I Spy

Chapter 17

On the trip back to Blackwood, I learned a lot more about everyone who I was with.  I learned that Jamie and Carter were in Paris to try and stop Stan.  I wasn’t sure why they were in Paris doing that, but they told me it was because they could keep track of Labelle there and what he did, so I just went with what they said. 

I also learned about Carer’s story; how he hated his dad and ran away when he was young and then topped his university class for some degree in computers, and that’s when MI6 head-hunted him.  I learned that Labelle had watched his progress and tried several times to get through to Carter and persuade him to join his company, but Carter refused each time. 

Jamie explained to me that his dad hadn’t enjoyed the fact that he was gay, so he had never really accepted and paid attention to Jamie as he had to Ant.  When I asked him who his dad really was, he said that was something Ant should reveal and not him.  Whatever that meant. 

When we finally arrived back in the familiar grounds, it was pat lights out.  Mr Grey was apparently away meeting with MI6, so we ate alone and then we shown to new rooms on the bottom floor of my old dormitory.  I fell asleep quickly and got woken up the next day by a knock on my door. 

“Marley,” I heard someone call.  “Mr Grey needs to meet with you.” 

I groaned and rolled out of bed, wiping the sleep from my eyes.  I pulled the door open and saw Ms Collins standing in front of me, looking as proper and emotionless as always. 

“Hurry up,” she said, before turning on her heels and walking away, her shows clicking as she walked down the wooden floor. 

Quickly, I got changed into the only other clothes I had: a pair of jeans, boots and a jacket.  On the way out of my new room, I caught my reflection in a mirror and gasped.  My lighter roots were starting to show against my dyed hair.  Black rings occupied the space under my green eyes. 

I sighed and made my way to the familiar office.  I passed classmates you shot me small smiles, but clearly had heard everything because they didn’t say hello or anything.  The sky was typically grey and the freezing cold winter wind made me guess that it would soon snow.  My cheeks and hands were glacial and stung when I tried to touch them. 

“Marley?”  I turned around slowly at the first person who had talked to me since I arrived. 

“Ryan,” I said, my voice catching in my throat. 

He was standing five metres behind me, in a long coat and a scarf.  His brown hair was shorter, but still looked the same as ever.  He looked a lot better from when I had last seen him; the bags from under his eyes were gone, the scab had aged into a small scar and his shoulders were relaxed. He smiled at me and walked over. 

“Your nose is red.”  He stopped in front of me. 

“Well of all the things I expected you to say, that wasn’t one of them,” I said.  He laughed and I threw my arms around his neck.  “I’m glad you’re okay.” 

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said, pulling away and dropping his arms at his sides.  I did the same.  “I mean after you ran off like that, I thought anything could have happened to you.” 

“Yeah, me too,” I admitted.  “I have to go se Mr Grey now, but I’ll see you soon?” 

“Actually, I’m going with,” he said with a small grin.  “So you’re stuck with me.” 

“Damn,” I teased.  We set off for the further minute walk in silence and I was relieved to step into the warm building. 

“Go straight in,” Ms Collins sighed.