Chapter 10: She's Still Better… At Everything.
Zach's POV:
After lunch, me and my friends, excluding Jonas walked to the sublevel elevators with the girls, excluding Liz. Those two were heading to their class, Advanced Chemistry - Level 5: Explosives and Placement. The rest of us, not on the R&D track headed down to sublevel 2 for Cove Ops.
After Cammie's threats and explosion in the lunchroom, everyone had been remotely quiet, mostly the guys. I'm not sure why, but something about her tone and word choice made everyone want to feel disappointed in themselves. I shook the feeling off. She wasn't going to get in my head.
We all arrived at the elevator and one by one put our hands on the glass mirror to be granted permission to get in the elevator. I was standing in the very back of the orderly line that our group had formed and patiently waited as everybody got their biometric scan. By the time the other 6 got in the elevator, there wasn't enough room because of Tina and her clumsy friend Anna Fetterman, who was sprawled on the ground because she had tripped on her own foot.
"Go ahead guys, I'll wait until the next round," I said as I pushed a button to close the elevator doors and send it down.
I then put my own hand on the biometric scan and felt as a little hot jolt stung my fingers and put my hand down. Footsteps clacked down the halls toward me and a feminine hand appeared, palm on the mirror. It was Cammie. She stepped next to me as I made room for her in front of the decorative mirror that was the elevator.
I awkwardly stared at the reflection of my shoes in the mirror as we waited for the mirror-door to slide open. My eyes darted to her reflection, showing me little glances of her appearance. Her blonde hair, darkened by the water from her shower, was tied up into a messy bun at the top of her head. She casually stood there in her slightly dirtied white converse, with one hand stuck in a back pocket of her jean short shorts, that had tattered leg openings (AN: I have no idea what to call them oops.). Her light flowing tank top was black with white swirls and her blue eyes were studying her uncovered nails on the other hand. That action of looking at her nails did not even lean toward the idea of her being a girl. It was more of an, I'm bored and uninterested in you. A little offensive, actually.
My eyes combed up and down her figure as I took in her unaware state. Now that I was really paying attention, she was prettier than before. She flawlessly pulled off attractive without seeming fake. Sure, she had a scar beneath her cheek-bone and her skin was blemished, but isn't everyone's? Something about being so natural appealed to me. The tug of attraction painfully pulled at my heart.
"Zach? Are you going to get in the elevator, or are you going to stand there?" She shrugged and started to go towards the elevator buttons, "I don't care either way. I mean, I could use a show of angry Joe versus scared student, but I don't think you want that. Oh well."
She pushed the button and the elevator doors started closing. I quickly stuck my hand in the middle, and the doors opened back up, allowing me inside. I redid her work of pushing the button for our sublevel. A piece of the wall disappeared and the orders rang out for us to put our fingers in. We both did, to get a prick of a needle and a green flash telling us that we were permitted to use the sublevels. Then, the elevator descended. Leaving us inside. In an enclosed space.
The air turned icy as we stood at a stalemate. Luckily, her blonde hair fell to cover her face and as she combed her hair back with her fingers, the glare moment was over. I was slightly relieved although I didn't show it. My body still ached from the countless times she flipped me onto my back. I zeroed in on the radiating pain from my spine and subtlety rubbed my back where it hurt. She noticed anyway.
For the first time, her face showed sympathy. "Yeah, sorry about that," Cammie laughed a bit, "I'm not good with people sneaking up behind me, but then again, I'm a spy."
Tension dissipated and I relaxed, "It's fine, I completely understand. I wasn't even trying to sneak around, but I guess it just comes naturally." I gave her a helpless shrug.
Her laughter returned as she opened her mouth and threw her head back. The childish and carefree sound echoed in the elevator as her chest heaved with every chuckle.
I smiled and laughed a little too. Her laugh wasn't mean or cruel, no, it was just a laugh about how we ended up like this. Our dangerous and exciting lives were completely normal and a habit. What were the chances? We turned from completely icy to laughing like old chums.
The sound died off after awhile and she gave me a bright smile. "That was the first genuine laugh I've had in awhile," Her smile wavered a bit, "Thank you."
Her tone was completely serious and sincere. I was truly shocked. She rocked forward for a second and then hesitated. Suddenly, in a blur of blonde hair, she ran forward and wrapped her arms around me in a hug. I stood there completely frozen with my arms to my side as her head rested against my shoulder.
I finally unfroze after a few seconds and did my best to hug her back, but it was really awkward. This kind of emotion didn't come from the part of Cammie that I knew. The elevator bell dinged and she pulled away with a little sniffle. She walked out of the elevator, fast. But not before threatening, "Tell no one about this, or suffer the consequences."
As she hurried down the hall, her composure straightened again, and her head held straight up, I watched her. Wondering what ever happened to Cammie to make her this way. I sighed and shook my head sadly. (AN: Look! Cammie has had a moment of weakness and Zach actually has a heart! The first part of this note does not sound very in character for her… does it… )
Cammie's POV
The icy tension at the elevator as we both waited for it was comedic gold. I maintained my calm expression and the waves of ignorance as I stood there in front of the mirror.
Mr. Goode, on the other hand, spent his time discreetly (very obviously) checking me out. I ignored it and leaned on my right leg as I boredly looked at my uncovered nails and stuck one hand into a back pocket. Of course, I wasn't actually checking out my nails. My full brain power was sorting out clues that I had found on my old mission. I knew that somehow, something connected to Catherine. Unfortunately, I couldn't explain it, but I felt it deep in my gut, and for a spy, that's a lot.
When the elevator doors slid open, I got inside and waited for Zach to join me. He stood there, frozen. The deep green orbs that were his eyes, swirled in thought, partially covered by a streak of chocolate brown hair that had fell down from the rest of his styled strands. Patiently, I waited for him to get inside, but after 10 seconds, I was done. I needed to get to class.
"Zach? Are you going to get in the elevator, or are you going to stand there?" I started to go towards the elevator buttons, "I don't care either way. I mean, I could use a show of angry Joe versus scared student, but I don't think you want that. Oh well."
He snapped out of his dazed stupor and looked up at me. His stance made no show of movement, so I shrugged and pushed the elevator button for the sublevel. Suddenly, Zach's eyes widened and he hurried to shove his hand in between the doors right before they closed, effectively stopping them and forcing them to slide back open.
He stepped inside the confinements of the elevator and pushed the button again. A little hole sunk into the wall and we were asked by a mechanical voice to place our fingers in, and our blood was taken with a green flash, showing that permission was granted. As the elevator started the journey down into the sublevels, Zach visibly gulped. He was nervous. I liked that.
The tension in the small space grew, and I watched as Zach grew fidgety and copied his actions to seem as if I felt the same. He looked like he was ready to burst after a little bit, and I was content to let him burst. But no, my hair fell in front of my eye and I swept it back up with one hand and our hard gazes were lost. I waited for a minute and noticed him rub his back and felt no sympathy. But I was here to seem human for Joe, right?
"Yeah, sorry about that," I laughed a bit, "I'm not good with people sneaking up behind me, but then again, I'm a spy."
My tone was full of amused sympathy, and that was enough to relax him and break the ice. He seemed shocked at this change but I guess, decided to go with it.
"It's fine, I completely understand. I wasn't even trying to sneak around, but I guess it just comes naturally." He gave me a cute little pop of his shoulders.
My laughter filled the elevator. I was laughing for two reasons. One, I needed to pretend to have emotions. Two, his cockiness came back after a little bit of my cockiness. He was imitating me, oh, that poor boy.
I was still laughing. My eyes were watering and looking up to the ceiling with my head thrown back. I could feel Zach's silent gaze on me. He was quiet for awhile and then started with little chuckles that quickly grew into roaring laughter.
After we both stopped, I decided to throw him another emotional loop. "That was the first genuine laugh I've had in awhile," I made my bright smile waver a bit, "Thank you."
My tone was completely sincere and I could tell he was truly shocked. Inside, I was laughing at his obliviousness. I considered taking things to the next emotional level. Hesitating for a bit at first, I ran forward and flung myself towards him, wrapping my arms around his frozen body.
Secretly, I smiled at his shock and then was shocked myself when he hugged me back. Trying not to stiffen, I made myself cry just a bit and sniffled for effect.
The elevator door finally opened with a ding and I released my hold on Zach. Sniffling, I walked out of the elevator and turned around just outside the door. My sleeve went up and I wiped my fake tears from my face and composed myself. Acting was tiring.
"Tell no one about this, or suffer the consequences." I threatened, making myself seem a little more normal after that fake emotional 5 minutes.
I swiftly walked down the hall with my head straight up and my posture completely perfect. As soon as I was in the clear, a smirk exchanged for my neutral expression. Manipulation was too fun.
********************************** Scene Change
I turned around the corner and stepped through the threshold of the Cove-ops classroom. "Hey Joey!"
Joe, without even bothering to turn around called back to me, "Cameron, I am your teacher, you will address me as Mr. Solomon."
"Now, Joseph, don't be like that," I scolded him.
Joe sighed, and turned around, revealing dark green eyes twinkling in amusement. I smirked and then continued my way to an empty desk in the middle of the classroom. Apparently my roommates had saved it with me.
"Hey Cammie," Bex turned to me from her desk on the right of me.
I was sitting in a seat surrounded by all of my closer acquaintances at this school. Bex was on my left, Grant was in front of Bex, Nick was directly behind me, and Macey was on his left, behind Bex. All the other desks around me were filled except for the one on my right. If I had to take a guess, I would say that one was for Zach. I sighed.
A bright and fake smile popped up on my face, "Hey Bex!"
Macey and Nick suddenly seemed to pop out of whatever they were talking about and realized that I was sitting there. They gave little waves, which I waved back to. Before we knew it, they were in bickering/flirting conversation. Ah, young love. Not that I would know, of course.
I heard footsteps coming into the room and heard a, "Hi Mr. Solomon." Without looking, I knew it was Zach. But, I ignored him.
"Cove-ops is my favorite class," I told Bex and Grant.
Grant nodded his head, "I think everyone in this class could say the same."
"Except Anna Fetterman…" Bex whispered while laughing.
Nick and Macey broke out of their conversation and joined in. "Hey do you guys have any idea what we are doing today?"
"Well Macey," I started out with a devious smile, "Today, we are going into the town of Roseville and doing a little Cove-ops mission…"
All of them leaned forward in curiosity, waiting for me to finish my thought. I waited a little bit longer, amused by their facial expressions. "We are doing brush passes with a coin in the town."
Bex shrugged, "I guess I could use some work, but those are basics."
Nick was about to get a word in but was interrupted by Mr. Solomon. "Ms. Fetterman, please define brush pass."
The poor girl jerked up straight and her frail body shook as she timidly answered. "A b-brush p-p-pass or a b-b-brush c-contact is when t-two agents casually m-meet and s-secretly pass an object in between t-the two of them."
"I'll take that answer. Everybody! I want you all to meet in the hall at 1305 hours. That gives you 5 minutes to get into street clothes. All casual, ladies and gentleman."
Everyone jumped up and hurried into the elevator. I, on the other hand, avoided the elevator and took a secret passage on the side of a little nook in the hall. I was up in my bedroom in 58 seconds and done and changed 2 minutes and 5 seconds later, when my roommates finally got upstairs.
"Better hurry!" I called as I left through the door, "You have 1 minute and 57 seconds!"
I casually walked down the hallway with a flurry of students running around me trying to get down to the hall in time. It was amusing, to say the least.
As I reached the end of the hall, I walked to the window and pressed a button on the bottom of the window sill. The floor beneath me opened up and I fell down a twisting tube that brought me to the first floor. Dusting off the pockets of my dark, almost black, jean shorts, I stepped forward in the pitch black and felt around for a little handle. I felt a cold metal hook and pulled, effectively opening up the passage and allowing me to enter the Great Hall.
I was met with only Joe standing there and going through a bag of equipment. Sneaking up behind him, I shouted cheerily, "Hey Joe!"
He jumped and dropped the bag as he swiveled around. "Cameron Ann Mo-"
I slapped my hand on his mouth to stop him from revealing my last name. "That was too close, Joe. You make one really lousy spy."
"Cameron.." His voice was low and warning.
"Yes, Joseph Ma-"
It was his turn to shut me up with physical force. "How do you know my middle name?!"
I smirked as he threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. "You really underestimate my hacking skills. I mean really? That encryption was subpar, at best."
He stuck his tongue out at me and then cleared his throat to address the crowd that was forming in the Grand Hall. All of them staring at us. I smirked at all of them while crossing my arms over my white v-neck t-shirt.
"Ladies… and gentleman, this is your transportation for today's mission. Dr. Steve will be joining us for today."
Joe pointed to a white van with the words, 'Gallagher Academy', painted on each side and the back. Everybody started heading towards the van with me in the front and we boarded. With Dr. Steve, and a whole lot of 'excellents''.
After 5 minutes in the little van, it stopped and Joe leaned to the right side of the driver's seat to turn and face us. "Today, we will be going back to the basics. We will be doing brush passes, and this," He pulled out a penny, "Is your objective."
"Pass this along and make sure that I don't see it. Keep it casual."
We all nodded with a few okays, and I got weird looks from the group (i.e. Macey, Nick, Bex, Zach and Grant) because I had known what the mission was. I just smirked to them and returned my attention to Mr. Solomon.
"Dr. Steve will be handing out equipment so that we can monitor you from inside the van. Everybody, pair up with whoever you want."
Dr. Steve came around everyone and when he came to me, I declined. Don't any of these spies-in-training know not to leave on a mission without a monitoring device! Anyway, he knew that I already had one, as I pointed at my silver stud earrings.
After everyone got their devices, they started to go towards their friends and get partnered off and I smiled. I liked being alone. Unfortunately, Joe noticed.
"If you have a guide here, you will go with them," Bex and Macey turned to Grant and Nick respectively, "Cameron, you will go with Zach."
I sighed and gave Joe a death glare.
"Come on Zach, let's go." I called behind me before stepping out into the sun.
AN: Okay sorry that this took me forever, but I have really great excuses.
I couldn't think of where I wanted this to go.
School and then online high school/more school for summer
I'm lazy.
I hope you like this! And I'm sorry that this is not that long, but I'll work on making the next one better!
S.L.