Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 30: The Boy

(Time jump is a year later because I need to get the central part of my story started)

Coming back to the Gallagher Academy for Annalise Goode's 8th grade year was the most exciting thing for her. Of course, she was sad to leave her family. She loved getting to catch up with them. Her younger siblings were getting bigger. Chase had huge muscles now. His voice was extra deep. He looked just like his father. He was more serious, but he never lost his playful, cocky side.

Cameron and Zach had both spent as much time over the summer with their kids as they could, but they had many hushed conversations behind close doors. Chase had caught her pressed against the door trying to listen multiple times. Taking Chase back to Blackthorne wasn't as hard as it normally was because Anna knew she would see him next semester. Chase was a sophomore now, so he would be participating in the Gallagher exchange for the spring semester. None of the Gallagher Girls knew what Blackthorne really was.

Cruising through the halls made Anna feel like she truly belonged at her school now. She was an 8th grader now, no longer the youngest at the school. She was also the daughter of 2 living legends and her grandparents both worked at the school. Many of the upper classmen said hi to her. She saw Adalind and Amelia and they each gave her a wink.

Anna and Bree crossed paths. Bree flipped her long, wavy blonde hair and gave Anna her bright smile. Last year Anna and Bree had paired together for their final project. They got a 98%. Anna had grown to really like Bree. She wasn't like the other Gallagher Girls. She was down to Earth. Anna suspected that's what living on a farm with your grandfather would do to you. Bree had only gotten prettier, securing her spot as prettiest girl in the world. Anna didn't know what the year would hold, or if her and Bree would be friends. All she could do was smile back and give Bree a small wave.

Anna continued up to her suite that she shared with her 2 best friends, Diana and Caroline. She entered the suite and saw that Diana was already picking out paint colors for redecorating the suite. Caroline was running a comb through her strawberry blonde hair. Caroline saw Anna and smiled.

"Welcome home," she said as she hugged her. Diana walked over to her and was asking her to pick which color she thought would be best for the new semester.

"So, when are the Blackthorne boys coming?" Diana asked after they had all caught up.

"Blackthorne boys?" Caroline asked.

"It's where Anna's brother goes to school. They always do an exchange with us when they're sophomores. They're all ripped and dreamy," Diana said, grinning.

"And they won't be here until next semester," Annalise said, bursting Diana's bubble. The girls sighed and made their way to the grand hall for the welcome back dinner.

The first week back to school was anything but easy. Anna was glad to find that her grandmother was allowing the girls to go into town on Saturday.

The Gallagher Girls took off their uniforms and changed into normal clothes. Anna settled with white skinny jeans and a purple tank top. She put a purple plaid headband in her hair to hold back her ringlet curls. The girls set off to the town of Roseville.

"Let's go to the movies!" Caroline said excitedly. Diana smiled and linked her arm with Caroline's.

"I'll catch up with you later. There's something I have to do," Anna replied. She turned the corner and walked down the street. She didn't know where she was going, but she felt as if something was pulling her. She stopped in front of a sign. Abrams and Son Pharmacy, it read. Anna felt prompted to open the door. She pushed and heard the chime of a bell. She walked down the aisles, skimming the shelves.

   "Can I help you?" A man asked. Anna turned. He was tall and quite attractive for his age. He had wavy brown hair with small streaks of gray. His eyes were a bright blue and Anna noted the small scar on the edge of his jaw.

   "I have a headache," she lied. "I was looking for some aspirin."

   "Second aisle," the man said. "Hey, do I know you from somewhere?"

   "No," Anna said. She grabbed aspirin and walked up to the front counter. She read his name tag: Josh.

   "Oh, I feel like I've seen you before. Are you new to town?" The man, Josh, asked.

   "Something like that," she replied. She also noted how this man asked many questions. He was studying her. Something about his gaze made Anna feel like he could see right through her cover. She didn't like it.

   "Are you sure we've never met?" He asked again. She fought the urge to roll her eyes.

    "Positive," she said. Josh squinted at her.

    "You came all the way here for that?" He asked. She froze, for a normal guy he was pretty smart.

   "Oh, I have to run an errand for my mom. I almost forgot she needs-" Anna looked around. Cat toys were the first thing she saw on the shelf. "A cat collar! Our cat keeps losing her collar. I tell mom it's a bad idea, but she's persistent." Anna wanted to slap herself. She needed to stop rambling. The man whispered something that Anna couldn't quite make out. For a second I she thought he said Cammie, but that was crazy. She grabbed a cat collar and payed.

   "Hey," the man said as she turned to leave. She looked back at him. "What's your name?"

   "Anna," Anna said. She didn't know what made her tell him the truth, but she had said it and there was no going back on it. She didn't wait for the man to say anything else, she just left.

    Anna made her way through the streets of Roseville without a second glance. Anna was the junior chameleon, going unseen is what she was good at. She was enjoying her gifts of being a chameleon until she turned around. That was the moment that she saw the boy. The boy with blonde hair and brown eyes. The tall boy with freckles and a chain around his neck. Whatever was connected to the chain was hidden in his shirt. Anna stopped dead in her tracks, staring at the attractive boy.

   "Hi," he said. She froze. Anna didn't know what to do or to say. This had never happened to her before. No one had ever seen her when she didn't want to be seen. Still, this boy had.

   "Hello," she stuttered. He held out his hand for her to shake. She slowly shook it.

   "Cason," he said with a smile.

   "Anna," she replied. He was staring into her eyes. The girl in Anna wanted to stare into his all day.

   "Are you new in town?" Cason asked.

   "Something like that," she replied, remembering her words to Josh. The boy nodded.

   "How old are you?" He asked.

   "I'll be 15 next month," Anna replied. The boy smiled.

    "So you're a year younger than me. Have I seen you at school?" He asked.

   "No," Anna said quickly. "I don't go to school here. I go to a school just outside of Roseville. My dad teaches there. We live here, though." Anna took a deep breath. She really had to keep herself from rambling.

   "Oh, okay," Cason said. Anna looked to the ground. She had never talked to a boy like this, especially an older boy. Especially a very attractive boy. He was smiling at her. Anna thought she might melt. "Hey, would you wanna go somewhere sometime? Just so I can maybe get to know you? You seem cool." YES! Anna was shocked. Was she being asked out?

   "Yeah, I guess so," she said, playing it cool. The boy smiled. Why was he smiling? Did he want to date her?

   "Tomorrow then?" Cason asked.

   "Yes," Anna replied. The words were out of her mouth before she could think about them.

   "7:00," he said. Anna nodded. She smiled and turned around and ran back to meet up with her friends.

   She wasn't going to tell Diana or Caroline about Cason. Really, she wasn't. But Diana was a natural born spy and an expert on all things teen. Maybe that was why the second they entered their suite Diana turned and grinned at her and said, "so who'd you meet?"