25.

Laura was putting eyeliner on me and Alicia was braiding back my bangs to put into the high ponytail. They had both eagerly thrown themselves into helping me on my "mission". Leah, however, sat by doing her Culture homework, which I had already gotten done. Mr. Solomon had told me that to help me with my mission, I didn't have to waste time doing his homework.

"Remember to act helpless," Laura said.

"But not too helpless," Alicia said. "You can't act like the Gallagher Academy is incompetent."

"You can be good," Laura said as she moved on to mascara.

"Just not as good as him," Alicia agreed.

I already knew this stuff, but I figured it couldn't hurt to hear it.

"I wish we could put you in a sexier outfit," Laura complained.

"He's going to help her with training," Alicia said and I could tell that she was rolling her eyes. "They'll probably be martial arts fighting and stuff."

"Then why the makeup?" I questioned.

"Nonnegotiable," they said at the exact same time.

"Blush or no?" Laura asked as she screwed the cap on the mascara.

"No," Alicia answered. "That's a little over the top."

I scoffed.

"Done!" Alicia said as she secured the ponytail into place.

I wore black workout shorts that showed off my long, toned legs and a red tank top, along with my Nike Shox.

"Best we can do," Laura said.

"Probably," Alicia agreed. "Leah?"

Leah glanced up and gave us all a look that said that she didn't approve in the slightest.

"What?" Alicia asked defensively.

"Nothing." She looked back down at her homework.

"You better go!" Laura said. "Good luck!"

"Remember: tone it down!" Alicia called as I opened the door.

I left and headed for the front of the castle as quietly as possible. I had a near run-in with Mr. Smith, who was walking around in a nightshirt (I know, weird!) but I managed to avoid him and make it outside without too much trouble.

Grant was already out on the lacrosse field (which also had an underground compartment for the helicopters) stretching and he smiled as I approached. "You showed up."

"Yeah, I did," I said. "I'm eager to learn."

"Clearly," he said. "Stretch out."

I spent a few minutes stretching and then Grant said, "We'll begin with a bit of basic martial arts. I know you guys get about the same training that we do, but I think I can find ways to show you a better approach."

"Sounds good."

"Excellent," he said. "Now, come at me using the Bazinsky Method."

I did and he flipped me. That actually managed to impress me. "How did you do that?"

He helped me up. "The Bazinsky Method is really useful, but only when the other person doesn't know what it is. Most young people being trained nowadays do, though. So, you have to be ready. Now, when you're shifting your weight, that's when it's easiest for someone to gain access of your arm. Agree?"

I nodded.

He showed me what he meant. "Grab my arm."

I did. Note to self: target has impressively large forearms and biceps. And just muscles in general.

"Now, what will I do next to complete the move?" he asked.

"Shift your weight the other way to place the kick."

"Correct," he said. "Now, you don't want me to ever get my foot off of the ground for the kick. You'll want to stop me before then. Agree?"

"Yes."

"Okay," he said. "So, you use my shift in weight against me. Turn at a forty-five degree angle."

I did.

"Now flip."

I pretended to flip him. I obviously couldn't do it for real because we were going in slow motion and he had at least fifty pounds on me. "Good," he said. "Try it a little faster."

Even though I had gotten the move perfectly when he'd showed me the first time, I messed up on purpose so that he would have to correct my stance or the grip on his arm. When he touched me, I pretended to blush and I knew that he noticed. Finally, we got around to doing it full speed and I managed to flip him.

"I did it!" I cheered like a little schoolgirl would.

Grant smiled up at me from the ground. "Yeah, you did. Good job."

"Thanks." I helped him up and was actually grateful for that move. I wouldn't have figured that out on my own. "What's next?"

He helped me with blocking certain other moves – some I knew and some I didn't, but I pretended not to know any of them, just the same. After we finished the last one, he looked at his watch and said, "Wow. It's two in the morning."

It hadn't seemed like we'd been out there that long and I was surprised. "Oh. We should get back inside."

He nodded. "Good plan. How 'bout we pick this up Saturday night?"

"We could work out in the P&E barn Saturday afternoon," I said. "No one ever uses it then."

"Excellent," he said. "And then we can have a midnight session as well."

"Sounds good," I smiled.

"Let's go, then."

We made our way back up to the mansion, Grant keeping a distance of about a foot as we walked. I noticed the way that he walked with his shoulders slightly slumped forward, as if he were the most harmless guy on earth. But I knew what he was – because I was one too. I knew that he was capable of killing someone with his bare hands or with any common household item. And I knew that he didn't know what I was capable of. Yet. He didn't even know that I knew what he was capable of.

He thought that I thought what everyone else thought about their school. That it was a school for boy spies. Assassin school had never crossed their minds. But it was on mine as he told me goodnight and walked towards the East Wing, his footsteps making no sound on the floor.