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There's only so much a girl can do while flying first class (all thanks to the CIA) in a jumbo sized plane enroute to Nebraska. Two and a half hours gives you a lot of time to think. Especially when the only people sitting around you were special agent "babysitters" who were trained to watch/guard your every move.
I casually looked over at the trained operative sitting near me who had been assigned on my security detail. To an untrained eye, he appeared to be a normal middle aged man, seemingly harmless in his Omaha t-shirt and enjoying the sports seciton of the paper. But to a trained spy like myself, this man was a walking weapon who could probably kill a person with the front page of the Times he was currently "reading".
I averted my eyes and put my hands inside my jacket pocket. Yes, I was wearing a light jacket on the airplane. Every spy knows it's best to travel in layers. It's easier to loose a tail that way. My fingers dug into the pockets and brushed against the folded piece of paper, sending my mind reeling back to the events that took place earlier that morning.
The goodbyes were the worst.
Bex Macey and Liz bombarded me, giving me loads of advice and warning me to stay out of trouble. Bex gave me a look, she probably knew I would try and pull something like this. Which was why she threatened to personally kick my ass and serve it on a platter to the Circle herself if I even thought about leaving Nebraska. Macey gave me the biggest bone crushing hug. She studied me hard and long and told me to just hang in there. She offered to send me her private plane if I wanted out and asked again if I was sure I didn't want to spend the summer with the three of them. Liz teared up, which caused me to tear up as well. She flung herself at me and we all shared a group hug. I couldn't help but smile when she handed me a small device explaining that if I ever needed them, all I had to do was push the little button and they would be there in no time. She also gave me a batch of homemade cookies. For the record, I didn't even know that Liz Sutton could bake, but the cookies were amazing. I had already finished more than half of the batch. Note to self. Thank Liz next time I see her...whenever that may be.
After lots of hugging, teary eyes and promises to stay in touch later, I was sitting in a highly armed vehicle with my mother headed straight towards the airport. She kept stealing side glances at me.
"Cameron. Sweetheart. Promise me you will behave. Cammie..." My mother studied my face and held it in her hands. Her eyes bore into mine and for a moment, I wasn't staring into the eyes of the Headmistresses of the best school for exceptional young woman, or the eyes of one of the greatest spies of all time. No at that moment I stared into the eyes of a mother who feared for her only daughters life.
"I will come and join you as soon as I take care of a few things." I wanted to ask her what those things were but I simply nodded my head.
"Don't worry Mom. I'll be fine I promise."
"I love you sweetheart. I'm going to make sure this will all be over soon." Yeah. I looked back and rested my hand on top of hers and gave her a weak smile.
Honestly I wasn't scared of them. I was sick of the Circle. Fed up. I was frightened for the people's lives around me. Which was why my mind was already set up. I glanced out of the window and watched as the scenery changed, my mind thinking about a certain someone I had wanted to say goodbye too.
I had searched the school grounds for the one boy I really wanted to see before I left. But as usual, mystery boy was no where to be found.
We arrived at the airport right on schedule. My mom and I, and the other four assigned agents, made our way to the gate to wait for my flight. Mystery boy was already out of my mind. I decided he was too much of a distraction. Like Macey said, it was his loss if he wasn't there to say bye to me. Not mine. Besides I needed to have a clear mind, rid of boys. I had more pressing matters to worry about. Like a secret terrorist organization that currently had me at the top of their wanted list.
I thought I had put him out my mind. That was before I heard the one voice that made my heart skip a beat.
"Gallagher girl" I spun around and my eyes collided with a pair of dark brown eyes attached to the body of Zachary Goode.
"Zach...What are you doing here?"
"Thought you'd leave without saying goodbye?" He smirked and bowed his head towards my mother, who smiled and nodded back, before turning and fumbling with her bag, pretending to look for something. I knew better.
"What are you doing in the airport?" How was it that this boy always appeared out of thin air.
He held up a plane ticket, "I have a flight of my own to catch. I knew you would be here so I just wanted to make sure you got on the plane safely." He smirked again.
I was stunned. His eyes danced as he leaned in closer, "My offer still stands you know." He nearly whispered.
Flight 131 to Nebraska is now boarding
I looked at the boy who had promised to take care of me. Who had offered to run away with me and protect me from the Circle.
"That's my cue" I glanced over at my mom who had gotten up and stood patiently waiting for me.
He looked at me again, with his piercing eyes and leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, his hand slipping something into my pocket.
"What will you do now?" I asked him.
"There's something I need to take care of." I saw something creep into his eyes at that moment, "Be safe Gallagher Girl." Why did everyone have 'something' to take care of?
"Cammie" My mom called my name and I turned around motioning her with him my hand to wait. I turned back, ready to ask Zach another question.
But he was already gone.
I felt for the note in my pocket. I pulled out the piece of paper and glanced down at the small black words scribbled across.
'Be careful Gallagher Girl'
Ladies and Gentlemen please fasten your seatbelts.
My mind snapped back into focus. I looked over at the guard and noticed he held his finger up to his ear, pressing softly, which probably meant people were speaking and sending him instructions through a comms unit.
The guard sitting in front of me adjusted his seat, he had been pretending to sleep during the duration of the flight. The one sitting across tugged on his ear. I wondered what that was code for.
The plane landed smoothly on the runway and within minutes I was already grabbing my bag and walking headed off, the four guards in toe.
The airport was crowded as we made our way through the terminal, following along with the rest of the passengers towards the baggage claim. The place where my grandparents were most likely waiting for me with a hand made welcome sign.
My heart pounded with every step I took. I imagined Soloman's voice in my ear. This was just another test. At the other end of a comms unit, Soloman was spitting out guides and tips, watching my every move from the safety of a van. My sisters were out there in the crowd with me somewhere, clinging to everyword Soloman ever told us. Except. This wasn't a test.
This was real. I was all alone and right now the only person and voice I had to rely on was my own.
I noticed a large group of girls making their way towards the bathroom.
You see, the good thing about having four highly trained male agents assigned to my security detail was exactlyt that. They were four higly trained MALES.
This was it. It was now or never.
I stopped walking, "I have to use the bathroom."
The guard with the Omaha shirt grunted, "Hold it."
"I can't." My voice strong and unfaltering, "It's that time of the month." I pulled out a tampon and gave the guards a look.
They had no other choice. "Make it fast."
I nodded and headed into the bathroom. Finding the farthest stall, and locking it shut behind me.
I quickly threw off my jacket, and stuffed it in the waste basket. I trashed the three bugs that they had placed on me earlier and pulled off the tracers.
I pulled out a black wig I had borrowed from Macey and pulled out a cute hat from my reversible designer bag.
I flushed the toilet and grabbed my bag that held all of my essentials, unlocking the door and surveiling my surroundings.
The girls I spotted earlier all looked to be around my age and they were standing by the mirrors, checking their hairs and adjusting their make-up.
They were talking about a summer exchange program. I casually walked up and washed my hands and noticed one of the girls had the same exact bag as Macey.
"I love your bag. Is that the limited edition Louis?" I asked, drying my hands, falling into the role of a 'typical' Gallagher Girl.
"Yeah! I bought it in Paris over spring break." She flipped back her hair and showed off her bag. THank you Macey.
"Oh my gosh I adore it. I was going to get one while I was in London, but my best friend beat me to it. And I absolutely refuse to have the same bag as her." I flipped my own hair. The girl eyed the shirt that Macey had given me.
"Ugh I completely understand" She held out her manicured hand, "Ashley,"she smiled.
"I totally have that shirt by the way"
"Elle" I shook her hand. "He's the best" I babbled on about the designer of the shirt, silently thanking Macey for her lesson on fashion.
7 minutes. 7 minutes had passed and I slapped the tracers on a woman who was entering the bathroom as I was walking out , in hopes of distracting the agents.
I casually slipped right by them. The four of them were in the exact spots as they were before and they didn't so much as look at me as I passed by. Walking within the group of girls and talking with Ashley as if we had been bff's, blending in, like a chameleon.
Even Soloman would have been proud.
I said goodbye to Ashley and walked closely behind a family of four, making my way towards the exit of the airport.
My heart was thumping loudly as I reached the sliding doors. I stepped out onto the platform, looking back for only a moment, before a gust of wind brushed my face. There was a row of taxi cabs and a city bus sitting at the end of the line. I made my way towards the bus walking at a fast pace and slid into a plastic seat behind an elderly man.
The busdriver closed the doors and the bus rolled out of the parking spot, traveling farther away from the airport and closer to the answers I was searching for. I half expected a team of CIA agents to board the bus and demand me to step off. But they didn't. I sat back and exhaled deeply as the bus headed towards the city.
The easy part was over.