A/N: lots of fun things in this chapter, we meet Macey again and Cam starts stealing a few things; but for what? Review and let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is also really good so if you have any please R&R

Chapter 4

As Cammie stormed out of the CoveOps classroom she forced air down her lungs and pushed the last lingering memories into a box at the back of her mind. "I want you to live Cam", she heard his voice whisper in her mind, I will Dad, she thought before taking a last calming breath then chastising herself for getting of task.

Come on Cammie, you have a job to do, focus! She thought while surreptitiously checking the hall for watching eyes. She found none so proceeded with her plan.

The Sublevels in the Gallagher Academy were split into three different sections for the three years you took the course. The third held the most sensitive material which only seniors could access and the first held the least which the sophomores could access; but that doesn't mean that there wasn't anything there that wasn't useful.

Cammie slips into one of the storage rooms and finds shelves full of everyday spy gadgets. She pilfers a couple pairs of comms, camera necklaces and earrings as well as some speciality watches, pen drives, napotine patches and a few tool boxes. Quickly stowing her goods in a false compartment in her bag, the butterflies in her stomach giving a quick flutter while thinking of all the nefarious deeds she could perform with these goods, she made her way back outside and waited for Bex beside the full length mirror which marks an entrance to the Subs.

Luck was on her side as just as she had settled herself against the wall the first of her classmates exited the Subs. It didn't take long for Bex to catch up to her but soon after the world was bathed in the red lights which announced the imminent arrival of one Macey McHenry: spy legacy but right now, total bitch.

Macey McHenry was a lot of things: the daughter of a prominent senator, the heiress to an extremely successful if problematic cosmetics company, a burden to her parents. But what she was at that moment in time, was very unhappy. And when Macey McHenry is unhappy, she makes sure that somebody knows even if her parents couldn't care less.

Sitting in the back seat of a flashy black limo wearing the whole goth get-up and looking every bit of the spoiled, rebellious child she was acting like, Macey thought about the latest snobby school her parents would buy her way into. God knows my GPA wouldn't actually get me entry to any of these schools. If her parents cared enough to look her way they would see their only child silently fuming but in reality she was weary and just tired, plain and simple.

You see, Macey McHenry only pretends to be a bitch. Truthfully, she just wants to be her own person who is loved by her parents for who she is and not what she looks like.

But it's not going to happen Macey so stop it. It doesn't do well to live in a delusion of your own creation. They will never love you. The broken girl thought as she prepared her routine for the afternoon, even as every cell in her body protested and begged her to give it up: Disrespect, Disinterest, Damage. The sure fire way of getting kicked out a school before you're even admitted, created by the one and only Macey McHenry.

As the car pulled up in front of the white stone steps of one of the last prestigious schools Macey hadn't attended, she cleared her head of any other thought and
focused. If she had her way, they wouldn't be here for more than an hour at the latest.

She was bored. There was a vaguely hot woman talking about the history of the school and two cheerful students who were going to show her their stuck up school. They had told her their names but she honestly couldn't remember; she just couldn't commit to the school – any school really – especially when the uniforms were so…ackhh!

When she is told that she will be going on a tour with Tweedledee and Tweedledum she leaps at the chance, not because she's enthusiastic but because she can get a start on her three step plan.

Out in the hall she leans against some random glass case and lights up a cigarette from her pocket. She watches with an amused smirk at the peeved glare from one of the girls but before she can return with some of her signature snark she finds herself grasping thin air.

What?!

"Unless you want your face to run I would suggest you put that out. We have really sensitive fire alarms here." The average one said before walking off down the corridor, only stopping long enough to throw a parting comment over her shoulder.

"This way McHenry, there's something here you're going to want to see. It's pretty spectacular if I do say so myself."

Suffice to say, Macey was stunned and for one split second she thought that maybe she had underestimated the plain looking teen.

Putting on her best 'If-this-isn't-Worthwhile-I'm-going-to-kill-you' face, she kicked off the wall and followed the brunette.

She walks past the hall leading to the Headmistress' office and enters the spacious entrance hall. As she walked past a set of large double doors a waft of heavenly smelling food reached her nostrils and she felt an overwhelming need to give up her superior act and go shovel the aromatic food down her throat.

Snap out of it McHenry, you can't let them win, she thought, shaking her head out of her traitorous thoughts.

"We're here," the confident girl said, "why don't you take a seat Macey, we only need to wait for the sun and you'll see what I mean."

Unsure of how to get out of her current situation, the senator's daughter decided to play along and flopped down on a plush red window seat overlooking the front lawn. Even in her sullen state, Macey had to admit that the view was stunning.

"It's beautiful, isn't it" the brunette said, vocalising Macey's thoughts without even noticing it.

Macey herself shoots her a dirty look, almost as if reminding her that she was in a bad mood and that everyone else should be too. Digging into her pocket she flipped out her phone and made to call one of her friends. If you can call him that; he's just another leach hanging off of every flirtatious smile I send his way. Better than these two anyway. She tapped her booted foot as she waited fro the call to connect.

"It's not going to work McHenry. There are jammers around school so no cell service"

Both Bex and Macey made undignified scoffs though for two completely different reasons. Macey was truelly appaled at the lack of cell service: how was she going to be able to slack of in class if she couldn't be distrated by someone?

Bex however was a mixture of confused, shocked and annoyed. The goal was to deter Macey from coming as well as keeping their secrets, what the hell is Cam doing!

Undeterred, the teen in question changed the subject and continued.

"Your mom's a bitch and your dad's a jack-ass"

Eyes as wide as saucers, Macey turns to the girl sitting across from her and sees the matter-of-fact expression on her face. Then she laughs. Not the pretty laugh she puts on for cute boys and not the fake one she puts on at 'important' events. No, this was a full, throaty laugh which echoed down the main staircase and through the halls.

"Don't let them hear you say that; they could get you kicked out of this school you seem to like so much" Macey choked out while trying to regain some of her breath. She may not want to be here but she hated her parents more so in her book, this girl was alright.

"My mom's the Headmistress, I'd like to see them try."

Looking at the girl Macey couldn't help but feel a tiny amount of respect for her; being able to stand up to her parents wasn't an easy feat, and she should know, she's been doing it for as long as she has been able to define 'individuality'.

Opting to stay silent and see where the brave girl would take the conversation next, Macey fixed her eyes on the girl and the sparkle in her eyes almost begging her to continue.

Cammie looked into Macey's eyes and caught a familiar twinkle within her iris' and knew that she was on the right track. I can't wait to get my Macey back, she thought desperately, missing the outgoing girl they had all come to love.

"It must really suck to be you. I can't imagine what it would be like if all my mom cared about was scamming people out of their money and all my dad cared about was getting his next vote. I certainly don't envy you." Cammie said with baited breath, wondering whether Macey would kick and scream or freeze. I wish I could do this some other way, she thought, but before she had even finished thinking Cammie knew that the only way to get into Macey's head and make her realise that she can be great was by brute force

The teen in question however just clenched her jaw and stayed silent, keeping the now completely fake smile firmly fixed upon her gorgeous face.

Steeling herself, Cammie continued. "Don't you hate being known only for your last name?" she asked with genuine curiosity. Even in her past life Macey hated really talking about her parents; only Preston was given the privilege of knowing about that.

Macey, however, did not take kindly to the queries and bit out her reply. "What's it to you, bitch?"

Cammie hears Bex's sharp intake of breath but ignored it in favour of her conversation. Keeping a perfectly straight face, she began to speak once more.

"Aren't you tired of pretending to be someone you're not? All just to get back at your parents who you know couldn't even care if they tried."

"I am not fake!"

Macey's amused twinkle had turned into an angry spark and it was clear for anyone to see. As she opened her mouth to speak once more Cammie interrupted her. If I don't get my point across soon Macey is going to get pissed, Cammie thought, suddenly regretting ever having this conversation in the first place. You just had to go and tempt fate didn't you Cameron.

"I never said you were; you're far from it actually. You're going to be accepted into the school whether you like it or not you know." Cammie said, trying to turn the conversation around even just a little.

After Macey's current train of thought was stopped in its tracks, Cammie would swear that she looked almost confused; as if she had never come across someone like Cammie before. She probably hasn't, it's not every day some prep school girl gets you better than your own family.

"We've already established that your parents don't give a shit about you so they won't have any qualms about just leaving you here, so that only leaves one question."

"Oh yeah, and what's that smart ass"

"Are you going to stay? I won't lie to you Macey. Whatever question you have I will answer as truthfully as I am able to so know that what I am about to tell you could very well get me in trouble with my friend over here" Cammie declared, nudging her head in Bex's direction.

As Macey turned to look at the highly confused and desperately panicked teen (an expression that Macey will later described as constipated), she couldn't help but think that this girl, whoever she was, was willing to do what most everyone else would never dream of; telling her the truth. In a world of fame, money and power that was hard to come by and so she took the bait and gave a little nod for the brunette to continue. It was time to find out what was so special about this girl and this place and this time Macey would listen, she owed that much at least to the teen in front of her, especially since she felt compelled to listen, like this was going to be a turning point in her incredibly miserable life. For just one moment, Macey let go and listened.

"I don't want to be your enemy Macey. I want to really get to know you because I think you're a girl worth getting to know. I know that there is someone inside of you who can fit in here; who can belong here. But you need to give us a chance. My mom probably doesn't want you to know this Macey because she doesn't want you to get the wrong impression. Yes, the reason we are giving you this opportunity is because of your name, but there is a reason why we were all accepted in the first place. Me because my mom is the headmistress, Bex because her parents know my mom, our other friend Liz because she is the second coming of Einstein. That is NOT, however, why we stay here. We can leave any time we want Macey but we don't. We stay because this is the only place where we can feel worthwhile. It's the only place where we can make something of ourselves. I would never leave this place because it is my home and these are my sisters. My whole family was broken when my mom and I came here but it helped us heal. Please Macey, you can do something with your life here but only if you give us a chance. In return we will always be a family to you, even when your own isn't quite up to standard. A Gallagher Girl never leaves one of her own behind; just give us a chance." Cammie finished, practically pleading with the girl in front of her to listen to her carefully.

As she was speaking the sun had stopped hiding behind the clouds and now, shining brightly through the stained-glass windows, a kaleidoscope of colours could be seen painted across the floor and walls. It was breath-taking and suddenly Macey found that she was on the edge of a cliff. She was teetering back and forth; behind her was an endless expanse of rocky terrain, pain and misery. In front of her was a free fall which could liberate her or kill her. It was a risk, a gamble, the unknown. It scared her, but what did she have to lose.

As Macey sat in the back of the same black limo as before, she rested her head on the rest and let herself deflate. The day had not gone the way she had wanted but maybe, sometimes, occasionally, what she wants does not equal what she needs.

A/N: I am so sorry for not updating last week; I recently started school again after the half term and I got busy with art coursework and I realised I had to edit this chapter one more time before I could publish it. I won't lie, chapters will not be particularly fast now. I will be aiming for once every fortnight but I am in my GCSE year so more often than not I will be spending my time revising. But I will try! I have a few more chapters already prewritten so it shouldn't be too bad. Fingers-crossed!

IN REPLY TO LINA WALOWITZ: As Cammie will no longer try and persue Josh she will try and make freinds with and bond with Macey some other way. It will be one of her goals and won't actually be all that hard as most of the groundwork for their friendship is done in this chapter. However, the real challenge will be for Liz and Bex to become friends with Macey and, when she's not doing other things, Cam will be focusing on this. There will be fluff and drama, a few pranks but the group WILL become friends by the end of the semester, don't worry! A lot of this semester will be spent preparing for the next one and extablishing characters so I will be (trying to) make this all as realistic as possible: there will be no unexplained shifts in character.

Thank you to everyone else who reviewed telling me they loved the story so far! Thank you as well to the guest who answered my questions, it was very nice of you and I will take your views into consideration!

Next time we will see Cammie's first Sunday night dinner with her mum and hilarious banter ensues! After that though is the first cove ops mission; I am soooo excited to both write it and see what your reactions will be to the schemeing!

~Leona Faith