The bell rang and Annie and I gathered our books, stuffing them into our backpacks. "Hey, Lisa," Annie said with a smile. "It was good to see you again." "Yeah," I agreed. "You, too." I thought for a minute, and then asked, "Annie, we're going to the city tonight to scope things out. You want to go?"Annie's eyes literally twinkled with excitement. "Sure!""But, before you agree," I interrupted her before she could break into a happy dance, "it's not a pleasure trip."And she got my meaning. "Like old times?" Meaning war, espionage, CIA jobs ...I nodded as she smiled broadly. "Then I'm definitely in!" Annie said excitedly, smiling with a devilish gleam in her eye. "I haven't had any fun for a while!" Then she did do a happy dance, but abruptly stopped. "Will Rick be there?" I laughed, nodding my head. I had really missed Annie. "Of course." Annie smiled mischievously, almost a leer, obviously contemplating possibilities. "You never change, do you?" I said, smiling, th
"What's so funny?" Zac said, his azure eyes dancing. I sighed, melting under his gaze, then turned my attention back to the food ... cafeteria food, that is. "Nothing," I said, smiling and almost laughed, then thought of something. "Hey, do they have any Mountain Dew?"Zac laughed, then replied. "In the soda machines in the back. We'll get some in a minute. You like Mountain Dew, huh?""You have no idea," I said, widening my eyes. "It's a weakness."Zac laughed, pulling a clear plastic salad container onto the tray for himself. I did the same. Then he slid the tray to the register and pulled out his wallet. "That's okay. I'll get mine," I said, stopping him. "I insist," Zac said, dazzling me with a smile. Then, he said in an aside, "Actually, I'm getting off easy. This isn't the Ritz, you know." He gestured around us in the cafeteria. I couldn't help but laugh. "Speaking of which," Zac added, a bit nervous. "Let me take you out to a real dinner, and maybe a movie, too? Say
"What are you doing tonight?" I asked, but from the look on his face, he thought I wanted to get together and do something."Not much, homework mainly. What about you?"I decided that telling him at least some of the truth was best. And I wanted to tell him the truth. Something about Zac made me not want to keep secrets from him. I sighed, and then replied, "Going to the city with my father." I didn't add that Annie was going, too. "Oh," Zac replied, looking at the circles he was drawing on the top of my hand. "Do you need a ride home this afternoon?" I smiled to myself, thinking. "Yes," I replied. "That would be nice." I would get hold of Annie this afternoon and have her meet us at the house. I paused by the door outside our English Lit. class, leaning against the wall. Saying nothing, Zac looked me directly in the eye. Funny how he felt no aversion to me whatsoever. Like I said, usually humans kept their distance. I'd been a lone wolf for a while now and it felt good to have
He simply smiled his sexy half smile, and held up a hand, watching me as I walked away. Away from him, I took deep breaths to clear my head. Being near him was a heady experience, intoxicating. I ran down the hall—perhaps a bit faster than human speed—to the gym. I needed to run, to exercise, to clear my head. I needed time to think. Inside the gym, I ran down the stairs and into the girl's locker room, my head still filled with Zac. What was I doing? I thought as other girls ran around the locker room in various stages of undress, preparing for gym class. Ignoring them, I quickly ripped open my backpack and pulled a gray T-shirt and navy shorts from it—not as sexy as I like, but typical gym attire—as thoughts of Zac assaulted my mind. How could I let Zac have this effect on me? I sighed, leaning my head back against a locker door, not sure I had a choice anymore. "Hi!" a familiar, perky voice said. Sandra. "You have gym now?" she asked, clearly excited, already dressed and ready to
Coach Sullivan suddenly blew the whistle. "Fowl!" he called as I helped Sandra up off the floor. "That's okay," Alicia said sarcastically. "She won't make it, anyway." "Since when did you become such a bitch?" I asked her, point blank. "Since when did you even give a damn?" she countered, ready this time. Good question."Since I met Zac," I answered and watched as her face contorted into a scowl. I smiled sweetly. Sandra made both her free throws. I cheered and Alicia sneered. Sandra was a bit apprehensive toward Alicia, until I told her low so no one could hear, "Like I said: I have your back. Go for it!" Sandra smiled. I took the ball out, then passed it to Sandra and guarded her so she could go toward the basket. Foreseeing her next move, I blocked Alicia, sneering at her, until she was unable to get around me. Sandra came down the court and I let Alicia go. Suddenly, Sandra stopped dead in her tracks, sending Alicia to the ground. Sandra had the ball and Alicia was the one wh
"Okay," I said to Rick-who had his arms crossed, wearing a smirk-as I walked into the door. "Go ahead. Say what you must."Rick said nothing, but just stood in the hallway, eyeing me. "Okay," I said in reply. "Don't say it." Rick burst into laughter. "Go ahead," I replied, placing my backpack on the small wooden bench Rick must have placed in the foyer this afternoon. "Have your fun.""The great Star!" Rick said, laughing as he backed out of my way. I stormed past him to the kitchen, knowing he would follow. "Falling in love! And with an assignment, no doubt!" I pulled a Mountain Dew out of the fridge and opened the top, sighing as I took a swig. "I know. I know!" I said, walking around the counter. "What was I thinking?" Then Rick's expression changed to one of concern. "You really do have feelings for him?" "Yes, damn it!" I replied, unable to believe what was happening. "I don't want to risk the mission and I sure as hell can't lose focus! Not now with Zac's life on th
"You need any weapons, Annie?" I called down the stairs. "No," she replied. "I'm all geared up!" "Good," I replied, darting at vamp speed down the stairs. "You never know what we might need."Rick rolled his eyes, familiar with my passion for toys. "Let's go, ladies!" he bellowed as he darted out the door, and we followed. "Now, who did you say was good?" Annie asked mischievously, getting into the back seat of Rick's vehicle, as I slipped into the front passenger's seat. Rick rolled his eyes again. "Never mind ..."I laughed, clearly enjoying Rick's discomfort. "Rick, here, was just telling me what a great agent I am!""Oh?" Annie asked, her eyebrows lifting, eying Rick. Rick gave me a look that said to watch it. "You're going to pay for this," Rick said, looking at me. Between Annie and me, he didn't stand a chance. "Sorry, Rick," I said, laughing. "I just couldn't help myself."Then, Rick gave me a look that said he was happy to see me laughing again. The three of us
After he ran the card and I signed the paperwork, the car was mine. When he ran the card, it went through with no problem. "Here you are, Miss," Cheap Suit said, handing me the keys to my new car. "And if there is anything else we can do for you ..." "Yeah, yeah," I said, taking the keys and slipping them into my pocket. "Just don't be so quick to judge a book by its cover next time, bud." The man nodded sheepishly, realizing again the sale his assumption almost cost him. "Also, we're going out for a bit. I'm leaving the car here and we'll pick it up later. Okay?""No problem, Miss." He was very accommodating now. "It will be here for you when you're ready." I nodded, and then Rick, Annie, and I climbed back into Rick's SUV."Can you believe that guy?" I asked rhetorically, out of Cheap Suit's earshot, as we headed back to New York City. "Hey," Annie said from the back seat. "Take it as a compliment! You look like a teenager! Enjoy it!""Yeah, a two-hundred-and-thirty-year-o