Undercover Lover (Finished)

Part 15

   I slouch against the tree, my heart hammering. Are they going to recall me? I'm just starting to get to grips with this mission and now they're probably going to recall me, claiming that I've 'failed' because I forgot my gadgets or something stupid like that. "Hey Sandra." 

"Harry." I mutter, turning to face him with a stony expression. 

"No point in looking at me like that, it's not my fault you went off without your gadgets and then something significant occurred!"

"Well if the mods could have rearranged maybe something significant could be occurring right now." I grumble as two mods appear. 

"Sandra, there's no need to take that tone." Talia says, smiling at me sympathetically. 

"I'm sorry ok, it's just I could be getting ahead right now and-"

"I get it Sandra, he is kinda cute." she whispers, winking suggestively. I nearly throw up at the insinuation, gagging excessively to show my disdain.

"Not like that Talia, I just could be progressing with the case right now." 

"Mhm, and that case just happens to involve a cute guy to boot, right? Hey Harry, how come my initiation case wasn't as easy as this?" Talia asks, raising her eyebrows at Harry. 

"Easy? Easy?! You think it's easy having to pretend to be all friendly with him?" I ask, confused at how she could even think that. 

"Oh come on Sandra, he is nice."

"I mean friendly yeah, but not more than that Talia. Honestly, that's just sick."

"Whatever Sandra, you and him make a cute couple." she hints, winking at me. 

"Anyway moving on from the topic of the cuteness of the lad, we need to hear what happened last night." 

"Harry I really can't say, it's sensitive." I say, my eyes boring into his, hoping he gets the message I'm trying to send him. 

"Would you be more comfortable if I left?" Talia asks as I continue to glare at Harry. 

"Leave us for a few moments Talia." Harry whispers eventually, after what feels like an eon of awkward silence but was probably only half a minute in real time, if that. Talia nods and tactful wanders off, far enough to be out of ear shot. Harry's look softens a little as he steps towards me. "Your parents?" he asks me quietly.

"Yeah." I reply, feeling my voice tightening as I speak. 

"Look Sandra, all you have to say is that you were mourning your parents and that a similar incident won't happen again." 

"I can't say that."

"You plan on not wearing your gadgets again?" Harry asks me, looking a little annoyed.

"No Harry, and you know full well that wasn't the part of your statement to which I was referring."

"Having emotions doesn't make you weak Sandra."

"It gives people room to judge, it gives people freedom to hurt you if they know your weaknesses." I reply back. Harry sighs at this and shakes his head in a morose manner.

"For such a skilled young spy you've still got such a lot to learn." he whispers tenderly.

"Harry I can't tell people about them, you know I can't." I whisper, begging him with my eyes. 

"Fine, ok. I'll tell the moderators for you, but know that this will impact your overall grade." he says with a resigned look in his eyes. I bite my lip, my thoughts wandering. 

"I couldn't. How much will it affect my grade by?" I ask cautiously.

"That depends on how generous the mods are feeling." he replies, "And in all honesty you've given some of them quite a bit of trouble in the past." he adds as an after thought.

"No, please tell me that Jake isn't on the panel."

"You know full well I can't tell you who is and who isn't on the panel." he says in a manner which basically means, yes, Jake is on the panel. I groan internally and close my eyes.

"You suck." I whisper.

"Well that's hardly the way to talk to the guy who's helping you out so much, is it now?"

"Hardly helping me. You're just acting all nicey, I know your real game." I reply, jokingly squinting my eyes at him.

"Yes secretly I want to …"

"You want to kill me so that you can take over the role of most amazing spy out there." I reply. He laughs at this, shaking his head. 

"Oh kiddo, you do make me chortle."

"Kiddo? I'm like seven years your junior, if that." I huff. 

"Hmmm. Well I better get back to HQ now then, remember to keep your gadgets with you at all times Sandra."

"All times?"

"All times."

"You even want to know about my excretory functioning? That's really kind of you Harry, however-"

"Sandra, don't be tricky. You know what I mean." he says, suppressing a smile. 

"Ok Harry, I shall be sure to be totally good." 

"Till we next meet, and lets hope it's on nicer terms, eh?" he says, shaking my hand professionally.

"Ooh, getting all professional I see. Well till we next meet, I bid you adieu." I reply, waving in a fancy manner and bowing to him. 

   I slink into the dining room, yawning. That meeting with Harry last night really took it out of me, I have no idea how many points will be deducted from me for this. Can't a girl have a little emotion without being judged from every angle? Ok so admittedly I could have, theoretically, 'fessed up and said why I didn't wear my gadgets. It's just that I couldn't have done that in reality because there's no chance I'd let my weaknesses show. Sitting down I survey the room subtly to see if pukey's down for breakfast yet. Just as I come to the conclusion that he isn't I see him entering the hall. I smile at him and beckon him over to where we're sitting but he either doesn't see me or is ignoring me because he doesn't come over. Weird. Finishing my breakfast I walk over to where pukey is seated, "Hey loser." I say, plonking down next to him.

"Hey." he replies, staring at his plate intently. 

"You alright?" I ask.

"Fine."

"You don't seem fine."

"I'm fine."

"Ok, well I have textiles first so I'm going to go, wanna meet up in our free later?"

"Sure." he replies, still not actually looking at me. Great, so he's in a mood with me. 

"Library good?"

"Mhm." he mutters nodding at me as he does, but his eyes are still glued to the plate. 

"Well I'll be off then." I say, standing up awkwardly and turning to leave. Geez if he's gunna be like this then this is going to get very bad, very soon. HQ are probably frowning and muttering to themselves about my bad performance, even though really this is all their fault for sending Harry to meet me when I was meant to be meeting pukey. As I walk out of the hall I catch a glimpse of Harriet and Frank having a conversation in hushed tones. Now that is … interesting. Edging closer ever so slowly I try my best to eavesdrop, but as luck would have it someone decides to crash straight into me as I do so. "Sorry Sandra, I didn't see you there." 

"It's okay." I mutter, turning to see who it was that crashed into me. 

"I'd best be off anyway." Mike mumbles, glancing over at Harriet and Frank. 

"Sure, see you around." I reply, turning away myself. There are some interesting dynamics afoot here, if I could just understand what they were...