Hide & Spy (a.k.a. Gallagher Girls NG)

Chapter 3

        The first day of regular school can be nerve wracking.

        The first day fo boarding school can be heart wrecnhing

        The first day of spy school, your emotions are that of a pregnant woman: all over the place.

        As Gabs and I walked in, we passed a few of our fellow seventh graders crowded around the sword of Gillian Gallagher, the founder-our founder. They were going to try, and fail, to raise Gilly's sword from its sheath. Something that we seventh graders, or more commonly known as "newbies", weren't told at oreientation was that Gilly's sword was charged with enought electricity to...light your hair on fire.Gabs and I already knew this and wanted to warn them, but some things are best learned through trial and error.So, as we passed them Gabs tossed them a thumbs up, instilling fake confidence. No student gets the honor of touching Gilly's sword until graduation. They learned their lesson. Three seconds after we passed them a high pitched scream echoed off the walls of the mansion, followed by the scent of burning hair. Gabs and I couldn't help ourselves, we laughed.

        Unlike these other newbies Gabs and I were taught better. We knew better. I knew better. So when I tugged her in the opposite direction she didn't protest...much.

        "You are aware that the suites are that way, right?" She asked as she pointed over her shoulder.

        "Yes, Gabs. I am also aware of the fact that there are hundreds of girls going up that spiral staircase. So, why spend twenty-five minutes fighting our way through them when we could be to our new room in twominutes or less?"

        "Elaborate, Mag," she said.

        I appeased her curiousity as I pulled her down a corridor and pushed the crest in the middle of the wall. It sunk in and a door opened for us which had a secret staircase. I then turned to Gabs and said, "What's Gallagher Academy without sceret passageways?"

        "And how, pray tell, did you find out about this 'secret passageway'?"

        "My mom told me about it," I replied.

        My mom knew this mansion like the back of her hand. She was-is-Cammie the Chameleon. She knew every secret passageway that reisded within these walls, even the ones her superiors never knew existed. It was my turn now, my turn to discover the secrets that resided within these walls and use them to my advantage.

        Gabs didn't complain about the newfound short cut and picked up her bags. We climbed the staircase and made it to our floor. Gabs opened the door and found our third roomate, and friend, Leah Anderson, and also a blizzard of papers on the floor.

        "Leah, classes haven't even officially started yet and you're already doing homework?" Gabs asked in disbelief as she placed her bags on an unclaimed bed.

        "Extra credit," Leah said as she started picking up papers off the floor.

        Leah is the product of the two finest minds in the spy world, Elizabeth and Jonas Anderson. Rumour had it, that Aunt Liz's mind rivaled that of Gallagher Academy's own Dr. Fibs.

        Leah took after her mother, extremely. She had the same blue eys, and accident prone personality. From her father she got his black hair.

        After helping Leah clean up our suite we all headed down to the Grand Hall, in full uniform, and took our place at the first table by the podium. The best way to describe the way teh Grand Hall was set up, think of Hogwarts. Four rows of long tables, with the teaches' table slightly elevated. Above their table was a screen that told us what language we were to speak that night, "English-Native", I figured that it wouldn't change for another week or so.

        Next to me, Gabs was bothering Leah with P&E, while working her best American accent, whule I was doing as my mother instructed: noticing things. I managed to notice the last member of our little group slip in to a seat.

        "You're late," I said.

        "Hey, blame D.C. airlines. Those things never take off on time," she said as she picked up an apple.

        "Hello Cassie, Leah was getting worried and was about to track your GPS location with a prototype of a software she invented," Gabs said.

        "Whatever happened to good old Google Maps?" Cassie asked as she bit into her apple.        

        "Don't," Gabs and I both said to Leah. Last thing we wanted was another rant about how Google was not an accurate was of either tracking people or getting directions.

        Cassie Winters, daughter of Macey Winters and Preston Winters, and probably the most recognizable face in the entire hall, mainly because her father was a senator.

        "Good holiday, Cassie?" Gabs asked.

        "Mom was away protecting the president., Dad was being dad, and my brother was pain. So, basically, same old, same old. " Cassie replied.

         Cassie has ginger hair, but she cut it since the last time we saw each other, and blue eyes like her Mom. Not to mention a really confident personality.

        "Brothers are a pain, aren't they?" Leah asked.

        "That reminds me, how's Dean?" I asked and Gabs glared at me.

         However, before she could answer the doors to the Grand Hall swung open, and silence fell. Grandma walked in, leading the other teachers. They all took their seats, but Grandma went straight to the podium.

'        "Women of Gallagher Academy, who comes here?" she asked.

        Then, as one, we all stood and said,"We are the sisters of Gillian"

        "Why do you come?"

        "To learn her skills. Honor her sword. And keep her secrets."

        "To what end do you work?"

        "To the cause of justice and light."

        "How long will you strive?"

        "For all the days of our lives," and with that we took our seats.

        It felt right being there. I was no longer an only child, I was surrounded by my sisters.