Author's Note: hey guys! Extra long chapter for my extra awesome readers! You know what would be super awesome? If you reviewed! I would have updated sooner, i really would have but i got swamped with tons and tons of work and sports and well you know life happens. Okay so as promised this one i think gets really back into character and is going to really make you guys happy. So enjoy! So they just got back to the academy and Onyx is missing and Joe's awake... Chapter 9 here we gooo...

Once we were done cleaning out Liz's van we all rushed in to see Mr. Solomon awake. He wasn't moving yet, and he still had many bandages, bruises and burns but his eyes lit up with that same spark, his smile though weak still showed his strength, and his hair was still pretty sexy. We stood outside the door, until Zach motioned us all in, he looked like he was crying, but he probably wasn't because Zachary Goode doesn't cry.

We all wanted to talk at once, but before we could we heard him say "Okay ladies and gentlemen, I know you have a million questions for me, but that won't happen. All I can say is, congratulations you get to be part of one of the greatest missions ever, and report here at five a.m to begin your training." With that Solomon rang for the nurse to give him morphine and we all retreated to our rooms.

It was three am, and I couldn't sleep, something about first nights back at the academy did that to me. So I did what I do best, I wandered the mansion. I wandered for hours until I somehow found myself gazing at the grand hall where I had so many memories, but the one I was thinking about this evening particularly was when Zach kissed me here. Not the first time I had seen the academy, not the first time I met Macey, not even the first time I met Liz and Bex. Nope just the time Zach had kissed me in front of all of my friend stayed in my mind, and as if on cue a mysterious person appeared behind me, I was really going to need Solomon's training, my skills were getting a little bit rusty. I turned around expecting to see Zach, but instead I saw Grant. This was strange I thought, late nights in the academy always called for Zach creeping up on me, not Grant.

"Hey Cammie, couldn't sleep?" Grant said.

"Yea, and you?" I asked

"Well long nights in a detention center make you feel weird sleeping in a really nice place." Grant said laughing, then he added with a serious face and tone that I couldn't take serious at all, "You know he's scared too Cammie, he wants to go alone, but since it is your mission he knows you have to go. He'd rather kill a bunch of people and be done with it. But he knows that you have to do this, for closure and stuff."

Wow, did Grant just say something meaningful, and thoughtful, and intelligent? Who knew?

"Thanks Grant, it's good to know how Zach feels, but I wish he would just come talk to me you know? We have some things that we need to talk about and hearing from you that he cares about me is one thing, I need to know his entire side of the story." I sighed.

"Yea, I figured. It might be a while though, Zach's having some problems thinking straight lately, I guess something must've happened back at the Circle before he left to find you. Give it time Cammie; I'm sure you guys will get to talk before the mission."

"Thanks Grant." I said, gave him a hug, and then left.

I continued wandering, struggling internally with my mixed feelings for Zach. I think I loved him, but I knew so little about him. Abby was hesitant about trusting him, I know he must've killed someone somewhere along the way, I was afraid to ask who. I barely knew about his family, I knew who his mother was, and some of the things she did, but not enough. I knew too little about Zach to truly love him, so I guessed I was in love with the idea of being in love with Zach.

I wandered until I found myself in my mother's office, I had so many memories here, but the one that I couldn't get out of my head tonight was the one after that square dance with Josh, on my dad's birthday. I never had seen my mom like that, with that thought I heard someone approach behind me, assuming it was my mom I turned around, but instead it was Aunt Abby.

"Hey Squirt." She said, plopping me down on the couch near my mom's office.

"Hey Aunt Abby" I said, trying to fight off a yawn, after this I was so going off to bed.

"What's eating you tonight Cammie, mission stuff... Zach stuff?"

"Both" I said, "I'm starting to feel a little unsure about if I want to do this, I mean yea people have said I'm pretty good, but I don't think I'm good enough for this mission." I said releasing a huge sigh of relief.

"And what about Zach, I know something must be eating you up there" Abby said with a knowing look on her face.

"Well, its just I don't know how he feels about me, and I don't really even know how I feel about him. We are two people with bright futures, and I don't want love getting in the way of our mission or in the way of our CIA careers."

"And you're also concerned about what he told you in the car." Abby said with a twinkle in her eye.

"How did you know that?" I said.

"I'm a spy, and Zach is a terrible whisperer. If you want my opinion Cammie I think that Zach might actually love you, of course there is the off chance that he is just a pawn in his mother's sick and sadistic game of life. But from what I've seen, and what I've heard, my guess is he actually likes you."

"Abby, surprisingly that makes me feel no better. I'm scared that if Zach and I are in 'love' then the mission will be harder, and we'll lose the sight of the mission. I would hate to come back without him, and I'm sure he wouldn't be too happy if he left alone too."

"Well, you're spies, I guess its up to you to see how you are willing to let your relationship affect the mission. Now you better get some sleep squirt, you've got class tomorrow!"

With that Abby gave me a hug and I retreated to my bedroom, too tired to think of anything I collapsed on my bed, and fell asleep.

"Pring Pring" I heard Liz's alarm clock scream. I was not ready to do this. I was not ready to wake up, sleep is so good. But I knew it was inevitable, I had to know the circle like the back of my hand if I wanted this mission to go well.

We reported to the infirmary of 5 o' clock. Everyone still wore their pajamas, and the boys just wore their boxers, not like we minded.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen." Mr. Solomon said with a nod as we all entered, the infirmary had had desks and chairs placed in it so that we could learn more efficiently.

"Today we are going to cover the basics, some key words you need to know to be apart of the circle, and things like that, are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be for five in the morning" Macey moaned.

"Good then!" Mr. Solomon said and with that class was in session.

"Lesson one: today we will learn about the lay out of a basic circle headquarters, then we will talk about your covers, and finally I will teach you some Circle vocabulary. After today everything else will be physical training, and field work."

Liz and Jonas moaned at the thought of field work, while the rest of us got really excited.

"The basic lay out of a Circle headquarters is simple. There is one entrance and one exit, which may make your mission harder than it needs to be, there is always a captains lounge, or where Zach's mom sits, a mission brief room, a file room, and this one won't come as a shocker to you, a torture room/ holding cell."

"Is there a cafeteria?" Grant asked.

"My guess is you won't be getting the nicest food while you're in training Grant, my apologies." Mr. Solomon answered rather annoyed.

"Anyway ladies and gentlemen, I hope that you plan on memorizing those floor plans of your station." He said pointing to a large stack of papers on a table. We all moaned with the thought of more paperwork.

"Where exactly will our base be?" I asked, wanting to know of our location.

"You all will begin at the main North America base in D.C but I'm assuming as your "training" progresses, you will be moved from place to place. Making the mission better because in every place you go, we need you guys to get the entrance code, from there you'll be able to access all of their computer databases, that's where Liz and Jonas come in, from there Liz and Jonas will be able to report all Circle of Cavan agents to the CIA where those people will be tracked and taken into captivity. So everything depends on those codes from each base. You will also be able to access the file room, and the torture room with those codes. So be sure to make note of every code. I'm sure Liz will handle that." Joe said, which also answered a lot of my questions because I was never actually sure of what we would be doing.

"Moving on," Mr. Solomon said getting groggily.

"Zach let me see the identities you've procured." Zach pulled out a small folder with some files in it, he then handed some pictures to Macey.

"Okay, Miss Morgan, you will be going undercover as Genevieve Kester, a recruit from some organization in Texas, so for dress might I suggest some jeans and button down shirts, as well as some cowboy boots and Miss Morgan, begin practicing your Texas accent. Macey I need you to procure a dark brown wig set in a bob, as well as olive green contacts and we need to make some boob implants for Miss Morgan as well." I blushed, I looked over at Macey who seemed delighted to be making me with mega boobs Zach didn't seem too sad either.

"Mr. Goode, you will be going as Nicholas Gregory a new recruit from Massachusetts. So work on your Boston accent. The nice thing is, you haven't been living in Massachusetts you've been at the same facility as Genevieve and you two actually know each other, which will be very helpful. I'm assuming knowing that you have known each other you will probably be roommates, which leads me to another thing before I begin with Bex and Grant's covers. You will have possibly the smallest living quarters known to man, seeing as how you will be traveling a lot, it shouldn't be a problem. But you've been warned."

Mr. Solomon began coughing profusely and his eyes looked drained, being asleep for two months would make a person tired. "Alright ladies and gentlemen we will have to finish up soon, I need rest, I'm assuming Miss. Morgan, and Miss. Cameron will do the majority of your training from here on out"

"Finishing up, Bex you will be Francine Pike. She is from Kansas. Not much excitement there, you'll need to get your hair cut, or at least wear a wig, and Grant you will be disguised as Timothy Cowell, a surfer from Florida, but lately you've been doing missions and training at the same facility as Francine Pike. You two also know each other, and again will probably be bunking together. But that's just a guess. Zach I need rest would you mind telling people the basic code for the Circle. I'll see you all around. Feel free to visit me with any questions. Good luck ladies and gentlemen."

"I don't really feel like teaching you guys at the moment, I have some things to take care of. Oh yea, and Cammie can I meet you in the library at eight?" Zach said, and with that he left.

"Ooh I wonder what Zach wants with you in the library!" Macey exclaimed loudly

"Well we'll just have to wait and see" Bex said trying to perfect her Midwestern accent.

"Oh quiet guys." I said loudly.

The rest of the day flew by, I hadn't seen my mom or Abby, my friends and I went to the room and started discussing bits and pieces of the mission. We had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch since the chef didn't stay at the academy for the summer. The day went on with nothing exciting happening, when suddenly it was eight o'clock. So I headed to the library, in my pajamas because well, I had a feeling this was more of a serious meeting than a social meeting. I crept into the library, it was dark seldom one small light in the corner where Zach sat reading. His hair was a mess and his eyes drooped, he looked like Liz after a long night of trying to crack codes.

"Hey" I said tiptoeing into the library.

Zach didn't look up, but responded with "hey, right on time, I wanted you to take a look at this, in private." Zach handed me a stack of papers, I quickly realized the file as the one that Agent Scramden had handed him at the Delaware facility.

I looked at the papers; there were a bunch of names written on them. I scrolled down the list, until I found only one name that I recognized, Matthew Morgan. "What is this Zach? What are these names?" I looked at them some more, there weren't actually that many, maybe just 20 or 30, there only appeared to be more because each person had two or three names listed.

"They're people who have been captured, but not killed by the CoC. It's really recent, these people have information that is too precious to kill for, they need and will hold the person until they get it. Phyllis Duncan on that list, is 87 years old and she's been there since she was 22. I don't even know what they want from her. Do you know what this means Gallagher Girl?"

I stood there in disbelief, if this list was of CIA agents that were being tortured by the Circle of Cavan, then that meant… that meant my dad, Matthew Morgan could still be alive.

"How accurate is this Zach?" I stared at him wanting answers.

"I don't know Cam. Agent Scramden said that the information had been gathered by a double agent, he gave it to me to help with the mission. He wants us to see if we can locate as many of these men and women as possible."

"Zach that seems a little ambitious, plus even if these people are alive how would we get them out?"

"I don't Cammie, I'm working on it, so the next two months you may not see me." He said looking down.

"Do you think he's actually there? Alive?" I asked.

"I don't know Cam, I once said 'someone knows' so maybe on our mission we'll meet that someone who actually knows where your dad is and the status of his life. Until then I need to figure out how we will help these prisoners escape, I just thought you should know that the chance of your dad being there got a lot better." He woefully smiled, and stood up to give me a hug. I hadn't realized that I was crying and shaking. I had always thought that my dad might be alive, but I never truly knew; now the chance was so much greater and I was scared. I was scared that if I saw my father on this mission I would want to pull out, and I was terrified as to the state that he would be in.

Zach moved in and engulfed in that hug, pulling me in tight, letting me sob on his shoulder, he kissed me passionately then pulled back gave me one last hug and went back to studying. Not a word came out of his mouth, he looked so sad. I slowly backed away.

I went to my favorite window seat and sat there and cried for a while with every thought imaginable in my mind. I sat there crying when I heard a purring noise, and saw Onyx come up and sit on my lap, I started to pet him. At least Professor Buckingham could sleep tomorrow night, when I didn't know if I would ever sleep again. I set Onyx down, and then I retreated to my room. So much information in one day was scary and overwhelming.

G~G~G

The last two months went by in a blur. With all of the constant field work and time in the P&E barn I honestly only slept, ate, trained then went back to sleep. My body felt stronger, my mind felt more knowledgeable, my heart felt stronger. I had barely seen or talked to Zach, he was constantly either doing his own training, going over blue prints and papers in that corner of the library or sitting with Mr. Solomon. It had come to a point where there were only two days left before we departed for D.C and for the Circle. I was so scared, nothing I had been training for made feel quite ready enough, but I figured with my friends by my side and my other friends in the lab and my family constantly watching me I would be safe. I woke up, today and tomorrow were rest days before the big mission.

I walked downstairs to pour myself some fruit loops, seeing as how we hadn't really had good food in a while, but instead was greeted by my mother in front of her office making eggo waffles. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it before, the smell of burning carbohydrates was overwhelming.

"Hey kiddo, I thought if Sunday night dinners would be out of question for a while why not have a Saturday morning breakfast?" My mom said smiling holding the plate of charred waffles in one hand and Aunt Jemima's syrup in the other.

"Thanks mom" I said sitting down, I wanted a chance to have her to myself before I left; I had missed my mom, and all of her little quirks.

"Hey Cam, I talked to Zach the other day. Do you want to talk about what he told you?" My mom gave me her knowing look and I knew I had to talk.

"Did you know?" I asked

"Honestly Cam, I didn't. I knew there was always a chance but I'm honestly shocked that he may just be alive. I know its scary, and it hurts, but whatever the information that he knows it must be important. He's serving his country and he's protecting you." My mom set down the hockey pucks she calls waffles and gave me a hug.

"Mom, I didn't want anyone to know this other than you and Abby but I'm scared. I know I should feel ready but I'm scared of the future and I'm terrified of what's going to happen."

"Kiddo, its okay to be afraid, its what keeps you on your toes. But just know that you've been given the best training, you have the best backup and the best lab team. You are ready and you are strong. And do you know what's going to happen? You're going to shut down the Circle and possibly see your dad. Its going to be fine, and sure you'll hit a couple of bumps in the road, but operation FLINK will be a okay."

"Thanks mom, those words coming from the best CIA agent ever makes me feel a little better"

"Happy to help Kiddo"

My mom and I sat there for hours. Talking about what I had done at the beach, and reminiscing in stories of her and my dad. She told me about their first mission, and how they met, we talked about me and Zach and her relationship with Abby. We talked about everything under the sun, and I thought she and I would just sit there for hours, until her phone rang. She glanced up at it and said "Hey kiddo, this will take me a while, if you just want to scoot I'll catch you later."

I gave my mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek and exited her office.

I kept walking through the halls until I realized I had not spent that much time with Mr. Solomon. After all he had done for me, I thought I owed him a few hours of my time.

I approached the infirmary, but saw that someone else had beat me to it. I peered in and saw Aunt Abby sitting by Mr. Solomon's bed. I couldn't go in, and was too far to hear the conversation so I looked for an alternate route, it was then that I saw a vent or something and crawled into it. Once inside I could see and hear everything that was going on with Abby and Mr. Solomon. The scene before me was a strange one, Abby was sitting in the chair next to Mr. Solomon's bed, holding his hand talking to him. While Mr. Solomon lie motionless, you could see his chest rise and fall so he wasn't dead, but his eyes were glued shut. He looked so peaceful sleeping next to Aunt Abby. It was there that I wondered how they had met, and what the extent of their relationship was. I continued to watch, when I heard what Aunt Abby was saying.

"Darn you Joe, I can't believe you're risking her life again. I know that you loathe the circle, and I know that you'd do anything to shut them down. But is now really the best time? I like you and respect you a lot Joe, even after everything that happened with Matt. I know and Rachel knows that you didn't mean to do what you did, you panicked, it happens to the best, but using Cammie and her friends to shut down the Circle now is not safe."

Abby was crying and her fist was slamming down. What had Mr. Solomon done to my dad? I watched Abby was still crying, she was an emotional wreck. I didn't realize how afraid for me she was. Then Mr. Solomon's eyes fluttered open. He looked stronger than he had the last time I saw him, his eyes sparkled with energy despite the fact that he was confined to his bed.

"I didn't choose this mission Abby. Zach did." I head Mr. Solomon say. I was taken aback; Zach had concocted this entire scheme. I mean it did make sense, but Mr. Solomon must have had some part in it.

"What do you mean Joe?" Abby said glaring at him.

"Zach approached me at the Gala the night of the presidential election, the night that you were shot. He proposed the idea to me, it didn't seem bad. I thought it might work, he and I both knew that it would have to happen sooner or later. We've been working on it for a while; I'm surprised the Circle hasn't figured anything out yet. Zach's been drawing up blue prints following his mom around, and making lists of everything we need. While I've been making some CIA contacts, well those who will still listen to me, and other things. I know you're scared for her Abby, I am too. I would hate for to have the same fate as Matt, locked up in some facility being tortured for information that he can't tell. But the mission is secure and it will be a success."

"I sure hope so Joe. I hope that this isn't just something reckless you've concocted. Cammie is very fragile."

"I know Abby, I've been there for her, I love her too. I wouldn't let her do this if I wasn't sure it was fool proof."

I watched what happened next. Abby reached over and started kissing Mr. Solomon. He gave her a weak kiss back and a small squeeze. They just sat there in silence for moments after that. I began to think, even Mr. Solomon knew dad was still possibly alive? Everyone knew but wasn't telling me? I suppose it made sense, they wouldn't want me running off after him, and it would mess me up. But still I was hurt. I wondered if Abby and Mr. Solomon were in love, but my thoughts were interrupted when the vent I was sitting in began to shake underneath me. Before I had time to react I was tumbling through the ceiling on the bed next to Mr. Solomon's.

Abby and Mr. Solomon just stared at me. I waved sheepishly and they both began laughing.

"What were you doing up there Squirt?" Aunt Abby said, standing up and cocking her hip.

"Oh you know the usual, dusting the air vents. Clean air is super important." I said, hoping my incredibly lame cover made sense.

"Clean air my butt Cammie, why don't you tell me the truth before I get Bex in here."

Abby said.

"Alright, alright I was spying." I said looking down at my toes.

"That's what I thought, so why were you spying on me and Joe?" She said, now lowering her voice to whisper seeing as how Mr. Solomon had fallen back asleep.

"I don't know, I was coming to talk to Mr. Solomon about my dad and to thank him for everything he has done for me. Then I saw you guys talking and I was curious so I watched."

"Okay, you know what, seeing as how I don't know the next time we'll get to have a nice Aunt and niece bonding moment I'll let this one slide, and to top it off, why don't we find your mom and watch some Gilmore Girls and have a Cameron girl's bonding afternoon." Abby smiled at me and gave me a hug. We snuck out of the infirmary and found my mom who was finally off the phone. We sat in her office for what seemed to be an eternity watching our favorite Gilmore Girls episodes, the best one was the one when Rory and Logan go to their first Life and Death Brigade adventure and jump off the scaffolding. It reminded me a lot of me and Zach's relationship. Then my mom's phone rang again and I knew it was important, Abby retreated to the room she was staying in and I went to find some food, mom had offered me some mini hot dogs, but seeing as how they were green, I declined. I exited my mom's office and began wandering the halls, it was getting late. I walked into a hall where I thought no one would see me, and leaned on the wall, sulking to the floor with exhaustion.

I leaned back, but then felt the wall move. I saw that a small little room had opened up on this space, based on the dust and cobwebs that were in it, I assumed I had never used this particular passage. Being the Gallagher Girl that I am I decided to crawl into the small space and see where it led. The space was so tiny; that I had to turn sideways just to make it through, but when I finally reached the end I could see through little slits in the wall. I was in the library looking out into everything; I think I was either in the ceiling or in the floor. I watched the room all of a sudden I saw two figures in the room. They were talking in hushed tones, but harshly to one another.

I crept further into the passage way, watching, in a totally not creepy way, the two figures. When they were closer I was able to make out the figures of Zach and Macey. I listened to whatever conversation they were having.

"Zach, just tell me what you want to tell Cammie!" Macey shouted in a whisper.

"I would if I knew exactly what I wanted to say, but I don't, we leave in two days and incase we don't come out alive I want, no, I need her to know how I feel."

"Okay then just describe her to me, act like I've never met Cammie and you are going to tell me all about her." Macey said, urging Zach on.

"Well, Cameron Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Women, she has dirty blonde hair, and brown eyes, she is about 5 foot 5 and likes to sleep," Zach rambled random facts about me.

"NO! You don't get it Zach I want you to tell me how you see her."

"Macey, I don't really feel comfortable doing that" Zach grumbled attempting to leave, but Macey stopped him. I felt bad for watching, but part of me needed to hear this, while the other part wished that I had never happened upon this particular passage way.

"Just try Zach, close your eyes and imagine like you're dreaming of Cammie, and tell me what you see."

"Okay, I see blackness." Zach said.

"Not good enough Zach, try to visualize Cammie."

"I can't do it Macey, it's too hard, I can only picture her getting hurt or falling or dying, because that's all I think about. I'm so afraid to lose my precious Gallagher Girl, the way her smile lights up the room, and when I think of her I think of everything good in the world. I know that she is the epitome of love, and when others even my mom asks me about her I tell them that being around her is the feeling you get on Christmas morning, she is the spark that lights up my eyes. She is the only reason I haven't killed myself because of the terrible things I've done in life. Cammie Morgan is all that is good in me, and I love my Gallagher Girl." Zach said, then opened his eyes and tried once again to dart out of the library, again Macey caught him.

"And you had to picture her dying just to say all this?" Macey said with a look of blasphemy on her face.

"When you've lived the life I've lived McHenry, you tend to imagine the worst case scenarios, before you come to realize the good things in life." Zach said with a sad smirk.

"I think that she needs to know Zach, you've kept her in the dark too long, and although it may make your lives harder, in the long run, you two will look out for each other twice as much because your hearts will be connected."

"You're right Macey" Zach said.

"How do those words taste Zach?" Macey said with a laugh.

"Like dirt." Zach said, and with that he actually left, but Macey followed.

I sat in the passage for hours, contemplating what I just heard. Zach had never been that honest before, ever. I was so in shock of the fact that he had just said that, that I didn't know what to tell him the next time I saw him. I was afraid for how this would affect the mission, but then I thought about it, Macey was right, if Zach and I were or are or may be in love then we will just try even harder to make sure that both of us are safe. This might work I thought to myself. With that I slowly crept back down the tunnel that lead me to the room behind the book case, and slowly went up to my room, luckily for me Macey was already sound asleep as were Bex and Liz, so I lie down and closed my eyes and decided I see when I think of Zach.

I saw a brave Blackthorne Boy. With his shaggy hair and emerald eyes, with his beautifully carved abs and his annoying smirk, I saw someone who didn't care how well you knew him, he would be there to protect you whenever you needed him to. I saw someone who even though despite all of the bad things he had seen in life was willing to try to love someone, even if that someone was me. I saw someone with a dark past who was trying to make a bright future. I saw the person who drives me nuts, but also keeps me sane. I saw the boy who I could see myself spending the rest of my life with. I saw Zach that first time in D.C in the elevator offering me M&M peanuts, I saw the boy who followed me when I left the dance to fix my bra, I saw the boy who had followed me on the train, and the boy who had stalked me to Europe, I saw the boy who was willing to risk his own life, and the life of his mentor, just to save me, some silly naïve Gallagher Girl. I saw my Blackthorn Boy, someone who I was willing to love.

With those last thoughts I began to drift off to sleep, tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

I woke up the next morning, feeling excitement and dread, today would be my last day with my friends and I goofing off and being surrounded by family, and tomorrow I would join the Circle and not even my friends next to me would not be able to be my friends and my family would be miles away in a lab. Nothing would be normal, and today, I had to savor every moment of my not so perfect spy life, because who knew what tomorrow would bring.

As I descended the stairs from my room I took in the feeling of the floor, and the texture of the walls. I looked at how beautiful the light was as it shone through the windows of the beautiful mansion. I kept wandering the halls taking in everything, touching everything, which as a spy is either really smart or really dumb. I stopped at Gilly's sword. The sword that started everything, the sword that started the hatred of the Circle of Cavan, the sword that started my dear academy, it gleamed with pride, as if it knew how many lives it had changed, including mine. I swept my hand across the tapestry showing the Gallagher family lineage and took in the scene. I then decided in the next how ever many months, I would make Gillian Gallagher proud to call me her sister.

I soon became hungry after wandering aimlessly in the halls. I started toward the dining hall in search of a bagel or something. I walked in and saw a bowl of Cheerio's sitting on the table with a note attached. I was so confused, I was so afraid that this was a trap. I slowly approached the note, and opened it slowly. As I began to read, my heart fluttered with relief, the handwriting was one I knew all to well. The note read:

Gallagher Girl,

I hope you are ready for the mission.

However there is just one more order of business we need to discuss

Meet me at the pigeon tower at 6:30.

Can't wait

-Z

Oh my gosh, were we actually going to discuss the mission or was Zach going to tell me about what he told Macey? If Zach said he loved me, would I be able to say it back? My palms began sweating. I needed to talk to Liz, Bex and Macey. I grabbed the Cheerios and sprinted to our room. I ran in to a sleeping Bex and Macey, and a hard working Liz. I quickly woke Bex and Macey up, knowing that they would understand later. Once Macey was moving, and her eyes were open, I shoved the note in her face, and yelled "Translate."

Macey's eyes moved over the paper, then she looked at me and said, "well it looks like he wants to meet with you about the mission in the pigeon tower. That's about it, no hidden meaning here." However the smile on Macey's face told me otherwise. So I did what Macey responds to best, I grabbed her wallet full of credit cards, lit a match that we keep in our emergency box and threatened to burn the wallet if she didn't tell me the truth.

Macey leapt from her bed in panic, dashed over grabbed her wallet looked me in the eye and said, "Alright what do you know."

"Only what you and Zach discussed last night," I said meekly.

"What!" Macey exclaimed.

"New passage way" I said.

"I MISSED ONE!" Liz turned bright red with anger.

"Yea Liz you did, but its okay it just leads to underneath the Library"

"Not anymore, I'm going to go take care of that once we're done." Liz said pulling out her map of the Academy.

I continued my conversation with Macey "So what is happening in the pigeon tower?"

"Well, I don't want to ruin it, but might I suggest that you wear this." Macey said pulling out the dress my mom had purchased me for the formal sophomore year. I rolled my eyes; what ever was happening in the pigeon tower was not going to require that death trap again.

"You're joking right?" I said and began laughing.

"Honestly, no." Macey said. "And I'm not telling you anything else. It's too good to ruin."

"Ugh alright" I said lying down on my bed.

"But while we are all here, we haven't had time to just be us in a while" Bex said, I hadn't realized she was actually alive.

"That is true," Liz said.

"Yea, I guess we've all been so stressed out we forgot that before we are partners on the field we are best friends first." I said.

"Why don't we have a Katherine Hiegel marathon?" Macey suggested.

"Even better, let's just have a 'Friends' marathon" Bex suggested.

We all decided that would be a great idea. However once the show was on we could do nothing but stop talking. We talked for hours about anything and everything. We talked about our relationships with the guys, Bex and Grant were still unofficial, but Liz and Jonas were officially boyfriend and girlfriend, although we all kind of suspected that what with them spending every hour of every day in the lab together. We talked about how we would all miss the opening banquet dinner, because for at least this semester Liz and Macey were all taken out of classes, and put in a separate wing of the mansion. We talked about our fears for the mission, and when Liz brought up how this was our last year together at the Academy we all started to cry. From there we talked about our memories since we started at the academy and it was one of those moments that should have been featured on 'Friends'. We could have talked for years, but suddenly the clock chimed six, and I had to get ready to meet Zach.

After a lot of convincing and what appeared to be torture, Macey got me in the horrid red dress. Note to self: contact CIA and suggest torture by stiletto's to the torture department. At about 6: 25 I was ready to go, and headed toward the pigeon tower as well as could for being in a floor length dress and high heels. When I got there I opened the door, to see two chairs, a table, with flowers and dinner on the table. I looked around, and saw Zach standing in the corner wearing the suit he had worn that night of formal. I heard music begin to play and Zach began to dance with me. He whispered in my ear, "Glad to see you came Gallagher Girl, if I recall, we never did get to finish dancing that one evening sophomore year." With that Zach drew me close and began to kiss me. I pulled away.

"What is all of this Zach?" I said in disbelief, it was very sweet and kind but he and I had a mission that began tomorrow.

Zach slowly pulled away from me, pulled out my chair and then sat down in his own. "Look Cammie, I know its sudden and not the best time, but there is something I just have to tell you. I know its risky, and I know it will affect us forever, but sometimes in a spies life, today is all we are promised and I won't let another today or tomorrow go by without you knowing this."

I looked at Zach and felt myself start to shake in disbelief, he was going to tell me to my face what he had so many times throughout the past two months.

"Cameron, I love you. I love everything about you. I love the way you snort when you laugh to hard, I love the way you walk and constantly check for people tailing you even if you're in your own room. I love how you trusted me enough to come here tonight, and I love how red your face is turning right now as I say all this. This mission might be hard, but I know that if you and I do it together nothing can fail."

I stared at him in disbelief. I couldn't talk, I couldn't move, so I did what I do best in a time of crisis I started to eat. Zach had made chicken and Spanish rice with eggplant and squash. I sat there and ate trying to think of what to say next. The silence was getting awkward and Zach looked like he might pee himself. So I decided I'd say something "Thank you Zach, that was very thoughtful, and I have a lot of the same feelings for you but despite it all, given my past and the past of my parents I don't think I'm ready to say the exact words you want to hear." I looked down, I couldn't meet his eyes. There goes the entire mission, I thought to myself.

Zach looked down at his plate as well. After no one talked, I decided that maybe would be a good time to leave, I went over to Zach to give him a peck on the cheek, he looked up at me, grabbed my hand and said "Don't, don't do this to me until you think you're ready to return the feelings." He looked down I thought he might cry, but then I remembered Zachary Goode doesn't cry. I tried to talk.

"Zach, really I…"

"Save it Cammie, I just hope eventually you come around." With that Zach went over to the window and looked out. I walked away not wanting to ever look back.