I Spy

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Well I look English. Very English. This uniform is ugly. I've only had it on five minutes and the socks are itching. And don't get me started on the shoes or the skirt. Let's just say it would be very hard to defend myself, well if I wasnt a trained spy but you get the idea. 

I search the cupboards for food for at least ten minutes with nothing but a few stale cheerios. My stomach starts to rumble which is unusual because I attended a four week course on how not to be hungry and survive on just the basic foods when I was five. So if I was hungry then there was nothing I could do but eat. One quick glance at my watch tells me that Jeff is late. 

Security guards are supposed to be punctual. I sigh and throw myself down at the kitchen table, staring at the clock watching the minutes tick past. I don't know what time stupid school starts here in England but I'm pretty sure that if he doesn't get here soon then I will be late on my first day. It's ten minutes after eight when Jeff bursts through the door, all in a tizzy. 

"Finally," I throw at him bitterly, picking up my backpack and sliding my arms through the straps. 

"Sorry I'm late Lec I got caught up at the head quaters and-" 

 I cut him off. 

" Save me the sob story let's go," I snap starting to head out of the door. 

Jeff blocks me with his shoulder and I stand back putting my hands on my hips. 

"What now?" I ask getting frustrated. 

Jeff gulps. It's not my fault that I'm scary when I'm angry, blame the martial arts lesson that I've had from the age of three. 

"You can't go yet Lec, you've got to get your fake identity," 

"My what now?" I ask , confused. 

"You're not Electra Brown anymore. You're Maddie Taylor," Jeff told me. 

My heart feels crushed and my brain feels all blocked up like my thoughts aren't moving around. I couldn't change my name. My name was the only thing I had left of my Dad's. If I was normal I would have curled up in a ball and cried but I'm a spy so I do it on the inside. 

"Why?" I ask, my voice slightly weaker than usual. 

"For security measures," He tells me firmly. 

"Is there anything I need to do differently?" I ask, hoping the answer would be no because I might be a spy ,be great at keeping a straight face and showing no emotion but I could not act for toffee. 

Jeff hesitates for a second before nodding. 

"Maddie Taylor is supposed to be really girly," He says almost carefully as if he is telling me that he was about to punch a kitten. 

I nod, taking a deep breath and smiling. 

"I can do that," I say, trying to be positive. 

Jeff looks relieved and then pulls a backpack from behind his back. 

"Good because this is your new school bag," 

My face falls and I feel every little bit of positivity and the tiny slither of excitement about being in England, just slip away and turn into negative thoughts and pure hatrid of this stupid, rainy country. 

"How hideously pink, who would wear that?" I mutter, staring at the horrible pink backpack which is glittery and reminds me of what you might imagine to be a fairy's sick. 

"Well my daughter picked it out for you," Jeff says sort of defensivley and a feeling of guilt fills my stomach but I don't react and just nod. 

After a few minutes of silence whilst I transfer the few possesions I have from my old bag to my new one and a few more after that as I try to come to terms with the fact that I am now one of those girls that I always said annoyed me, and we finally leave for school. 

The car journey is silent. Every time Jeff tries to talk I ignore him and every time he turns the radio on I reach over and turn it off. After a while he gives up. I work out that the journey to school takes about 7 and a half minutes and another two minutes for us to get up the long windy drive. 

When the car is parked I jump out and shut the door behind me. My mouth falls open as I look around. There are girls walking around carrying lacrosse sticks on their backs, groups of boys throwing cricket balls too and fro, there is loud chatter and the sound of horses neighing. There seems to be shouts coming from a field nearby and I take it that there is an early morning cricket match going on or possibly lacrosse. It is litle comfort to me that everyone else looks as ridiculous as me. 

Jeff takes confident strides to the main entrance and I follow him. He is greeted by who I assume is the head teacher and we are ushered into her office. Once she has shaken Jeff's hand she turns to me and smiles. 

"You must be Maddie, how nice to meet you," She extends her hand and I shake it politley. Her hands are cold and smooth and her wedding ring bumps against my finger. 

"It's nice to meet you too," I reply, letting go of her hand and sitting down in the chair provided. 

"And you are her father?" She asks Jeff. 

Jeff flinches and tears start to prick at my eyes as I think of my father but I blink rapidly and squeeze my fists and the tears are gone in an instant. 

"No, I'm her guardian," Jeff explains in the tone of voice that said, talk no more about it. 

"Ah, I see. Well it's lovely to meet both of you. I am Mrs Milligan the headmistress here at Oak Valley Academy. We've recieved your application and you sound like a great addition to our school. I'm sure you'll find each and every one of our students to be warm and welcoming towards you. This is your agenda and I will take you to your first class. Say goodbye to you fathe- guardian now," Mrs Milligan tells me as she stamps my application form and snaps it back into a folder. 

"I'll see you later-" There's a pause" Maddie" 

"Bye Jeff," I sigh picking up my backpack and following Mrs Milligan out of the office. I study my agenda. English first. As I follow Mrs Milligan down about 3 corridors I take note of every little detail I could so I wouldn't get lost later. 

"Here we go," Mrs Milligan says knocking on the door of room E2B and then opening it without waiting for an answer. 

"Hello Mrs Milligan how may I help you?" The teacher asks, turning away from her whiteboard. 

"Hello Miss Davids I've got a new student for you," 

Every eye in the room is on me  and there are whispers starting to go around. 

"This is Maddie Taylor, she's from America," 

There are more whispers and as I study everyone in the class I see the typical english stereotypes I had expected. There are girls with their hair in plaits and most of the class has their nose stuck in the air. Then I see him sat at the back. The only boy that is looking at me with genuine curisoity and not just looking down at me. And for the first time in my life I can't stop the butterflies.