Wow... It's been like literally almost a year since I last updated. (Slight exaggeration) But still... Where has the time gone? I have no idea. Anyways, if anyone is still reading this... Here's sort of a lame filler chapter. The thing is, I know exactly where this story is going, I'm simply not sure how to get it there. But I feel like it may be beginning to take shape in my mind. Anyways, here it is. ;]

"And it's step hop one two three! Step hop one two three!" Mrs. Pin sang to us as we danced around the room. Joe was my partner and was currently playing the part of boy. We glided easily together, being spies both Joe and I were naturally graceful. Some girls had trouble applying our hard earned grace to music, but thank God Joe and I weren't girls like that. I tried to hold in my laughter as Bry's partner Arial, stepped on her foot for the fifth time.

"Sometimes I wonder how Arial got into this school." I said under my breath. I knew it wasn't the nicest thing to say, but Arial wasn't exactly the best spy. She reminded me of Aunt Liz, a mind rivaling Einstein, but two left feet. Joe shrugged, "Her dad was a civilian." She said logically. I snorted, "Joe, your dad is a civilian, and I don't see you messing up the foxtrot." I could feel Joe stiffen as we danced she missed a hop, but quickly recovered.

"Only biologically." She said curtly. She looked at my forehead determined not to make eye contact. Oh Joe, what happened that made you the way you are? I questioned internally as we danced. "Have you talked to your parents?" Joe asked suddenly. I winced at the change of topic, "No. I saw them at breakfast, but I'm not in a talking mood."

"And dip!" Mrs. Pin queued to us. Joe dipped me easily I resisted the urge to laugh at how ridiculous it was to be in a room full of girls dipping each other. Bry's partner dropped her on the floor. Joe and I made eye-contact and I gave up resisting the urge to laugh. We giggled together our bodies shaking as we tried to keep our laughter to ourselves. The bell rang and Joe and I immediately stopped dancing.

"Remember ladies, stay on your toes!" Mrs. Pin sang as we all booked it for the door. Bry popped up next to me, "Next time you dance with the spy who couldn't." She said under her breath. I checked over my shoulder to make sure that Arial was out of ear shot, "Not nice, Bry." I said in a harsh whisper. She huffed, "Maybe so, but my ass is definitely going to be bruised after this." Joe and I laughed.

"I wonder what's for lunch." Joe mused aloud as we headed towards the Cafeteria. Bry did a series of front walk-overs down the stairs as Joe and I jogged to keep up. "Good question." She said stretching out from her gymnastics, "I'm famished."

"Ev!" I stopped cold as the voice of my father called me out of the crowd. Bry squeezed my hand before moving on with the other girls to lunch. My father was alone wearing simple Jeans and a button down. He looked surprisingly normal unlike of the intimidating business shark he looked like last night.

I stuffed my hands into my pockets and walked towards him, "Hi." I said looking down at my shoes. I could tell he was feeling just as awkward as I was, "I'm sorry." We said in unison. I looked up into his eyes and we both started laughing. I closed the gap between us and he wrapped his arms around me. I pressed my face against his chest. He smelled like mint, "I shouldn't have blown up at you like that." I said pulling away.

My dad chuckled, "I shouldn't have blown up at himlike that. It's just that... you're extremely important to me, Ev. Before I met your mother I was a terrible boy. I'm ashamed to say that I broke several hearts. Stent reminds me of myself, and I don't want you to be just another girl he's chased after." I shook my head, "Dad... Stent isn't like that. I know I've said that before but... He's sweet, he's kind, and really funny. I can't explain it, it's like we just fit dad. From the moment we met we just felt right... it feels right, dad."

For a moment I could have sworn my dads eyes misted over. He pulled me into another hug, "Just promise me one thing, Evie." I ignored the fact that he used a nickname I hadn't heard since I was about eleven, "I'll try." I said not wanting to agree before I knew what he was about to say. My dad sighed, he was obviously having trouble putting this into words. He grasped both my hands in his and looked me in the eye, "When you're with Stent, don't let go of your inner spy. Not for a moment."

I let go of his hands, "Dad..." I said shaking my head. How could I make him understand, "I don't think I can do that..." My dad frowned. I spoke quickly before he could say anything, "Stenton makes me feel like a normal girl. When I'm with him I'm not a spy, I'm just Evelyn Goode." My dad actually chuckled, "You do realize that saying that you're a Goode and not a spy is a bit of an oxymoron." I laughed covering my face with my hands, "Ahhh." I groaned remembering how wonderful it felt to be on good terms with my dad.

My dad put his arm around my shoulder and lead me to a bench that he and I both knew was actually an exit from a secret room that you could only get into from outside. We sat down and he said, "Okay. Tell me what you were gong to say." He said getting a little more serious. I sighed, "Stenton makes me feel like a normal girl. Something I've never felt in my whole life, dad. I don't have to worry about anything when I'm around him. If I'm with Stenton I feel... safe. I don't have to be a spy, because nothing bad can happen when we're together."

"No." My dad sternly. I looked up at him afraid of another bad confrontation. But he looked more sad than angry, "No, Ev. You cannot let go of your spy, especially when you're around him." There was something going on, something with Stenton. Why wasn't he telling me? He found something when he was digging up dirt on Stent, "Dad. What were you and Stent talking about when you said you knew his whole life story." My dad smiled sadly, "I can't tell you Evelyn. I technically don't even have clearance to know about it."

Wow, my dad not having clearance for something. It must really really terrible. But Stenton couldn't have done anything, or else he probably wouldn't be alive right now. I nodded slowly, "Alright. Alright, dad. I will not let go of my spy." It killed me to say it, and it'd be hard; things were obviously bad, I had to do it." My dad hugged me again, "You have no idea how good that makes me feel." I nodded. Youhavenoideahowawfulthismakesmefeel.

"Ev, we've been at this for hours. Maybe your dad just made it up to keep your guard up because he doesn't trust Stent." Bry said rubbing her neck as she took a break from staring at her computer screen. I sighed, as much as I didn't want to admit it we were getting nowhere.

I leaned back pushing my computer away. Bry and I both looked up at Joe hopefully, "I can't. I'm sorry, the firewall is too fast. Maybe if I can create a program that will think for me, so that I don't have to do it manually I could break in. But that'll take me a month to complete." I collapsed on my bed completely exhausted and discouraged. We'd been trying to learn more about Stenton's past for the past three hours. Bry had broken into his e-mail and i-phone records. I felt too intrusive doing that so I resorted to digging up dirt on both of his parents. Joe was attempting to break into the NSA database, but so far it was a no go.

I stared at the ceiling trying to think of something else we could do. Bry stood up and started one of her ridiculous stretch routines, "Ev, don't worry about it. Like you said, if it was something bad that Stenton actually did your dad would have taken him out." I groaned, "What part of that sentence is supposed to make me feel better?" I asked wanting to chuck my laptop out of the window.

Joe finally closed her laptop gently, "Ev. Maybe you should cool it with Stent for a while. I mean, just for safety." I rolled my eyes, "No, Joe. I'm not going to stop seeing him. You can't tell me that I'm remaking my moms mistakes. Everybody knows that we're going out, I don't lie to him, my parents are okay with it... for the most part. We are legitimate, get used to it."

Bry winced, but Joe just stared at me. She almost looked disgusted, "Evelyn, he's a civilian." She said quietly. That was it. I was tired of this, of her, of her attitude, of everyone trying to tell me that I shouldn't be with Stenton, "Joe," I said my voice rising, "Just because your parents had a terrible relationship doesn't mean that every civilian has the plague!" I yelled at her. Bry gave me an, you shouldn't have said that look, but I didn't care. I was sick and tired of Joe's attitude.

"Good look getting into the NSA files." She said picking up her laptop and walking out of the room. She slammed the door behind her. Bry sighed and headed for the door, "You're leaving too?" I asked knowing that my voice was week and shaky. I could feel that lump growing hard in my throat. "I'm on your side, Evelyn. But Joe's hurting." I started shaking, "I'm hurting, Bry!" She nodded, "But I know why you're hurting. Something is wrong with Joe and we have no idea what it is." She said turning the doornob.

"Fine, go." I snapped feeling my eyes start to burn. Bry sighed, "I'm sorry, I'll be back in a little bit." I nodded and the second the door closed behind her I began to cry. I felt stupid, insignificant, insensitive, and unsupported. And worst of all, I felt selfish, something was going on with Joe and I hadn't even tried to get it out of her. Do boys always make you this confused?

Annnnnd, that's all. It's a bit short... at least from what I remember of the length of my old chapters. Buuut if you're still reading here's a huuuge THANK YOU! And please, review. What do ya'll thinks wrong with Joe?

XOXO, Windy