Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry it took me so long to update! I couldn't figure out how to start up the next chapter, and I didn't realize how long it's been! But I'm making up for it with an extra-long chapter; it's six whole pages on Word!

Chapter Six: Suspecting

Amy's POV

"Amy? Are you okay?" Jen peered at me curiously.

I jerked my head towards her. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking."

"About you-know-who?" she replied teasingly.

My cheeks turned pink. "No! I was- It's just- No!" I stammered.

Jen grinned, but thankfully turned her attention back to the Biology teacher.

I had been thinking about the day before. Ian had seemed sincere, and if what he had said was true, then he had been through a lot. But I still wasn't sure that I could trust him. There were so many things to consider. He could be lying, laying a trap for me under his parents' orders. He could just be playing with me, like he did in Korea. Or...he could be telling the truth. I sighed. Why does everything have to be so complicated? I thought.

I suddenly thought of something. "Hey, Jen?"

"Yeah?"

"Just wondering but...umm...why are you so interested in Ian and me?"

Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I saw Jen stiffen for just a fraction of a second. She quickly shrugged and replied, "Well, I'm just interested, you being my friend and all. You know, looking out for you and stuff."

A smile crawled across my face. "You know what I think? I think you have a crush on Ian."

"Uhh, no! I mean, yes! Er...why would I like Ian?" she stammered. It was soo obvious. I just kept grinning. "All right," she finally admitted. "I do like Ian." (Huh-duh) "Just...don't tell, okay? Please?"

"I knew it!" I exclaimed triumphantly. "You want to make sure that Ian and I don't hook up or anything, don't you?" Without giving her a chance to answer, I said, "Don't worry, Ian and I are just friends. Or at least we're supposed to be. And I won't tell, I promise. Although, I don't really see the point in keeping it secret if half the school likes him."

Jen gave a relieved smile (or was that nervous?). "Umm, thanks."

But there was something strange about it. She'd confessed a little too eagerly. And she'd seemed sort of nervous and jumpy when I'd asked her why she was interested in Ian and me. Was she hiding something from me? It's probably nothing, I thought.

But even so, I decided to talk to Ian about it when I met him next block in Algebra 2.

"So, where's your friend?" he asked curiously.

"You mean Jen? She's in art," I answered. "But, you know, she was sort of weird this morning. I asked her about...umm, something, but she became all jumpy and nervous when I did. I know that I haven't known her for very long, but...I think she might be hiding something. Something big."

He nodded seriously. "I've watched her a few times. She definitely has some sort of secret. This one time, she was looking at me, but when I looked back, she jerked her head away. But here's the thing: she wasn't flirting with me or anything. She was just...watching me. Like she was observing me secretly."

For some reason, that sent shivers down my spine. "Do you think it has to do with the Cahills?"

"To be honest, I have no idea," he admitted. "It seems possible, maybe even probable."

"Well, should we do something about it?"

"I don't think so. Remember, we're only suspecting. That's not the same thing as knowing."

"Well, obviously."

Ian ignored me. "The best thing to do right now would be to continue on as normal and watch her."

I scoffed. "Since when did you become the expert branch leader?"

Ian smirked back. "Just because I've been disowned doesn't mean I'm not a Kabra anymore."

"Figures. Hey, I have an idea. Dan and I have to report to base over the weekend for training. Why don't you come with us?" I suggested.

Ian hesitated. "To a Madrigal base? Is that...allowed?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it's encouraged, even. If we want to make peace between the branches, inviting them to our own bases shows signs of peace and trust," I explained. "Of course, you won't be allowed to go to the classes or watch us train or anything like that- you know, 'cause we can't give away all of our secrets- but you can still hang out with us in the suites. Natalie can come, too."

Ian thought for a moment before replying, "All right, I guess it can't hurt too much."

I felt a little lonely when I found myself without Ian or Jen for seventh block, art, but consoled myself with the fact that we would most likely meet up at lunch. I thought about that. Was it really a good thing? Yes, it was nice to have company, but what if it was the wrong kind of company? Ian and I had decided that Jen was definitely hiding something, but we weren't sure whether it was good or bad. Even so, she was my only friend at school besides Ian. And what about Ian? I'd described our relationship as "just friends", but...what if I wanted us to be more than that? I knew that trusting and falling in love was dangerous, especially when you're a Cahill, not to mention when they're in a different branch. But, I realized, I can't deny that I have feelings for him.

At lunch, I sat with Jen, like the day before, but when Ian tried to join us, our table became overcrowded with jocks and preppy fan girls, who pushed us to the edge of our seats. Ian glanced at us apologetically. Jen and I finished our lunches in silence until we were dismissed. But as we were walking back to our classes, Ian joined us, thankfully without his tail of admirers. Just as we were about to split up again, my phone began vibrating.

I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at the screen. It was a text message from Tremor Woods Middle School.

"Oh no," I groaned. "That's Dan's school."

To the parents/guardians of Daniel Cahill:

An incident has occurred with Daniel, who has been sent to the main office. Please be notified that he will not be allowed on the bus and must be picked up after school as soon as possible.

"Parents/guardians?" Jen repeated.

"I gave my own information to the school office instead of Nellie's. I'm old enough to handle Dan," I replied. "But that's not important. What could've happened to Dan? Do you think-" I cut off, remembering Jen. I looked at Ian, who seemed to understand.

"We'll go as soon as school is over," he confirmed. He shared my fears that another Cahill might have found Dan and tried to attack him.

Jen made a frustrated noise. "Ugh, I can't go. My mom's expecting me home as soon as we're out 'cause we're having guests over today. Sorry."

I was secretly relieved. If it did turn out to be an incident with the Cahills, I wouldn't want Jen to become involved. "That's okay. It's probably nothing, anyway," I assured her.

"Dan!" I yelled as I rushed through the office door at Tremor Woods, followed by Ian.

"Amy!" Dan yelped as he jumped up and ran towards me.

"What happened, Dan? Are you hurt anywhere? Did someone show up?" I quickly scanned him for any injuries.

"I'm fine, Amy! I got out just in time!" he replied.

"Just in time for what?" Ian inquired.

Dan looked at Ian and let out a strangled cry. "What's he doing here?"

Amy quickly replied, "That doesn't matter right now. What happened?"

"It's my history teacher!" Dan blurted with a wild look in his eyes. "He's an Ekat, I'm sure! He had all this equipment, and he was asking me all these questions about Benjamin Franklin!"

I gaped at him, dumbstruck.

"But I didn't tell him anything!" he continued triumphantly. "I just gave him a few punches to teach him a lesson! Ha! Those Ekats are crazy if they think they're getting any information out of me!"

I pressed my hand against my forehead. Beside me, Ian shook his head slowly. I should have know that going from the hunt to a normal school would be a difficult transition for Dan.

"Umm, listen, Dan," I began slowly. "I'm, uh, proud that you kept it a secret. But I'm pretty sure that your teacher isn't an Ekat. Or any other branch. He's just a regular man trying to do his job."

The wild look left Dan's eyes as he said, "He's...not a Cahill? ...Oh..." He seemed dejected as the realization sunk in.

"Dan, I know this is hard for you," I comforted. "It's sort of hard for me, too. Traveling around the world, suffering whenever we trusted someone." Ian winced. "And now, we're suddenly just going back to a normal life. I understand that it would naturally make you suspicious. But you can't just attack anyone if you don't have any real proof."

Dan was looking at the floor shamefully. "Sorry," he whispered.

I would have hugged him, but that might've creeped him out. So instead, I gently suggested, "Why don't we go home now?"

Suddenly, the old Dan came back. "What about the Cobra? He's not coming with us, is he?"

I think I might have liked the shameful and sorry Dan better. "We rode a taxi here," I sighed. "I think it's still waiting for us to come back out. We should probably go in the same car."

Dan wouldn't stop glaring at Ian all the way home. I decided that it wasn't the best time to inform him that I'd invited Ian to come to base with us. He continued glaring right up to the doorstep, when Ian finally left.

When we went inside, I whipped around to face Dan. "Would you stop glaring at Ian whenever you see him?" I said agitatedly.

"I'm just making sure that he doesn't feel too comfortable around you," he retorted.

"What does that mean?"

"I'm making sure he doesn't break your heart again!"

That stunned me. "What makes you say that?" I finally asked.

Dan's anger left him. "I just don't want you to be all sad again, like with Korea. I may be younger, but I'm still your brother," he said softly. "Trust me, Amy. The Cobra isn't worth it. It's barely been a year since the hunt ended, and you're already falling for him again. He's only going to betray you in the end. I just know it."

"I - I'm not falling for him. And even if I was, he wouldn't betray me. It was different during the clue hunt, and I admit that I was wrong then. But why would he turn against me now?"

"See? That's just it," he remarked. "You think you're over him. So why are you trying so hard to defend him?"

"He's my friend," I protested. "Besides, if I'm going to be the branch leader, wouldn't it make sense to be on good terms with the future branch leader of the Lucians?"

Dan sighed helplessly. "Fine," he said. "Just be careful around him, okay, Amy?"

"Don't worry, Dan," I assured him. "I'll be fine. By the way, I invited him to come with us when we report to base this weekend. Could you try to be a little more friendly then?"

Dan looked at me, exasperated. "You did?"

"Natalie, too."

"WHAT?" he screeched. "I probably could've handled Ian by himself, but how am I supposed to handle two Cobras!"

I looked at him sternly and answered, "You won't be handling anyone. You're just going to be nice and polite to them so I don't kill you when we get home."

"Amy! Why do you always have to use that one?"

"Because you and I both know that I'm perfectly capable of physically injuring you," I shot back.

"Argh! I hate it when I lose!" He stormed off to his room upstairs.

I smiled to myself. The clue hunt had really changed Dan, but he was still my annoying little brother at heart.

Woah, Dan. Paranoid, much? Yes, I realize that the characters are a little OOC at some points, but it's absolutely necessary to the story. Btw, I was listening to some songs from the musical, "Wicked", and I love this one song called "What is this Feeling?" It's just hilarious. That, and "Popular". "Defying Gravity" is pretty good, too. Listen to them if you have some time. ;)

Lovely Out! ~`'~