Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 97: The Departure

("Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked." -Proverbs 4:25-27)

"Guys I'm telling you, Chase and Bree are totally dating," Annalise Goode explained to her 2 best friends, Caroline and Diana.
"No way, not after Bree's trip to crazy town," Caroline countered.
"Care, I'm serious. For a second I thought they were definitely over, but somehow overnight it changed. You should've seen them all break," Anna argued.
"Bree went crazy," Caroline said as she rolled her eyes.
"Cut it out, Bree is our friend," Anna said, anger rising.
"And her and Chase aren't together," Caroline stated.
"Oh come on, what would you know about boys? I mean, I don't know a lot, but I had Cason, so that's more than you," Anna spat.
"Oh yes, because you and Cason ended so well!" Caroline shot back. "Diana is the only one here that knows anything about boys!"
"Oh, do I get to talk now?" Diana said from her bed. She was growing tired of listening to the girls fight. "Do I get to put in my opinion of what I think is going on?"
"Please!" Anna exclaimed as she threw up her hands in exasperation.
"I think they're together. It seems like now they have even more in common- that being a past that is broken that they don't want to talk about. I think it brought them closer together. Besides, I'll bet money that something else happened between them that no one knows," Diana said.
"See!" Anna shouted. "I told you they were together!
"Whatever," Caroline grumbled. "Are we not going to talk about the most important thing happening to us?"
"What?" Anna asked.
"Hello? We're sophomores and it's our second semester. It's been 2 years since the last Blackthorne exchange. That means..." Caroline trailed off as she let the realization sink in.
"The Blackthorne boys are coming here!" Diana squealed.
"Wait a minute, maybe that's not such a good thing," Anna said. "I mean, Chase escaped and left them all behind. While they've been in prison he's been enjoying the luxuries of Gallagher. His fellow seniors might not be too pleased by that."
"They probably won't, but then again they all know not to pick a fight with me," Chase said. The girls whipped around and saw him lingering in the doorway.
"How long have you been there?" Anna asked.
"Long enough," Chase winked. "And I'm totally with Bree."
"Ha!" Anna shouted. Chase just laughed.
     "Keep your mouth shut, I don't want to put a target on her back," Chase said. "Well, an even bigger target."
     "How did you 2 make up?" Anna asked.
    "That's for us to know and for you to lie awake at night thinking about," Chase smirked.
   "You're not supposed to be on this side of the school Chase," Diana grinned. "What do you want?" Chase's smile faded. He made his way over to Anna and gave her a tight hug.
    "To say goodbye," he said into Anna's ringlet curly hair.
   "What," she cried. "Why?"
   "Abrielle and Headmaster Marcus called," he mumbled into her hair. He held her tighter. He wasn't letting his sister go. "Some of the boys at Blackthorne are refusing to come back. They think I've changed. I'm going back to prove I am." The girls gasped.
    "You can't go back!" Annalise exclaimed. "They'll kill you!"
   "They can't kill me," Chase said confidently. The slight quiver in his voice alerted everyone that even he had his doubts.
   "What does Bree say?" Caroline asked.
    "She says it's a terrible idea," Bree's voice streamed in through the doorway. She made her way next to Chase and slid her hand into his. Anna was shocked to see her looking so... normal.
   "I have to go," Chase said firmly.
    "No," Bree pleaded. "You really don't."
   "I'm a coward if I don't," Chase said.
   "And you'll be dead if you do," Bree said raising her voice. Chase sighed and turned back to Anna.
   "Bye Anna Banana, I love you," he said as he hugged her tightly. Anna held on to her brother as tightly as she could.
   "Bye. I love you," she whispered. Chase nodded to the other girls. Caroline and Diana each gave him sad waves. Chase started out the door and Bree raced after him.
   "Chase wait," she cried. Chase trudged forward. "Stop!" Chase brushed her off. Bree grabbed his arm and spun him to face her.
   "What?" Chase groaned. "You can't talk me out of this." Bree looked to the ground.
   "I know," she whispered. Chase gave up resisting and wrapped Bree up in a tight hug.
   "There's a chance something will happen," Chase mumbled into her shoulder.
   "I know," Bree replied. "So this is goodbye?"
   "No," Chase said. "It's see you later." He cupped her face and nudged her face up to look at his. He pulled her close and kissed her hard. Bree's hands were around his neck instantly, and Chase tangled his hands in her hair.
   The couple finally pulled apart and smirked his mischievous grin at her. And with that he turned and left Bree alone in the hallway. The vibe of the unknown in the air lingered long after Chase was gone.

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