Mikayla!" Brian screamed. "Go!"

I nodded, chasing after Eliza Marks, an agent-gone-rouge content on kidnapping Cammie. She worked for the CoC. My legs pumped fast, scary fast, as I glided through the woods, feeling the adrenaline take over.

I love this. It was a sort of high – I guess. Whenever I knew that someone's – or something's – safety was on my head, and then adrenaline took over, making my decisions and fighting my battles. I was just the body.

"Oh, Mikayla!" I heard Eliza taunt in her sickly sweet voice as she ran in front of me. She wasn't out of breath at all, as her muscular legs pounded over branches and stumps and ridges.

Just hearing her voice, made me want to catch her, to take her back to the agency.

We ended up going in a circle, back to where we started. She planned that. She was barely two feet in front of me, by the time we reached the clearing we had started off in.

I stopped, slowed my breathing and watched her. She, too, skidded to a stop and turned to face me, before nodding behind me.

Turning around slowly, I saw Brian stood in the arms of two huge men. His emerald eyes were faded and bloodshot, his skin was as white as a sheet and he was trembling. Everywhere. Eliza joined them and led them away, the men still holding Brian. But before they reached it, Brian turned his head and yelled to me. "Look after them, Mikayla!" They didn't want me. Not then.

"Mikayla?" Zach asked, his eyebrows creased. I came back from my daydream. He was stood in front of me now, with all his stuff on the stairs next to me.

I smiled, and jumped at him. He laughed and caught me, stumbling back at little. When he let go, his colour was back in his face and neck, his eyes were wide and he wasn't shaking. As he shed his pocket litter, it seemed he shed a little of the fear.

"How was it?" I asked as if I didn't know.

"Horrible. I got into the control room of the building and watched through the security cameras. Preston Winters was on the roof, too. So, Cammie got him out of danger, even though he wasn't in danger, and then she knew that she couldn't fight them off, considering Macey was already injured."

I nodded, understanding. "Zach, would-" I started before getting cut off.

"Well, if it isn't little Miss Mikayla Robinson," I heard a sarcastic voice say behind me. Abby.

"Abigail," I nodded towards her, as I turned around, rubbing my hands on my jeans. "I'm so glad you're here."

She rolled her eyes, texting into her Blackberry. "Drop the act, Robinson. I've only come so you can brief me."

"Me?" I asked confusedly.

"And you call yourself an agent?" She asked rhetorically. "Yes, you. The Director sent me here to get briefed considering you're the one who put me on McHenry's detail."

"Fine, come into my office," I gestured. "You, too, Zachary."

Once we were all seated in my office – me behind my desk, Zach on one of the sofas, and Abby on the chair in front of me, tapping away on her PDA now. "Abigail?" I asked, impatiently. She looked up, and put it away.

"You will be head of the security detail for Macey McHenry. She is not to leave the safety of the Gallagher Academy, even to go to P&E. She is to stay inside at all times, unless she is needed on the campaign trail. Then, you will accompany her everywhere, not allowing her out of your sights. Do you understand?" I asked; starting to finish some paperwork on a new student we were getting.

She nodded.

"Also, Mr Goode, here," I started, nodding towards him, "may be popping up along the way. He would like to keep an eye on Cameron and Macey."

At this, Abby's head popped up. "No," she simply stated.

I looked at her. "Excuse me?"

"I said, no. He is not 'popping up' anywhere. If he comes, then I will need to protect him, too-"

"With all due respect, Miss Cameron," Zach started, standing up and walking to the seat next to Abby. "I care for your niece, and I don't want to see her hurt, in much the same way as you. And not to mention, I know the thoughts of the Circle. I could help-"

Abby cut him off. "Zachary, I doubt that you understand the seriousness of this situation. You are still a junior after all. You are yet to finish your eleventh grade studies and start your twelfth grade studies. I am a seasoned operative. You are an operative-in-training. You may know how they think, but you-"

This conversation seemed only of cutting each other off.

"Miss Cameron-"

"No, Zach-"

"Enough!" I exclaimed. Standing up, I walked over to Abby. "You need to go to the Academy. Rachel is expecting you," I said formerly, shaking her hand and leading her to the door. She left with a wave, dragging her suitcase to the limousine waiting for her.

"And you!" I snapped, spinning to face Zach. "Are to stay in school. No leaving the grounds without permission, and if you do so, you will be severely punished. Last year was enough for me to know that I can no longer put my school, and my teachers, and my students in danger again. And with you safely inside these walls, then we will all be safe."

"But-" he protested.

"No buts, my decision is final. However, I guess I can allow a few exceptions to a few other rules," I hinted, a smirk on my lips.

His eyebrows rose. "I guess," I started. "I could maybe allow a few – what do you call it these days? – parties." He started to cheer, but I stopped him. "Only, if you agree to look after the newbie; he will be rooming with you, Mr Newman and Mr Anderson."

He nodded eagerly, before briefly hugging me and running out. Nice to know I'm loved. I laughed to myself, and went to get ready to pick up the new kid.

He's only attending because he committed some huge crime and is being sent here. Not because he's good at anything. Gosh, this'll push me to my limits. His records say he's a bad-ass; always getting himself in trouble with the police, and doing anything to keep up his bad-boy reputation.

Well, all I'll say is, he'll struggle to keep it up here. With us breathing down his neck, it'll be practically impossible.

I wonder what he'll say when he finds out we're a school for assassins/spies (but mostly assassins.).

[A/N: Sorry for the long wait!]