Divine like the Wolves- Chapter 2
The Beginning
Disclaimer: Ally Carter owns original characters and story. The rest is mine ^.^
My mother leads Professor Buckingham, Mr. Solomon, Mr. Smith and Aunt Abby towards us. Mom says Aunt Abby is here for staff reasons to help Joe this year. But I know it's to watch me.
"Oh my..." I take a big breath and compose myself. I walk alongside Josh towards Mom, her hair a mess and still in my father's pyjamas. She doesn't look professional, but the way she carries herself towards us says otherwise. She walks demanding, tall and confident. He jaw set in place but eyes soft. Alongside Joe, Abby, Mr. Smith and Professor Buckingham I would hide if there were enough people around.
"Good morning, Josh." Mom says. We all halt and I look at her tentatively. "Cameron."
She used the full name. She takes a look at our running clothes, the last bit of sweat and the space between Josh and I. Oh no. My eyes widen as I put the pieces together.
"Mom, it's not what it looks like-"I start.
"Cameron, we'll talk about this later." She cuts me off and looks to Mr. Solomon. "We have to deal with this inside." I know Mom is just doing her job and acting like this because she has to. But I am always surprised to see her in action, dealing with things like this. She's so calm and ready. Why can't I get it through my head that anything can happen? I look at Josh as he looks at me. I know immediately from his eyes that he is scared. He stands confident and for some reason I find myself falling in those blue eyes. No, I can't do this. I look away quickly just as Aunt Abby steps up to speak.
"Thank you, Dave for notifying us. We've got it from here. Let's go kids." She says. Ouch! I have to admit the kids part hurt. "Dave" as he's called walks away, obviously in disappointment. They lead us into the mansion and I pray to God that none of my sisters are awake yet. As if we were the enemy, Mr. Smith walks behind us as Mom whispers ahead.
Mr. Smith has gone through countless plastic surgery. This year coming back from summer break, he has to look different of course. He has high cheekbones, stubble and a longer face from before. It's weird to say this but...he looks hot. I guess it's the fact that I don't know his real age or maybe because he's my teacher. A few hours talking to my friends about this matter a few weeks ago has already been done.
I look over to Josh and feel that bubble making its way in my throat. He doesn't look at me again and still has his brave face on. What's going on in his head? I strain to hear Mom's conversation that's happening in an African language. We started learning it last week but I'm not very good at it yet. I hear the words Blackthorne and possible. I cringe and give up. Those dang spies.
We finally enter the Mansion and I'm relieved to say, no one was wondering the halls. They're all probably cozy in bed waiting for the Welcoming Breakfast to happen at 8:30am. This starts in an hour. An hour till Zack comes. An hour till Zack meets my ex-boyfriend-who-remembers-everything. Zack-who-calls-Josh-Jimmy Zack. I cringe again and intake air. I hold it there till we are almost to Mom's office. The tap, tap, tap of shoe and the Gillian Gallagher sword displayed out in the open with an outsider inside makes me want to hurl myself into the wall and hide it with my body. But Josh sees it and his eyes go wide. Not in surprise though. In something else. We go through the doors of Mom's office and I wait for the trouble to begin. The doors click shut and Mom takes her seat at her desk, Mr. Solomon and Mr. Smith at the doors. I almost scoff, paranoid men.
"Take a seat." We slowly sit down in the comfy chairs and it is so quite I wonder if people are still in the room with us. I hope so.
"So Josh, tell me. What happened up until this morning?" she asks. I keep my eyes on her at all times. I see him glance at me and I don't look at him. It will make it look like we planned this. I can't have people watching me all the time even more than they already are.
"Well...it started last night before I went to sleep. My head started to hurt a lot. Then...I got flashes of memories from that time I..." He clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable with Mom's stare down. "Anyway, I got flashes of memories and then suddenly I was up running here six this morning. I don't know why I suddenly remembered but I knew that I had to get here as soon as I could without anyone knowing. So I ran here and the Guard," He says with distaste. "Told me that I was delirious and told me to go home. I told him what I knew and then...there was Cammie."
I jump in as fast as I can. "I woke up this morning and decided to go for a run. When I was done I waited for...Dave to let me back in but I noticed he was talking to someone. It was Josh and I didn't sneak out Mom, if that's what you thought. Well, I did but not in the way that you think I did." I ramble on and I should stop. But my mouth drives itself at top speed. "I just wanted to run before the boys get here and-oh God that didn't sound right. I wanted to clear my head and then Josh was there and I would never sneak out to see him again and this isn't like the last time Mom I swear." By the end I am out of breath and realized that I didn't break. I take a big breath and wait for Mom to say something.
"Boys...? I thought this was an all girls school." Josh says. Is it just me or...did Josh sound jealous? I hear somebody stifle a laugh behind us and I know immediately it's Joe. I see Aunt Abby kill a smile and I know...it wasn't just me. A queasy feeling settles on me and it's not just from the situation. If you know what I mean.
"Abby." Mom says. Aunt Abby walks up to Josh in a very spy like way.
"What exactly do you know Josh? How long-and I mean to the hour- have you known? Don't try to lie either because everyone in this room will know if you do." That's true. Josh bites his lip and I swear, it is the hottest thing I have seen in my life. The thought comes into my head and I think of Zack's annoying smirk. I then feel guilty and shun the thought from my head. I have to stop these invading...and accurate thoughts. NO!
"I know that this is a spy school for girls and a woman named Gillian Gallagher founded it. I know that the ordinary school is a cover up and that Cammie was on a mission the night I tried to...save her." He says the last part to his lap than to Aunt Abby who always captivates the speaker.
"I know that after I drank the tea I felt kind of weird. When I got home I didn't remember anything I did that night. Last night I started having...flashes of memories. It was painful like I have already said. I went to sleep and that's when I saw everything. I got up right away and ran here. From 10 to 6. From 10 to 6 Everything came back."
It's quiet in the room again until Mr. Smith speaks up. "Rachel, considering he shouldn't have remembered in the first place do you think trying again would do anything?"
Suddenly Josh stands up so fast, making everyone in the room jump up also, like as if there were a bomb under Josh's feet. He doesn't look startled and this surprises me as I sit back down. "I'm not drinking it again...you can't make me."
"I'm afraid child, we can." Professor Buckingham says. Her tone is so grave I get scared myself. She may be old but no one...messes with Professor B.
"We can do a lot of things." Aunt Abby says evilly.
"Abby!" My mother snaps. "Kiddo, take him outside for a bit and explain Blackthorne for us before they arrive. They're scheduled to arrive in-"
"15.53 minutes." I say immediately. She smiles a quiet kind of proud and nods. Knees wobbling and empty threatening to work its way up my throat, I get up from my chair. Josh is still standing as I take the two apples on Mom's desk and keep eye contact with her as I do, waiting for her to object. As soon as they're off the desk and her eyebrows are pulled together in question, I lead Josh out of the room. Joe is standing arms crossed and jaw strong at the door. I look at both him and Mr. Smith as I head out with Josh.
Just as the door clicks shut I hand Josh the apples and put my ear to the door. I hear mumbling in a different language I don't know of course. A few seconds of this and I look in the direction of the secret passage that leads to Mom's office. I decide not to since the last time I was there, I witnessed her crying on dad's birthday. The memory makes me feel guilty and I look at Josh. Instead of feeling frustration from before I decide to deal with what Mom asked me to do. He looks worn out and I notice that he has subtle dark circles under his eyes and I wonder how much sleep he gets.
"Let's sit." I say, leading him to the bench that sits outside the door. I don't know how many times I sat here, waiting to hear Mom's disappointment. I'm grateful that the mahogany bookshelf conceals Josh and I from the girls that have started to come out of their rooms. Blackthorne should be here and I smell breakfast. I hope Mom gets dressed soon. I take an apple from him and polish it. He looks carefully at it as if investigating.
"Don't worry; it's just a regular apple. It may be Mr. Fibbs poisonous apple but...you never know. It's odourless and would be hard to tell. Anyone but him could mistake them for ordinary apples." I shrug and as I bring it to my mouth, he surges forward as if to stop me. I take a quick bite and smile. After that I get shy again. I look away, my face getting hot.
"How are you, Cammie?" His voice is so soft and lacks the regular intensity that most people ask the question with. He says it casually and won't throw me in a hospital if I say the wrong thing. I look up at him, astonished.
"I-I'm fine. How are you?"
"You look like as if you're surprised to be asked that," he laughs. "I've been...doing well. I started applying for colleges and..." He trails off as I frown at the word college. I may not go to college. I don't have much of a choice.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I don't have much of a choice in..." I explain. I stuff my mouth with apple and chew fast. The way he sits so calm and collected while my world is so brittle at the edges makes me uneasy. I slow down my apple and decide to give myself a person to be. I know I shouldn't. But it makes me feel better as my nerves boil and spill. I am Cameron, calm and collected Cameron.
"You know, being here is easier for me. I've already done it once and I know about the school. I just feel...better I guess. Not so nervous." He gets quiet at the end and I notice how is body I not very open and the way his muscles tense.
"Blackthorne," I start, coughing down the bits of my apple and turning away from him. "Is a spy school for boys. I can't tell you the location of course but the year I saw you and DeeDee they were doing an exchange with us. Not really an exchange since none of my sisters went-"
"Wait, you have sisters?" He asks suddenly. Out of what I just told him he goes with sisters? I try not to roll my eyes and laugh.
"Classmates, Josh. Anyway, they're coming back for first semester and should arrive in most likely 10 minutes." I say. Josh and I watch the girls descend the stairs in uniform because Mom said so. She wanted us to wear our uniform for the arrival so we look as professional as we are. "We're having a Welcoming Breakfast soon and-" I stop talking as soon as I hear the chatter of girls in the hall. To prevent havoc that no one needs I push Josh further down the bench with my strength and hide closer to the bookshelf. He looks at me surprised.
"They can't see you. Not yet, anyway. Why aren't you surprised about Blackthorne?" I ask.
"Give me a little credit Cammie, I kind of figured that there had to be a school for boys. There's one for girls so why not for boys?" Why hadn't I thought of that? "And holy crap Cammie! You're strong!"
I peer around the corner of the bookshelf and just a few more girls walk down the corridor. Suddenly, the door begins to open and I move away from Josh. I just realized the side of my body was pressed against his. Mom walks out, fully dressed and perfection. She smiles at me and ushers us in. We stand by the door as the five adults watch us.
"We have decided to let Josh have a decision. Josh, you can stay and bear the secret of us. You have to train to be one of us and work very hard. Or, you can drink this," My mother hold out a tiny white cup with yellow liquid inside. "It's not coated in tea and is stronger. If you drink this you can go home and carry on with the rest of your life. You will forget and if you remember again, we will do this again. And again until the day you cannot any longer."
The weight of her words sinks in and I look to Josh. He looks at me and I stare at his face. He looks away from me and back to Mom.
Next thing I know, I am surrounded by my sisters in the Great Room with my running clothes on. I didn't have time to change from my navy blue t-shirt that used to be my dad's. It's a bit baggy and worn out, but the fabric is still comfortable. I wear magenta running shorts and my yellow Nikes. They remind me of lightning and I even drew a lightning bolt on the back of them with red Sharpie. I look at my hands as Mom goes up to the podium to speak. I don't listen though; I don't see much point in it. It's going to be the same introduction with different words coming out of her beautiful face. She already cleared the bump and Joe and Aunt Abby are gone to fix the problem that stirred. I hear Mom speak but all I can focus on is Josh sitting right next to me and the eyes that watch every angle of me. No one is supposed to see me, people can't. But lately people watch me all the time and it's not supposed to be that way. Being in the light for the hundredth time burns a hole through me as I try to find a way to conceal myself with the emptiness around me. Bex, Liz and Macey all sit across from us and stare at Josh with their lips apart as if their jaws are weak. He sits so close to me that our knees brush from time to time. I can't say I don't mind. I literally cannot say I don't mind. Tina sits a little ways down but I swear that girl has acute hearing. I make a mental note to use her hearing for future missions. The Great Hall was filled with whispers and gaping eyes, all eager to consume every big of my comfort.
"Now, I would like to present the cove-op teacher for Blackthorne Institute." I look up at my brilliant Mom just as a tall man comes up to the podium. He has short, dark hair with the whole army look going for him. My heart nearly falls out of my chest as I take in his appearance. He looks like my father. Mom doesn't seem to be bothered as she stands confident and smiling. I wonder if she's being torn up inside or if she really chooses not to see the sick resemblance.
"Hello, I am Mr. McGraw. I teach the boys at Blackthorne Institute and will be joining your CoveOp teachers in the process of teaching my boys. I look forward to working with you all," He gives a winning smile and the churning sickness I feel building inside my body forces me to look away and back into my lap.
"Cam, doesn't he look like your-" Liz gets cut off by an elbow in the ribs by Bex just before I look up. I thank Liz for not being oblivious and hiding her pain behind that forced smile. I couldn't stand it if I heard it out loud. I look at Josh and notice that he has his head hung low. Maybe it's his way of hiding. But it only increases the amount the girls watching him. They want something they can chew on and spit out into gossip later on. They wait for him to do something, to say something. I tap under my chin with the back of my fingers to let him know to keep his head up. He gives me a small smile and raises his head a bit.
As if on cue, the boys enter. They come through the door where Mom and Mr. McGraw came in through, a single, blue and grey line gathering at the front of the Great Hall. I try not to look for Zack but my eyes wonder hungrily down the grey t-shirts and blue pants as if they were starved from beauty. Let me tell you, they were not. I find him in a matter of seconds standing beside Grant. He looks about the same but his hair is slightly longer. His smile has also stayed the same as he spots me looking at him. I try to smile back but I can't. The smile falls off my face as I feel Josh looking at me.
"Welcome Blackthrone, our kitchen staff has made this incredible breakfast for you. Enjoy."
The boys descend the stage and Zack begins walking this way with Grant and Jonas trailing behind. I glance at him once but pay attention to the servers placing the delicious food out into the table. My stomach does a weird flip for the hundredth time this morning and I can't help but to smile. I look at him again, this time my smile staying on my face. I have a warm feeling spreading and it's not light and airy though. It's the kind of feeling you have after a long day and you go rest in bed. A feeling of pure relaxation, soothing my tense body.
Jonas and Grant sit next to Bex and Liz while Zach sits by me. He barely even looks at Josh as he pulls me into a tight embrace. My body turns to him and I fall into him comfortably. I want to stay here forever, to breathe in his scent of grass and summer nights. But the hug lasts about two seconds when he starts to pull away. He quickly whispers, "Later." I look up at him and quickly caress his has hand under the table. That's when the girls start to eat.
Being starving and just finishing a run, I load my plate. I know I should feel self-conscious with the boys being here, but I don't. If the table could, it would weigh down. Plates of egg Benedict, bacon, fruit, pancakes, waffles and various breakfast meats cover the table except for our eating area. Fruits and spices act as a final touch on a piece of art and I notice one cook looking tired as she heads back into the kitchen. The aroma finally registers as my nerves subside. Even though they are buzzing inside, waiting to spill, I eat. My friends catch up but all I do is listen to the hum of Zack's beautiful voice. They try to get me to engage but I fill my mouth with food. Even when Zack asks me how I've been. I shrug and give him a smile with cheeks filled with egg. I enjoy every bite, every sip of orange juice and the company of Zack at my side. I feel secure, like someone being my eyes in a mission. My partner. I look over at Josh and feel guilty. Here I am, eating my worry and hunger away as everybody talks to everybody but him. He quietly eats eggs, bacon and toast while sipping some coffee. It's a simple choice from the fancy piles of food, but I admire it.
I swallow my waffle and drink some juice before I decide to end some conversations. Everybody is going to want to stop and listen."Enjoying your breakfast?" I ask.
"Yeah, the coffee is the best." He smiles. I notice he looks warily towards the tea sitting in front of him.
"I didn't know you drank coffee." I respond and then drinking some orange juice.
"I just started."
I laugh involuntarily, breaking the ice but also bringing attention towards us. More attention should say.
"Don't worry, the tea is fine." I whisper. "You have to learn to trust our food."
"Good, I want to remember this fine breakfast. I'll be dreaming about it forever." He laughs, bringing a little tortilla cup thing stuffed with unknowns. "Mmmm, I love this."
"What is it?" I ask, picking one up myself.
"I don't know." He says as he takes a bite. I laugh easily again and take one myself. My taste buds explode as the taste of peppers, egg and even spices enter my mouth. Cheese burns my tongue but it is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten. The toasted tortilla crunches in my mouth and crumbs fall in my lap.
"You pick out food very well." I sigh.
"So Josh, what are you interested in?" Macey asks, bringing on her persuasive voice. I turn back and continue eating the rest of my breakfast. Our group's conversation has died down to a minimal as they all listen to what he has to say.
"Well I play basketball and I run now. But...I bet you can all do more than that so..." He says awkwardly. They nod respectively.
"Josh has good memory." I say. This will most likely be his asset later on. Beating the tea isn't just a malfunction with the tea. Oh no. That's not the way spies intended it to be. Here at Gallagher, we hit the target, either intend to miss or find away to gain a second try after we were only allowed one.
"Oh, me too!" Liz pipes up.
"Liz is our genius." Bex says.
"Jonas isn't too bad either." Grant adds in.
"Better than you." Zack laughs.
"I'm sorry, I don't know any of your names." Josh says. He looks at me expectantly.
"Cammie, how could you not introduce us?" Macey says, faking disappointment. She winks at me and I hope they've missed it.
I scoff. "Josh, this is Macey, Bex who you do not want to be punched by. Speaking from personal experience. This is Grant, Liz and Jonas." I pause for a second as I turn to Zack. "And this is Zack. Everybody, this is Josh. He likes pizza." I finish. I look at him as he smiles, they all say their hello's and begin talking like old pals. Turns out, Josh is a good people person. He comes up with questions fast, cracks jokes and is so easy going. Zack doesn't say much, laughs occasionally and says something witty of his own. But most of the time, he hold my hand under the table. I feel at peace as he sits by my side, holding my hand and making me feel safe. The thoughts I was having about Josh get replaced and I no longer feel guilty. My friends get along with Josh and the cold ice has broken. I feel the eyes move off of us as if we became boring and I calm down. Maybe this semester will go good. Maybe the bright side will be more evident and show itself clearly.
A/N: Heeey! So yeah...this is the chapter. I will post the fourth one most likely nest week. I know it's going a little slow, but I want the story to progress and do the things an actual story should do. If you love Zammie...I know. Me too. More Zack to come! Thank you for your encouragement and let me know how you feel about the length of this chapter. Too long? Let me know. Kay, have a good weekend! ^.^ And stay with me.