In the back of a limo.

Upper East Side

7:23 AM.

---

"Name: Charlotte Nadine Piper
Age: 16
DOB: 6/17/1993
POB: Seattle, Washington, USA
Parents/Legal Guardians: Anthony Piper (father, deceased); Ella Davens-Piper (mother)

Previous Schools Attended: Kingsdale Public School, Brimmington Preparatory School, Elsingfield Magnet School, North Day School.
Current Grade: 11
Average GPA of High School Years: 3.95

Current School Attending: Gallagher Academy"

"Remembering your cover, are you?" Bex's raspy morning voice broke my concentration as I studied the paper in front of me. As promised, Joe Solomon had caught me up to speed with everything I needed to know to attend my new ritzy private school, the Gallagher Academy. Also as promised, he was every bit as good looking as Bex said, which explained the fact that the three of us were in a limo that the lady at the car rental service practically gave us for free.

Plus, it didn't hurt to arrive in a limo on my first day.

This city, at least the part where people driving around in limos were commonplace, still amazed me. Everybody was just so busy and wrapped up in their own little worlds, still strutting to work despite the pouring rain.

"Some of the information is off, of course," Bex continued, "but Charlotte and Cammie are two different people. They can't ever be too similar, remember that." I was glad that Bex was escorting me to my new school, and I assumed that as my bodyguard, she'd stay with me throughout the day. Having somebody on your side as with looks and muscle like hers was an advantage.

Solomon didn't look up from his own stack of papers as the limo made our way through the crowded Manhattan streets. His blood shot eyes from jet lag only made him seem more rugged, more attractive. Until I remembered that he was no where near my age, of course. His arrival cemented my idea that everyone in the WPP was not bad to look at. "Miss Morgan, we will be at Gallagher in approximately eleven minutes. It would do well for you to memorize that piece of paper given."

"Yeah," Bex added, "it took me forever to come up with fancy sounding private school names. You might as well have gone to Hogwarts." I tried to laugh her joke, but my throat was completely dry. It hadn't hit me yet that this was all real and it wasn't some crazy dream. I was in the Witness Protection Program. I'm in disguise. Now, I have a whole new identity to take on and I wasn't sure if my stomach could handle it.

I mean, Charlotte Piper? They could have given me a badass new identity. "Charlotte" screams proper, pristine, perfect. Charlotte Piper would be the girl who sits up straight, does ballet, and wears tights as part of her daily wardrobe. I, on the other hand, screamed slouchy slob in old jeans.

"What if they ask about my old schools?" I asked worriedly, biting my lip in anxiety. Pressure and I weren't the best of friends.

Bex shrugged. "They won't. Trust me. The Gallagher Academy is filled with snotty Upper East Siders. They'll care more about your money than your academics."

"And if they do?" Man, I was screwed. I had a feeling that Charlotte Piper with the accountant mother wouldn't be among the most well off students.

Solomon cleared his throat. "Then you give them these numbers." He slid a a piece of paper to me. "Each of the numbers here from your," He smiled a bit, "previous schools go to either me, Abby, Rachel, or Walter. But like Miss Baxter said, it's not what you know over at Gallagher," his voice dropped ominously, "it's who you know."

Bex brightened immediately. "Lucky for us, it's pretty easy to make up the right people to know." That idea relaxed me. This was their job to make sure that I was perfectly assimilated in my new life. My job was to be smart enough not to get caught.

I pulled my gaze from the window. "Is there any reason in particular that I'm going to Gallagher?" From what I understood from the Gallagher Academy school manual, this was a really prestigious school. They don't just accept anybody.

"It's exclusive," Solomon began contemplatively, "it's hard to get into. Literally. Their school security is top notch and it would be nothing short of a miracle for somebody to break in there unnoticed. We also have a few ex-members of the WPP stationed there to keep an eye on you." My breathing went normal again at that comfort. "You couldn't have found a safer school if you tried."

Bex snorted. "They better have great security. The tuition there is ridiculous. We pulled a few strings and called in some favors to make yours free." My face grew hot, I didn't want to be a liability. She caught me blushing. "No worries, Jonas hacked into the system to change it. It was just a matter of getting a pass code." I don't know if those words were meant to calm me down or not.

"We're here," the driver announced quietly.

The limo came to a smooth halt in front of a building. The place was like the others around it, but the size of it was what made my eyes go wide and my knees go weak. With ivy lining the walls and Roman-esque columns, I felt like this was the textbook definition of luxury.

Bex and Solomon were not so awed. Solomon reached behind him and pulled a simple black backpack out. "Here are your books and any other materials you may need. Including your uniform." I felt my heart sank for a moment at the word uniform, but maybe it wasn't that bad. At least I would look the same as everybody else.

Before the driver could open my door, I turned to Bex with a puzzled expression. She didn't have a bag or a sheet with her cover on it, she didn't even move towards the door. "Are you coming?" I asked my bodyguard.

She shook her head. "Can't." She shot a quick glance at Solomon. "For safety reasons. Plus, Zach, Jonas, and I have to do some recon at the Plaza hotel. We got some word of suspicious activity that might have to do with your case." Any comfort they have given me left as quickly as it came. There was absolutely no way I was stepping into Gallagher without her. I was so close having a panic attack that I almost didn't hear her mutter to herself, "Recon is bloody boring." I doubted Solomon heard her.

"My safety isn't a good enough reason?" I said, almost with a whine that I tried to cover up. "I mean, I thought bodyguards were supposed to stay with me the whole time—"

"And they will," Solomon cut in, "outside of school. The Gallagher Academy only accepts about twenty percent of applicants, some who are certified geniuses, some with money. I guarantee that one student being admitted this late in the year will be news, but admitting two students is risky. We can't afford to be risky." My face fell. "But I assure you," he said in an attempt to calm my nerves, "you are perfectly safe in the school." The driver opened the door for me.

I didn't exactly believe his words, but I nodded my head as if I did. Those ex-WPP members better be as good as they say. Without another word, I gathered my bag and swung my legs out the open door. I took only one look back at the two in the limo. Bex shot me reassuring, semi-apologetic grin. Solomon gave a solemn nod of the head, eyes as vague as ever. With those two parting looks, I took in a deep breath and walked towards the school.

The Gallagher Academy

7:48 AM

---

"I do hope that you'll find the Gallagher Academy to be most suitable," Headmistress Buckingham drawled, as she escorted me to the auditorium. The headmistress was tall and severe, with white hair pulled back in a tight bun and a permanently stern expression on her face.

I had to give this school credit, they gave my schedule and the basic rundown of what level of excellency (answer: the highest) they expected from me. Every Tuesday, the entire school gathered in the auditorium to hear important announcements. I was sure that my arrival would be one of them, if Solomon's speech in the car was any indication.

The halls of my new school were just as fancy as the exterior. My shoes squeaked on the marble floors, but I was too busy staring at the portraits of students in the past to notice. Senators, scientists, entertainers—you name it, the Gallagher Academy has a graduate for it.

"We don't usually accept students this late in the year," she paused, looking over my rumpled uniform with a grim expression, "but we were very impressed with your academic background. All upstanding institutes, I presume?"

I bit back a smile. "Very upstanding," I answered smoothly, "but very secluded." Not a lie at all.

She nodded like this was exactly what she was thinking, as if those oh so fancy schools weren't just names made up by a seventeen year old spy. "Wonderful. After the weekly announcements, I have arranged for a student to show you around the school. I expect that you will assimilate at Gallagher in no time at all."

Almost on cue, a very petite blonde girl showed up at my side. The headmistress beamed at her, which I assumed wasn't very common. "Miss Piper," It took me a moment to realize she was talking to me, "this is Elizabeth Sutton, a model student. " The girl blushed at the compliment. "She will be your guide here. I expect that you two will get along swimmingly." Swimmingly?

Buckingham gave me a curt nod before walking away to the teachers' entrance to the auditorium. I looked at this Elizabeth chick, who was still blushing. Great, I thought, stick me with the shy girl. Make it harder for me to actually socialize.

Until she talked.

"Welcome to Gallagher!" she practically shrieked, causing my heart to jump. For a girl who was practically the size of my thumb, she had an extremely loud voice. "I'm Liz. Well, actually Elizabeth Lee Sutton, but everybody calls me Liz. You must be Charlotte! Oh, Professor Buckingham told us about you! Wow, you moved here all the way from Seattle? That's really far. 2841.12 miles, if you want to get exact. But, I hope you like the school so far! Gallagher is a really elite school, one out of two students here will get into an Ivy—"

I held up my hands to try to get her to stop. The girl was speaking a mile a minute, I could hardly understand her. "Good to meet you too, Liz," I said slowly. Then again, anything sounds slow when you're talking to somebody who sounds like she's being fast forwarded.

"What's your class schedule?" she queried, gesturing at the manila folder in my hands. Somebody back at the penthouse had created my schedule, so I wasn't very psyched to see what I ended up with.

Still, I obliged her request. "Advanced physics, advanced trigonometry, world history, American literature, psychology, and..." I paused with a frown. "Art. In that order." Advanced physics and trig I could handle, I was a total math and science geek at heart. But art? It's almost a given that I suck at something that requires using the right side of the brain.

Liz grinned brightly. "I have the same schedule. Except for art. I decided to take anatomy and physiology. You know, it's a college credit class, might as well get it out of the way—

She was cut off (thank goodness) by a chiming noise in the background. Liz squealed (really!), "Oh, it's time for the assembly! Let's go, we need good seats." With that, she grabbed my arm with more strength than expected and pulled me along with her to the auditorium.

What did I just get myself into?

"It is my honor to introduce our newest student," The headmistress announced from her gold podium on the stage, "Charlotte Piper, a junior. Welcome to the Gallagher Academy, Miss Piper." The school's population was smaller than I expected, with the junior class only having about fifty people. That meant fifty heads whipped around to get a good look at the girl who managed to get into their school on such short notice.

"How did she get in? My cousin Elise has been on the waiting list since the sixth grade!"

"I saw her come in a limo this morning, she's got to be loaded. She probably bought her way in."

"Nah, she's already hanging out with Sutton. She must be a genius."

The whispers of my new classmates burned in my ears. It's one thing to have a few people talking about you, but this was too much to handle at eight AM in the morning. Solomon and Bex weren't kidding when they said it was an exclusive school. While the other girls wore the same uniform as me, they accessorized it in such a way that made mine look like I fished it out of a trash can, a feat that their haughty expressions only boosted. A few boys looked me over, as if considering whether or not I was worth their time. I guess I wasn't, seeing as the way they turned away from me with vast disinterest.

It was like Roseville High, except with more money to fund their apathy.

I kept my gaze on Headmistress Buckingham and the other teachers up there, willing my eyes to stay completely on them. If I could make it through this dumb assembly I would be okay. I was so focused on ignoring the other juniors that I didn't notice the doors of the auditorium open with a loud bang. I didn't notice Liz's bony elbow jabbing me in the side to get my attention. I didn't notice the collective gasps or buzz of frantic whispers from the people around me.

Most of all, I didn't notice the boy and girl who had captured the attention of the entire school.

I raised my eyebrows in mild surprise. To be honest, with all that's happened, it's pretty hard to surprise me these days. "Who are they?" I whispered to Liz, watching the pair take the two seats farthest away from the other juniors. The headmistress threw a stern look at the pair and cleared her throat, and something told me that their late arrivals weren't so out of character.

Liz nodded her head at the girl. With one look, I could see why she garnered a lot of second glances. She was gorgeous, with glossy black hair, movie star good looks, and legs that seemed to go for days. But, her face or legs weren't what made me give her another glance. It wasn't the way that her combat boots and diamond nose stud that so clearly violated school dress code. It was the way she just didn't seem to care.

"That's Macey McHenry," she said, speaking rather slow for once.

This influx of beauty didn't bother me so much any more. "And the boy?" I murmured. While the girl was being regarded with enthusiasm by the boys, the guy at her side seemed to have all of the girls' attention. He was handsome, with dark blonde hair falling into his eyes, a striking face, and a deep golden tan that just had to be from an exotic vacation. Unlike that Macey girl, he wore his school uniform exactly as the other guys. But he just wore it better.

"That's Grant," Liz sighed in a way that told me she'd kill to be in Macey's seat right now.

I frowned a bit. Grant whispered something into Macey's ear, and she responded with a loud laugh; the teachers on the stage were not amused. "Are they together?" I said, unsure, "like a couple?"

Liz stifled a snort. "No, they're not. Lucky for everyone else, huh?" She was back to speaking at her normal speed, despite speaking so quietly that I had to strain to hear her. "They're half siblings. Their dad is William McHenry. You know, McHenry Enterprises? Macey's mom is a cosmetics heiress, and Grant's mom was a former model. He divorced them both, of course. But, they live with him, I think."

She inhaled deeply, while I vaguely remembered hearing the phrase 'McHenry Enterprises' on CNN or something. "From what Kim Lee's told me, they just got back from vacationing in Madrid or Nice or somewhere in Europe. I mean, who just runs off on vacation in the middle of the year—"

She was cut off once more, this time by the teachers dismissing us from the assembly. The auditorium erupted in chatter, some about me, but mostly about the McHenrys. I followed Liz to the door, even though we were swept up in the crowd. Somewhere in midst of the mob, I had lost Liz and bumped straight into the subjects of our previous conversations. How lucky. Not.

"Sorry," I mumbled, after I collided nearly head first with Grant. Seeing as he was much taller than me, I had just bumped my head on his shoulder, nothing to call the emergency room about. In typical fashion, I had dropped all of my school papers all over the marble floor. "Shit," I cursed myself for doing something so clumsy one hour into my day.

Grant shrugged it off, like strange girls knock into him all the time. I didn't doubt it. "No problem," he said coolly. He bent down to pick up the stray papers at his feet. Macey barely looked up from her cell phone, only gazing at me for about half a second. Probably checking the new blood.

He handed me my papers without another word. I would have said thank you, but being up close to somebody who looked like that was enough to short circuit that part of my brain that allows me to function normally. Up close, I could see the family resemblance between Macey and Grant. Vague, but it was still there. The two had the same wide, ocean blue color was so bright I was actually taken aback. This wasn't something you saw everyday.

I hadn't realize I was just out right staring at them, not just staring, studying. With a blush, I reverted my gaze back to my papers. So much for being normal and inconspicuous.

"Thanks," I sputtered out. It was too little too late, as the McHenrys had disappeared to somewhere in the school, probably weirded out by all of the gawking. Oh well, I thought to myself, pulling out my schedule. Good thing my sense of direction was spot on, I was going to need all the skill I could get to make it to my first period class.

But, as I strolled through the spacious corridors, I could feel an odd feeling in my stomach. Through these past couple days, I've gone through a lot of emotions: worry, fear, and shock topping the list. This one, I recognized immediately, was not any of the above.

It was a realization. An epiphany.

Those eyes were familiar, and I may not have a supersonic memory or genius IQ like Bex or Jonas or Zach, but I wouldn't have forgotten a detail like that. There had to be a very good reason that of all of the details about the McHenrys, the eyes were the only things that really hit me. Something in those eyes had set off a million little shock waves and alarms through my system. There was a reason my palms were sweating and my stomach lurched.

I had seen those eyes before, I was almost positive about it.

From where, however, was the next question.

an: ooh, plot twist. or foreshadowing. forgive me, i sleep in my english class. my teacher has a soothing voice and my book makes for the best pillow.

i hope you all liked this chapter, its sort of scattered. but hey, that's sort of the point xD. i changed the name of the ritzy private school from patridge day to uh, the gallagher academy. just for kicks. i figured "why the hell not?"

next chapter has more zach, for sure. and jonas! i can't get enough of that nerd.

be sure to tell me what you all thought of it. liked it? hated it? tell me about it :D

mucho thanks to all that have reviewed and put up with my weird updating schedule, you all rock!

-- asha (:

ps: make sure you check out all of the entries in the epic challenge (italicized, what up?) i just read a lot of them and they are seriously top notch. i wrote one for that too, just in case you can't get enough of my word vomit xD. the entries are all listed on kiwiosity's profile. go read! and feel epic!