Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 42: The Return

  Annalise Goode entered the Gallagher Academy for the spring semester once again feeling like an outsider. As a 7th grader she felt this way, but that was only because she was the youngest in the school. The beginning of her 8th grade year she had fit in. That was before she met the boy that changed her world.
Most girls spend their winter breaks with their families. Anna didn't. She spent her break wondering where her brother was and getting interrogated by the CIA. The men were nice to her. Her parents were still some of the top agents in the CIA.
When her parents dropped her off at the Academy they had told her to be smart. That was what her brother had been trying to tell her last semester. She wished she would have listened. Her brother was a mystery. Ever since he went to the Blackthorne Institute for Young Boys he had become like a ghost. Whenever Anna got to see him he still acted the same. Something she was very relieved about. Still, he had a type of pain that clouded his eyes. Anna knew what Blackthorne trained young boys to be: assassins. She also knew that wasn't the path Chase was choosing. Or at least, she hoped not.
She walked through the halls receiving dirty looks from everyone that passed her. She wasn't surprised. She had violated school rules and endangered the lives of her friends all for a boy that left her in the end. Her heart was still broken.
   She passed Adalind and Amelia. Amelia's cast was gone and Adalind's concussion had healed. Anna was glad, they were signs of what had happened at the end of her fall semester. Despite everything, they smiled at her. Part of Anna thought it was because of her parents. Anna's parents were best friends with the twin's parents, Bex and Grant.
Anna was anxious to see her roommates. Last semester Caroline had been extremely mad at Anna. That was saying a lot because Care was usually the most harmless. Despite everything, Caroline had still come to Anna's rescue when the attackers showed up. Caroline had gotten a gun pointed at her head. Anna still didn't understand why the attacker turned the other way when Bree stepped in front of the gun.
Bree. Bree had been a friend to Anna since day 1. That was very surprising in the Academy considering that upper classmen do not speak to younger classmen. Bree was 2 years older and the most beautiful girl that Anna had ever seen. Bree treated Anna like a sister, which Anna learned that she needed. Bree's support and guidance was something she was very grateful for. Bree also reminded Anna of her brother, Chase. Chase was Anna's best friend in the entire world, so it was nice to have someone like him at her school.
Diana was beautiful too. A very close second to Bree. Diana was the daughter of Preston Winters and Macey McHenry. She had piercing blue eyes and dark hair. She was the expert on all things fashion and boys. Diana and Anna had been friends ever since they were little due to their parents. Being roommates was an amazing experience for them. Anna heard a creak outside of her suite and moved into the shadows.
"Annalise," someone called. "Come out come out wherever you are!" Anna smiled at Caroline. Her strawberry blonde hair and hazel eyes were adorable. She sort of looked like strawberry shortcake. Anna emerged out of the shadows and was greeted with a hug from Care. "I've missed you!" Caroline and Annalise smiled at each other. They didn't notice the beautiful tall girl leaning against the doorway.
"Miss me?" Diana called in a playful tone. Within seconds the girls were up and running at their roommate. She laughed as they hugged. She turned and looked at Anna. "How are you?"
"I'm okay. The CIA drilling me with questions about my ex boyfriend was just what I needed to help me move on," Anna answered sarcastically. Her friends gave her a look of pity.
"Have you seen Bree?" Caroline asked. She seemed distracted. Anna would have been too if she was Care. If it hadn't been for Bree, Caroline most likely would have been dead.
  "I saw her," Diana said. "She spent the break at her grandfathers farm in Kansas. Her hair is longer and her smile is even brighter. I think she's okay." The girls nodded. They were all relieved.
   The girls caught up and talked about their breaks. Caroline went home to Texas. Her dad was one of the directors of homeland security. Diana had gone back to Washington DC. Preston was a member of Congress and Macey continued her fashion and makeup lines. Anna also stayed in DC. She didn't get to enjoy her time though. Her mom had taken her to the CIA for her questioning. Anna had been a bit devastated from the breakup. Zach had taken her to the gym multiple times. It was a great way for her to work out her anger. Zach had told his daughter that Chase was on a mission that her papa Ed had offered him. Anna prayed that was the reason.
   The girls all slid down the banister into the Grand Hall for their welcome back dinner. Anna watched as Amelia and Adalind got up from the junior table and slid into Anna's table. Things had changed. The girls weren't divided anymore. Anna's friend group stayed tight, despite their ages. Bree strolled over and gave Anna a tight squeeze.
   "How are you, angel?" She asked. Anna could have lied to Bree, but Bree was a natural spy and would have seen right through it. She just shrugged. Bree looked at her with gentle eyes.
   "Welcome back, ladies," my headmistress and grandmother began. I watched all of the teachers take their seats. Liz Sutton-Young caught my eye and gave me a sad smile. "As you know every 2 years the sophomore class does an exchange with a school called Blackthorne." I jerked my head up. I heard everyone whisper as a group of boys strolled in. The Blackthorne boys. "They will be in your classes. They will eat with you. They will live here. I expect you all to welcome them into our home and forge friendships with them that will last a lifetime."
   "Who is that?" Bree hissed. I looked to where she was looking. I watched Adalind and Amelia grin. Diana smiled. Every other Gallagher Girl in the room tried to wipe the drool off their mouths. They were already swooning over the boy that stood next to my grandmother at the head table. My grandmother casually had her hand on his shoulder. My grandpa Mr. Solomon was grinning madly at the boy. I think every Gallagher Girl in the room sighed dreamily as the boy winked. At me. I finally felt at home as I smirked the famous Goode smirk and returned the wink.
   "Hello, brother."