A/N: Sorry for not updating in forever. Between fourth of July weekend, orchestra concerts and rehearsals, babysitting, and driver's ed, I haven't really had time to write much. I am however planning to continue this story, just expect less frequent updates. This chapter is both funny and my longest chapter yet. Just a warning before you read this chapter though: it has NOT been edited by Jill yet on the computer. I let her edit it in its notebook stage, but she hasn't had the time yet to edit it on the computer. I am posting this now because I can't keep you all waiting forever. A big shout out to all who have reviewed, and my BFF and editor Jillybean. I also see that I am nearing one hundred reviews for this story. I would like to hit one hundred reviews with this chapter. Here's an incentive for all of you to review: not only will I try to post the next chapter ASAP, but I will take the end of that chapter to put the name of everyone who has reviewed my story with a big thank-you, including anonymous reviewers. Read and review!
P.S. - Check out jillybean5455's story, it's really good. (just go to either of our profiles to check it out)
Just some clarification: Jason and Jonas are NOT a mix up. I completely intended that when I wrote this story, with good reason. Jason is NOT Jonas and he is not involved with Liz other than (maybe later) some mild flirting as part of their mission cover. In the last chapter my beta accidentally switched Jason to Jonas, and that may have caused some confusion. I have revised that statement to fit what I said before, and hopefully this will clear everything up.
Disclaimer: Disclaimed. I am not, nor have ever been, nor ever will be Ally Carter, as cool as she may be as the writer of Gallagher Girls. This will be the last disclaimer EVER for this story.
Sorry for the super long author's note, but do me a favor anyways and read and review!
Chapter 8: Truce
Cammie's PoV
"I'll pack your things; you need to look good in the Big Apple," Macey stated excitedly. I sighed and gave into her demands; other things were on my mind. Zach. Why wouldn't he listen to me? I knew that somehow or another we would have to settle our differences and work together or fail at our mission.
"What do you think Solomon will have us do?" Bex asked.
"Don't know. You never know what to expect with Solomon," I replied distractedly.
"Maybe he'll have us shut down an illegal biological weapons operation," Bex wondered.
"Or maybe he'll have us tail a suspected terrorist," Macey added. I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts to fathom the rest of their conjectures. Zach and I needed to talk, badly.
"Sorry to interrupt your guessing game but I need advice from a guy expert," I said, clearing my throat.
"Is it about Zach?" Bex questioned. I nodded.
"Well then I have something even better than advice; I have a plan All I'll need is some disguises, napotine patches, duct tape –" She didn't finish because I cut her off.
"No offense, Macey, but your last idea didn't exactly go as planned."
"That's why this is going to be more like a mission," Macey said. I could tell she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"We'll be there to back you up," Bex added.
"You know about this?"
"Macey kind of told me about her idea right after we found out about the mission," she confessed. "You were wandering the halls."
"Does Liz know?" I asked.
"Of course I do," Liz replied walking inside the room.
"Great, so I'm guessing I have no choice in the matter," I sighed.
"No, you don't," they chimed at the same time. Creepy.
"We already have everything set up," Macey said, "including the things you'll wear on the mission Solomon gave us."
"Speaking of the mission, shouldn't we be heading downstairs to meet Solomon right about now? We leave in five minutes," I said, interrupting the scheming in her head. I did a mental double take; my internal clock was telling me that it was time to leave, but physically I felt as though only minutes had passed from the time Solomon told us to pack. Had I really been wrapped up in my thoughts for that long? I knew the answer was yes, but I didn't want to believe it.
* * *
We loaded ourselves and our luggage into the windowless black vans similar to the ones in which we had arrived. I sandwiched myself between Bex and Macey in the back with Liz while the boys took the front. Solomon started the car, and in my mind I imagined the castle that was Blackthorne growing smaller in the distance. My thoughts were then rudely pierced by the voice of Mr. Solomon waking me up.
"You, ladies and gentlemen, have already received your cover legends, and now you will be briefed on your mission. The objective of your mission is to tail René LeBlanc, a manufacturer of fake American identities, and retrieve his clientele list. The CIA has chosen all of you specifically for this mission, and we have reason to believe that René LeBlanc is using his resources to smuggle terrorists and arms dealers into the country," he informed. "I will be there to watch your progress. Here are your plane tickets, boarding passes, drivers' licenses, and credit cards. Once you arrive in Manhattan you will check in at the Ritz-Carlton, where you will be staying for the duration of your mission. You will receive your gear and other supplies when you reach your rooms. Remember your covers and be careful."
Once he was finished I looked at my boarding pass, first-class seats. I wondered how expensive those were, then remembered the credit card, the cost of the mission probably being picked up by the CIA's tab. My mind then filled with many questions that I pondered for the remainder of the trip to the airport. What were my friends planning? Would it even work? Will Zach ever forgive me? Will David ever leave me alone? Can Zach and I put aside our quarrel to complete the mission successfully? I knew I would receive all these answers and more soon. Still, in the back of my mind the last question haunted me. What would happen if Zach and I failed to work together and compromised the mission?
* * *
We arrived at the airport after sixty-two minutes and twenty-one seconds of driving and boarded our flight to Manhattan after two hours of waiting. I closed my eyes and napped the second I hit my seat. Flying first class had its advantages. Approximately fifty-six minutes later the pilot woke me up by announcing that we would be landing soon. Twenty minutes later we touched down, and another two hours later we reached the hotel. Little did I know what awaited me then.
When we got to our room, I immediately collapsed into the gigantic bed. I laid there for awhile, admiring the room. The décor was stylish and not overdone, but the biggest attraction was the amazing view of Central Park out of our window. I wanted to stare at it all day, but I was starving. Bex, Macey, and Liz had left right after dropping their things off, probably to get some food. I got up to use the bathroom when I heard a small knock. "Housekeeping," I heard a voice chime. I went over and opened the door. The last thing I remember I hit the floor as the world went black.
* * *
Zach's PoV
Grant, Jason, and David left to go pick up something to eat. I would have left with them, but lately I hadn't felt like talking with them. David was acting strangely. I don't know what Cammie sees in him, or why she even let him kiss her.
"Housekeeping," a voice chimed, piercing my thoughts. Strange, we had just checked in, but I got up to answer anyway. The next thing I knew the world was slipping into darkness.
* * *
Cammie's PoV
I woke up to the sound of banging and looked around, basic stuff for a spy really. Immediately I ascertained that I was in an empty supply closet. Then I noticed the source of the banging: Zach was trying to break down the door. I immediately knew what my friends had done and wondered why it had taken me longer to wake up from the napotine patch than Zach. I had probably fallen asleep.
"You might as well stop now, Zach" said a voice I recognized as Macey. I wanted to punch my friends badly, tell them that this was a bad idea. I then found the bug that apparently worked both ways. "You won't be able to escape. The space is too small to work up the momentum to bust down the door, and we've taken away all of your spy gear as well as anything in the room you might be able to use to escape. We'll only let you out once you have talked through some things."
Maybe it would work. Zach would have to listen to me.
"Fine," I said grumpily, then turned to Zach. "I'm really sorry for everything I've put you through."
He interrupted me before I could continue. I swear he was so annoying sometimes, especially with that smirk of his. "I accept your apology, but I don't want us to be friends." I knew he really hadn't forgiven me yet, but he could take his own time. His emerald green eyes shone. Standing there in little light, leaning against the closet wall, Zach Goode looked… hot. I stopped those thoughts right in their tracks, but it still made these next few word hard, even though I knew they were necessary.
"I understand. Can we call a truce: agree to work well with each other on this and possibly future missions, completely professional?" I asked uncertainly.
"Fine, completely professional." Maybe it would be better this way. If we were still together, our emotions could have gotten in the way of our careers as spies. A good spy doesn't get too attached to anything anyway, for she never knows when it will slip through her fingers forever.
"Umm… Zach… since we're at a truce, do you think we could work our way out of this closet together?" I asked awkwardly.
"Not necessary," he replied. I heard the door beginning to unlock.
"How did you-" I was about to ask. Then the answer came to me: spy.
Just as I predicted, Zach smirked, pointed to himself, and said his infamous catchphrase, "spy." I was reminded of other times, back at Gallagher. Then the door opened, letting in a blinding light.
"We're letting you out of her out of sympathy, even though your truce wasn't quite what we had hoped for," Macey said. I didn't care then what she thought. I was free to go back to the room with my worries about the mission soothed.