Teen Spy: The Observer

Chapter 7

On Saturday afternoon, the Crystal Wood football team loses the game and gets disqualified from the championship. As Kiara and her friends make her way out of the field, Kiara can identify the spectators from the opposite team by their smiling faces and skipping steps. A clear contrast from those that rooted for Crystal Wood, whose chins dip to their chest, their faces are downfallen with sadness and some mutter in anger.

Kiara is also disappointed. Like her friends, she wanted her team to win and to help improve their mood, she proposes to go have some fun in an Escape Room. With an immediate and exited approval from her friends, they continue to Jessy's car.

In that moment, Kiara feels it again. The back of her head tingles. Someone is watching her. She looks around as she keeps walking until she pinpoints it origin for the first time. At the edges of the parking lot a woman in leaning on the hood of a black car. She has on a t-shirt with a faded logo and letters. From Kiara's perspective, the letters that are still visible are an I and a two S.

They make eye contact. Kiara raises her eyebrow and points to the letters with a glance. Really subtle, she tries to convey with that gesture to the woman. The woman in turn gives her a smile and moves back into the car before driving away.

Kiara's mood turns apprehensive, but she quickly decides not to let it ruin her day. She ignores the exchange and focuses on her friends. At least until she lays on her bed late at night, when she lets herself think about Agent Knight's offer.

On Sunday, Luke heads back to San Francisco with Sydney's older brother, Rick, who also came down to L.A. to celebrate Kiara's birthday. Kiara and Sydney decide to hang out the rest of the day, watching their favorite movies and eating comfort snacks. However, ISS's offer still lingers in the back of her mind.

The alarm sounds bright and early on Monday. Kiara sleepily gets up and does her morning routine. A few minutes after she finishes eating, Jessy pick her up.

Jessy's car comes to a stop at a red light just a few blocks from school. This allows the pedestrians to walk from one side of the road to the other, probably heading to their different works. As they pass in front of Jessy's car, one catches Kiara's eyes.

The woman has an elegant black dress with a long jacket on top, high heels, a purse, and sunglasses. She is the same woman from Saturday. She lowers her glasses and meets Kiara's gaze. The woman gives her a knowing smile, but this time, Kiara glares.

The woman continues on her way and soon the traffic light changes to green, allowing Jessy to accelerate. Although the encounter lasted a few seconds, its effect on Kiara is instant. The message is clear. They're not going away until she accepts and they're not to be forgotten.

Kiara's instincts tell her they will grow bolder as time passes. This makes her uneasy, but also spikes her curiosity. For some reason Kiara can't fathom, ISS wants her, almost desperately. But... why do they want me to accept so badly?

She knows where her mind is going and suppress a groan. The fact that she cannot stop thinking about them makes her want to shout in frustration.

"Kiaraaa!!" Jessy snaps her fingers in front of Kiara's face when she doesn't respond to her name. "Are you going to get out or are you going to stay here the rest of the morning?"

"Ohh..." Kiara says blinking rapidly as she thankfully breaks out of her thoughts.

She hurriedly exits the car, almost forgetting her bag. Jessy patiently waits for her and they both enter the school facilities, heading to their lockers.

"Are you feeling alright?" Jessy asks Kiara once they open their lockers.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Kiara asks nonchalantly.