No author's note today, amigos. (Well, none other than this.)

*Correction: short, unimportant author's note today.

-Tickgrey

The next morning, I was already feeling much better. I decided to ignore Professor Buckingham's advice about taking the day off. Getting back to normality would be much more beneficial than falling behind on more work. Bex tried to get me to stay and sleep, but I was ready to get busy. For the first time in ages, I had been able to sleep well without nightmares or tossing and turning.

I pulled on my uniform and followed Bex, Macey, and Liz down to the dining hall. I grabbed as much food as I could and dug in rather quickly. Macey glanced sideways at me and asked, "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

I nodded and smiled showing a mouthful of waffle, "I'm fine. Well, as much as I can be considering." I added just to make sure no one would think anything was suspicious, but that boat had already sailed a long time ago.

"It's just, you were all angry and depressed yesterday, and today you seem… normal," Liz cautiously observed like I was some lab specimen making interesting progress. I tried my very hardest to not grimace and instead just laughed which felt weird. I couldn't possible be laughing, not with everything going on. So, I choked the laugh back into a kind of snort.

"Really, I'm fine. I finally got some sleep last night," I said with a smile. They didn't look convinced, so I sighed, "Look, at some point, I have to get back into the swing of things."

Bex shrugged like that made sense, but Macey still stared at me questioningly. Thankfully, Professor Buckingham was there to break up the awkward silence. "Good morning, all!" her voice bellowed through the dining hall. Everyone stopped and looked up curiously. We didn't usually get announcements in the morning.

She managed a smile before saying, "I hope you all had a nice sleep and are ready for a great day of classes! I just have a few announcements to make before you all can return to your normal conversations." Her voice suddenly became more solemn, "The trustees have decided to host a memorial service for our fallen headmistress on Saturday. Most of the trustees and several prominent intelligence figures will be in attendance. Your teachers and I will give you more information as we receive it from the trustees who are planning it."

I gulped. It seemed like would be just another event for people to pity me and tell stories that I really didn't want to hear about my parents. I was tired of being in the spotlight all the time. I was the Chameleon, this was just unnatural for me. Then, I smiled ever so slightly. It sounded like the perfect opportunity to slip off campus without anyone being able to actively search until after the ceremony. All I had to do was get that ledger by Saturday, then I could take off.

After breakfast, Bex, Macey, and I made our way to the Sublevels to go to class. They still didn't seem too pleased that I was going to class again, but they weren't arguing anymore. But before I could get to the door, I heard, "Ms. Morgan! Where are you going?"

I motioned towards the door and opened my mouth to explain, but she cut me off, "I thought we agreed that you were to take today off."

I shrugged, "I'm feeling better."

"That's not the point," she said thoughtfully.

"I just- I needed to get back to work. I need to be doing something," I started. "The sooner things get back to normal, the better."

Professor Buckingham stared me down for a full forty-seven seconds before giving up and saying, "Fine. But I would still like to speak with you after your classes today."

I nodded, "Alright. Can I go now?"

She nodded slowly, and I scurried off to class. I didn't really want to give her the chance to change her mind. When I got to the classroom that I'd been to a hundred times before, the whispers suddenly subsided. For a spy school, my classmates weren't subtle in the slightest. I nodded curtly and smiled, "Hey."

Most were afraid to say anything, but after what seemed like an eternity of awkwardness, Zach walked up and said, "Cammie! I didn't know you were coming back today!"

"I wanted to get back to work," I admitted.

He warmed up some, grabbed my hand, and led me to my seat in the back. I wanted to talk with Zach some more, but Mr. Solomon walked into the classroom looking over some papers and began saying without looking up, "Hello, ladies! Today we are going to review the Goldman Pass. I know, I know," he droned over our moans, "this is the kind stuff you learned your sophomore year, but there is even more that-" he stopped abruptly and almost ran into the desk when he saw me. "Cameron?! Can I talk with you for a moment?"

I got up and followed him outside the classroom fully aware of the curious glances and whispers of my classmates. Mr. Solomon turned and said, "Cameron, why are you here?"

"It's class time," I said as though it should have been obvious. I knew what he actually wanted to hear, but I decided at some point that sarcasm was the best defense against depression.

He shook his head, "No why are you here? Buckingham told me that you were still taking time off to rest."

I shrugged, "And today she told me I could come to class."

"This isn't a good idea," he said sternly. "You've been through a lot lately, and you need time to recover."

"I'm fine," I lied again. It was getting easier and easier to lie to those closest to me now.

"You don't look fine," he observed. There were those examining eyes everyone had been giving me lately as though any minute I'd crack. "You need some rest. Then, you can come back to class."

"I already spoke to Professor Buckingham, and she said that it's fine," I pointed out.

He looked at me even harder before finally sighing, "Fine, but I don't want you overstressing yourself."

I nodded and headed back inside the classroom. Mr. Solomon followed me in, and after I sat down, he continued, "Where was I? Oh, yes! Pop quiz!" I smiled at the sound of those two words; things were beginning to feel normal again. It was a shame that I was about to turn everything upside down again.