Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 109: The Hoedown

"Be still and know that I am God." -Psalm 46:10

        "Peyton, where are you?" Annalise shrieked. She was running through the jungle in a desperate search. She squealed as a huge hand grabbed her arm and yanked her behind a tree. She sighed with relief as she realized that it was Peyton Newman. He held a finger to his lips. 

        "Be quiet," he pleaded. "We're not alone. Someone is on out tail. Someone has been closing in for days and we haven't realized." Anna's face turned white. She had sensed a tail, but she shrugged it off. She gripped Peyton's hand as she heard a branch snap. Someone was coming.

                                                                       4 weeks earlier...

          "Are you excited?" Anna asked Bree. Bree snapped back to attention. She had been daydreaming all of lunch. It was nearly impossible for Bree to keep the secret that she was engaged to Anna's brother Chase.

       "For what again?" Bree asked. Diana, Macey McHenry/Winters daughter pulled down the compact she was looking in and eyed Bree suspiciously. 

     "Um, to go into town. Duh!" Diana said as if Bree was an idiot.

     "We're going into town?" Bree asked. She thought the school was under complete lockdown. 

    "Breezy are you okay?" Anna's roommate Caroline asked. "They've talked about this in the morning announcements for a week."

     "Oh," Bree said. She smiled as Chase kissed the top of her head. He had been late getting out of class. He took his seat next to her. Bree was suddenly full of happiness. "Hi."

   "Hey, beautiful," Chase said back. Ever since he had proposed, he acted like a lovestruck puppy. He was enamored with Bree, and she loved it. "The usual Gallagher-Blackthorne dance is tonight."

     "I thought that was usually at the school," Bree said in confusion.

     "Well, this year it's a really big part of our covert operations grade. It's in Roseville surrounded with townies. This year we're all going to the town hoedown. Should be perfect for a farm girl like you," Chase teased. "It's like, country chic."

     "I don't have anything to wear," Bree said.

    "Uh, didn't you grow up on a ranch? How do you not have anything to wear?" Diana asked as if Bree was an idiot.

    "Ya, that ranch was burned to the ground. So were all of my clothes," Bree stated. She looked Diana straight in the eye. Diana's face turned red. She muttered a 'sorry.' Caroline shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

     "We'll figure something out," Chase said, reassuring Bree. He gripped her hand under the table and Bree was grateful.

     "Hey, Ann," Peyton said to Annalise. Chase shot him a death glare and Peyton cleared his throat. "Can I talk to you?"

    "Sure," Anna grumbled. The pair hadn't been on speaking terms since their assignment 2 weeks prior. Peyton had blown up on Anna for no reason. He told her that she couldn't trust him. Annalise didn't know what to do with that.

   "Alone," Peyton proceeded. He shot a look at Chase who looked like he could kill Peyton if he got the chance. Anna then locked eyes with Chase. His gaze softened. She could read his eyes. He was saying, 'go, but make it quick. Be smart.' Anna rushed out of the grand hall with Peyton on her heels. She didn't stop until she made it to the library.

     "What?" She spat. Peyton took a step back.

    "Look, I'm sorry," he admitted. "I shouldn't have snapped at you that day in coveops. You weren't the one I was upset with."

   "Peyton that was 2 weeks ago. Too little, too late," Anna glared. She stuck her tongue out at him and immediately regretted it. She had always stuck her tongue out at him when they were kids. He grinned. She tried not to swoon over those puppy dog eyes. They were so out of place for a man child like Peyton.

    "Yep, same old Anna," he chuckled. "Let me make it up to you. Let me be your date to the dance tonight."

   "No," Anna stuttered. Peyton took a step forward. She tried to step back, but her feet were frozen in place. 

   "Why not?" He asked.

    "You were mean to me," she replied. She silently cursed again. She couldn't help but act like a child around him.

    "Come on, Ann," he whispered. He took his hands in hers. Annalise froze. "It'll be just like old times."

   "Fine," Anna said. She ripped her hands out of his and stormed back to lunch with her friends. On the outside, she was still mad at Peyton. On the inside, she was jumping with joy.