The Brotherhood of Ieoseph Cavan
ChAptEr 2
.~***~.
File taken from the desk of Agent Rachel Morgan, Headmistress of The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, Roseville, VA:
Student Assessment (Standard)
Completed by Mme. A. Dabney, September 2006:
Class of 2012
Alverez, Eva (i.e. Chica)
Comments: Languages and cultures are strong points. In the future, would be well suited for the International Operations Sector and/or the International Communications Office.
Bauer, Courtney (i.e. Bee)
Comments: Clever and sneaky. Very energetic. Has an affinity for 'planting false information' (i.e. lying). Convinced housemates she spent the summer before seventh grade traveling the world on the back of a baby turtle, surviving on clams.
Baxter, Rebecca (i.e. Dutchess)
Comments: Remarkable skill in P&E. Shows impressive aggression and force in one-on-one combat, but needs to work on anger management.
Boden, Jessica (i.e. Calypso)
Comments: Enigma to peers—quiet, comes off as shy. Secret-keeper. Likely will go into Records Keeping at Langley.
Fetterman, Anna (i.e. Chicken Little)
Comments: Skittish disposition, and almost unbelievably clumsy, but shows surprising determination (and ability) when following instructions. Possibly candidate for either the Research & Development or Covert Operations tracks.
Lee, Kim (i.e. S. Holmes)
Comments:Extraordinary at deduction, with a talent for puzzle solving, in which she comes in second only to Ms. Sutton.
Morgan, Cameron Ann (i.e. Chameleon)
Comments: Shows great potential, particularly in field operation. Pavement artist.
Morrison, Mick (i.e. Hornet)
Comments: Close second to Ms. Baxter in combat. Good at imitation and voice tricks. Takes after her father (Col. Gregory Morrison, Third Division), and tends imitate him.
Sutton, Elizabeth (i.e. Bookworm)
Comments: Incredibly bright, but not physically up to par with classmates, similar to Ms. Fetterman. Recommended for the Research & Development track.
Walters, Tina (i.e. Paparazzi)
Comments: Aptitude for intense interrogation and 'information gathering.' Takes after mother. Makes a good team with Ms. Bauer, her counterpart. Ms. Bauer plants information where Ms. Walters retracts information.
...
Added to document by Headmistress R. Morgan, September 2009:
McHenry, Macey (i.e. Peacock)
Comments: Descendant of Gillian Gallagher (founder). Quickly progressing through the lower grades in order to catch up with her peers (Class of 2012). Kicked out of previous schools for behavior reasons, which have yet to become an issue here at Gallagher.
.~***~.
The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, Great Hall
Sunday
As the girls of Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women ate the last few bites of their crème brulee Sunday evening, Headmistress Rachel Morgan stood up and called for attention. Immediately, all conversation died as the girls stopped what they were saying (in Swedish) to listen. Rachel cleared her throat. "It is my pleasure to announce that this year our junior class will not spending the year at Gallagher." The girls' eyes widened and they whispered to each other ("I knew it! She's sending us to Roseville for the semester!" "I bet they're sending them overseas to Russia, undercover to infiltrate the government and root out Nazi refugees!" "Obviously they're going to Norway. I heard the Norwegian government has been supplying Muslim extremists with illegal under-water technology NASA developed when they thought they had found water on Saturn."). "Instead," Rachel continued, "they will be spending the year, as guests, at Gallagher's brother school— tomorrow morning the entire sophomore class will be leaving for Blackthorne Institute for Boys!"
The entire hall seemed to stop breathing before, all at once, in came to life in a flurry of shrieks and cries of surprise.
"Gallagher has a brother school?"
"Boys? They get to meet boys?"
"That's not fair! I want to go!"
Tina Walters leaned over Bex to speak to Cammie. "So Cam," she said. "How long have you known about this trip?"
"What? Tina, I knew nothing about it." Cammie rolled her eyes. It was just like Tina to assume Cammie was privy to her mother's actions as Headmistress. Not even close, in fact. Cammie's mother rarely told her what she was up to. It was a spy thing.
"Sure," Tina winked. "And where is this infamous—" Cammie's eyebrows scrunched together. Who said anything about infamous? Jeez, "—boy's school, that you know nothing about." Tina's face was eager, her body language screaming for answers. Cammie had to keep her annoyance at the girl in check. Tina took after her mother, a journalist for the Washington Post, and she was always poking her nose places.
"I told you, Tina: I don't know anything about Blackthorne!"
Tina sighed. "Sure, whatever you say, Cammie." She leaned back, rolling her eyes. When she thought Cammie wasn't looking, Tina sent Courtney Bauer a look that said there Cammie goes lying again. Cam' hands clenched under the table and she shared a look with Bex.
"Just ignore her, Cammie," Liz said supportively, her strong southern accent coming through. "She has no idea what she's talking about."
Cammie smiled. "Thanks, Liz."
"So Cam, do you know anything about Blackthorne," Bex asked eagerly. Cammie hid a smile at her friend's enthusiasm (Bex was boy crazy, always asking Cammie who she thought was 'hawt').Cammie wasn't annoyed at Bex's questions like she was annoyed at Tina's. She guessed she just didn't appreciate being given the Third Degree because her mother was Headmistress. Contrary to popular believe, Cammie got no special benefits from the arrangement.
"I really don't have any information, guys," Cammie shrugged. "I didn't even know there was a boy's school." Cammie looked up at the head table to her mother. She watched Rachel chat with Madame Dabney, wondering what other secrets her mother was keeping.
.~***~.
Dinner was dismissed and Cammie and her friends returned to their room to pack. "What do you think we'll need to bring with us?" Bex asked as she twirled around the room, holding three different dresses. "Do you think there will be any dances? Or maybe a ball?" Her British accent came through stronger when she was excited.
"Doubt it," Macey said. Cammie noted a dejected tone her friend was trying to cover up. She turned away from her suitcase to see Macey sitting on her bed staring at the wall blankly. Cammie frowned.
"Why aren't you packing, Macey?" she asked.
Macey frowned and sighed. "I'm not going," she said.
"What?" Bex exclaimed and immediately stopped what she was doing. "How can you not be coming? You have to come!"
Macey smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Your mom called me into her office this morning, Cammie," she said. "She told me about the exchange—" Cammie was surprised, to say the least, that Macey got this information before everyone else, "—and she told me I wouldn't be able to participate."
"Why not?" Wailed Liz, looking close to tears. Bex put a supportive arm around the waif-like girl. "How will we—we…survive without you? I'll never know what the male species are trying to say to me without you there." Liz looked despaired.
"Stop being melodramatic, Liz," Cammie laughed, throwing a pillow at the other girl.
It made Macey smile for just a second, but then she sighed. "Your mom said I'm not at the right level to participate, yet. I'm still in class with the ninth graders—nowhere near where I need to be for junior year stuff. Unless I catch up in the next—" she glanced down at her watch, "—eleven hours, I can't go." Cammie opened her mouth, but Macey saw and cut her off. "Even you and Liz can't help me learn two years worth of training in eleven hours, Cam." Macey's tone was teasing and almost playful, but her eyes and the set of her mouth were bitter. "You'll just have to go without me."
"But it's for the entire year…"
"I know." Macey lay down and rolled over in her bed then, effectively stopping all discussion. The rest of the night was spent packing in disappointed silence.
A/N: Kind of a late update, especially for such a short chapter, but I was on vacation this weekend and just got back yesterday, which was also spent hanging out with my family because it was my sister's birthday. Anyways, sorry it's so short, and hope you liked it.
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! It means a lot to me. :)
Next Chapter: The Gallagher Girls arrive at Blackthorne, are introduced to the boys, adapt to the living…environment, and start classes.