A/N Hello readers! This is the last time I'm going to do a disclaimer. We all know Ally Carter owns the Gallagher Girls series. And since obviously I'm not Ally Carter, I own nothing and no one but the plot and Will, Abby, Lauren, Kat, Megan, Mike, Jake, and Nick. Again, I hope you enjoy, and Review, Review, Review!

~nothingevergoesasplanned

Chapter 3: Don't Blink, Don't Look Away.

WPOV

Recap: Mr. Goode explained briefly, "They are going to change into their uniforms to keep the identity of the person Mr. Newman captured a secret." 5.45 seconds after he told us this, the double- doors opened. As the congregation of Blackthorne shifted in their seats to get their first look at the girls staying with us this year, I couldn't help but smirk. Bring. It. On.

The girls walked back in in a single file line. I tried to deduce who my hostage was based on height (I figured she was around 5'8") and weight (115-130 lbs.). I narrowed it down to about 5 girls. I think I would be able to tell when Mystery Girl speaks.

The girls lined up in a line in front of the podium, just like they had been 10 seconds ago. A quick head count showed there were 28 girls all together. Headmaster Goode motioned to the first girl to step forward. She was blonde with icy blue eyes, around 5'6," and not the girl I was looking for. "Lauren McHenry," she said. Nick let out a whistle under his breath. "I call her," he whispered to me. With an almost unnoticeable nod, I looked back at the girl trying to figure out what had caught Nick's eye. She was definitely supermodel material, but the look on her face screamed BACK OFF! I guess that's what drew him in...

She stepped back and another girl stepped forward. She was too short to be Mystery Girl so I didn't even catch her name. It went on like this for the next few girls. She's too short, too tall, too skinny, too short, too sturdy, you get the picture. It wasn't until Mike nudged me and nodded to the girl introducing herself that I really payed attention. "Kathryn is my name, but if any of you call me anything but Kat I swear I will make sure it will be impossible for you to have children one day." Hmm, she sounds like me. Obviously, she caught Mike's attention. She was one of those few girls that pulled off the dangerously hot look. I realized we were close to the end of the line by now, with only five girls left. The next girl stepped forward timidly. She looked familiar. Jake looked slightly interested in her. I tried to place her, but it wasn't until Mike shot Jake a warning look that I realized I was looking at Mike's twin sister, Megan. "Hi, I'm Megan Anderson," she said in a southern accent, confirming my suspicions. Jake was going to have it in for him tonight from the way Mike was glaring at him.

Four girls left, and so far, none of the girls have matched the very few things I knew about my mystery hostage. The next two girls came forward at the same time and introduced themselves as sisters, and judging by their height, neither of them were Mystery Girl. The last two girls were the most likely candidates, ironically. They both were around 5'8" and in the range of being 115-130 lbs. I guess I would have to figure it out based on their voices. The penultimate girl stepped forward and introduced herself as Bridget Walters. Her voice was too high and squeaky to have been able to make the disguised voice of Mystery Girl. That only left one...

When none of the girls did anything, I started to have doubts. I quickly shook them off. I know I counted 28 girls. Will Newman does not make mistakes. Was this another test? I slowly stood up, surveying the line as I did so. A small movement caught my eye. A girl I did not recognize had squeezed herself into the middle of the line. Height? 5'8." Weight? Around 520lbs. I did not remember her stepping up and introducing herself. This must be my Mystery Girl. She was slightly tan, with dark hair and striking green eyes. She was actually really pretty, but more of the subtly pretty. She was someone you normal people wouldn't give a second glance.

"Yes Mr. Newman? Is there something you would wish to inform us?" Mr. Goode said, bringing me out of my assessment. Refusing to look away from the girl (I figured I would not spot her again if I did), I responded with a quick, "Isn't there another girl we forgot to be introduced to?" Something flashed behind the girl's eyes. Anger, I think? Anyway, Mr. Goode chuckled and congratulated me for the second time.

"Abigail, please step forward," he commanded. The girl stepped forward. Murmuring could be heard throughout the Mess Hall. I caught a few "How did I not see her"s and some "Where did she come from"s. The girl introduced herself as "Abby. My name is Abby." Yep, she is definitely my Mystery Girl. I smirked at her as I sat back down and saw the fury flash through her eyes again at being seen. This was going to be one hell of a year.

After dinner, we went back to our dorm room. All of us were tense as Mike shut the door behind us. I guess Nick saw Jake and Mike's little exchange when Megan stepped up to introduce herself. We all waited in anticipation, Jake especially, as Mike closed the door with a little more force than necessary. After the loud BANG, we all stood in tense silence. Finally Mike started to speak with an eerie calmness, "That's my sister you were gaping at, you bastard. My sister! Nobody is touching her! Nobody is going near her. I swear to God, if you so much as make her frown, I will make your life a living hell! Do you understand me?" His voice got progressively louder with every word until he was full out screaming in Jake's face. I have to give Jake some credit though. During Mike's whole rant, he didn't even bat an eye. He nodded to show he understood and promised Mike that he would put aside his feelings for her. He wouldn't put his friendship in jeopardy over some girl, that much I knew.

I quickly changed the subject before anything else could happen be saying, "Did you notice the two girls who didn't tell us their last name?" Nick turned to me and said, "Yeah, that first girl was hot. I cannot believe you even noticed the second girl though. I thought there were only 27 girls until you pointed her out. And even then I didn't see her until she stepped forward."

"I know. She was my Mystery Girl though. I'm sure of it," I replied before throwing on a fresh pair of boxers and brushing my teeth. From the confused looks I received as I stepped out of the bathroom, I could tell the guys were confused about my last statement. As an explanation, I simply said, "Same height, same weight, right voice. She's the one who pointed the gun at Headmaster Goode."

The looks on their faces as realization dawned on them was hilarious, and I couldn't help but laugh. The guys joined in and we spent the rest of the night goofing off and cracking jokes before it was lights out (literally. They turn off the lights in an effort to force us to go to sleep).

APOV

The next morning I woke up to screaming in my ear, per usual. I rolled over grumbling at the annoying racket for five more minutes. I really shouldn't be surprised. This happens EVERY morning. I would wake up to the ringing of my irritating alarm clock named Lauren. When I grudgingly realized I was not going to fall back asleep, I cracked open one eye, but instead of seeing the deep red walls and mahogany furniture of my dorm room in Gallagher, I saw white washed walls with wood floors and metal furniture. As realization slowly came to me, the memories of last night did also.

*Flashback*

I was the last one standing in the line. When I saw Newman wearing a calculationg look on his face, i knew I would be discovered as soon as I opened my mouth. So instead of introducing myself like all the other girls did, I silently slipped out of line and squeezed between two of my classmates in the middle of the line. Bridget stepped back after calling out her name. I held my breath for a few seconds as the boys applauded, hoping no one had spotted me. So far, no one in my entire life has seen me when I don't want to be seen so I was confident no one had seen me here either. But when Newman stood up and locked eyes with me, I knew my luck had run short. I, Abigail Goode, the Shadow, had been spotted. At first I was shocked, but when I saw him smirk, all I felt was rage to this overconfident jerk. "Yes Mr. Newman? Is there something you would wish to inform us?" That was Dad, he must be getting a kick out of this.

Cockily, he asked Dad, "Isn't there another girl we forgot to be introduced to?" All Dad did was chuckle and tell me to step forward. I did and instantly heard mutterings of "Where did she come from" and "How did I not see her?" In a clipped voice, all I said was, "Abby. My name is Abby." After that, Newman sat back down and we went to the table assigned to us for the rest of the year.

Dinner went smoothly without further incident, and my friends left me alone. They must have sensed that I did not want to talk right then so they waited until we got to our new dorm room. We got there to find our clothes already unpacked and our uniforms for the next day layed out for us (just like our uniforms at Gallagher except with black and red plaid, a black sweater vest and white blouse, and the Blackthorne crest, a thorn with a snake wrapped around it, emblazoned over the left part of the sweater). We did not discuss the "Discovery Incident" as I have dubbed it, and instead got ready for bed and talked about the boys (well, Kat, Lauren, and Meg did while I listened) until they shut the lights off on us. We took that as the signal to go to sleep and got ready for the day ahead.

*End Flashback*

After the humiliation of last night, I resolved to completely ignore the Newman kid while indirectly collecting information about him. I showered, got dressed, pulled my hair into a high ponytail, and made for the door, only to be pulled back inside by Lauren. I didn't go down without a fight, but she won after getting help from Kat, traitor. She put natural make- up on me and straitened my ponytail but left my hair like it was (thank goodness). Finally, after deeming me "presentable," she let me walk out the door. First day, here goes nothing.

A/N Okay, I know this was a little bit of a filler, but the next one will be better, I promise. Do me a favor, and click that little Review button, and make me happy please! Virtual Cookies will be given to the next ten reviewers! I won't do the "ten reviews until I update" thing because I wouldn't be able to wait if it didn't happen, but seriously, I would like a few more reviews! I love you all!

~nothingevergoesasplanned