.o Memories o.

Cammie POV

Despite completely rebuilding it, the Gallagher Academy was the same as ever, only upgraded. The dining hall, grand staircase, library, and classrooms looked as ancient as ever, but beneath the paint and wood, every wall was plated with steel. Every brick was new, stronger, yet looking around; you could swear we only remodeled a few areas instead of building from the ground up. To me, our school seemed to reflect what Gallagher Girls were even more than before- elegant, beautiful, but beneath our surfaces are cores stronger than titanium. My friends and I had the scars and experience to prove it.

For the first time in my life, coming home didn't give me any sense of security. It didn't ease the knot of nerves that had formed in my stomach, and even seeing my mother was a somber event.

"-then I blacked out."

My eyes flickered away from studying the small changes of my mother's office to the girl sitting in front of the desk. She stared directly ahead, her hair creating a thin veil hiding her face. She was avoiding eye contact with everyone in the small room. At fifteen, she wouldn't have started interrogation tactics yet, and it was evident in the way she would twist her fingers that she was uncomfortable.

It was strange remembering myself at that age, back when figuring out what boys were thinking was the greatest mystery. Glancing at the boy in the corner of the room, I realized that the male mind was the one thing I hadn't solved over the years. I shook my head slightly, refocusing on the girl. She was now braiding a strand of her dark hair, waiting for someone to respond to her story.

Mom leaned forward in her chair. "Thank you, Elizabeth. You may return to your classes."

The girl nodded, standing up and glancing around at the rest of us. Her eyes paused slightly, snaring on the space between my and Macey's heads. "It was a pleasure meeting all of you." She nodded again to Mom before turning towards the door.

Across from me, Bex met my eyes, a small smile on her face. Before Elizabeth could open the door I stood up. "Oh, and Elizabeth." She turned, eyeing me curiously. I leaned backwards, placing my hand over the gap between the bookshelf and the wall and pressing the hidden button. The bookshelf slid against the wall, revealing the hidden tunnel. Two girls stumbled into the room, eyes wide. I waited for them to gain their balance before continuing. "We would appreciate it if this didn't spread around the school."

The girls gaped at me for a second before nodding. They quickly scuttled out the door, glancing back at me and whispering.

As soon as they were gone, Bex let out a chuckle. "Bit strange isn't it? Seeing them so young."

Macey looked at her, humor vacant from her eyes. "Seeing them before they realize that this isn't all fun and games?"

The silence that followed was painful, because we had all been there. I glanced around the room. My mother and aunt stood with my stepfather and Townsend behind the desk while the rest of us were scattered around the office. No one knew the things they'd seen. I didn't know what the boys had been through. I didn't even know everything my best friends had faced. Just like they didn't know what I'd seen, what I'd done. None of us had the mindset we carried in school. We all had been innocent in our thinking years ago. We'd all grown up to see the world for what it is. No one enjoyed having their ignorance ripped from them.

Joe cleared his throat, and all eyes shot to him. "Based on the accounts we've heard in the past two days I believe our subject may still be within the state." He looked to Grant, who was leaning his chair back so far he would have fallen over long before if Jonas hadn't stuck his hand out, pushing the chair so it swung like a rocking chair. "Where do you think they would hide?" Joe asked, unfazed by the casualness of the boy's demeanor.

Grant leaned forward, his chair making a small thud as the front legs hit the floor. His relaxed features hardened slightly. "As I told you before, they were hiding in the abandoned theater-"

"We've had surveillance on all of Roseville since the attack." Mom pressed her fingertips together. "The place is still empty."

The smirk and chuckle that followed would have gotten Grant punched if it weren't for Liz's arm on Bex's shoulder. Glancing at the smaller girl for a second, Bex sank back into the small sofa, her eyes steeled against Grant's small smile.

I let out a huff as Jonas cleared his throat, bowing his head slightly. "With all due respect, Mrs. Morgan, Alyson spent her entire childhood learning how to evade Gallagher Girls. They know what they're doing, and it's more than possible that they're still in the theater."

Mom sat back in her chair, a determined look gracing her features as she steadied her gaze on the boys. "There is currently a team of Girls in Roseville, should I send them in?"

"No." Everyone blinked at the harshness of the word. The objection came from Zach, who cleared his throat slightly and continued in a calmer, but no less tenacious tone. "This is my fight, and I should have ended it a long time ago." I shifted my gaze when he glanced at up at me. "No one should get hurt because of something I've done." He looked at each of us in turn. "I'm ending this. None of you should feel obligated to help me."

There was a second of silence before Grant snorted rather loudly. "Oh, please." He shook his head slightly, pushing himself out of his chair. "Of all the times to go noble, Zachary, you pick now?" He raised an eyebrow, a disbelieving grin on his face. "We've followed you on every suicide mission thus far haven't we, idiot?"

Jonas rolled his eyes, stepping next to the taller boy and pushing him back slightly. "I think what Newman is trying to say is," he crossed his arms, turning fully to Zach. "We've been in this together from the beginning. What makes you think we're staying behind now?" Relaxing his shoulders, he brought his hand up, pushing up his glasses. "Besides," he added, "you're not the only one who cares Zach."

In the corner of my eye, I could see the adults holding a silent conversation. I bit my lip, watching Zach and his friends. In all the chaos and anger, it was easy to forget that, despite what they'd done, these girls were Zach's family. He still cared for them. This entire situation was hard for him, just like it was hard for me to let anyone in when the Circle wanted me. I couldn't forget how difficult this past month must have been for Zach. I tried to imagine having to fight Macey or locking up Bex. The very thought was enough for me to stand up.

Everyone's eyes snapped to me, their gazes warm against my face. Zach watched me carefully as I crossed the small room. Grant and Jonas backed up so quickly, it almost made me laugh. Almost. Behind me, I could practically feel my friends' anticipation. In front of me, I could see the anxiousness in Zach's eyes. It was unnerving to see the uncertainty in his normally confident expression.

"I've been too hard on you." It wasn't technically an apology, but Zach obviously understood. There wasn't time here and now to have a heart to heart discussion of where we both went wrong these past few weeks. Now was the time for action. All that was needed was certainty that the heart to heart could, and would take place peacefully.

Zach let out a breath, his arms and shoulders visibly relaxing as he put a hand behind his neck. "You had reason to be."

I nodded, a small smile working its way onto my lips. "But we're your friends." I glanced back at my sisters, who were grinning, smirking, and giving me an 'about bloody time' looks respectively. Liz quickly sat up a little straighter, Macey glanced once between Zach and me before nodding slightly; and Bex cracked her knuckles. I turned back to the boy in front of me. "And we're at your service."

Joe stepped forward, a spark in his eyes. "Well then, Mr. Goode, I believe you have your team."

...

"So, Cam, how many memories does this dig up?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Funny, Bex," I muttered into my comm. Leave it to her to mention the one thing I was trying to avoid thinking about. I was attempting- and failing- to block out all the memories that lived in this town. The hard thing about it, however, was the fact Roseville looked exactly the same as the day a brown haired boy saw me take a Dr. Pepper bottle from a trash can.

Same houses, same gazebo, same park, same square. Same memories I'd tried to forget for the past three years. I only hoped I didn't see anyone who would recognize me, considering we didn't bother to use disguises.

"Focus, Dutchess." Zach had taken the lead of this operation. Bex, Macey, and I were making our way through town, approaching the theater from the obvious entrances, while Zach, Grant and Townsend uses more covert entryways. Mom had decided it was better if she stayed at Gallagher, but Abby and Joe were closing in on any escape routes Alyson could use. As usual, Liz and Jonas were commanding our comms and computers. It was comforting having my family at my back.

"Cobra, watch for trip wires, you know how Cla- Pixie is."

Now my focus was getting Zach's family back.

Across the street there was a girl holding a small black bag, leaning against a tree watching a group of approaching boys. I watched as her hands gripped the bag, her knuckles going white before dropping the bag, its contents spilling into the path of the boys.

A few of the boys kept walking, stepping around the girl, but one stopped. Bending down I watched as the boy picked up one of the items that had fallen, a pen. It looked ordinary, but I knew from experience that there was a hidden blade in the handle. The only giveaway was the elegant, gold Gallagher Academy, against the black handle.

The boy studied the pen for a second before looking back to the red head who had gathered the rest of her items. "The Gallagher Academy?" The boy asked in surprise, taking in Anna's ripped jeans and leather jacket before his expression turned sour. "What are you doing out of your preppy uniform, rich girl?" He sneered.

My teeth squeaked as they ground together. Out of all the people to see, I had to come across the most pig-headed boy in this town. A voice in my ear stopped me from moving. "Chameleon, I've lost eyeball, where are you?"

"In the square, Peacock. I found Sparrow." There was a second pause before Macey replied.

"Eyeball." Two beats. "Don't take too long, Chameleon."

Glancing up at me, Anna gave me a quick wink before standing up. "I happen to be alumni," she stated, matter-of-factly, holding her hand out. "Could you hand me my pen please?"

There was a pause in which I thought the prick would actually hand her the pen.

Instead, he tossed it over his shoulder. The pen bounced, rolling across the street and landing close to my feet. Glaring, I picked it up.

"You can get your own pen, Rich Girl," Pig-head sneered. "Teach you that not everyone is your personal butler. A lesson all you rich girls need to learn."

Anna narrowed her eyes. "Watch it, Jones."

The boy stepped back, obviously thrown off by the use of his last name. "What the hell?"

Taking a menacing step forward, Anna continued. "Now, I was planning not to hold a grudge, but I can tell you haven't learned your lesson."

"What are you talking about, Rich G-"

Anna reached out and grabbed his hand, twisting it, causing the owner to stumble and bend forward awkwardly, eyes bulging in shock. "Don't call me that," Anna said, her tone sugar sweet. She glanced up at me, grinning.

I took my cue and walked to them, pen in hand. "Hey, Anna." Glancing down at the wincing boy, I smirked. "Hello, Dillon. Long time, no see." Turning back to Anna, I held up the pen. "Drop something?"

In one swift motion, Anna shifted her arms and swiped her foot, and the high and mighty Dillon fell on his face. Ignoring the fuming boy she just dropped, Anna plucked the pen from my hand. "Thanks, Cammie."

Scowling, Dillon stood up, glanced between us, and did a double take. "You!" he snapped, jabbing a finger at me.

I swung my arms out dramatically. "Me." It felt good to face this one part of my past again. I'd never stood my ground with Dillon, and it was gratifying to face him with the confidence I had now.

In front of me, Dillon sneered again. "You stay away from me—" Whatever he was going to call me was cut off by a shout down the street.

"Dillon! There you are!"

I tensed. No, please no.

Dillon glanced at the two people approaching before shooting me another glare. He didn't get to say anything because the couple had already reached us.

"Dude, are you okay? You look like you face planted the cement," the boy laughed. A laugh I hadn't heard in years. I studied the boy in front of me. He'd grown an inch and a half since in the last time I'd seen him. His hair was shorter, and he'd filled out; but he was leaner than Zach.

Josh looked away from his friend, turning to Anna and me. His laughing expression dimmed as recognition dawned in his eyes. "Cammie?"

I gave a small wave. "That's me." In my ear, I could hear my friend's voices, but I couldn't understand them. My brain was working at light speed.

One voice did break through the chaos, however. "Cam, don't freeze. Get out of there."

Sucking in a breath through my nose, I processed Zach's command. I wasn't alone; I wasn't a confused sixteen-year-old, still hung up on her ex. I was a Gallagher Girl, and I had a mission. A smile spread across my lips.
Next to Josh, Dee Dee was grinning. "Cammie! What are you doing here?" It didn't escape my attention that she reached out, her hand landing on Josh's arm.

"Hi, Dee Dee." I glanced at Anna. "I'm just visiting a friend."

Before Dee Dee could jump further into the conversation, Dillon cut her off. "Yeah, well we got to go." He placed his arms on the pair's shoulders and began leading them away.

Before Dillon could push them far, Josh turned and called, "It was cool seeing you again, Cammie."

I nodded, waving slightly. Watching them walk away, it hit me that I was saying goodbye to something that had once been the most critical thing in the world, but I didn't feel sad at all. I knew who I was, and I had a girl to save.

In my ear, Zach's voice muttered, "Goodbye, Jimmy."

I didn't correct him.

...