We all came to the top of the Grand Staircase and watched the organized chaos of moving day unfold below us. Seventh graders ran around aimlessly confused, searching for a possible familiar face. I watched one girl sprint across the foyer to her friend waiting on the other side; their squeals could be heard all the way up the stairs.
A group of seniors chatted in at least three different languages that I could make out about some boy one of them had met over the summer. One of our classmates, Andrea Stihl was deep in conversation with what I assumed was Mr. Smith (he had to be at least sixty years old now but didn't look a day over thirty).
One seventh grader stood by herself in the corner of the foyer, looking frightened, amazed, and nauseous all at once. I watched her look up at us with the look of awe we normally received from underclassmen.
Our reputations far preceded us.
Rylee was a fire-headed inspiration; her moves and attitude gave even the seniors the drive to act and fight like her. Very few people walked off a sparring mat with Rylee that didn't have a serious injury and most weren't stupid enough to fight her. Her parents were legends in Ireland's secret service and her list of accolades was just one of the reasons she was attending Gallagher.
Kodi had the looks and the brains; she scored perfect marks on every test and was the daughter of the president. The list of her previous boyfriends was not short, but her dominating personality left no room for anyone who wasn't worth her time. She was the dark haired Barbie every young girl dreamed of growing up to be and would most likely be the first female president. No one and nothing would stand in her way.
Gracie was a caramel beauty with curls, freckles, a pout, and athletic and toned body that every girl was jealous of. Her parents, with legs both in the doors of MI6 and the CIA, had trained her with moves everyone knew were classified but no one dare question should she use the moves on them. Gracie was rumored to have saved both the Prime Minister of England of the Speaker of the House on the same night when she took out a man who was carrying explosives and a fully stocked automated rifle under his trench coat (it's totally not a rumor, no one wears trench coats anymore and it took a teenage girl to notice).
And then there was me.
I wasn't crazy beautiful or strong or a brainiac like my friends; I was the Chameleon's daughter and a Goode's Girl. I could hide in any situation and fight my way out of one. I had a twin who some people claimed could read my mind like I read his, the perfect battle buddy. I had an insane missions IQ; I was the perfect honey pot, and an expert in pocket litter. I was Matthew Morgan and Rachel Morgan Solomon's granddaughter. They called me The Shadow because of my uncanny ability to disappear.
One girl looked at the seventh grader and followed her gaze up to us, elbowing her friend and soon every head was turned in the foyer.
Kodi, no stranger to attention, beamed at them and made her way down the stairs. She even gave them a First Daughter wave. Gracie with the swagger and confidence of both Grant and Rebecca Newman winked and followed suit. Rylee linked arms with me and smiled. My attempt to smile was more of a grimace, but it satisfied the crowd more or less enough for them to turn away and start new conversations about our summers.
Kodi breezed into the Great Hall and took a big whiff of the scents of dinner.
"I've missed Cook's food."
"You have a private chef," Rylee dismissed her and made way for our table.
Kodi rolled her eyes and followed after her. "Yes but he's not Cook."
We all sat, Kodi and Gracie across from Rylee and I.
"There are more important matters to discuss girls," Gracie leaned forward with both elbows on the table, causing Madam Dabney to race her way across the hall to reprimand her. "I've heard that we're getting some special visitors this year from a certain special institution." Kodi and Rylee's eyes grew wide but I just leaned back and thought about Matt and I's conversation on the dock. This was what his slip up was about.
Madame Dabney came up behind her and merely said, "Gracelynn Newman, you know better." Gracie smiled sweetly and waited for Dabney to get back across the hall and said, "A little birdie may have slipped during workouts that they were going on a field trip for half of the year." She got a dreamy and faraway look in her eyes that was unsettling.
Rylee laughed. "Jason can't keep his mouth shut can he?"
I started to frown but caught myself.
Jason and Gracie worked out this summer together and I didn't know. They were alone and I knew from firsthand accounts that Jason is a bit of a flirt and no ugly individual. Kodi seemed to noticed my shift in mood as she interjected with, "Okay but why would they be coming?"
Girls started filing into the Great Hall and I simply said, "Maybe they're doing an exchange like they did with our parents? I mean we will have to work together some day, so why not start now?"
No one could respond because Lena Travis, daughter of Tina Walters Travis, walked up and plunked down next to Kodi and squealed hello to all of us.
Our classmates began sitting down one by one and their joyous moods eventually bled into mine. I found myself talking and smile more than usual, answering in at least eight different languages by the time my grandmother stood up.
"Women of the Gallagher Academy, who comes here?"
"We are the sisters of Gillian."
"Why do you come?"
"To learn her skills. Honor her sword. And keep her secrets."
"To what end do you work?"
"To the cause of justice and light."
"How long will you strive?"
"For all the days of our lives."
"You may be seated," she smiled and we did.
"Ladies- welcome and welcome back. We are honored and blessed to have another year with you all. As usual, we expected nothing but the best from you all at all times. As you know, security is tight and our guard is up high. There will be no sneaking in and out of the castle ever."
My grandmother looked right at our group. Our classmates giggled and I once again clammed up from the attention of the school.
"This year we expect greatness ladies and we expect you to honor your sisterhood at all times. This is non-negotiable." My grandmother surveyed the room and it wasn't hard to see where my mother got her good looks from.
"Ladies we must remember that as women, we will always be underestimated. We will not be seen as a threat and most certainly not a worthy opponent." Her next words came with a devious smile.
"We'd certainly like to keep it that way."
A smirk broke across my lips. It was one of our greatest advantages.
She went through the staff (I was right about Mr. Smith) and when she finished with Grandpa Solomon (I heard someone whisper "The Joe Solomon?") she gripped the podium.
Here was the big news.
"Ladies, this year is a very special year for us all." My friends and I leaned forward, ready to hear the news we already knew. "This year, we will be joined by some special guests from a special institution."
Gracie chuckled to herself.
"Please join me in welcoming the boys from the Blackthorn Institute."
Matt, Jason, and their roommates; Lane and Derrick, lead the pack, never mind that they weren't seniors. I heard girls physically swoon as they stood in front of the teacher's stage and winked and smiled at different girls closest to them.
Jason didn't though, strangely enough. His eyes were scanning the crowd until he found what he was looking for…until he found Gracie.
My stomach did an uncomfortable twirl and I forced myself to look at Matt who was staring at the exchanged between Jason and Grace angrily. When he met my eyes, he shook it off and winked at me, causing at least fifteen girls who though it was aimed at them, to straighten up their backs a little.
Once they were properly introduced, the boys made their way over to our table. Matt hugged me and forced his way in between Grace and Kodi. Jason sat in between Rylee and I, earning a jab from the former and Derrick and Lane sat together on the end.
"Hi Abby," he smiled.
I always forced myself to stare at the space between his brows in order to save myself the embarrassment of blushing. Jason was nothing short of a Greek god. His body was perfect. He had this chiseled jaw that when he clenched it, could make a girl melt. His full lips, tousled dark hair, and icy blue eyes was worthy of drooling and he knew it.\
"Hi," I turned to the food we were now allowed to touch and began piling my plate. Just because I was a woman, certainly did not mean I ate like a lady. Madam Dabney tried and failed to fix me of it and eventually gave up last year when I told her that "when the situation called for it I would, but until then she would have to deal with it". Jason pouted at my dismissal and turned to Rylee to ask about her summer.
Derrick, 6'2" with rocks for muscles and a pout just a delicious as Jason's, leaned across Kodi to ask, "How did you guys know we were coming?"
My friends and I just pointed at ourselves and said, "Spy."
That earned a laugh from the boys. How many times had we all seen Zachary Goode do the same thing? Matt looked right at me as Jason and Grace started flirting across the table and I felt my mood grow sour. He had that 'I know something you don't face and it was killing me'.
"I heard you guys were the highlight of the evening earlier. Something about standing at the top of the staircase looking like Gilly and her friends' incarnates?" I rolled me eyes and asked, "How did you hear that?"
He took a sip of his water and simply smiled. "Spy."
Once finished, we talked about summer and who was going to work where after high school. The whole dinner, Jason and Grace shared glances and laughs (Grace giggled- yes actual gigglage) making almost everyone uncomfortable.
I shifted every few minutes away from Jason's leg that was constantly pressed against mine and after about two hours of it, I quickly stood and said, "I'm actually really tired." They all stared at me strangely. I never announced anything and I knew they could tell I was fed up.
"I will see you guys in class," I smiled and quickly left the hall. I couldn't deal with the two of them any longer.
Suddenly, Kodi materialized to my side and we made our way to our room together.
"I don't know what happened between those two, but they make me sick to my stomach." I didn't respond.
"Hey," she grabbed my arm and lowered my voice, "I'm not sure what's going on with them but I do know it's bugging you."
I pulled my arm away.
"I have more important things to worry about than a budding romance in our friend group."
"That's true, but I do know that you've have a claim on Jason since we were all in diapers. Why don't you step up and do something?"
"Because I don't want him that badly Kodi," I continued walking, careful to keep my voice down, "because between the Caramel Queen and me, I would lose every time." Kodi crossed her arms. "You're a good liar Abby, but you can't lie to me and you definitely shouldn't lie to yourself. If there were bets to be placed, I'd bet my money on you Abs." With that, she walked into our room, leaving me in the hallway by my lonesome.