Hey guys, I just read the first three 39 clue books and this is my first story for this series so correct me if there are any factual mistakes…enjoy
It started in Korea.
When she thought he loved her.
[Flashback]
"His eyes were not mocking at all. They were inviting her, asking her to laugh along. Suddenly her rage billowed up and blew off in wisps, like a cloud."
They say you're in love when you can't stay angry around him.
"This time she met is gaze. Solidly. This time she didn't feel like apologizing or attacking or running away. She wouldn't have minded if he just stared like that all day".
You get lost in each other's eyes.
"She was supposed to hate him. She had hated him before. But for the life of her, she could not remember why. Despite the surroundings, she felt alert, alive, and unbelievably happy"
Then he left her.
"Ian glanced at Amy. For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of – something. Doubt? Some kind of indication this was all a big, sadistic joke?"
"Idiot. Moron. Fool. It had all been one big joke. He had wrapped her around his fingers and then yanked her inside out…tears made rivulets down her cheeks and fell to the ground, tapping lightly like the flap of moth wings. 'It was my fault', she said. 'I-I believed him. I played right into his trap…'"
But sometimes, the pain stays.
Five years later…
Amy woke up to the ringing of her alarm clock; she groaned and leaned over to shut it off. Ugh, time for another day at work, she blared. Dan, Amy's 17 year-old brother ran into the room to annoy her.
Ugh, bother Dan. He's going to be leaving for college in September; thank God. Well, she loved her little brother, but…it would be better if he would act his age sometimes. "Amy, I'm going to work", Dan said from the corner of her room. Dan was working as a lifeguard as a summer job and would be going to Yale later on.
"OK", Amy sighed. Dan frowned. Amy sometimes had these days when she was in a bad mood. She never seemed to have a reason for it, but Dan knew the real reason. Amy had never gotten over her betrayal by Ian. Sure, she had a couple of boyfriends in the last couple of years, but he had ruined her ability to trust. She was afraid now to put trust in anyone because of what happened before. Dan clenched his fists. If he ever saw Ian again after that incident, he would take him down. He sighed, knowing Ian would never show up since the search for all clues was over. The clues had all been destroyed by someone who knew about them before hand. Perhaps because they caused too any family rivals. He grabbed his trunks, bag, and shoes and headed to the pool.
An hour after Dan left, Amy woke up. She had taken a sick day today. She's just 'not in the mood' for work. Pretty much, she was thinking about Ian again. It's not like she hadn't seen him since that time. She saw him on TV plenty of times; apparently, he was now a model. And for good reasons; Amy sighed again. This was hopeless. She groaned and swung herself out of the pink and white twin bed (Dan had the other one in blue). She walked to the bathroom to freshen up. Ever since her betrayal, Amy had been caring about her looks more often. She just didn't want to be hurt again and knew her looks could come as an advantage. Of course, she wasn't the most beautiful person in the world, but she was still pretty. Her reddish hair was now extremely long and fell almost down her whole back; it had straightened out and had a shine to it. She put a creamy brown eyeliner to accentuate her cute little freckles and dusted her eyes with gold glitter.
Finally, after adorning herself with denim jeans, cowboy boots, a green checked shirt that complimented her hair, she looked in the mirror again. She sighed. This wasn't her. She wasn't the one to obsess over looks and she knew that; but she just did. After what happened.
Amy went down to have some breakfast, some strawberry oatmeal with a glass of tea on the side; she was all about a healthy breakfast. Then she turned the TV on. While eating her breakfast, she heard a voice. A voice she thought she would never hear again.
Ian.
"Well, here we are on Model London, where we have our very own Ian and Natalia Kabra, the two most popular models of the day", said the host that day.
Amy suddenly felt very nauseous. Of course Ian was popular. It's not like she expected him to be miserable too. Look at how happy they both are. Even after the 39 clues had been destroyed. Would she ever get over him? Tears brimmed her eyes. Suddenly she heard a knock at the door.
She shut the TV off and walked to the door. She sighed; she hated company, and opened the door. When she saw who was standing at the door and smirking, she opened her mouth in shock. She tried to speak, yet no words came out. But finally, she got the courage. "I-Ian?"
"Hey", Ian said in his smooth accent. "I need a favor from you".
"You need a favor – you need a favor from me". Amy was so angry she momentarily didn't stutter and glared with hate daggers at Ian. "Why would I ever do a favor for you? Why? After you pretended to like me. I haven't seen you in five years. After you locked me in a cave. To die. With my brother and uncle. You pretended to like me to use me". Amy hated the fact that he looked so good. While she was broken.
"Yeah. Well. I had to do what I had to". Ian looked so cool and nonchalant that she just took a step back. "Get. Out".
"Not so fast, Cahill".
Amy winced. "You're a Cahill, too". Memories from when she was happy flooded her. When she was with Ian. Before he left.
"Not so fast. How can you stay in my house?" She put her hands on his chest and tried pushing him out the door, but he was too strong. He just stood these in the doorway. "Do you want to know what my favor is?", he asked.
"No. B-but I'm sure you'll tell me anyway". Her nervousness was back. If only she didn't have to go and fall in lo-. No she mustn't say that. She could never love him. And yet she knew she did. She sighed. "Go on".
"Well. Natalie and I are in a major fight. I am trying to tell her she shops too much and is too vain, and she got angry with me and started trying to humiliate me in front of everyone and pranking me. So I need a way to annoy her. You're going to be my fake girlfriend and since we hate you so much, you'd be the perfect way to annoy Natalie. Just remember, it's fake. So don't "fall in love" with me. ", he said putting air quotes around fall in love. "I know you didn't actually like me. You were probably using me.
Amy stood there speechless and then began to yell. "Are you serious Ian? What makes you think I'll agree to this little plan of yours. I'm not going to be your fake girlfriend. You already had a chance for the real deal. And you lost it. "Don't fall in love" with you? Dammit, I already am --. She stopped abruptly and went red. Why should she give him power over her? He was the one who used her. Ian was staring at her with shock in his eyes, unnoticed by her. Was she about to say she loved him? He brushed away his caring thoughts and tried to hold back himself from reaching out to love her. He didn't love her. Yeah. He didn't love her at all. he was only using her – for – for the argument with Natalie right. Only because Natalie hated her. No, Ian, you love her, his inner voice reasoned. No. I. Don't.
"I have something, dear Amy, that will convince you to agree to this". Amy flinched at his sarcastic 'dear Amy'. He pulled out a DVD from his pocket, walked inside to her DVD player, and put it in. Someone popped up onto the screen. Amy gasped. Here they were, Uncle Alistair, Dan, and Amy, inside the cave, after the Kabras had left. For some reason, probably because of the camera technology, all of them could be seen clearly. The next 10 minutes replayed everything Amy had been through that evening. The heartbreak. The tears. And most of all, she could imagine everyone's scorn if Ian showed the video to anyone. How could she be so foolish to actually think someone loved her? Amy had nightmares like this and although she knew she was loved, didn't want Ian to show this to anyone.
"Y-you…recorded this. Are you a monster? You are cruel, Ian…so, so cruel". At this point, she lost confidence and she could feel a terrible ache growing in her chest, that filled her up and left her gasping for breath. Whenever she thought of him, this ache occurred. And it was back. All the tears Amy had been holding in while seeing Ian on TV threatened to pour out. Amy bit her lip harshly. You can't cry in front of him. At least she was wearing the best complete waterproof makeup so her tears could no longer make her look bad in any possible way. The ache got bigger. She knew the tears were about to break loose, so mumbled something, and ran to the bathroom. Inside, she sat down on the floor, hugging her knees to herself and rocking back and forth. Why did I have to fall in love with him? Why, why?? Her sobs now racked her body and she turned the tap on so Ian couldn't hear her. Slowly, she got up, made sure nothing was wrong with her makeup, and walked back outside.
"I'm in", she said emotionally.
IAN
He actually hadn't seen the DVD before this. He thought Amy wouldn't be sad by him leaving, just annoyed. Did she actually love him? Then this was a mistake. He left because of Natalie and because he knew she would just hurt him. He could see the pure pain in her eyes and it tore him apart inside, knowing he had to carry out his plan to get back at Natalie. "I'm in", Amy said, emotionless. He could see she was trying to mask the hurt inside and felt a sudden ache building up inside of him. Great. Now he was going to sympathize with her. NO. Never. She'll just use it against you. You will carry out your plan; without failure.