Thank you to collabkk. Her review inspired me to work off of her idea! Thank you soooo much. One slight change is that it won't be in the morning, but during dinner. Once again, thanks.
I'm about to drive in the ocean
I'mma try to swim from something bigger than me
Kick off my shoes and swim good, and swim good
Take off this suit and swim good, and swim good, good
-Frank Ocean "Swim Good"
To say that we got a few stares while walking into the dining hall the next morning would be an understatement. It was painfully obvious that everyone thought we did something more than what we actually did. I couldn't help but wonder how everyone knew of me going to his room. However, I had much more important things to worry about than what everyone thought of me.
Today we were having our first Cove-Ops mission in what felt like decades. Usually I wouldn't be permitted to go along, but Aunt Abby said that she had begged permission for me to join them. I needed it. I needed to do something productive and challenging again. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous as to what could possibly happen.
"Hey Cammie and Zach!" Liz was the only one to greet us as we neared the table. The rest stared at us in either shock or amusement.
"Hey there Liz." Zach politely replied.
"Are you going on the mission today Cam?" Liz looked at me hopefully, her slight drawl reminding me of how sweet she really is.
"Uh yeah. Luckily. I think I'm going to go crazy if I have to spend another day just sitting in class." I shot her a quick smile and she returned a huge one.
"I thought you were already crazy." Bex mumbled under her breath. A few people sucked in air as if preparing themselves, but I chose to completely ignore that comment. It wasn't entirely untrue anyways.
"I'll help you get ready for it before class, if you'd like." I was surprised to lift my head and see that Macey was the one to make this offer. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through me. I nodded my head in response. The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence.
"Hi Cammie!" Macey's cheery voice sliced through our dorm. I could already see piles upon piles of clothes and cosmetics. Normally I would walk out of the room right then and there, but I was desperate to reconcile with her. "You can sit down here. I'll do your hair." The soft strokes of her hands through my hair relaxed me and brought me back to simpler times. I allowed my guard to fall down slightly. "You got really beautiful this summer Cams." I jolted from my day dream.
"Oh thanks?" She chuckled lightly before continuing.
"No really, you did. If I didn't know better, I would think the reason I am pissed at you is because I'm jealous." I knew better than to interrupt her. We were both aware of the real reason why she was so upset. 10 tense minutes passed by before she spoke again. "You can't just do that to us. It was unfair to everyone and you know it. I'm not really angry that you left like Bex is. I'm angry at myself for not being able to find you." Her words surprised me.
"What do you mean?"
"When I was at my lowest, you knew how to find me. I couldn't do the same for you. I didn't know my best friend well enough to help her." Her voice was laced with regret. A manic laugh slipped through her teeth before she quieted again. "But that won't happen again. You are safe here." I so wished that she was right. But I'm not safe here. I never will be.
"I'm so sorry Macey. I was an idiot." My throat burned and I could already feel a lump building in it.
"No you weren't. You were scared." She shrugged and went back to braiding my hair. In that moment, I needed to tell her the truth. I couldn't bear to lie to her again.
"Do you want to know a secret Macey?" I brought my voice down to a whisper.
"Sure" She gave me an encouraging nod before I let out a barely audible sentence.
"I still am."
"Today ladies and Zach, we will be working alone. That means no partners, no groups, and no comms units. I want to see how you all do on your own. Remember that by the time the school year is over, some of you will be working by yourselves at the agency. You need to get used to it. We have 60 CIA agents who volunteered to tail you all. David here," Mr. Solomon got interrupted
"Hello." The muscular driver raised his arm as a greeting
"Will be dropping each of you off in different parts of New York Cit. Your goal is to reach the Empire State Building by 6:00. Do not start moving until 3:30. I can tell if you start before that. Cheating will result in an automatic grade of zero. Good luck."
One by one, everyone got dropped off at random places until I was the only one left.
"Be safe Ms. Morgan." Mr. Solomon looked at me before opening the door. I stepped out slowly and glanced at my watch. I was allowed to begin. I knew that I had to have at least 5 tails, possibly more, following me. I mentally photographed all of the faces around me in preparation. I searched for a large group and immersed myself in it. We were lucky that we were no longer had to wear our uniforms while out on school trips. Now I was able to look like your average teenager or college student. It was then that I took in my surroundings.
I was right in the middle of Brooklyn. My best bet was to take the subway down to Manhattan and lose any tails I had there. I finally was able to buy a ticket with the little money I had and caught a train leading me to Lower Manhattan. The train was packed but I was able to grab a seat in the far end away from the doors. Bodies were pressed against each other and I was jostled every time someone tried to move. My eyes scanned the crowd for anyone familiar, and I found a man in a business suit and a woman with shopping bags from the point where I was dropped off. They were two of my tails. I caught them looking at me so I turned my head to look into the car next to mine and regret that I did.
Catherine was in the other car, simply smiling. I caught her eye and her crazy smile widened. She gave me a slight wave. A feeling of nausea washed over me. I flew out of my seat and pushed my way to the doors. I was concealed from her sight. My tails glanced at each other, probably due to my odd behavior. They had to have known. If they were any good at spying they should've.
I glanced back to where she had been sitting. She was gone. I swallowed my fear and got back into my zone. After what seemed like hours, the train eventually reached the stop that I needed. I patiently made my way out of the car, trying to look as normal as possible. I could feel so many eyes on me. I knew that my other tails had also picked me up, likely creating a rotating pattern so that I never got too suspicious. That was smart.
I couldn't contain the small smile that twitched on my mouth. The vast crowds brought immense relief to me. This was a pavement artist's dream. I weaved in and out of the crowds. I sat down when I wanted and bought coffee when I needed some. Halfway there I took off my sweatshirt and left it on a bench I was sitting on. I was left in a simple tank top, but the sun felt nice against my bare skin. It was one of the last days before it would become too cold to walk around without a jacket.
I continued to mindlessly orchestrate various techniques to lose my tails. My watch beeped, warning me that I had just 30 minutes to reach the Empire State Building before I failed. I decided weeks ago that I would never fail again. One by one, I noticed that my tails were losing me. I kept up my charade of normalcy for a bit longer before I entered the crowded lobby of the building. I walked around it a little bit before I finally caught sight of Mr. Solomon. He was casually leaning against the wall. I knew that he didn't need a watch to keep track of the time. Sitting down, with his arms resting on his legs, was Zach. If I wasn't used to him, I would've stopped and stared like many other women were doing.
I smiled to myself and walked over to where he was seated. I shot him a quick wink before continuing on.
"Ms. Morgan. Made it in the nick of time, I see." Mr. Solomon looked behind me and around.
"If being 10 minutes early is making it 'in the nick of time', then yes I did." Out of the corner of my eye I could see Zach smirk at that.
"And no tails. I must admit I am impressed. Seat yourself next to Zach." I quickly walked back over to Zach and plopped down next to him.
"Geez Gallagher Girl. Someone's tired today." He leaned back to get a better look at me.
"More like full. I had one too many croissant's at the place next to Rockefeller." He chuckled lightly before returning his attention to Mr. Solomon. He was tapping his foot angrily and muttering under his breath.
"Joe…" Zach trailed off, looking at him strangely.
"They are all idiots. Seriously. If they can't do this basic task with ease, then they are by no means ready for the real deal. This is pathetic." It was only then that I realized that Zach and I were the only ones to complete the task; therefore were the only ones who didn't fail.
The car ride was painfully silent. Everyone was sulking and obviously going over what had happened in their minds. Tina smelled suspiciously of cologne and Macey's shoes looked a little too new. Bex was fuming, clenching and unclenching her fists.
When we pulled up to Gallagher everyone shot up from their seats and burst into the doors. I walked a little slower with Zach and Macey. Macey was recounting how she was on track to get their just on time, but saw the newest Jimmy Choo shoe's. She clearly got sidetracked. Zach snorted when he heard Mr. Solomon behind us calling Macey spoiled. Macey made a face and rolled her eyes before flicking him off. We all erupted into laughter and were smiling when we entered the school. Even Mr. Solomon was.
The smile on my face was short lived though, because my mother was standing in front of us glaring at me and Zach.
"So apparently you are sleeping with random boys now, Cameron." Our little group stopped in its tracks causing Mr. Solomon to run into Zach.
"We didn't do anything. And Zach is not some random boy. He's Zach." My face flushed at what she was insinuating.
"Headmistress Morgan, I can assure you that nothing like that happened." Zach's voice was strangely calm. She completely ignored him and kept her eyes trained on me.
"You know that our school does not tolerate sexual activities on our campus." I shook my head, desperate for her to understand. "That is strike three. Follow me to my office so I can properly dismiss you." Panic bubbled inside of me.
"No. No. You can't do that Mom. You really cannot do this to me. You don't understand." Dread seized me. The blood immediately drained from my face. My mother's resolve weakened for a moment. Her eyes softened and she looked at me regretfully. But just as soon as it came it disappeared.
"Cameron, come now. Do not make this more difficult than it has to be."
"Where am I supposed to go?"
"I am sure that your grandparents will be more than happy to take you." My heart sank. I couldn't bring the danger to them as well.
"Mom, we did nothing wrong. Don't make me leave."
Suddenly my savior appeared right in front of me. "Rachel! Stop this right now. She and Zach did nothing wrong. You can't throw your daughter out in the streets. Squirt is your little girl. You need to stop treating her so poorly. She left but she also came back. Forgive and forget." Aunt Abby was out of breath and standing between me and my mother. She had a look of absolute disgust painted on her face. "You already lost Matt. Don't lose her too."
My mom took a deep breath. "Why were you in his bedroom last night?"
I looked her dead in the eye and replied, "He keeps the nightmares away." A soft snort comes from the stairwell above. I meet Bex's eyes. They widen and she stopped listening and walked away. I knew who told my mother. My eyes flitted back to the teary-eyed woman in front of me. It was like remembering what had happened to her daughter over the past summer changed her.
"I'm sorry Cammie." My mother opened her arms for a hug, but I made no move towards her. She sniffed and coughed lightly, lowering her arms. "Just don't get my daughter pregnant Zachary." And with that last note, she turned on her heels and walked away.
"Thank you Aunt Abby." She pulled me into a hug which I gratefully returned.
"The least I can do Squirt. I would hope that you'd do the same for me." I smiled as she squeezed my shoulders. "Go to bed you three! It's way past curfew."
Macey, Zach, and I quickly jogged up a few steps before I heard a small noise coming from the passageway behind the tapestry. I tugged on Zach's arms to stop him from walking ahead.
"Go on Macey. I'll see you in a few." She smirked and nodded, continuing on her way to our dorm. Wordlessly I pulled Zach into the passageway that pitch black until we finally came upon the part that was illuminated by the moon. What I saw next made me freeze in place. There was a figure in the passageway, leaning against the window.
Grant.
Keep reviewing! I didn't get too many last chapter. This was kind of a filler, and I didn't like how I wrote the last part. Oh well. The more reviews, the faster the updates.
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