Chapter 10

Zach POV

I flopped down on by hard mattress.

"Ouch."

It was really hard.

"So what's the big news you guys wanted to tell me?" I asked. "You were so excited over the phone."

Jonas shrugged. "You'll hear the announcement at dinner tonight."

"Oh come on. I'll be your best friend forever."

"You already are."

I threw up my hands. "Just tell me!"

"You might strangle me in excitement."

"I have never strangled anybody in excitement. Why would I start now?"

Jonas looked up from his computer and blinked. "First time for everything, right?"

"You're impossible."

He flashed his white teeth at me. "Thanks."

The day crawled by impossibly slowly. Drills, classes, lunch, classes, and drills. All I wanted was for dinner to come as quickly as possible because not matter how much I pestered my three roommates, the only thing they would say was, "How well do you know Cameron Morgan?" Cryptic, much?

Finally, the dinner bell rang, and I found myself running out of class and to the dining hall before the teacher had even said, "You're dismissed."

I grabbed a plate and piled food on from the buffet, not even paying attention to what I was grabbing. Then I quickly plunked down in a seat and waited impatiently for every other boy to slowly shuffle in, fill up plates of food, and settle down.

"Hey, man," Grant greeted around a chunk of mashed potatoes.

"Hi, and eat with your mouth closed."

Grant shrugged and just shoveled more food in his mouth. I know people always say teenage boys eat like prisoners who don't expect another meal, but they've never seen Grant. He's on a whole 'nother level. Let's just say we don't say he has a big mouth just because he talks a lot!

The headmaster got up on stage and made his way to the podium. My leg started to jiggle under the table in anticipation.

"Hey, you gonna eat that?" Grant asked, gesturing to my nearly-untouched plate.

I waved my hand indicating that he could have it and then turned back to the front of the hall.

"Boys, quiet down!" the headmaster called. The room was immediately silent. "Thank you. I have a big announcement to make. Recently, I met with a woman named Rachel Morgan. I don't expect you to know who she is, so I will make it clear to you. She is the headmaster at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women."

I glanced over at Jonas and Nick in surprise, but their faces were both set in smug grins. I was so out of the loop.

"We met to discuss an enrichment opportunity our two schools have never seen before. Now let me make it clear to you that Gallagher is not just any rich private school for girls. It's a rich private spy school for girls."

Whispers started to break out all over the hall, but a stern cough and glare from the headmaster shut them up.

"Headmaster Morgan and I both felt that, despite the exceptional education you receive in school, our pupils our still ignorant because they know nothing about their other half. Boys, exactly how much do you know about girls? If you've been following our rules, it shouldn't be much. So Headmaster Morgan and I are now offering this extra credit opportunity. We are having an exchange with the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women and I have a sign-up sheet right here with thirty spots open."

Almost half the room stood up right there to get to the sheet first.

The headmaster looked as if he wanted to laugh. "Now, now, boys. Before you come rushing up here in testosterone-fueled lust – because we all know what you're thinking now – at least try to think about it. Are you prepared to be embarrassed? To put up with all of the crazy that comes with girls? Maybe even to be beaten at your own game? Because let me assure you, boys. These girls are good."

I second that, I thought. If they're anything, they're good.

"So in order to sign up, you'll have to make an appointment with me. And I will be making the executive decision of whether or not you go. Oh, and I'm sorry if I didn't mention this before because I've gotten your hopes up, but juniors and seniors only."

I collective groan resounded through the room.

"But I do believe some younger girls will be coming to stay here at Blackthorne as well. So all is not lost! Think about it boys. Either choice is a walk on the wild side. After all, we're letting crazy hormonal teens mix. The question is, where will you get the most out of it?"

"I can't believe you guys didn't tell me this," I finally said, turning back to my tablemates. "You're not that good at keeping secrets. Especially such huge ones."

"I'm offended," Nick joked.

"We're so going," Grant added around some green beans.

"Okay tiger. But that whole 'eat with your mouth closed' thing I was talking about earlier? It applies even more now if you want to get your British girl," I warned.

But all I could think about was that I suddenly had a chance to get my Gallagher girl.

Cammie POV

"They're what!?" I nearly screeched.

"They're coming here. And some of our girls are going there," Macey answered calmly. She was sitting opposite me on my bed and filing her nails as if the world wasn't about to end.

"They can't be! I don't want to see him again! That was the single most embarrassing moment in my life."

"I thought it was sweet how he helped you with the glass afterwards," Liz offered.

"But he was mad at me. I attacked his aunt. And he ditched me on the way home or something because we weren't in the same taxi or helicopter," I protested.

"That could mean anything." Bex raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think you're overreacting a little? He might not even be chosen to come here."

I took a deep breath. "Okay. You're right. Calm down, Cammie."

But the moment I thought about him coming to stay here for the semester, my heart rate picked right back up again. I fell face-first onto my pillow and groaned. When I spoke, my voice came out muffled.

"I'm so toast."

AND THE ZAMMIE BEGINS!