Espion | Book One

Twenty One.

It's such a great day to be alive.

That was Mina's one and only thought as she skipped down the halls of Middleton Academy. This day, the first day of November, was the best day of her entire life. Nothing, not even the time her father bought her first convertible, could fill her heart with joy as much as the five words that echoed over and over in her mind, compounding her heart with so much happiness her head felt light with giddiness. She tried calming herself down, tried slowing to a simple excited walk as she made her way to the school field, but as soon as those words replayed themselves, her feet were lifting themselves off the ground once more in pure bliss.

To think all those years at Middleton Academy pining for a boy who never spared her a glance would all lead up to this moment. The moment he finally said to her, "Will you be my girlfriend?" Mina had frozen as soon as the words registered, staring into his beautiful, smiling face in shock. The 'what' she had croaked out was rather embarrassing, and, had her brain been out from under the cloud of surprise, she would have surely blushed in humiliation. But then he repeated, and that confusion had cleared away and brought out a wide smile. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out what her answer had been.

Mina slowed to a saunter as her mind went back to the days she had drawn up her elaborate plan to capture Dan Slater in her jaws. The first time she ever saw him was her second day at school. During their freshman year, they had shared the same literature class. Mina distinctly remembered the first time she laid eyes on him. He had walked in with the same casual stroll she loved so much, and sat right up front beside the one Jessime Beaumont. While they formed a fast friendship, Mina had be forming a fast and all-consuming crush as she stared into the back of his head the entire class. From then on, she had been determined to get him to fall in love with her, but each time she tried to approach him, her nerves frayed and she slinked away from him with sweaty palms and a beating heart.

And now, almost four years later, they were official.

Mina giggled suddenly. Heads turned to look at her as if she were mad but she was already running out, pushing the door open that led to the fields. The hanging afternoon sun shone on the grassy expanse before her, surrounded by tracks. As the school's track stars warmed up nearby, Mina ran past the seats, over the tracks and onto the large vastness of grass. To one section, gymnasts practiced; to the next, soccer was being played. The fitness club managed to grab another section of the massive field and, gob smacked in the centre was the cheerleading team.

Mina spotted Anna immediately. Her new 'bestest friend in the entire world' stood apart from the crowd of cheerleaders, watching them with a dead look on her face and her hands on her hips. Her hair was tied up into a ponytail that blew into her face with a gust of wind. She stood out like a sore thumb, since while the others wore cute shorts and colourful tank tops, Anna was decked out in black yoga pants and a black spaghetti strapped shirt. Considering the blazing sun overhead, it was wonder she wasn't fainting from the heat.

"Anna!"

Anna looked up at Mina as she ran over to her. Her face didn't change, Mina noticed absentmindedly. Her expressions never change. Mina grabbed onto Anna's hand, digging her nails in. Anna looked down at it and, slowly, pushed her hand away.

"You would never believe what just happened!" Mina squealed.

Anna opened her mouth, no doubt to either ask what, or tell her she didn't care – Mina wasn't entirely sure which – but before she could get anything out, a snarky voice interrupted.