Hide & Spy (a.k.a. Gallagher Girls NG)

Chapter 9

        "I don't have to tell you that stalking is a crime," I said to Hobbes.

        He laughed, like he actually found me amusing. "You don't, but I'm not stalking you. I'm a teacher, it's my job to look after my students, teach them, and have their best interests at heart," he said. It was my turn to laugh, it was dry, cold, sound. It scared me, but Hobbes was no amature.

        "See, I would believe that if I didn't already know that you're not here to teach. You're here on an op, which apparently has something to do with me," I said. Hobbes looked shocked for a moment, but then it disappeared and was replaced with a neutral expression.

        "What makes you think-"

        "Spy," I said and pointed to myself. "More importantly, I have a talent for hearing things, everything. Including conversations between you and my grandmother."

        "So, you were eavesdropping," Hobbes said as he came closer to me. Eavesdropping? I don't think I've heard a more offensive word in my life.

         I brought my knees up to my chest to avoid physical contact. "It's not 'eavesdropping'," I clarified. "It's intelligence gathering. Eavesdropping would be rude. What do you want from me?"

        He sat down next to me. "You want the truth, the classified truth?" He asked. I nodded, probably more excited than I should've been. "Nothing. I want nothing from you. I'm just here as a..."

        "Safety precaution," I finished for him.

        "Exactly, a safety precaution. I'm here to keep you safe. I just want to-"

        "Make sure I don't remember. Yeah I go that, but remember what exaclty? What happened to me? I have a right to know, it's my mind, my body, my life," I said.

        "Unfortunately, I can't tell you. To be honest, I don't really know myself. All I do know, is that my job is to keep you from remembering because-"

        "It would make me a threat?" I said. It sounded like a question, but it wasn't it was a fact. Hobbes nodded agreeing with me. "Can you at least tell me, who did it?"

        He sighed, he knew that just telling me his assignment was breaking A LOT of rules. I then thought back to Uncle Matt's favorite phrase, "A spy's life is rules-optional." Hobbes knew he would get in trouble because there were some rules that were meant to be followed. Apparently, Hobbes didn't neccesarily care.

        "I don't know her name, but I do know that she and your family have quite the history. I must..apologize,'' he said and I turned to look at him as if he had said something completly different.

        "What?" I asked to clarify what I just heard.

        Hobbes laughed slightly, "I must apologize. I'm not used to talking to children. I'm used to rogue operatives, kids I'm not used to."

        That's when I saw it. The bags under his eyes. The inability to sleep at night. Exhaustion fighing to take over, but knew that it couldn't, that something else mattered more. Someone else for that matter. "You're a father, recently, aren't you?" I asked, until I realized how inappropriate that was. "Sorry, I also have a big mouth," I said.

        Hobbes then laughed again, it reminded me of my Dad's laugh. Whole-hearted, warm, as if the world was just perfect. I knew it wasn't. "Am I that obvious, or are you just that good?" Hobbes asked. I didn't answer, I wasn't supposed to. "I am here to help you, Morgan. Not to scare you or hurt you. I want you to trust me," he said.

        "Don't they all? My grandmother soesn't," I said,

        "She's trying to protect you. Considering what happened with your mother and your grandfather, I can't say I blame her," he said. I wanted to ask what happened, but the line had to be drawn somewhere. "You should get back to bed, because tomorrow you and Gabrielle and I will be talking about your detention. Which, of course, will be extended due to you hacking into my laptop." I was caught. Busted. I opened my mouth to lie and say that it wasn't true, but when my mouth opened nothing came out.

        Hobbes got up and began to walk away. "You've got talent, kid. With a little more training I think you'll be better than your parents, and that is the truth," he said and then vanished down the hallway. So, I took his advice and went to bed.