Realization

We spent countless hours picking out the right outfits. It was...exhausting. Bex wanted to please her long-time boyfriend, Grant. So does Liz with Jonas. Macey is trying to seduce one of Zach's best man, so she chose something more...provocative. Me? I'm just trying to keep it simple. We're not actually there for the wedding. We're there for backup. And...maybe a little bit of revenge on my part.

We walked out of the mall one day and Bex had a maximum of two bags, claiming she didn't want to overdo it. Liz carried three. I just bought a simple black, strapless, knee-length dress and some ballet flats; so I had two bags with me. Macey went totally overboard with a cocktail mini dress and stiletto heels with a black choker and some smoky new makeup. We climb in the convertible my mother gifted me with when I graduated and started the ignition.

I dumped the bags in the trunk and said, "We need to do some research!"

Macey tsked, "This girl.." She tapped at me. "total killjoy."

I roll my eyes and reversed out of the parking lot.

"No she's right." Liz chimed in sweetly, her eyes kinda glazed and veiled with excitement. "We need to get something done."

"And we did." Macey countered. "We got our outfits."

I roll my eyes again. "Don't count. That was fun time. Now it's serious time." I roll in the school's gate and unarmed the security before driving up front and getting out of my car.

"Killjoy." I heard Macey mumbled.

Mom meet us at the foyer with a smile on her face; which I immediately recognized as forced, and fake. "Welcome back, girls. Did you get everything you need?"

"Yes, Ms. Morgan." Bex spoke, holding up her bags for evidence.

"Great. Cammie, I would like to speak with you. Immediately." She flashed another smile and turned on her heels, walking back to her office.

"Ouhh!" Macey sing-song. "Cammie's in trouublee!"

I popped her on the arm and unload my bags to Liz, who struggles with hold it all. "So childish." I laughed and walked behind my mom, giving my hips a little shake, which cause the girls to whoop and purred. I shake my head, hiding my laughter as I sat down across from my mom. Then I realized something. "Where is everybody?" When we walked in, I didn't see the girls bustling about, which would've gave Mr. Solomon a heart attack if he was here. That was the first thing he'd taught us: Notice Things.

"CoveOps exam with Joe." Yeah, their at the first-name basis. Weird, I know. But when your CoveOps teacher is dating your aunt, who's in the Secret Service, you kinda get use to these little quirks. She paused then procede.

"What about the others?"

"They're all with Joe today."

"Oh. Really?"

"Yes. Sweetheart, have you find out anything about the stolen painting and Helena Marx?"

I pursed my lips. "Not exactly. We were gonna get some research done today. And we will! I promise." I smile sheepishly. I'd told my mom a few days after we'd found out about the paintings and Justine Martin/Helena Marx. The girls agreed with me. If anything, we should get some professional to help. And Rachel Morgan is, without a doubt, a professional. "Mom, have you told Mr. Solomon?"

"Yes. He's going to inform Dr. Steve over at Blackthorne and they'll work things out. Don't worry, Cam. Everything's gonna be fine."

It's not me I'm worried about, it's Zach, I thought to myself.

She smiles and put an arm around me. "Don't worry about Zach either."

I paled. Did she just read my mind?

She chuckles and squeezed my shoulders. "A mother just knows things."

"Thanks, mom." I whispered, hugging her side before rising from the couch and heading toward the door. "We'll be in the library if you need us."

She nodded and waved. I closed the door and whip out my cell, speed-dialing Bex. "Get down to the library now."

"Alright." She cried. "Macey was right! You are a total killjoy."

I snapped the phone shut and walk the short length to the library. I walked in; surprised to see the fire still glowing steadily; giving off warmth and comfortness. I trailed to the computers and logged in; searching about the painting. No information showed up. Not the ones worth knowing anyway.

The girls bursted in, laughing and giggling. I whistled and motion them over.

"What's up, la chica?"

"Oh gosh! Macey McHenry spoke Spanish! Someone get the press!" I gasped, faking surprise.

She flipped me off and leaned against the counter. "What'd you find out?"

"Nothing yet."

"We should check the books." Bex suggested and shimmied off toward the cases, trailing her index finger along the spines. "What's a reasonable name?"

"I don't know. Hm, try Abraham Lincoln."

"Kay."

We scanned the books in silent. Only the crackling of the fire echoed through the spacious room. An hour went by...then two. It was eerie, really. We searched high and low, came across some books that looks interesting but turns out to be nothing. That was the frustrating part! All the books here is something! They have everything in Gallagher history withhold in these books. Finding nothing is wrong. We decided to take a break around five o'clock. Macey complained that she had read enough for her entire life.

"Four hours and nothing." Liz sat on top of the desk, rubbing her forehead. She seemed distress.

"Don't worry. We'll keep looking tomorrow." I reassured her tiredly. It wasn't even close to dinner and I was already beginning to feel achey and distraught.

The library door cracked open and bright lights creeped in. The girls would be back righ about now. And I was right. Standing at the entrance was Sophia Kayla, one of my Freshmans. "Oh! Good evening Ms. Morgan."

I smiled. "Good evening Sophia. How was CoveOps?"

Her eyes brightened. "Amazing! It was a rush."

I laughed. "I'm sure it was."

She sauntered off to the Historic section, leaving us alone. I turned my head and can't find Liz. "Liz?"

"Over here." Came her voice from one of the nooks and cranny.

We all found her with her head bend down over a gigantic, dust-covered book.

"I know why Marx wants the painting." She whispers hoarsely.

I leaned in eagerly - we all did. "What? Why?"

"You know about the Alumni, right?"

We nodded impatiently. "Yeah."

"Well, turns out there's two. Two updated ones." She held up two fingers then continued. "One of them is locked up in our safe."

"Where's the second one?" Bex asked with deadly calm.

"Somewhere etched in the painting."

"That's impossible." Macey shakes her head. "I've seen the painting millions of times and I'd never..."

"It isn't noticeable." Liz answered. "But it's etched in there."

"Can they get it out?"

"Yeah."

"With what?"

"The Blackthorne crest. They need both items to unlock the Alumni. Apparently there's a spot provided for the crest that frees it from the painting and looking at its contents."

"But that's locked up too!"

"Guys, I just found out why Zach and Justine are getting wed." The words escaped my lips without emotion.

"Why?" Macey asked after a moment of hesitation.

"Zach is getting the painting back to the museum and the Alumni back for us. And Justine, or Helena, is trying to steal the crest." I whispered through closed lips.

"Oh." Macey mumbled gravely.

"Shit." Liz finished.