The Only-Live-Once Society | Book 2

Chapter One

Pulling up to a spy school shouldn't be easy, yet somehow our stolen car trundles through the wrought iron gates and along the winding road without a hitch.

You would think there would be guns aimed at us, security converging, laser beams taking the body work away. But no such thing happens. Even though we never identified ourselves. We're an unidentified car meandering through a top-secret spy school as though it's easy.

We haven't been here for months. We were supposed to be back three weeks ago, but decided it wasn't safe enough given this is literally where Daniel kidnapped me from and the previous headmistress potentially works for the organisation literally out for my blood.

We thought it would be best to take things into our own hands, to protect ourselves. No doubt, there will be consequences for our insubordination.

I stare out the window as we wind our way around the cobbled road, looking at the greenery of the school. We reach the front of the school quicker than my sweaty palms can calm.

Stan Jones, Elijah's older brother and my favourite teacher, meets us at the steps of the main building. His arms are folded against his chest and he looks pissed.

"Shit," Elijah mumbles as he catches sight of his brother.

We all sit there for a moment, preparing ourselves, then we disembark the car.

"You weren't cleared for field." He says to Elijah before he turns to the rest of us, "And you were supposed to be back three weeks ago."

Vince shrugs, "We didn't know if it was safe."

"Of course it's safe." Stan snaps. "I'm here."

"With all due respect, Stan" Grace responds, walking around the car and opening the boot up. She somehow salvaged our luggage in amongst the chaos, which is probably the most impressive thing I've seen yet. "You were here when Miss Gateshead was headmistress-"

"-And when Amelia was kidnapped." Vince adds.

"Yeah," Elijah snips to Vince. "Kidnapped by you."

Vince bristles. "I saved her life."

"You let her get tortured and then took advantage of her."

Vince leans against the car, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Still pissed about the kiss, Jones?"

"Yeah. Right." Elijah says. "A kiss so good she doesn't even remember it. You know one of the main things that came back to her when she started remembering? Me."

I look between the two of them. "Is this really the best time for a pissing contest?"

"Elijah," Grace grunts, heaving the heaviest bag out. "You're only fuming you didn't get to spend the last eight weeks with Amelia, don't take it out on Vince."

I cross my arms against my chest. "We weren't exactly having a fantastic time either."

Stan gives me a pointed look. "Which is why you should have been back here three weeks ago."

"We're back now." Vince snaps. "So, give us our punishment or move out the way."

Both Vince and Elijah are the kind of boys who disturb the space around them. Anyone near can feel their presence. A very masculine presence - where Vince is like ice, Elijah is a solar flare. One chills me and the other warms me to my core.

I don't remember kissing Vince due to the sheer trauma that happened in the six months of torture I had to endure, but I can see why it happened. It feels traitorous to have such thoughts, especially when I have missed Elijah so much. They're both so different and somehow the same.