Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 45: The Blossom

Annalise Goode was busy trying to figure out how her school had changed so much. Last semester the girls had only been focused on their school work. Now all they cared about were the boys.
She sat at her table in the grand hall. Adalind, Amelia, Caroline, and Diana were already there. Anna looked around the room and noted all of the flirty couples. Chase had told Anna about his roommates Tanner and Daniel. Anna watched as Tanner flirted with a freshman named Lily and Daniel put his arm around a senior name Heather.
"What is happening?" Anna muttered.
"It's like they've never seen a boy before," Diana said rolling her eyes.
"Don't worry kid, everyone will get over themselves eventually," Adalind said with a smile.
"Speak for yourself," Caroline said. She was staring at Daniel with puppy dog eyes.
"Hey, where's Bree?" Amelia asked. Anna looked up to Bree's usual spot. She was gone.
"Who cares about her? What about Chase?" Caroline asked dreamily. Sure enough, Chase wasn't at their table either. Anna smiled. Maybe Chase had gotten the girl. Her theory proved to be wrong when Chase stormed into the grand hall. He was sweaty and breathing heavily.
"Where have you been?" Adalind asked. Chase wiped sweat off of his brow.
"Working out," he replied. "Where's Bree?"
"She wasn't with you?" Diana asked, raising a brow.
"No," Chase said. "Why?"
"Look to the seat next to you, Romeo. She's not here," Amelia said. Anna watched the concern cross over Chase's face. He squinted and looked across the grand hall. He scowled.
"Where is Grayson?" He asked. Everyone looked around. Chase hated Grayson. He had told Anna that Grayson enjoyed the evil things that Blackthorne had them do.
"Oh no she bloody didn't," Amelia laughed. "Does she really want him over you?" Chase glared at her. The friends looked up to the door as Bree and Grayson strolled in. They were laughing. Anna looked to Chase who had a murderous look in his eyes. And on someone who has literally been trained to murder, that's a scary look.
"I'll see you later," Bree said to Grayson as she slid into her seat next to Chase. She smiled at him. He forced a fake smile. Anna expected Grayson to continue on to a different table. She wasn't expecting him to sit down next to Bree. Chase looked up. He looked pissed.
"Do you know what see you later means?" Chase asked sarcastically. Bree elbowed him slightly and if Anna hadn't been staring at her she wouldn't have noticed it.
"Do you know what mind your own business means?" Grayson said back. Anna cringed. This was not going to end well. Anna moved and dropped her fork on the ground. She went down to pick it up and saw Bree gripping Chase's hand. It wasn't in a romantic way. It was as if she was silently pleading him not to do anything.
"I think this table is full," Adalind said, backing Chase up. Grayson looked around.
"Oh," he said. Then he looked Anna in the eye. "Move." If looks could kill Grayson would have been murdered by Chase.
"Leave. Now." Chase said strongly. Grayson looked Chase in the eye.
"Look, just because you can't get the girl doesn't mean the rest of us can't shoot our shot," Grayson snapped. Anna saw Tanner and Daniel eyeing the conversation. They were ready to step in if things got out of hand.
Chase slammed a fist on the table. The grand hall suddenly grew silent as everyone turned to their table. Grayson was grinning. He turned to Anna.
"So Anna, how does it feel to have gotten rejected by a townie," he said. Anna's eyes filled with tears. Her throat was on fire. Chase jumped to his feet. Adalind and Amelia did the same.
"Hey Grayson, how does it feel to have gotten beat up by a 7th grader at Blackthorne?" Chase spat. Some people in the grand hall started chuckling. Grayson jumped to his feet and pulled his arm back to punch Chase. Chase was already prepared to fight. Anna cringed and closed her eyes. She opened them when she didn't hear either boy make contact. She looked at her grandpa Solomon holding Grayson's fist back.
"I don't think that's a very good idea, Mr. Diller," Mr. Solomon said. Anna breathed a sigh of relief and watched her grandfather. He caught her eye. He gave her a wink.
*                                        *                                                  *
    As the weeks went on Anna realized a change in her brother and Bree. Whenever she was around them they tried too hard not to touch. They looked too uncomfortable. Anna knew that they cared about each other. She didn't have a problem with it, she already considered Bree her sister. She had just never seen Chase act the way that he did. He never gave any girl more than a second glance.
   Anna kept waking up in the middle of the night due to nightmares. The night of the attack played through her head over and over. She knew she wasn't crazy. She had overheard Rachel tell Joe that Bree had them too. Anna didn't think she would ever get the determination in Bree's eyes as she stood between the gun and Caroline out of her head.
   This particular night Anna woke up wondering why the attackers didn't shoot Bree. She wondered why they had run the other way. Not being able to go back to sleep, she went on a walk.
   She walked along the grounds and made her was to the P&E barn. She tried to open the door but it was locked. Anna sighed and decided to go through a secret passageway that lead there.
   She emerged from a small cabinet and her mouth dropped open. Her brother and Bree were in there. Together. Alone. She watched them intently. Chase was sitting on the ground and Bree was sitting across from him. They both looked extremely serious. Anna tried to hear what they were talking about, but their voices were very muffled.
   "Why did she leave?" She heard her brother ask.
   "Because she didn't want to deal with the pain. She didn't want to be there for me," came Bree's response. Anna had no idea what they were talking about. She watched them chat and continued to try and make out their words.
    She watched with guilt as she saw Bree start breaking down. She was crying. Chase leapt to her side and held her. He was murmuring something to her and stroking her hair.
   "Why am I never enough?" Bree shouted. "Why does everyone I care about leave me?"
  Anna began to retreat to her tunnel. This seemed too personal. She felt guilty watching the tender moment. She was halfway back to her suite before she realized that she too was crying.