Disclaimer: I do not own the Gallagher Girl series and I am not Ally Carter
I was in such a deep slumber that I barely heard the loud siren going off. It didn't feel like 5am – I looked outside and it was still pitch black. The trees, barely visible, were surrounded by a thick layer of fog, and the frost on the grass showed no signs of melting soon. I looked at Jonas, who was frantically pulling a jumper over his head to keep warm.
"What are we doing up so early?" I asked, my voice croaky with disuse and sleep.
He rubbed his face and sighed. "I dunno." Jonas wasn't really a morning person.
I began to layer up on clothes, expecting some kind of morning run, when Dr. Steve's voice rang through the speakers that were in every dormitory in Blackthorne Institute. "Would the following students please make their way to the helicopter pad in 8 minutes sharp. Zachary Goode, Grant…" He rattled off fifteen other names, including Jonas'. We looked at each other, clueless as to where we might be heading off to at three forty five in the morning. "You will be required to pack a month's worth of clothing, including basic toiletries. Pack efficiently. P & E kit is required – mirrors for some of you perhaps! Hahaha. See you in 6 minutes and 43 seconds." There was a sharp crackle as he signed off.
Jonas shrugged his shoulders at me and got packing. I followed suit, but couldn't stop thinking about where we would be going for a 4 weeks. Was it some kind of mission abroad? That would certainly be interesting. My hands did the packing for me and my mind kept thinking. In 3 minutes I was ready, so in my spare time I splashed ice cold water on my face to wake myself up and went to the toilet.
With my backpack heavy on my shoulders and my mind racing with thoughts, Jonas and I paced onto the pad, our breath visible in the crisp morning air. The sound of the helicopter would certainly wake Jonas up. We jumped in the helicopter, and I pulled my hoodie's dark grey sleeves over my fists and the hood over my head. I crossed my arms and studied my companions in the helicopter. Everyone looked halfway between sleep and consciousness, apart from Grant, who was visibly alert and ready to go.
"Does anybody know where we're going?" I asked, meeting everyone's eyes. No one responded, but a few seconds later Dr. Steve bounced into the passenger seat of the helicopter cockpit.
"Morning guys! Anybody curious to know where we're off to?" He beamed, and shuffled some papers on a clipboard – keeping the suspense levels up as usual. His eyes twinkled in the darkness. "We, the Blackthorne Institute for Boys, are off to study for the next 4 weeks with the glorious ladies at the Gallagher Academy for Extraordinary Young Women." I let out a breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding. I was glad I hadn't had time to eat anything. "For the twenty 28 days that we are there, you will sleep, eat, learn and train with the girls. The aim is for you to become more… rounded individuals. You will make allies, friends and companions with whom you should be able to trust. You will be doing a joint Covert Operations mock and final assessment at towards the end of the two weeks." Everyone in the cabin looked equally shocked – it was the last thing I think any of us had expected. Some of the boys looked nervous, others excited. Grant was just smiling slyly.
Jonas elbowed me in the side and whispered "I have a feeling our research will come in handy here." Then winked. I couldn't have agreed more, although I didn't know how I felt to see Cammie again – there was so much I knew about her that I felt I shouldn't. It was unusual for my kind to feel this way, but I felt as though I were intruding.
"As usual, we expect you all to be on your best behaviour. By that, we obviously mean doing the best you can in everything the Academy organised for you. The curriculum here is the toughest in the world and different to ours in many ways. Any questions?" He looked around the cabin.
"What time do we get there?" I asked.
He checked his papers. "Our estimated time of arrival is 7:45am. We should get there just after the girls finish their breakfast, then we'll join them for their first lesson of the day which is…" Again, he looked on his list. "Countries of the World." A few sceptical eyebrows raised in the cabin. "Right!" Dr. Steve said. "I'll make an announcement when we're about fifteen minutes away so you can," He quirked an eyebrow "Freshen up."
The majority of the cabin fell asleep in about two minutes, and eventually the sound of the helicopter blades gently lulled me to sleep, dreaming of the Gallagher Academy.
What did you think? Please review! I have to admit I'm pretty excited to see what happens when Zach and the rest of the Blackthorne Boys turn up at the Gallagher Academy. Next chapter up very soon!