The sirens blared and the words "CODE BLACK CODE BLACK" rang throughout the school. Everything was moving. A tapestry was moving in between a gap of stones that then automatically sealed itself. The dark corridor became pitch black as steel doors slid over the glass windows. Cammie grabbed my hand and without a word we both started running towards the Grand Hall. Under normal circumstances, I would have been running in circles because Gallagher girl had actually grabbed my hand. But these weren't normal circumstances and I seemed the furthest thing from her mind as we kept running.

Finally we running through rooms with lights and we could see our surroundings. A bin lit into flames beside us, vending machines sunk into the floor and disappeared beneath stone. A series of lanterns sprang to life and added more light.

"I thought those were for decoration," I yelled above the sirens.

"If everything goes right they are," she yelled back.

Anxiety started to sink in deeper. I mean, of course I had started worrying when sirens started shrieking and the world started spinning. But, I had still told myself that it was ok, that this must be some mistake or drill. Everything had to be under control.

"So this means…" I started saying, trying to completely understand the situation we were in.

Men and women with maintenance and security uniforms scurried past us. One glance at them was my answer.

"Something is seriously not right," I concluded.

"It's security protocol. There must have been a breach. The whole system goes into lockdown, nothing gets in," she yelled, struggling to be heard above the chaos.

Suddenly steel doors shut the hallway behind us.

"And nothing gets out," she added.

I still wasn't aware of what was happening. I was calm and not at all acting panicked, as a spy I had been trained from an early age to never be panicked. But I was still trying to make up some excuse for why this was happening. Finally I asked the question that I didn't want to ask.

"Does this happen a lot?" I asked, dreading the answer I knew I was going to hear.

Cammie paused and bit her lip.

"No," she softly answered.

Something was happening and I had to know what it was. I'm a spy, finding out things is what I'm supposed to do. But unfortunately, I'd have to leave Cammie. I had a feeling that whatever was happening was bad, really bad. I couldn't risk her. Even if I did bring Cammie, she'd probably insist to let the others handle it. Plus, I really just had to do it alone. I've been raised to fight for myself, not to look to others for help. Cammie had been raised with people to protect her. She didn't understand, I don't know if she could ever understand.

She was too trusting. The only way she could ever understand would be if someone she loved betrayed her. But that had never happened yet. Unfortunately, I knew that it could. We are spies after all. But anyways, I had to do it alone. The Gallagher world was spinning and I didn't know what was going on, which didn't happen often. So I did the only thing I could think to do, disappear.

The next day I was at lunch trying to think through all that had occurred yesterday. Joe had told me that the code black was no drill. Of course I knew this already, but still it was frightening seeing a glimmer of fear in Joe's eyes. Everyone was talking about last night, but surprisingly everyone was talking about how Cammie had snuck out to see Josh, which had apparently caused the alarm. Only I knew without a doubt that she hadn't, she'd been with me the whole time. But, I felt like for some reason I couldn't tell anyone where I was. I don't know why.

Maybe it was because I had gone out to see Cammie to see what was wrong, and no one knew how worried I had been about her. No one could know about how I liked her, up to now I had just acted like I was a flirt. Our relationship had to be a secret. It was no one's business anyway! Why did these girls at this school have to know everything? I mean I know it's a spy school, but they're going to learn one day that some things have to stay a secret.

I had to stop liking Cammie. Love is vulnerability. I had to stop liking her, she was taking control of my mind and I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't even think straight when she was around. This never happened. I was always in control, I always knew what I was doing. Being a spy required sacrifices I know, but I had never actually had to make a drastic sacrifice yet. I've never felt the need for friends like others have. I know how easy they can turn on you. But for some reason, I had attached to Cammie, to my Gallagher girl. No! She's not mine anymore, well, she never was. I guess I just liked to pretend.

No one could know where I was last night.

Then I saw Tina walk over to Cammie and question her about last night. I tried not to pay attention. But I was. Secretly, as always.

"You can ask Zach," Cammie replied to Tina's question.

"You were with Zach?" Tina whispered excitedly. She was whispering, but her whisper was about the same volume as a scream.

"You were with Zach!" Tina screamed. Then I saw her scurrying my direction. I played with my food and pretended to be engrossed in the guy's conversation that was going on at the lunch table. I had to make a decision, either to confirm that I had been with Cammie or to lie and say I wasn't. I quickly made my decision. Tina stood by my side and leaned over me.

"So, Zach," Tina began, her eyes studying me every moment. I looked up at her, pretending to be surprised at her presence.

"Is it true that you were with Cammie last night during the Code Black?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

The whole cafeteria seemed to be watching. All the guys paused a moment and waited for my response. The girls turned my way and silence filled the room waiting for my answer. But I quickly answered, because if I waited even a moment it would sound like a lie.

"Cammie? Morgan?" I asked, faking confusion. Then I laughed.

"Why would I be with her?" I asked Tina, acting as if I would never be caught dead with her.

Acting as if I didn't care about her. Acting as if she didn't make my head spin by her walking in the room. Acting as if her smile didn't make heart jump through my chest. Acting as if I hadn't been in a dark corridor with her last night begging for her to tell me what was wrong. I was a good actor.

Tina glanced at Cammie and gazed at me for a minute. Then she smiled and nodded, believing every word.

"Yeah, sure, I saw her at the party," I continued. Then I laughed again.

"But I wasn't with her," I said.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Cammie sitting there stiff, her eyes filling with water, and her face red. I couldn't look her in the eye, not after what I just did.

"Zach," Cammie said, trying to get my attention.

"See ya later," I muttered, not looking her direction. I couldn't look at her. I just got up and left the table.