disclaimer: nothing to do with UWS. all rights of characters and spy plot to ally carter.

(this story has nothing to do with any previous chapters and takes place during spring semester of Cameron's junior year. please keep that in mind. i apologize in advanced for any grammatical errors.)

Aubrey Lexington and the Green Mask

Chapter 10

I opened my closet and pulled out the dress that I was required to wear for that night. It was blue. I've always looked good in blue, I suppose. As I pulled it out and put it on, a crisp thought entered my mind. How quickly things were changing. How quickly everyone around me was changing. How quickly I was changing. It was all happening too fast.

My dorm room was empty that night. Bags had been packed, beddings had been stripped, and belongings had been tucked away. Ready for us all to take home and wait for the next semester to begin. I was slipping on a pair of pantyhose when there was a knock on the door.

"Coming," I cried to the person at the door, who offered me no response or assurance as to who he, or she, was.

I really, truly, was praying it wasn't someone who needed a kick in the face. These were my only pair of pantyhose that didn't have a run in them. Macey would probably execute me. This is something I didn't want to particularly worry about, at the moment.

Making sure my dress wasn't sticking inside of my tights, I opened the door. "Mr. Townsend," I said, recognizing the face that stood before me. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Hello, Ms. Morgan," he smiled politely at me, before handing me a folder. "This is your cover for the night."

"Aubrey Lexington," I mumbled, scanning the sheet with a biography of someone who had my face but would never be me. "Marketer for the company Tiffany & Co.," I started reading. "She has a boyfriend, and a kitten. What a cute mix."

"I hope you don't mind being paired with Mr. Goode, as to be addressed as Mr. Gallatin, as usual, Cammie," Mr. Townsend said, looking at me. "You two are quite compatible."

"I've noticed," I replied solemnly, before saying goodbye and shutting the door.

I wish I would've been surprised that it was Zach. Or maybe even excited. But I wasn't. Typical Townsend.

I must admit, Zach is an excellent spy. He may be cocky. He may be annoying. He may be extremely hot. He may be my sort-of boyfriend. But he was still Zach and being paired with him, as frustrating as it sometimes was, always helped. I was more alert, more ready. There was no way I was missing a strike if I had him watching. I always tried to be on my a-game around him.

Which only made me better at what I do. And this is what I do best.

::

I hurriedly put on my silver shoes, grabbing the mask that awaited me on my desk. I ran out of the door, careful to lock it. Freshmen were known for roaming at the Gallagher Academy. I walked, well, wobbled, down the hallway, my heels clicking and my adrenaline pumping. Tonight I would get my final grade of the school year. My last grade as a junior.

It was all happening too fast, in my opinion. It was too much to take in. To think that next year, I would be walking down these halls to graduation. It feels like just yesterday I was walking down these halls at seventh grade orientation when I was 12.

I snapped out of that stage. I had to focus tonight. Tonight was the night. Finals exam was quite different from most schools. We were taking two on day, Madame Dabney's Culture and Assimilation final, practicing our manners and behavior around gentleman and ladies of higher stature. And also our Covert Operations exam, run by Agent Townsend. It was going to be a long night.

Spies were supposed to be prepared for anything, and I know that. But walking into the Grand Hall that night, I couldn't quite catch my breath. It was beautiful, extravagantly decorated to the highest standards. My mouth must've been gaping, because a man with a mask approached me, putting his hand on my chin and pressing my top and bottom lip together.

"Close that pretty little mouth, Gallagher Girl." He said, the corners of his own mouth turning upwards. "You'll catch flies."

"You really think Dabney would allow a single insect in here?" I responded. "No faith, Blackthorne Boy."

My dress danced around me, the skirt making me feel like I was swimming in a pool of tulle and silk. My mask had an outline of silver beads, the navy blue silk being cut out into cat eyes. My hair was growing longer, below my chest. Macey had curled it into thick strands and piled it on my head, leaving a few curls to frame my face.

He took my gloved hand and pulled me lightly to the dance floor, putting his hand on the small of my back and holding my other hand. We swayed to the classical music floating throughout the grandly light hall. He spun me and brought me back around, looking right into my eyes. His mask was dark green, and it had the tiniest stripes of gold horizontally lining it. You could only tell if you were looking really, really hard at him. Which I was.

"Think I look hot tonight, don't you, Gallagher Girl?" He said, smirk growing on his tanned face.

"Not really," I replied, pretending I wasn't fazed by his comment. I kept looking.

"Oh, Miss Lexington," he said, feigning hurt. "You kill me."

"You know me, Mr. Gallatin," I was spun again. "I never cease to be amazing."

"Someone's cocky tonight."

"I learned from the best."

::

We were walking, laughing, touching arms, dancing, eating, socializing, and having the time of our lives. Or so it had seemed. We were really stalking, staring, watching, thinking, and listening.

"What's our objective?" I said lightly to my partner in crime as we waltzed on the polished floors.

"Three things," he started. "Find out who Alexander Madison is, take his watch without him knowing, and get his signature."

"This sounds like something Townsend would come up with," I scoffed. "As if we weren't capable of anything more."

"No one has faith in juniors these days, Aubrey," he told me, taking me to the edge of the wall, acting as if we were having a serious conversation.

"I couldn't have said it better."

::

I think I've inquired more people about their name in the last twenty minutes than I have in the past six years. I spotted Macey quickly, in her golden gown, her straight black hair cascading down her back as she was arm and arm with a boy I didn't recognize. Trying as hard as possible not to blow my cover, I walked up to her, commenting about how much I loved her beautiful dress. She replied joyfully, saying something about a brand I've never heard of, as I pretended like I had a closet full of that exact brand.

Having a rich-girl cover did have its perks, after all. I turned to the man she was with, scanning for my partner in the crowd. He'd gone to get a drink and I had a feeling now would be the appropriate time to return. "Audrey Lexington," I said, touching his shoulder ever so lightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hello Miss Lexington," he replied curtly. He seemed straight forward, with piercing blue eyes. It was like they looked into the depths of your soul.

Well, that escalated quickly.

"And your name, sir?" I inquired, tilting my head to the side about a half inch, showing I was interested, but not too interested. "I don't want to improperly address you."

"Xander," he said, his eyes looking behind me. I didn't have time to turn around, because mere seconds later, I was being greeted by a pair of strong arms around my waist and drink in my hand. I could feel warm breath on the nape of neck as he rested his chin in my collarbone. "And this is?"

"James Gallatin," he replied, pulling a hand away from my waist to greet Xander, who straightened up a bit as his hand was firmly shaken. "And you, sir?"

"Xander," he replied, with the same expression he gave me. "Alexander, but I prefer Xander. Alexander Madison."

Inside my shoes, my toes curled and my calves tensed. I could feel the smirk coming in as he tightened his grip on me. Xander didn't seem to notice.

Rookie mistake, Madison. We just passed the finals.

Well, not quite. But how hard could the rest be?

They really doubted juniors. I feel as if this was because of Anna Fetterman.

Being sent to the health suite for giving yourself a nosebleed with a can of salty goodness really does haunt your record forever.

"And this is my date, Miss Hamilton," Xander said, referring to Macey, who was bored out of her mind. "Introduce yourself, Bethany." He told her, as if she had been raised in a barn.

I could practically feel Macey rolling her eyes and scowling at him. Macey? In a barn not for P&E?

As if.

"Hello, I'm Miss Hamilton," Macey said, plastering a smile. "You may address me as Bethany."

::

About three minutes later, Xander's watch was in Mr. Gallatin's pocket and he had written me a check for a charity that I owned that unfortunately had no existence whatsoever. I looked at him. "We still have two hours."

"It's only been a half hour? Are you kidding?" He looked at me, checking the new watch in his pocket even though he didn't have to.

"I know, I know. We are so good."

"Some of us more than others." He smirked at me as I resisted the urge to punch him in the shoulder as Madame Dabney walked by. She gracefully gestured us towards the dance floor. At first kindly, then strictly, then forcefully pushed us towards the middle of the hall.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the bright lights gleaming off of the wooden floors. Skirts were swishing, men were smiling, and masks were dazzling. I grabbed his hand as he grabbed my waist. My fingers intertwined with his and I gently placed the other hand on his broad shoulder. He was the perfect height for a dance partner. His eyes never looked greener against the gold accents on his mask. "Like what you see?"

"Not really," I replied with a slight smile. "There's nothing better to look at, honestly." He twisted me outwards and pulled me back in, now his arms were around me and I mine were crossed around my waist, holding his hands as we swayed to the music.

"Well you, Gallagher Girl," he whispered, hot breath on my ear making me shiver considerably. "Look gorgeous in blue."

"So I've been told," I replied. "You don't look half bad in green yourself, Blackthorne Boy." Who was I kidding? He looked hot in every color. Not that I noticed.

He turned me back around just so I could see him smirk, I swear by it. "Think we can sneak out of here, Chameleon?" he said lowly. I could understand his every word but his mouth looked like he wasn't saying a thing.

"I'm in if you're in."

"Gallagher Girl, I'm always in."

::

Thirty-two seconds later, I was outside of the grand hall, tearing my delicate mask off of my face. I saw a figure leaning against the wall in the darkness, his mask also off. We both walked toward the stairs without saying a word, down the hallway looking at the walls I knew like the back of my hand, tracing the stone until it pushed. He was right behind me, knowing this passage almost as well as I did. I pushed it open and walked through it, not hearing a footstep from him but knowing he was following me. I had ditched my heels at the entrance.

There was a huge balcony greeting me, open to the stars. I opened the screen door that only opened from the inside (that is, unless you took advanced encryption, which I did.). He followed my every step. I put my hands on the stone railing and he did the same next to me. I looked up at the stars. "I don't think I've ever seen anything more beautiful."

He looked at me. His eyes looked so sparkly in that moment, glassy, like he was crying, but I knew he wasn't. "I have."

"I doubt it."

"I don't," he replied, moving a little closer. He gently took my chin in his hand. "You see something more beautiful than that every day. You see you."

I turned away, blushing furiously. He was never sweet, flirty, but not sweet. He quickly but gently grabbed my waist and turned me to face him. "Gallagher Girl," he said into my neck. I didn't say anything. "Cammie," he lifted my chin up to him.

"Zach," I replied, completely lost in what was happened.

"Kiss me." he said hungrily. I looked at him for a few seconds before pressing my lips to his. I pulled away after a few seconds and he looked down at me. "You know, Gallagher Girl," now he looked at the stars. "We shouldn't be friends anymore."

My face fell a bit as I looked down. "I can't do this anymore," he said. He lifted my chin up once more. "You've got to be my girlfriend. Like, officially. I need you, Gallagher Girl." He couldn't say anything else before I kissed him with everything I had. I could feel him smiling into it.

"I thought you'd never ask."

And that's the story about the night I got my second and hopefully last… boyfriend (and I don't use that term lightly).

an. review please, much appreciated.

if you review, I will leave you an excerpt of the new story i'm working on (will probably be released on Wednesday.) and the preview of the next chapter, which has already been written. so review guys. its worth it, trust me! i'm proud of the next few things I've got for you coming up this month.

xoxo S