My first story =)

Disclaimer: Sorry to sadden you, but I am in no way, shape or form, Ally Carter. The characters and references to previous books all belong to her. I'm just a fan whose writing doesn't even compare.

Chapter 1

The warm sun filtered through the round window and caressed my cheek as I lay hidden in my favorite tower. I had been sitting here for hours basking in the sunlight and the last silence before my sisters returned home. My thoughts had been wandering all afternoon to and from my mom and headmistress, my friends, Liz, Bex, and Macey and finally to the events of last year.

Last year was anything but a normal school year. I was a sophomore and as a mission for Cov Ops my class and I had to tail a teacher in the nearby town of Roseville. While I was there, my "chameleon" status was broken when a particular teenage, non-spy, boy named Josh Abrams saw me. To say the least, I was, well, surprised. I began to date Josh creating a cover story for my life, but I had to break up with him. Then he found out I went to Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, saw me get "kidnapped" by Mr. Solomon, and drove a forklift through my final in order to try and "save" me. Well, my mom told him all about spy schools, but then gave him memory erasing tea to make him forget all he learned about the school. And that was only just the first semester.

The second semester began and right away we were sent on a mission to get to the ruby slipper exhibit at the Washington Mall without any tails. Well, we all failed the mission except for Anna, and were shocked to find out there was another spy school; not just any spy school either, a boy spy school. It turns out that the Blackthorne Academy came to Gallagher to do an exchange with the school, and they really left their mark. But one particular Blackthorne Boy left an imprint on my mind that has yet to be shaken; a boy by the name of Zach Goode.

I may go to a school for kick ass girl spies, have the ability to speak fourteen different languages, execute a perfect roundhouse kick, dismantle bombs, and keep a cover, but there is one aspect of life I have yet to figure out, and that is the boy species – especially when that boy is the infuriating, confusing, smart, smug, smirky, dark, complex, and hot Zachary Goode. Just when I thought I had him figured out his actions and personalities would once again change. The kid probably had freakin' multi-personality disorder for all I know. But in a way, that was what made him so great. He was an amazing spy, and although I would never admit it, I kind of fell for him. Hard. Then he had to go kiss me in the middle of the foyer on their last day and leave. Poof. Just like Glenda's bubble in The Wizard of Oz or Cinderella's fairy godmother, he sparked into my life, made my head spin, and with the blink of an eye was gone. And I haven't heard from him since.

The sound of slamming car doors, squeals of joy, and the giggles of girls shot me back to reality as hundreds of Gallagher girls descended onto campus. I stood up and brushed off my skirt as I looked out the window for three Gallagher girls in particular. I scanned the crowd until I spotted a petite blonde with a giant grin spread across her pink face, a tall exotic girl with long dark hair, and a girl who looked like she had just stepped of the runway in Milan. My three best friends.

About a minute later (it was really a minute and thirteen seconds – thank you internal spy clock) I was back in my room. I was alerted of the presence of my friends when I heard a crash of a vase and Liz's trademark "Oopsie Daisy" from down the hall. I stood up to open the door at the exact moment that it flung open.

"Cammie!" Liz squealed as she dropped her bags to run and give me a hug.

"Liz!" I yelled as a smile played across my features. "How was your summer? I see you didn't get that sunburned" laughing as the words came out of my mouth.

"It was great Cam. I did the usual pool stuff but," she smirked, "I did crack some new codes at NASA. Something about a new top secret satellite. No biggie."

I was about to comment when I felt a presence behind me. Just then Bex and Macey tackled me with a bone crushing hug. Jeeze, they both got stronger over the summer. And seeing as I needed air I tried to push them away.

"Bex, Mace, it's good to see you and all but can't breathe over here" I managed to sputter out.

The two smiled. "Oops sorry Cammie. Good to see you is all" Bex said in her thick British accent. "How was your summer in Nebraska? Anything exciting happen?"

"Well if you can call scaling fish exciting, then yes, everyday just about" I looked at her as she dragged her suitcase to the bed. "What about you? Does the British bombshell have any exciting stories to tell?" I questioned using Grant's old nickname for her.

"Well, I got to go with my parents to retrieve stolen artwork in Africa."

"Bex that's awesome! You got to kick butt all summer long. Lucky little spy."

"Hey, it wasn't that exciting. My parents didn't even let me do any fighting. I had to observe. I think Macey here may have had the most exciting summer of us all though."

I sat down on my bed and watched as Macey's expression hardened, rolling her eyes in the process. "Ha. Exciting. Yeah right. If you call being dragged around on the campaign trail for endless hours a day fun or exciting. I think a root canal would have been more enjoyable" she stated, her voice thick with sarcasm.

"Aww Mace" Liz began "It honestly couldn't have been that bad. I mean you got to hang out with the Presidential candidate's son Derek, who by the way is kinda cute, everyday."

"Umm no. He is infuriating, and annoying, and…"

"And we should continue this later and get some food at the welcome back dinner" I interrupted.

My friends nodded their heads in agreement and quickly changed into their uniforms. We walked through the halls and I took a deep breath, happy to have them surrounding me. As we reached the dining hall I gave a small smile as I saw that tonight's language read, English-American. Even though I knew that was what it would say, it was just good to see that some things never change.

We walked into the hall amidst the laughter and chatter of girls back from summer vacation. My friends and I walked over to a table of juniors and I waved hello to Courtney, Kim, Anna, and Tina. Tina was just about to open her mouth, with the latest gossip no doubt, when my mom stood up at the podium.

An immediate hush fell across the hall as her sparkling eyes and amazing smile welcomed us back home. "Welcome girls to the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women" she began as the traditional greeting continued on.

"Now for some announcements. Seniors, after dinner I would like you to report to Sublevel three, even those on the research track. You will begin your most difficult year and it starts with a mission tomorrow. Mr. Solomon will give you all the information you need after dinner. Good luck"

"To the rest of you girls I would like to begin the year off on a good foot by allowing you some time to bond. With that being said tomorrow there will be no classes, but instead you can go and spend the day in Roseville. You may leave at eleven, seventh and eighth graders please return back by three, freshmen and sophomores by four, and juniors by five. I, along with your other teachers, am looking forward to a wonderful year filled with hard work, starting the day after tomorrow. Enjoy, have fun, and be safe. That is all" she said, smiling as she sat down to begin the meal.

While her talking had ceased an immediate excitement filled the air. Everyone was planning on what they would do on their day in town. My mind at once drifted to…

"Cammie? Earth to Cammie" Liz sang as she waved a hand in front of my face.

"What? Oh, sorry Liz. I must have zoned out for a minute. What did you say?"

"We were just wondering what you were going to do if you saw Josh. I mean, well, uh" she stuttered over the rest of her words.

"It's alright Liz. I was just beginning to think of that. I mean, I guess I'll say hi, but it will be kind of awkward. I'm gonna figure it out if it happens. It doesn't really matter anyways. I don't like him that way anymore" I shrugged as I took a bite of my steak. Mmm, welcome back dinner always has the best food.

As we settled into a comfortable silence Bex looked up with a hopeful glint in her eyes. "I hope something exciting happens this semester like the last two. Even though we've only been back for a few hours the year has too much of a feeling of normality. I want something brilliant to happen" she smiled as her words were met with nods of agreement from the rest of the table.

I just sat there and pushed pieces of light brown and golden blonde hair from my eyes and sighed. Unlike Bex, I though boring and normal couldn't sound any better. But I should have known better than to think like that. For the life of a spy, boring and normal were two words that would, no could, never exist.

Hey everyone, I'm This-Is-Just-A-Dream. I've been a long time reader, but used to post anonymously as Just a Dream. I made this account a few days ago. This is my first story, I would really appreciate it if you would tell me what you think. Should I continue, remove it? Is it good or bad? Let me know if you have the time. Also, I've read most of the stories under Gallagher Girls and while I created this plot on my own, if you think I'm heading too close to another story, please let me know so that I can try and make any necessary changes. Ok, well that's about it. So I hope you enjoy reading =)