"How do you do this?" Jonas asked frustrated, as he twisted his tie and flipped it around, trying to get it to look like it did on TV.

Blackthorne boys aren't really experienced when it comes to formal dress wear, I mean we're supposed to be a detention facility. That doesn't include running around in tuxes and dancing. More like shooting from far off range and the quickest and deadliest ways to kill a man. Fortunately, I'm one of the most experienced boys (I'm not bragging, I've just been around) so I knew how to handle this stuff. I was born into this.

"Let me give you a hand," I said to Jonas and he smiled with relief. I expertly flipped the tie and tightened it so it would look pristine.

"Perfect," I smiled.

I glanced around at the other boys who were uncomfortably gazing at themselves in the mirrors not recognizing themselves, while others were just avoiding mirrors. I looked at myself in the mirror to see myself in this tux, I hadn't worn one for a while. The tux fit nicely, it was hemmed during Culture class. I brushed my hand through my short brown hair and decided to just stick with putting a little gel on it, to give it the "wind-blown" look. I looked back at my brown eyes and tried to constrain myself from throwing off this ridiculous getup and changing into shorts and a shirt. Grant came into the room trying to look as suave as possible, even though he had probably never worn a suit in his life.

"Ready guys?" I asked. All the boys looked at me and followed.

We went to the ballroom, but the girls had clearly not come down yet. We stood there for a few minutes, sampling the food as we waited.

"Dude, what are they doing?" Grant muttered impatiently.

I knew he couldn't wait to play Prince Charming. Grant had never had any females in his life though, unlike me. At least I had my mom. So I was quite aware that it took a while for women to get ready. Grant was enjoying himself in the female world though. Suddenly we heard yelps and screams about poking bobby pins. Jonas looked up at the ceiling his eyes widening. Girls are truly confusing creatures. Even though I was born a spy and am better than most spies working for the CIA at the present time (not bragging, it's a fact), the female realm is still beyond me. True, I'm better than most guys are, but they still baffle me at times. Especially Gallagher girl. I mean, it's just so annoying to not understand something. I've been trained to find out things, that's pretty much my life duty. But girls, are the one thing that seems impossible. Suddenly there was pounding and clicking from upstairs like the sound of high heels against a tile floor. The girls were coming.

I waited quietly behind a tall pillar until I could see Gallagher girl. Her hair was up in tons of twists and girls that gave her an older, elegant look. She had on a long, red, strapless dress. She looked beautiful even though she seemed uncomfortable dressing formal. Obviously the chameleon wasn't used to standing out. I, on the other hand, was starting to get used to being fancy and was planning on having a good time of it.

"Well, you don't look hideous," I teased her as I stepped out behind her.

She slowly turned around and I looked at her fully.

She quipped, "Ditto."

I smiled at the compliment. She smiled back and her face glowed. We started walking toward the rest of the kids but her heel caught on her hem. Being a spy thankfully teaches good reflexes, so without missing a beat I smoothly grabbed her elbow and stabilized her.

"Easy, Gallagher girl," I murmured. She roughly pulled her arm away.

"I am perfectly capable of walking down the stairs myself," she growled.

Just then Madame Dabney came by and witnessing the whole event she gently scolded Cammie,

"A lady always gracefully accepts a gentleman's arm when offered, Cammie dear."

I stopped myself from laughing and held out my arm for her. She bit her lip and glared at me, but politely accepted my arm. I grinned as Madame Dabney took our picture with her brooch. Then I smoothly led Cammie down the grand staircase. I was smiling as I looked at the people downstairs and beaming as I felt Gallagher girl's arm in mine. I remembered that her ex-boyfriend's party was today and I remembered his jealous look. Well, Gallagher girl wasn't at his party. Instead I was walking this beautiful girl down this staircase with her arm in mine.

The ball room looked amazing. They had completely decked it out. Although I could care less about all the little details in the decorations, I did appreciate the work that someone, no, more like many people, had done. Tonight was going to be fun. It wasn't often that I could just dance all night, act like a charming teenage guy, and forget all my troubles. I was going to take advantage of this opportunity as much as possible. My mom had taught me various dances that she had learned at the Gallaher Academy years ago, finally I could show off a little.

"Stop it," Gallagher Girl exclaimed.

I looked at her furrowed brows and her pouting lip. She was slightly jittery and anxious overall. She obviously didn't like the fact that I was perfectly calm. It took a lot to make me feel uncomfortable, but I can usually fake looking calm and cool anyway.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"You're enjoying this way too much," she muttered. "You're smirking," she added.

My smirk did have a habit of giving me away with her, it was just so hard not to smile. I led her gracefully toward the Grand Hall. She really needed to relax.

"I got news for you Gallagher girl. If you're not enjoying this, you're in the wrong business," I replied.

She sighed then gazed at the dazzling decorations before us. After looking at them she took a deep breath and smiled slightly, and she seemed to be relaxed. That is, until Joe started walking towards us and she stiffened.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. You all look very nice, but I'm afraid you aren't quite finished getting ready. I'm afraid we didn't mention that tonight is something of a masquerade ball," he said dramatically.