Casualties

Casualties. The whole story.

Chapter One

       I shut my locker door and make my way towards P.E. As I pass a row of tall blue lockers a boy my age with ashen blonde tousled hair falls into a step beside me. We don't acknowledge each other. We don't have too. However, he isn't just some student in my school that just happens to walk next to the only girl in Johnson Public High School that is left out of everything. No, he is like me. He is Cato, my top secret spy partner in the CIA.
      Yeah, if you thought that sounded weird then read it again.        
      Yes, me and Cato have been CIA partners for two years since we were fourteen. Yup, sixteen and a level 5 in the CIA. Weird right!
      Every since we were ten years old we have been training in the CIA for four years. Practicing shooting, different languages, how to tell a lie and how to detect one. Training for hand to hand combat. Then the miracle happened and we were the youngest CIA agents to ever be on field missions! We have been going on missions for two years. Finding drug dealers, getting information from those who have it and shouldn't, going undercover. Being back up for some of the bigger missions.
       After two years of near death experiences, the CIA decided we deserve a break and a chance at a normal life. How thoughtful. Me and Cato really haven't had that chance in life. His parents were killed when he was nine in a shooting in Asia. Mine were killed months after I was born in a public shooting in some city. A CIA couple had found me and took me in as their own. Ever since, Cato and I have been set on finding our parents killers and bringing them to justice. The only thing I have of my parents is an old silver locket that won't open. The family that took me in hasn't told me anything when I ask. Only the reminder that they were killed in action and they loved me and each other blah blah blah.
      There now you, dear readers, have gotten the inside scoop on me.

Cato and I walk to fourth hour P.E, dodgeball day.
"Oof!" I gasp as a dodge ball sinks itself into my gut. I fall backward and sit on the ground. I hear Macey laughing on the other side of the gym. She feels like it's her job to ruin me and I have to let her. My cover is a petty, weak sophomore. Now if I wasn't under cover Macey would probably have a broken neck.
I run my fingers back through my long blonde hair and get up and walk over to the bench and sit. I sit and watch the game. I watch and have grin spread across my face as I see Macey get hit with a dodge ball and has to walk over and sit out. The grin stops when I realize the only open seat on the bench is next to me. Glaring at me with her bright green eyes, she flips her long blonde curls and sits next to me and she smacks her gum. We sit in silence listening to the game.
After a while Cato walks over. Macey instantly stops glaring at me and starts twirling her hair with her finger and batting her eyelashes. Cato stands in front of us with his forehead beaded with sweat and his biceps showing underneath his navy blue t-shirt. You see, Cato's cover is way better than mine. He practically doesn't have to change. Cato's cover is unlike mine. He is a sophomore, like me. but he is smart, unlike me. Strong, unlike me, talented, unlike me. And he could have about maybe ten girlfriends of his choice, again, unlike me. I mean, its not like I care that he has girls thrown at him left and right. Why should I? Yeah I mean like everyone else, I like the way he is kind to everyone, his blue eyes. His strong structure. However, unlike everyone else I like the way he can speak three different languages, the way he can take on four grown men by himself, (that has happened in more than one occasion). They way he can shoot a target from 200 meters away and it the bulls eye. They way he knows how to use five different weapons including his fists and kill a man seven different ways with his bare hands. Plus the way he can lie like a pro and detect them just as well. But we are just friends, just partners. So yeah, you know what, just never mind.
Anyway, so in our school version of dodgeball if you get five people out then you can go over to the bench and pick a person who has already gotten out to get back in on your team.
Macey stands and wraps her arms around Cato's arms and twirls her hair. "So Ethan, wanna go back in the game with me? Will you protect me?" she flirts so obnoxiously I hate it. And yes, you heard her right. She called Cato Ethan. Even though we are trying to act normal doesn't mean we really are normal. We need fake reputations and names. Ethan is only his cover name.
Cato smiles and looks at me while I give him a half smile. Me and him both know Macey likes him. Practically the whole school knows. And she doesn't care, even though she has a boyfriend.
"Actually I was going to bring Cameron back in." Cato says and my heart gives a flutter. Why? No stinking idea. Macey looks at me and then glares. She lets go of Cato and sits back down, still glaring. Cato reaches out and I take his hand and stand and we walk back on the court.
I pick up a red ball and throw it and it doesn't even go seven feet. Across the court, Braxton, A.K.A Macey's boyfriend hits his fifth victim and he walks over to the bench and without pausing, grabs Macey's hand and then they both walk back into the game. I throw another ball and this one sails the totally opposite direction and hits the wall. Macey and Braxton on the other side are laughing. I scowl and reach down to grab another ball but Cato grabs my arm.
"You don't have to be weak all the time," he whispers into my ear.
"Um, yeah I kind of do," I say back a little more harshly than I intended.
"One throw, and use all your strength," he hands me a ball. I grin at him and take it. I arch my arm back and throw it with all my strength right at Macey. It hits her right where I want it. It sinks into her gut and she screams and falls to the ground as the air leaves her. After a few coughs and gasping breaths she stands and yells across the court, "YOU'RE SUCH A FREAK CAMERON! A FREAK!" Then she goes and sit on her rightful spot on the bench.
We play the game awhile longer and then the bells rings for us to go to our next class. Me and Cato have life planning next. Today we learn the magic of dancing. Yippee.
As we walk into the glass room together our teacher, Ms. Bungie, grabs our arms and takes us to the middle of the classroom and has us stand there while everyone else files into the classroom. Me and Cato don't even bother to ask Ms. Bungie what the heck is going on because she is 72 and has problems hearing and wouldn't even answer the question anyway. After everyone has walked in and taken their seat Ms. Bungie walks into the center of room and swirls around looking at everyone.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen today we will learn how to do the waltz. We have two students that will be demonstrating for us today."
I look around waiting to see who the two unlucky students will be and then I realize it is us. I look over at Cato, who looks at me with a side grin and winks. I stare at the class as they stare back at me, smiling, laughing and pointing. I feel like throwing up. Ms. Bungie claps her hands and drop the hammer on the disc and soft orchestra music starts. I place one hand on his shoulder and clasp the other in his hand as he wraps his arm around my waist and people laugh. We start by just taking a few steps and then a couple twirls when Ms. Bungie tells us. After awhile I feel so humiliated I could vomit. We stop and Ms. Bungie tells everyone to pair up. As they do I let go of Cato for a minute and take a few shuddering breaths. Training to be a field agent and then put into some scenarios that would make some people go to therapy for the rest of their lives, has taught me a lot. But never have I been taught to dance with my best friend in front of my peers when we are supposed to pretend that we never talk to each other and we have people laughing and pointing at me. Oh, we have danced before. But in undercover missions where we aren't focused on each other. We are following the person we are tailing with our eyes and then making possible escape routes in our minds. Talking to agents through ear comms.
Cato leans down and looks into my stormy gray eyes. "You okay Raven?" There it was. My real name. Raven Ward. Not Cameron Michaels. I give a slight nod. The music starts up again and I place my hands where they are supposed to again and then we are dancing again. I don't feel as pukey now but a little fluttery. Again, I have no idea why. We dance for while and I start to relax. The rest of the class Mrs. Bungie teaches us different ways to dance, where to step and place our hands and how to sway right to right in time with the music. I know all this but since Cameron doesn't I have to pretend to trip over Cato's feet and then hear the laughter of the rest of the class. Near the end of class I turn to leave and gather my things so I can leave quickly once the bell rings. I start to take my hand out of Cato's but he keeps his hand in mine and a firm arm around my waist. I look at him and telling him with my eyes we need to stop and get ready to leave. But slowly, Cato leans down and lightly presses his lips to my temple in a kiss. I gasp and lean back looking up at him with his half grin.
"You know you don't have to be weak even if it's your cover." Then the bell rings and he smiles and leaves. And I just stand here, like a dork, gaping.