DISCLAIMER:…pretty self-explanatory, don't you think?
O.M.G. *SCREAMS*……*FAINTS*……*RECAP* FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SEVEN REVIEWS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? *MORE SHRIEKING*……*THROAT HURTS, DRINKS WATER*……*EVEN MORE SCREAMING*……*LOST VOICE*…….THANK YOU!
THANK YOU! YOU ALL ARE AMAZING! THE VERY, VERY, VERY BEST OF THE WORLD WIDE WEB, I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH!!!!!!
I'M SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT…….I HOPE THIS WILL MAKE UP FOR IT….IT'S 13 PAGES ON WORD….SO PLEASE ENJOY!
This is dedicated to:
~loosh4ev - thanks for the nice review! I love your stories, so it's nice to see you like my story too!
~NessieLove101 - I want to thank you for reading for that long! You're review made me smile!
~MyUniqueWeirdLifeCouldBeABook (I so love your name!) - Thanks! That was a mega compliment!
You rock!
~soccergirl121 - She's given me an idea! THANKS! Sorry, but I couldn't fit it in for this chapter quite yet! But thanks for the advice
Anonymous Reviewers:
Olivia - OMG THANKS! I'm glad that I could write this!
Smirker - lol, thanks! Yeah, I've been being…well…really FEMININE with Zach, so sorry about that! I'll try and un-mush him!
Reebecca13 - THANKS FOR REVIEW, TWICE!
Enjoy!
Gallaghergirl396 was the one who requested I did a summary of what's going on with the story so far, so here it is….I hope I did your suggestion some justice!
Summary So Far (I'll be calling it SSF, a summary of the last chapter):
In chapter 22 of "What Happens When You Fall Hard" Zach seems to have gotten a kiss from his dream girl; Cammie. Things going on with the boys of room 108 and girls of room 252 seem to be firing up (drama, romance, action, mystery), not to mention the strange cancellations of different classes and the stability with others. This leaves the whole school wondering…almost the whole school anyways…Ms. Jordon seems to be holding more than her fair share of secrets, no one seems to suspect the hip, young CoveOps teacher….everyone besides Zach, at least.
Could she really be working for the other side? Who and What is the other side anyways? Dana Amelia Jordon couldn't be a traitor…could she? The teacher that keeps to herself even more than usual spies…the women that deceived an army of soldiers and prevented another war (according to the Tim and Tina team)…the teacher that has Joe Solomon wrapped around her manicured finger…no, of course not. She couldn't have anything to do with it…what do you think?
On the Civilian Side of things, Karen O'Donnell is humiliated by the 'Beauties' when helping with the Dance Committee with decorations. As Karen is on a ladder hanging streamers, Gabby and Maria (Rudy's Girlfriend) mess with her and blame her for ruined decorations. Maria pushes Karen off the ladder, she lands on the mat, unharmed…for a few seconds. A can of paint falls over her. Smothering her in globs of purple messiness. As she runs out the door, furious and sad, she runs into an unknown stranger…the thing is…he really isn't that unknown.
Chapter 23: Leaving, Designers, and Finding
Time: 9:39a.m.
Location: Belfast, Maine
P.O.V: Cameron Ann Morgan
"Well, it's official, she's a liar," Grant sighed and chugged down the rest of his Dr. Pepper. He tossed the bottle into the trash. He was referring to Ms. Jordon as my mind trailed back to another boy, another trashcan, another place, and another pop bottle. The place where the lies, relationship, and secrets against my sisterhood and school had started. The place where I broke the heart of the world's sweetest boy. The place where it held my first boyfriend and first break-up.
"She is a professional agent, do you need more of an explanation?" Bex said sounding as American as apple pie eaten after a baseball game, defending our favorite teacher. Grant seemed to think about it and shrugged, not seeming too convinced.
"I bet she just wanted most of the students out of the school, probably to do something with Solomon. Who knows, maybe Solomon's got more game than we thought," his voice at the end was suggestive when he talked about my favorite teacher with my godfather. I almost spat Coca-Cola out into the air, making us look like some comedy show with someone doing a spit-take. I mean, sure, I know Dana and Joe like each other (they're a really good couple too), but I knew that Dana wasn't like that. Besides, I haven't even seen them kiss yet….(yet…that was the keyword I'd need to remember).
Speaking of kissing…my mind flitted to Zach, along with my eyes. His dark chocolate hair was wavy, purposely messy with dark shades of mahogany glinting in the light. Zach's bright forest green eyes were emphasized from his green school jacket (the weather was warming up a bit, but it's Maine, it was still chilly). His smooth skin seemed to glow in the soft sunlight.
My thoughts were shattered when he looked back at me, I looked away back at Bex, who was sipping her Mountain Dew. Great…I like another boy…a SPY boy…this should be interesting, I thought, but I felt relief somewhere in my words. Zach was a spy, he would be able to understand more than Josh. I almost winced at the thought of him, but retained my feelings and my straight face. Obviously…the memories were still a little too fresh.
"He's definitely got more game than you," Zach teased, Grant narrowed his eyes at him as Bex and I laughed lightly. Zach was wearing his I-know-something-you-don't smile, that oddly didn't seem annoying anymore…it looked kind of cute. I smiled up at him, he caught my gaze and slipped an arm around me. He's been doing that a lot, I didn't mind, even though it was a bit awkward at first since we didn't really…officially start dating but still.
Like, a wise boy expert once said (she starts with an M and ends with a Y) "You can have dating without kissing, but kissing without dating is entirely different,"…so I guess Zach and I are an item…right? I really should've ran this through the boy-to-English translator (that Liz has recently started working on, twice as hard…my guess is that it has something to do with a specific computer genius other than her)…or better yet! Macey, herself!
"Oh, it's 10:00 already, let's go!" Grant said, Zach seemed to be reluctant but pulled his arm off of me (it was more like Grant pulling it off, but whatever).
"Where are you guys going?" I asked,
"We promised that we would meet up with Jonas once R&D was over," he said, I noticed his breathing was normal, his eyes weren't dilated and he seemed well…normal (as normal as Grant could get anyways). I don't know why, but my mind's been getting a lot more…accusing…suspicious, I guess. I remembered getting this feeling when I was younger and it was close to Christmas time. I wanted to know what my presents from "Santa" were (don't' we all?…when we're, like, 3?).
So I began snooping around the house and almost screamed when I found them in the closet (I had to crack a certain code that required my light green barrette to open the door, but that was a "whatever" factor…remember, I'm the daughter of Rachel Cameron and Chris Morgan). But the knot in my stomach was more magnified, bigger. It wasn't about a light purple sweater that my grandma got me, it was about something bigger…something was tugging at the edge of my mind from before…it was connected to this, but…I came up empty. I turned back to the pair of Blackthorne Boys in front of me.
"But first," Zach said, pulling away from Grant quickly and went towards me, I look up.
"Yeah? What is--" I was cut off as Zach's mouth covered mine briskly and I heard a few chins drop to the floor as I kissed back. I felt from Zach's moves that he was planning on making it even deeper than it already was, but I pulled back. I'm not a fan of PDA (Public Displays of Affection). I saw him step back, seeming a bit unsteady (I'm sure Bex saw it a little) and his arms were back at his sides, and not holding me tightly anymore. I saw him flash a cocky and triumphant smirk over my head across the street. I turned and saw that a couple of guys were scowling at Zach and started walking away.
So that was what he was planning…I thought. If I had to make a scientific conclusion (which Liz would totally be proud of) I'd have to say that this was something like marking territory…boy style. But the thought of me being a piece of property wasn't so appealing (shocker, right? NOT). In a way I liked that Zach got to those guys without hurting them, physically (can't say too much about their egos). I saw Zach lean forward, close to my ear,
"I'm not letting any guy near my Gallagher Girl," he explained, I didn't need to turn my head to see his cocky smirk. I decided to tease him; a taste of his own medicine. I sent a glance towards Bex and being the awesome friend that she was, she understood. As Zach backed up, I grabbed his tie and pulled his him down towards me, so I could be up in his face like he just did to me. I felt his breathing go off pattern, but he sure solved that. He stopped breathing completely!
"I belong to no one. But one thing's for sure, you're mine, Blackthorne Boy," I whispered, matching his cocky tone. I saw him open his mouth to say something but I cut him off.
"Oh and Zach?" he nodded, "Breathe, I don't want my boyfriend dying from lack of air," I joked, he laughed a little and started breathing about. He leaned in to kiss me but I saw with my peripherals Bex motioning to the impatient Grant to step in.
"C'mon Lover Boy, Jonas awaits," Grant taunted as he pried his best friend off of me. Zach warm lips were pulled off of mine and I saw that his green eyes were light, happy, and unfocused as he looked back at me. I smiled, at Zach's unfocused and dazed face. It was as if someone had thrown a haze of laughing gas into his mind and I had the feeling I had something to do with it. Grant was complaining to him as he just looked off in the distance with that cute, dreamy expression on his face.
"Hey, are you even listening to me? Though, I approve the make-out sessions, you can kiss your girl after we get Jonas, alright?" Grant said, in a compromising voice.
I haven't really gotten to know Grant yet, but from what Bex has been saying, he seemed like a pretty cool guy. From my perspective, I thought he was a good spy, I mean, he got Rebecca Baxter compromised on an assignment…you have to be good to do that, and I mean really good (but she did twirl around in the breeze while we were there…).
The thought of "good" brought me back to looking at Zach. He was staring at me with that deep and intense look again…I always caught him doing it, but tossed the thought aside each time. What could he be thinking? And why does he always stare? It wasn't the perverted staring that I caught Logan doing…but something more like wonder, interest. None, the less. I didn't see what there was to stare at. But, he was staring, that's the point, and being the Chameleon and pavement artist that I am, it was unsettling. But that little girl in the back of my brain liked the attention, it's just too bad that the girl was nowhere to be seen at the moment.
"We'll be back soon, wait for us!" Grant shouts as he starts running back towards Blaine Street that led back to the institute. He was practically dragging a non-willing Zach. The last part sounded as if they were off to jail and we were the girlfriends of convicts. Grant's irritated and impatient energy glowed and contrasted Zach's happy and dizzy so much, that I wanted to laugh. Grant was jogging, and Zach…well…Zach was sort of sauntering but still, it was kind of a fast-type of saunter (if that made sense). Anyways. Once the roommates were out of earshot, spy earshot. My best friend turned to me, a wicked smile gracing her exotic, cappuccino face.
"They won't be here for a while, let's ditch. We can take our time, especially if Zach keeps drifting off. Which by the way was a bloody brilliant idea!" she compliments, her British accent eases into her voice naturally. I smiled brightly but dimmed immediately, when I heard,
"And you're gonna tell me EVERYTHING, about it," being demanded out of my roommate's mouth. I'll just keep some details to myself, I thought. And as if I just said it out loud (which I'm pretty sure I didn't) I heard her next words, "And don't leave any details out!" Is she a-- "Mind reader? Nope,"
"Well that's not confusing at all!" I said, my voice sarcastic. She and I laughed a bit.
"I just know you too well," she said beginning to walk off, I smiled and nodded…but the thing is…she doesn't…no one does…not Mom, not Joe, not my roommates, not even Zach…but I guess that's a lie…someone does know…and she's somewhere back at Blackthorne…
At least that's what I thought.
Time: 9:57a.m.
Location: Cherry Park, Belfast
P.O.V: Karen O'Donnell (A/N: This may be one of the last Karen scenes)
"Are you alright, miss?" a deep voice asked. I looked through my purple-tinted glasses, they were all smudged so I couldn't see. But I could see enough to know that there was someone with him.
"Of course she's not, look at her," a lighter and much more feminine voice stated, she sounded concerned. It was the women beside the man, they weren't teenagers, that's for sure. I could tell from their voices. I took off my glasses, fumbling to find a tissue to wipe up the paint and look at least a bit more presentable (though, that may be impossible when I'm covered in wet, purple gunk).
"Here, allow me," I heard the feminine voice say…it wasn't only feminine…it was familiar. I felt warm, soft fingers slip the glasses from my cold, violet covered hands. I could only pray that the paint had dried completely and I didn't get these strangers wet. I opened my eyes a bit wider and looked at the smudged outline of the people in front of me. The man that I bumped had a gorgeous mess of dark hair on top of his head, he was muscular and from what I could tell, had bright green eyes. Through my terrible vision it was completely clear to me that he was utterly handsome.
"Here…now, can you see through them?" the women asked, her arm was extended towards me, the glasses lying in the palm of her hand. I reached and placed the frame onto my face, it was really clear now and I stared at the people in front of me…they were the guys from last time. The teachers from Blackthorne. The women was the history teacher, her name was Dana, I think. She had dark brown hair that reminded me of those expensive chocolates that the 'Beauties' force their jock boyfriends to buy for them on Valentines' Day (they don't even eat it! Something about a diet).
Instead of the delicate ringlets I saw from before, it was smooth and straight as it passed her shoulders. In a way that, Jared (a perv from my school) would have described as, "a sexy businesswomen" kind of way (I think there's something mentally wrong with him). Ms….ah well…Dana had luminous caramel eyes. I looked at the man standing next to her, the teacher that got Officer Tyler all jealous, along with the other glaring adults.
He looked even more dangerous and handsome up close, why this guy took up teaching at a boarding school instead of some gun and a badge like Officer Tyler, was beyond me. I didn't hear his name, but I remembered his face, someone like him wasn't very easy to forget. I think I've seen him around town a few times…it's Ms. Dana that was new to me. All of this was processing in my mind when I realized I still hadn't answered her.
"Oh! I can see fine, thank you," I say quickly.
"As for the rest of you…" the man's voice trailed off and looked at my color-dampened outfit. Purple was never really my color anyways. I could feel my face beginning to flush and flame.
"Come with us," she said abruptly, her eyes were gleaming, but something about that shine made me hesitant, though her brilliant smile was warm and welcoming. I looked at the man next to her, he seemed kind of annoyed and was probably trying to send that to his girlfriend/co-worker.
But then suddenly, in his green eyes that held exasperation a second ago, was replaced by a look of high alert, pure and keen instinct seem to darken them. Along with that was a look of understanding. Something was going on. I might have terrible vision, but that didn't mean I was completely blind to the situation. And a gnawing feeling in my stomach was telling…no, ordering me to follow these two, that was the reason I said,
"Let's go,"
Time: 10:17a.m.
Location: Belfast, Maine
P.O.V: Zachary Goode
"And you're positive that you left them here?" Liz asked, obviously trying to pry the truth from our memories of half an hour ago (it was actually 38 minutes, but that's not the point right now). She sounded like a scientist that didn't want to return to this topic later on. Grant was frustrated; his muscles tense but he didn't unleash it on Liz, probably because Jonas would go berserk on him for freaking out on his almost-girlfriend (for a computer geek, he's got a really good arm). Grant let out a defeated sigh that seemed to deflate his whole puffed up body.
"Yeah, they were here when we left. How was I suppose to know that they'd leave?" he asked. I repressed a groan that wanted to break out of my mouth. Where the hell are they? I thought, getting pissed but hiding it. Jonas seemed like the only one that wasn't mad, he just had a dreamy expression on as he stared at a mildly-upset Liz….that got me thinking…Did I look like that when I was with Cammie?
"We're talking about Bex," Liz said, her Southern accent was obviously stressing, "With her, they could be outside of the U.S. by now," part of me knew that she wasn't completely exaggerating. I saw Jonas slip his hand into hers and both of them going pink. I tried not to roll my eyes, Grant and I were missing two Gallagher Girls in Belfast and we didn't need those two romancing right now. But in the back of my mind I knew I was happy for Jonas, same with Grant.
"So how do you suggest we find them?" Jonas asked us, but mainly gazing at Liz, she was doing the same with him and was giggling shyly. This puppy-love's going take longer than I thought. Grant looked at the almost-couple, who by the way, completely forgot about us. He had a face on that said he wasn't sure whether to give Jonas an encouraging high-five or slap him silly so he'd come back to reality.
As Grant, Jonas and Liz start talking about where our Gallagher Girls went…I felt an icy stab in my back. Awareness seeped into me from that stab. Someone was watching us and I was certain that it wasn't our girlfriends or people checking up out…or even the people of Belfast giving us the "Blackthorne Bad-Eye" (A/N: I realize that it's lame, but it's the best I could do)…. a few seconds after I noticed, I saw Grant stiffen abruptly. He knew too…and I whispered to the confused, computer-genius couple, the beginning of our problems…
"Tails…"
Time: 10:38a.m.
Location: DEB, Belfast
P.O.V: Joseph Solomon
"Do you like these?" Dana asked, she plucked a pair of dark denim jeans off a rack and was holding it in front of the girl that bumped into me. Karen. Though Dana had helped clean Karen up, and loaned her the dark trench coat, it couldn't cover up most of the paint…what happened anyways? Neither one of us asked to respect her privacy (how ironic for a spy to think that).
"They're really nice…but I couldn't…" she said shyly. I caught sight of a man in a dark blue, long sleeve shirt to my right. Five meters away. He looked to be about 30 and had dark brown hair. He didn't have a ring on his finger so he wasn't married. He had blue-green eyes that were examining the store. I would have thought he was harmless…if it weren't for me seeing him 15 minutes ago with blonde hair and a red sweatshirt. And even if I didn't see him…what man in his right mind would come into Deb to look at prom dresses? Amateurs. Obviously, Dana spotted him because she had convinced Karen to take the jeans and head towards the dressing rooms.
She had the trench coat hanging on her forearm as she walked to the front of the store, near the man, and went through different sweatshirts. Dana pulled out a red hoodie and hung it back while pulling out a white one and examining it. I would've smiled, if it weren't for the serious situation. I knew the tail wouldn't pick up on what she was doing, it was a code (which I won't explain now because it would take an hour or so). A code Chris and Rachel thought of, Dana and I just…borrowed it. Dana was telling me that the man wasn't armed with the white jacket but was still dangerous with the red one. I pulled a bit on my black jacket, telling her that I understood. She told/motioned to me that she noticed by moving the black trench coat to her other arm.
"I'll go see how Karen is, you mind checking out the time, I forgot my watch," Dana stated as she walked over towards me, in her hand was the red hoodie and a white spaghetti-string tank top. Yet, another code. Telling me to keep an eye on the tail. This is one of the first times that I've seen her use our childhood codes for a situation. These codes weren't CIA certified (what organization--spy or not--would take advice from a bunch of 11 year-olds), so no one besides her, me, Rachel and Chris had known about these. I could tell by the way Dana was trying to keep a bit too calm that she knew who these guys were. But all I did was nod as I watched her clack towards the back of the store.
I'll find out soon enough, I thought and turned towards the doors, to find that he was gone. But what I saw in his place was a girl that reminded me little of Cammie, but the resemblance ended when I saw her pick out a jean miniskirt. Then the thought of Cammie and Zach entered my mind, I knew I should take Dana's advice about not killing him…but hey? Who's going to know? The image of him kissing my beloved goddaughter entered my head, and the image of what I was going to do to him blotted out the picture. I felt a cruel smile pick up at the corners of my lips. I banished the thought of interrogating-slash-torturing Mr. Goode…for now. I saw a blur of brunette hair and a blue t-shirt, knowing that it was him, I followed. Time for the tail to see how it is to be hunted.
Time: 10:41a.m.
Location: Dressing Room, DEB
P.O.V: Karen O'Donnell
Blackthorne sure has some weird teachers, I thought as I stripped off the pair of jeans, they were a little too big. I pulled the purple spotted jeans I had on from before. Somewhere in my mind I felt a twinge of guilt, they may be weird, but they were really nice. I clipped the jeans up and opened the dressing room door, leaving it ajar. A voice stopped me, freezing me.
No…not here. Why now? Of all places? Of all times? Why HER?I cried into my mind as I turned to face the dictator herself.
"Well if it isn't Kathy? You actually shop! Wow, I just thought you'd pick up some hand-me-downs from that pathetic mother of yours, or better yet, a trashcan!" Cassidy smiled fiendishly, her voice was soaking with fake innocence. But the closest thing with "innocence" about Cassidy Nelson was sexual innocence, and even that she's lost. I felt myself heat up, but not of embarrassment, it was anger. Yes, I'd deal with her making fun of me…but not of my mother. My hard-working mother may not be one of the "rich-fashion-diva" moms, but she's been working two jobs that kept the dark shingled roof over our heads after my father left. The previous fiery rage of the paint was a mere spark to how I felt now. I was about to spew about as many profanities I knew--which would shock you---at her when another, non-swearing voice beat me to it.
"Is there a problem?" Dana said. I looked past the white-blond head to see her leaning on the wall casually. Is there a problem? I remembered that those were almost the exact words she asked the officer. But instead of the confused and concerned glimmer in her voice…she had a sly, darker, and dangerous tint in her voice. Her caramels eyes had the exact same flare that showed that the owner was superior.
"Oh, nothing miss, we're just visiting a friend from school," Gabby (the girl from back in the gym!) explained, her voice all bubbly that fooled any teacher in our staff, sounding like an innocent airhead. It made me even more angrier. The teachers at school don't see the Beauties as the witches (with or without a 'B') they were, they see them as the students that deserve to be on the student council, Little-Miss-Perfects. I waited to see Dana's response. I knew that she would take their side, she's a teacher, and I doubt that Blackthorne students do what the Beauties do. But…I was wrong.
"Oh? Is that so?" Dana says in her silky voice. She raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow and walks slowing back to us, circling the Beauties like they were her prey. A thought struck me…Dana was really beautiful, I bet she experienced something like the 'Beauties' at her school…or maybe she was even one of them.
And for once in my life here in Belfast…the Beauties looked nervous and inferior. To be honest, I couldn't blame them, compared to their slut-like clothes and dyed hair, Dana's natural, glamorous mane and classy and high-cut clothes that would've made a guy drool anyways (that actually happened a few times before we go there, but her boyfriend; Mr. S. seemed to scare them off), they looked like little girls that were playing with their mommy's make-up.
"Yes, ma'am," Cassidy gulped. This was a side of Dana that I hadn't witnessed before.
"So that's how you treat a friend?" Gabby and Cassidy had been looking away from her before this point. Heck, even I couldn't make eye contact. But the sound of her voice made us all look back. This time another look was on her face. A face of anger and disgust, it wasn't even directed towards me and I could feel the heat of the scorn rushing towards me in waves. I relaxed a bit as I saw her smile at me. But Gabby with her spray tan went pale and I saw that Cassidy seemed to stop breathing as Dana stared at them.
"Karen," she said softly and that's all I needed to know for me to walk back to her. Her eyes were warm as they looked at me, but the sleek ice ruled them out as she looked back at the Beauties. I expected her to tell them off now.
"You know, that handbag is a fake, right?"…alright, that wasn't the thing I expected her to say…I thought of something about calling their parents. But from Cassidy's distressed look of disbelief as she stared at her Jimmy Choo handbag, it was just as good, if not, better.
"I-It is?" she stuttered and started groping her purse. Gabby had a suspicious look in her mink-colored eyes as she eyed at Dana.
"How would you know?" her bubbly voice was gone and her true nature was revealed…but something told me Dana knew that already. She smirked and walked up towards them a bit and turned her so her back was towards them, lifting her long hair to reveal the back of the red shirt had a gold insignia. I didn't really get what was happening but when she continuously modeled her clothes (which I just noticed was designer) I got what she was doing. Proving her point. Her knowledge of designer and name-brand accessories. After showing a pair of Stilettos the Beauties seemed convince and mortified as they looked at their designer bags and scarves.
"Those are cheap knock-offs, and trust me when it comes to designers," she said,
"They weren't cheap though," Cassidy shot back venomously, obviously not making an attempt to play "nice girl" with Ms. Designer.
"Then it's a knock-off and a rip-off, sweetheart," Dana answered nonchalantly, the word, "sweetheart" had been converted from its original endearment to mockery as they escaped Dana's lips.
At this, both Gabby and Cassidy gasped and disgust showing in their faces. They scooped all the things out of the bags (like cell phones, iPods…condoms?…I shouldn't be surprised…), and throwing away what looked like a $400.00 purse into a trashcan, along with $150.00 looking scarves and a diamond necklace for Cassidy. I gaped at them…they threw them all away! So what if they were knock-offs? They looked fine to me! After that, they gave me glare (which earned them a death scowl from Dana), did their signature hair flip, and wobbled away in their tall heels (which I was surprised they kept).
"How'd you know they weren't the real thing?" I asked Dana after they left. I mean, they could've fooled me. But then again, I'm not that good with name-brand stuff. We started walking towards the cashier. At this she tossed her head back and laughed. She looked back at me with a mischievous spark in her eyes, that held onto a flare of amusement.
"They were," she said, "Designer, I mean. I expected that they'd be at least a bit suspicious, I didn't think they'd be that stupid and believe me right away…and throw them in the trash!" she laughed. I was caught off guard. She just called the Beauties stupid (which they are, I mean, if you look at their D in Biology), I've never heard an adult or even a student say that. Not only that, she schemed them into tossing their "precious" designer stuff.
"I'd like to buy this," Dana requested, her voice had once again taken on a different tone. Polite. That's when I realized she had a complete outfit in her hands; everything from the rose colored hoodie to the delicate silver hoop earrings. Everything that looked like my size. Oh no.
"That'll be $37.25," the perky cashier said, her strawberry-blond hair flipping "Thank you for shopping at DEB, come again!" the enthusiasm in her voice was hyper and a little annoying if you asked me. But I just nodded as I followed Dana out the door to meet Mr. S (he never told me his actual name). I don't know why but I turned and looked back at the cashier counter…the perky redhead was gone.
Time: 11:04a.m.
Location: Sidewalk, Belfast
P.O.V: Dana Amelia Jordon
They're getting sloppier, I thought. I had just sent Karen home with her new outfit covering her, she looked much better and prettier when you pulled her hair out of her face…along with the paint. The paint was sticky, but easy to get out. If you compared it to the time when I was retrieving a file in Guatemala anyways. While I made my escape, a series of harsh chemicals got caught on my hair; which was threatening to burn my hair, melt my skull and turn my brain into mush…so paint wasn't a huge fuss. She was clad in a ruby red hoodie, black denim jeans, a white cami, and red One Star shoes to match. Accessorized in silver jewelry. Earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets.
I stuck my hands into my pockets to feel the crushed pieces of metal. Metal from a new and improved tracker that the NSA had just recently made. They shouldn't underestimate me, I thought sullenly. I was kind of insulted that they thought that they could get by me with such terrible tracker placement. The so-called "cashier" back at the store was an agent. I could tell by the way she talked, I've seen her just a few minutes ago with another customer, sounding bored to death. The fake perkiness was just another example of bad acting, her voice had gone off pitch a few times which meant she wasn't using her ordinary voice and she didn't have the option of high-tech voice-changers. Again, very bad acting. There's also the fact that they covered Karen's new clothes in the small trackers, along with my credit card.
"Do you want to report this?" I heard Joe ask from beside me, his arm was wound possessively around me. Occasionally giving a glare or look at any male in a 4 meter radius. I had to force myself not to scoff at Joe's protectiveness.
"It's not a problem," I reassured. Joe looked at me expectantly but I just met his gaze, I smiled when I heard him sigh in defeat. I was always one of the people that he didn't dare challenge (mostly me and Rachel). I was then at the front gates of the institute, there were a lot things on my mind. I tried to keep the wave of guilt from drowning me by thinking of how the new couple was endangered by a spy godfather.
"Oh, and don't kill Zach, the boy didn't do anything," I advised to a sour Joe.
"Yet. He didn't do anything yet," he pointed out. And whatever he thought Zach and Cammie were going to do, I knew he'd be pissed. I hit his chest as we entered the school.
"Relax, Cammie's not like that, I don't think Zach is either," I reasoned. I knew Cammie was really happy and liked Zach. Zach was practically falling in love with her, so why not let them be together…injury-free. Besides, even if Zach were to try anything, Cammie would demolish him herself. Joe just looked like his stubborn and cute self, he hasn't completely changed from when we were teenagers.
"Fine…but you owe me," his arm cinched me even tighter and he kissed me roughly. I gave him a kiss back and slipped out of his arms. Yep, hasn't changed. Walking back towards my dorm room, wanting to spend time in my room alone and not together with Joe Solomon in his (NOT like that!). I needed to sort things out and having the good-looking and legendary Wise Guy around wouldn't help me out.
"You still owe me!" Joe called from his doorway down the hall, I heard the click of a door being shut as I walked back to my room. I chuckled lightly and opened my dark wooded door. The walls were a soft lavender color with white carpeting, I hopped onto my bed and pulled my laptop (my "business" one, not my personal one). I knew that there weren't any bugs or cameras in my room, I programmed it enough to alert me when there were any ever planted. Having tight ties with the AlphaNet can be really helpful. Besides…no one's suspected me yet. Maybe, Michael's boy and Cammie would eventually catch on, hm…maybe I've trained them a little too well.
I checked my email, seeing three new messages in my inbox. One of which was from Rachel, something about the "business" that's happening back at Gallagher. I read and deleted. The other two were the ones that made me sit up straighter, feeling my senses getting sharper. The first one was from him. I skimmed the article he sent…feeling a knot build in my stomach, the tension growing. The dam that I made to block the guilt cracked as the guilt swirled with the knot in my stomach. I read the next one. I felt my eyes get huge. I shut the computer immediately with a loud clack! and with my right arm I threw the laptop into the soft lavender of the hard wall. The whole thing shattering. It took me a second to realize that I was shaking a bit.
No…they couldn't…it's not possible…it couldn't…why…I clenched my fist to stop it's trembling, it barely worked. Why…
Not a problem. That's what I told Joe. Now as I laid down, letting my mind drift to black, the only thought that could appear was whispered quietly, it's voice, cruel and mocking…
Yeah, right…after the last syllable was uttered, echoing, I seeped into the darkness of my own mind.
Time: 11:21a.m.
Location: Town Square, Belfast
P.O.V: Zachary Goode
"Duke, current status?" I asked, the words barely audible without moving my mouth. The comms unit was crystal clear (it being a Sutton Original and all) with Grant's voice flowing easily through it.
"Sorry Mask, no sign of Duchess or Chameleon," he answered, I sighed and walked around a bit. The stone sidewalks were patterned, I noticed as I rushed over them. I felt my stomach start to whine for food. I turned to the direction of a girl working at a hot dog stand, she looked my age with (mostly brown) hazel eyes with chestnut hair.
I had to admit through my worry and frustration, that the clarity of the comms unit was pretty good. I knew Liz was a computer genius like Jonas, but this was the first time that I actually saw what she could do. It was impressive and I knew Jonas was falling for the right girl. I knew that I had shaken my tails, because I haven't seen many signs of them. It was harder than I thought and I had to keep even more alert than usual to make sure that I'd be out of sight.
"Oh, wait, I think I see Be--Duchess," Liz's voice squeaked, quickly correcting her little mistake.
"Where?" Grant blurted abruptly before anyone else could get a word in.
"Right here, Duke," I hear a familiar British voice say instead of the Southern accent that belonged to Liz. I didn't need to look at Grant to know he would be grinning like a fool. I could just imagine it in my head, and it showed a whole lot in his voice too.
"Duchess!" his voice was still quiet but emotion swirled into it, obviously not bothering to cover up that he's glad to have his basically-girlfriend back. A thought struck me like lightning when I finished the last bite of my ketchup covered hot dog, only holding the thin paper wrapping.
"Is Chameleon there?" I asked (after I swallowed), the slight hesitation that was barely even a second was just enough to set me on edge.
"I don't know, she and I figured out about the tails…" Bex explained, her voice was masking worry. "We split up, I shook my tail off easily…" I heard a small gasp at the end of her trailed off voice. Bex's voice had gone darker and was grim now, through the connection, I knew this was her conclusion. "too easily…and there was only one. At the beginning I spotted at least three. I didn't even have to shake her off, she stopped following completely. On purpose." her voice went from explaining to us to trying to figure out what to do herself. The urgency hit me immediately and from the stunned and deathly silence of the line, they all knew. My whisper wasn't necessary but, it escaped my shocked lips anyways.
"They're going after her,"
SORRY FOR ANY MISTAKES! I'M NOT THE BEST WHEN EDITTING!
Thanks for reading! Please REVIEW! Was it Okay? Decent? Good? Bad? Horrible? You want to rip it out of the screen and burn it? You want to get down on one knee and propose? TELL ME IN A REVIEW PLEASE!
Sorry, but the cliff-hanger was SO necessary! Any guesses to what happened? Who sent the email to Dana (other than Rachel)? What the heck was even in the email? Who're the tails? Will Joe get to Zach before Zach can attempt to save Cammie?………
I'LL TELL YOU IN CHAPTER 24!
The first *8* Reviewers will get the sneak peek!
Recommendations for stories:
- I spy my life as a lie - by gallaghergirl396
- Saniyah - by loosh4ev
- Daddy's Little Girl - by Gallagher Rose
- Shopping Trip - by rebellion101
Sorry to announce that the story will be ending soon…maybe about…I don't know, four more chapters? But the sequel will be out after that! Promise!
****************IMPORTANT UPDATE AUTHOR'S NOTE*******************************
I have two ideas for more GG fanfics, both include grown-up Zach and Cammie. It doesn't follow the plot line though…should I go for it? Or just continue with this and it's sequel and THEN write the other stories? Please tell me in the review!
AND CHECK OUT MY POLL PLEASE! V&V!
~A Cheerful (and non-sick) Diva~
P.S. DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT CONTAGIOUS!