"Thanks Uncle Aaron. I can't wait for the exchange. Need me for anything else?" he just shook his head. "Ok, I'm going to head back to the mall and trail some more civilians. See you at dinner." And with that, I left.

"Sorry I won't be able to take you to Blackthorne tomorrow." Uncle Aaron and I were eating dinner in our penthouse apartment in Washington D.C.

"Don't worry, I understand. No one at Blackthorne can know you're my uncle. I know the danger."

"Good, now are you excited for this semester? We guys are going to learn a lot from those Gallagher girls."

"Yea, I'm looking forward to going against them. They don't even know were coming."

"Please Zach, I can tell by the mischievous look in your eye that that's not the only thing you're looking forward to. You haven't even met her yet and she's already the only thing you can think about."

"I don't know what you're talking about." There was no way I was talking about her with my uncle. No way.

"Sure, sure. Just go easy on her Zach. She went through a lot last semester. I also don't want you to get hurt son. Ok? Don't rush into things."

"Yeah, yeah," I waved him off. I really didn't want to talk about this.

I mean, this girl is amazing. Not that I would be willing to admit it out loud to anyone. I just hope she notices I'm alive. I actually never felt this way about any girl before. I mean, I've been on dates before, but I never really worked out. This girl was perfect though. My Gallagher Girl. But she's not yours. She doesn't even now you exist. There goes that annoying voice in my head. I got one word for it. Yet.

"So what's new at the office?" I asked. I always liked knowing what was going on.

"Well nothing really. Everything for the exchange has been settled. I regret to say that also, another agent went MIA. You may know her son, Marc Kimble. He goes to Blackthorne with you. I believe he is a freshman."

"Yea, I know Marc. He is the top hacker in the freshman class, yet he isn't that bad a fighter either. I hope he is doing alright." I felt bad for the kid. I may have lost both my parents, but I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone else. A kid needs both parents.

That's another thing that makes Cammie so special. Her and me are alike. We both know what its like to lose someone we care about. Though she only last one parent she still has felt the pain I suffered from.

When my parents died I didn't do anything for weeks. I would cry, yes, cry (give me a break, I was twelve) myself to sleep each night. Then, I would wake up in the morning and just sulk around. I didn't talk to people. I distanced myself. After my parents were gone, I put up a mask. I had no family left so I conceal my emotions. I let no one in. I couldn't trust anyone. I felt if I got close, I would never see them again. Sometimes, I even put up my mask in front of my uncle, my only family left. He always saw through it though. I guess that's what family is for.

I always have a cover, legend, up when I'm around people. I was cocky and tough and nothing could crush me. To them I was a leader, strong and confident. To me, I was a boy, with insecurities and feelings. I could care about people and feel compassion for them. I could relate. I could comfort them. I was nervous and alone. They would never know that. Not even my best friends and roommates, Grant and Jonas.

Grant is one of the strongest guys in our grade. People new not to mess with him or you would be found six feet under tomorrow, not kidding. Grant wasn't that smart most of the time, but he really could be a genius. He also had a goofy side, like he was your little kid brother. He can take a joke, if you were his friend. The girls say he has the appearance of a quote, unquote "Greek god". He was muscular and tall. He had blonde hair and brown eyes.

Jonas was another story. He was the top hacker in our whole school. The things this guy could do on the computer were scary. He was a super genius. He wasn't that coordinated and strong, but he could still throw a hard punch. Jonas was a serious guy and got easily stressed. He could hang out but he mainly spent his time on his laptop or teasing Grant about something stupid. He had messy black hair and wire rimmed glassed.

"Hey Zach, since it's your last night of winter break, do you want to watch some football." I nodded and smiled. It was my favorite sport. My dad even taught me how to play. I was pretty good.

I turned on the TV. "Yes," I cheered. "Tonight's game is the Giants vs. the Dolphins and the Giants are killing. The score is so brutal." My favorite team was always the Giants. Though I leaved in D.C. my whole life, it was the team my dad and I rooted for. My uncle and I spent the rest of the night watching. I fell asleep on the couch during Commentator Reviews.

I was having the best dream about a certain girl. I had finally met her and was completely calm. She seemed to like me. I asked her out, but before she could respond I felt soaked from head to toe.

I woke up and saw my uncle with a bucket hanging over my head. I fell of the couch startled. "What was that for!" I yelled. My uncle just laughed.

"You have school today and you wouldn't wake up. I decided to try a new method."

"Thanks," I grumbled. I went upstairs and took a shower. My suitcase had been packed for days so I got dressed, grabbed it and took of down the stairs. My uncle was dressed and ready to say goodbye. I gave him a hug.

"See you in the summer Uncle Aaron." I smiled.

"Listen Zach, stay out of trouble, ok? I don't want Headmistress Morgan to call me because you set a fire of in the chem. lab or pranked the girls. Be good."

"You mean Goode, right?" I smirked.

"Just stay out of trouble wise guy."

"Sure, Sure." I waved goodbye as I headed toward the waiting limo. My school's cover is a military school, were rich bad boys get sent. I get to ride a limo. Blackthorne was located not far from D.C. It was in Richmond, Virginia. After about an hour and a half's drive, we reached the gates of Blackthorne Institute for Boys, my home.