Confidential The Second Generation by Jenny Robbins

8/14/2019 Confidential The Second Generation by Jenny Robbins

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CONFIDENTIALThe second Generation…

By: Jenny Robbins

Split, in four ways,

To Brooke, my editor-in-chief, and my best friendTo Shannon Hale, my reminder of why I adore writing

To J.K Rowling, the one who addicted me to the art, and mothered the greatest heroin history.And To Stephanie Meyer, who showed me sometimes things aren’t always all that theyappear and when you give them a second chance, it might result in an irrevocablelove.Without whom this story might not exist.

My diary;Hello there! My name, by birth, is Lola Allyson Delilah Ricci- Tanner. I’m prettysure you all have herd about my parents, but in case you haven’t, I’ll give youthe low- down. My mother is Genevieve Ricci, the daughter of Daniela andMichelangelo Ricci, and the heroine, of the last book. My father is Ben Tanner,



the world famous futbol player. But to me, they’re just mom and dad. My parentsbest friends are the next door neighbors, the Miller- Evans. My ‘Aunt’ Allyson wasbest friends with my mom, and my ‘uncle’ Anthony was my dad’s best friend. They,along with Sabrina McIvory, and Michael Formatta eliminated Seips Teg, the world’smain threat against safty for near over 50 years. A few of you might have anacute enough memory to remember me, and my brother Lucas. Although I’ll admit Ilove him, he’s a pain. Me and Luke just turned 18, and are heading off to college.In Paris! Me and Luke are living off campus at the Paris University of the Arts.

Mom and Dad just bought us (me and Luke and Vittoria, and Keira, and zac) a hugechateau in Paris, and we fly out in the morning. This story is about me and mybrother and our buds in the hectic world of spies. This is the second generation.

My Life ; The Doublemint Commercial1I began hyperventilating as my hand shook at the seal of the envelope. I knew thecontents of this one letter would either make, or break my plans for, well, the

rest of my life. Finally, the suspense got to me, and I had no choice but to ripthe envelope open. Once I had I began laughing hysterically. I’d made it in! I wasgoing to Paris, at one of the most prestigious schools for the arts. I’d evengotten a full ride scholarship, but this was too much. I opened my macbook air.Once I had clicked on the email icon, I began my note,Ms. D’Aubigne,Although I have received a generous offer for me to attend your school in thefall, I must decline your offer for a full ride scholarship. I have plenty ofmoney to pay for tuition, and I must insist you give the full ride scholarship tosomeone who really needs it. I look forward to attending your fine campus in thefall.Thanks Again!Lola Delilah Allyson Ricci- Tanner

I closed the box on my desktop, and flopped down on my canopy bed. I stared upinto the depth of the lime green hangings, and sat up abruptly. I ran to thedouble doors that lead to my closet, and I entered quickly. I raced to the back,where there was another door, and I entered into the luxurious bathroom, where atthe back was one final door. I pushed it open, and entered Luke’s bedroom. “Heyloser, did you get one in the mail?” I asked throwing my acceptance letter at him.“Hey look we match.” He said sarcastically not looking up from his battered oldcopy of Wuthering Heights. “Hey look, I love you, but there is no way in hell,that I’m going to the same school as you for four more years!” “So?” “So, whoevertells mom and dad first gets t go.” “No way! I’ve been trying to get acceptedthere on instrumentalism for two years.” “oh well, when you put it like that,” I



said looking down. “I’ll just have to beat you there!” I said running off. “Hell,that’s not fair!” I heard him shout. We tripped over each other as we raced downthe stairs, the suddenly, realizing he was already on the second flight of stairs,and with all the twists and turns I would never make it, I jumped through the gap,and hit the floor on the ground level. “Ha!” I shouted up the stairs. Then he wasright behind me. And at the same time, we both shouted, “I’m going to PUA!” “Uh,no you’re not!” we repeated in unison pointing accusingly to each other. Then oursisters came down the stairs at the commotion. “What the hell?” Izzie asked

jumping over the railing. “What is the commotion about?” Ginny asked lookingskeptically at me and Luke who were shouting incoherently to each other. When Ifinally calmed down I decided it best not to push my parents to death, or I’d endup in Venice community college. And later in life I wouldn’t end up on Broadway orin the opera, but rather in a freekin cubicle pushing pencils. Luke however wentinto the instrumentalism tizzy we’d all heard a million times. “Seriously Luke, Ican play the piano and the guitar too. Not something to win a Nobel for.” I saidrolling my eyes. “We’ve had about enough of you!” my mother said throwing herhands in the air exasperatedly. Then my phone went off. ‘Lace up your shoes, ay ohay oh watch how we do, run baby run, don’t ever look back, they’ll tear us apartif you give them the chance ------‘ I flipped open my juicy couture sidekick andeagerly pressed it to my ear. “Hello?” I asked tentatively. My best friend, andfellow spy, Vittoria was on the other end. “Guess What?” she yelled into the

phone. “what?” I asked completely baffled. I’m going to PUA!” Vittoria shoutedinto the phone. I cringed, and leaned away from the phone. “See!” I saidshouldering my sidekick. “You can’t separate me and Vittoria! Me, her, and Keiraare like the three freekin amigas!” and then I heard Vittoria shout, “hey I gottago tell nick, he’s not gonna believe this!” and she hung up. Then there was apounding on the door, and I went to answer it reluctantly betting it was ZacEvans, Luke’s best friend. To my shock, it was both Keira, and Zac who werelooking sourly at one another. “Ihateyou.” Keira muttered under her breath so fastI was amazed I heard. She glared at her brother with pure loathing in her eyes. Ismiled awkwardly at Zac. We’d off and on since he kissed me on the mokeybars infirst grade, but it hadn’t worked out, and we were settling for the awkwardfriends’ post- break up phase. I let them in and raised my eyebrows at themexpectantly. “Our parents are making us BOTH go to PUA!” keira shouted throwing

her hands in the air. “shut up shut up shut up!” I whisper yelled to her. “myparents still hadn’t decided. “Actually,” my mom said leaning around the corner,“Tat’s a great idea!” “No, it’s not!” I shouted in quick response. “I refuse tolet my life continue as a freekin Doublemint commercial! Twins are EVERYWHERE!” Igestured to Keira and Zac, Ginny and Izzie, and Me and Luke. “Sucks!” my dad saidflipping the tv off mute. “I guess you’re not going to end up in the opera. Here,happy early birthday my dad said chucking a pack of pencils at me and a tinyelectric pencil sharpener. “Ah damn!” I said looking at Luke. “Well, it’s not likewe’re going to live together.” I mused to myself thinking about him on the otherside of campus. “I’ll take ‘When you assume, you only make an ass of u and me’ foreight hundred!” my dad said turning to my mom acting like he was holding andinvisible buzzer. “Daily Double!” my mom shrilled gesturing to an invisible board.“What?! You expect us to live together?” “Oh come on! It’s not like you’ll even

know the other one’s there.” “won’t know? Mom, if he’s my roommate in a one roomdorm, I’m gonna know he’s there!” I said gesturing to my brother who was textingon his iPhone, leaning against the wall with his button up shirt halfway open.“Yes. Zac and Keira, Vittoria, Luke and you will be living together. There’s moreThe girls at our high school said he looked like a model, but he was my brother,and honestly, self restraint would be nice! Luke was like our dad, dark haircasually mussed up, striking green eyes, and built muscular like a soccer player.But he didn’t just play soccer, he loved music too. That was mainly why they tookhim in PUA, they needed good soccer players, and good musicians, and there he was,a ready made offensive player. I took after my mom, long sheets of gold hair, anddeep blue eyes. I was tiny, barely 5 foot, and I was the farthest thing from an



athlete. Well, I was good at self defense, but really, when you were a spy,sucking at self defense is the kiss of death. I looked up at my brother.“Ihateyou.” I said crossing my arms. “she’s so sweet!” Luke said sarcasticallypatting my head. I stuck my toungue out at him and stepped down hard on his footin my Monolo high heels. “Bitch!” he said hopping up and down on his foot. “okay!Wan’t to know where you’re going to live?” my mother said loudly over oursquabble. “Yes ma’am.” We said looking at the floor. “Here.” My dad said turningaround his laptop where there was a picture of a lavish 20 acre estate. Luke low

whistled when he saw the price. “Pocket change.” My father said shrugging it off.“but the five of you will all be living here.” “five?” me and Luke said looking ateach other.My toy yorkie MiuMiu was watching us warily, and as we zipped and packed the lastof my fifty suitcases, I took one last look at my private sanctuary, knowing inthat instant, I wouldn’t live alone again until I finished college. Ew. God helpme. Lo?” I herd my name being called from far away. “Lo would you GET UP?!” Igroaned, meaning to say, ‘go away’. “Fine! Sucks for you.” A voice I instantlyrecognized as Luke’s said. Suddenly an explosion of noise hit me, and I gaspedawake covering my ears. Luke was standing with a bullhorn, his index fingerholding the button down. “I HATE YOU!” I snarled getting up to chase him. Beingthe jerk he is, he held the bull horn above his head. “Aw, too high?” he asked inmock concern. “I’ll have you know that I’m 5’0, and someday when you shrivel down,

I’ll be there to get you!” I said crossing my arms and turning away. “You know,you remind me of those little dogs that chicks like you carry around in purses,cute and tiny, but man, anger issues!” “Luke!” I said warningly, and he steppedoff. I went to change into the clothes I’d left out yesterday. There was a pair ofmedium wash jeans and a hot pink sweatshirt from Pink, and a pair of matchingPumas. I pulled my layered waist length hair into a messy ponytail, and tied a hotpink ribbon in it. My luggage was already in the back of my SUV Hybrid that I wassad to be leaving behind. My luggage took up the full car, and I was riding alone,in fact, we all were. We’d be meeting at the Command airport, and then we’d allboard a Command Jet and Head to Paris. But first, there were good byes to make. Iwalked into the silent kitchen, and saw Luke sitting on the counter with an applein his hand staring blankly out the window, looking slightly stoned. I hade avague urge to push him off, but that was hardly fair. Ginny and Izzie were staring

into their coffee mugs with absolutely no evidence they were awake. And mom anddad were barley paying attention. Mom was typing quickly, no

doubt to Allyson, or Anthony, or Jack, or Brooke. And maybe even Jerry….. well noprobably not jerry. Mom still didn’t have that kind of self control. We all sataround in silence, until there was a knocking on the door. Being the only personawake, I went to go get it. Lo and behold, there were the Evans. Keira and Zacwere texting, and Anthony and Allyson were each here to see mom and dad. After aquick hello, Allyson went to talk to my mom about something involving Dan, andAnthony went to ask dad about Folcroft’s last conundrum. When the clock hit 7,Luke was the first to depart with Zac, saying his goodbyes. At 7:05, me and Keirawent to our cars. Before I closed my door and put MiuMiu in, I could swear I heardthe pop of a champagne cork, and our parents make a toast saying, “Two down, two

to go.” I smiled wryly to myself, started the engine, and pulled out of the graveldrive.

A plane ride from Venice to (INSERT ADJECTIVE HERE)2



We arrived in the Command airport, and Jerry was there to see us off. While hedroned on and on I nodded my head knowing with my luck I’d see him in briefly 24hours. Once all our suitcases were loaded onto the plane, we took off. I wassitting between Vittoria and Keira, who were both asleep. I was looking idly at apage of the tempest which I hadn’t really been reading, but I was trying to keepmyself busy. I looked around the plane to see if anyone was awake. Then, thankgod, I saw Zac nodding his head to his nano chromatic (sky blue) iPod. He wassitting in front of me and I saw his playlist said Viva La Vida. I shook my head

and chuckled softly to myself. Only he would want to listen to Viva La Vida atlike dawn. I sat rereading the same sentence over and over again (on accident)rapidly loosing interest. I gave a sigh of relief when the intercom buzzed on.“We’ll be landing shortly in the Command Parisian International Airport.” I shookVittoria and Keira awake, and we gathered our purses and dogs and got ready to getoff the plane. Vittoria’s Chihuahua Louis Vetton grumbled and whined until we gotoff the plane. Once we had, there were two Command busses waiting. One, the biggerone, was defiantly for our luggage. They loaded the staggereing 2000 suitcasesinto the bigger bus. Then all six of us loaded into the smaller bus. The drivertook us past the Eiffel tower and into the French countryside an hour outside ofParis. Then the bus came to a gravel drive lined on both sides with lush greentrees. The drive was about three miles long, and once we arrived at the end of thedrive it revealed a circular drive. There was a fountain in the middle of the

circular drive, and a HUGE chateau was sitting before us. There was a separatedrive that lead to what was a building the size of an apartment. Intrigued, we allgot out of the bus and went to the front door. There was a note tacked up on thedoor. It said;Kids,We hope you find the house, and college, to your liking. The house is sevenfloors, and the floors are as follows,First floor- Kitchen, indoor pool, gymSecond floor- Luke’s ApartmentsThird floor- Zac’s apartmentsFourth floor- Rec room/ media roomFifth floor- Vittoria’s apartmentsSixth floor- Keira’s apartments

Seventh floor- Lo’s apartments.We trust you, we love you, be careful.We tore off the note and pushed open the heavy oak door to take a tour. Everyoneran off to the spiral staircase, in search of their rooms whereas I took my sweettime. The entry was tiled with terracotta And had a crystal chandeliere hangingfrom the high arched celing. The kitchen was huge, perfect for a cullenary artistlike myself , the gym was full of equipment and weights. The indoor pool had twodiving boards and was a diving pool so it was sloped on the bottom. I went outsidethe back door, and gasped when I saw a vast courtyard with flowers and fountainsand lush grass. But my attention was drawn to a gathering of willows. Curious, Iset down MiuMiu and headed to them. I got there, and pushed the willow branchesout of the way, and saw a pond, full of swans gliding across the water’s glassysurface. I stood in awe of the simplistic beauty, before I shook myself, and went

to the house to check out my room. I went to the old fashion elevator, and got in.I punched the 7 button and it slowly slid up with my wiggling puppy staring at thelights. When we got to the top, there was a short hall, and then a pair of glassFrench doors that had curtains pulled on the backside. There was an envelop tapedto the door, and I tore it open. On the front it said;Lo

I opened it.Dearest Lo,When buying the house, all of us parents were in a pickle trying to decide whowould want this room. When all was said and done, we chose it for you, because



your mind is limitless as is your talent. And we knew you (more so than theothers) wouldn’t mind the early sun, and the bright stars. As always, you are withus. We Love all five feet of youMomP.S. There’s a security camera above your door, and here’s your room key.“Room Key?” I asked myself pulling the plastic card out of the envelope that said‘Lo’ on the front. I slid it into the slot on the door handle, and pushed open thedoors. My room was a huge circular one that was wall halfway up, and then glass

the rest of the way to the celing, and the whole celing itself. The walls werelime green and the fluffy carpet was hot pink. There was a round bed that lookedlike it was two king sized pushed together with thick hot pink and lime greenfluffy silk pillows and silk sheets. The canopy was hot pink and there were limegreen drawstrings. At the foot of my bed, there was a remote control. Puzzled, Ihit an up botton (WTF?) And a 50” plasma screen tv came up from the ground!! “wow!Seriously cool!!!!” I said there was a chandeliere handing from my celing, and alamp on my bedside table. A huge dresser was sitting across the room with amacbook on the table and a squishy looking pink chair adorned with lime silkpillows. ( I was surprised to see my hot pink nano chromatic iPod.) there was apair of balcony dorrs leading to a balcony(haha no shit Lo ) then lastly, therewas another glass door with curtains on the back that was the perfect size for ashorty like me. I opened it, and saw it was my closet, that defiantly doubled in

the size of my old room, and was two stories with a mini escalator! The walls andcarpet were identical to the ones in my room, but there was no glass. But amongthe shelves and racks, there was another shorty door. I went through, and it wasmy hot pink and lime green bathroom with steam shower and real shower andjuccuzzi!!! When I was done with the tour, I headed back to my room and saw mycloset was stocked with all my clothes, and shoes and purses and jewelry, andsunglasses and everything else I’d brought. “Hell, how long have I been touring?”I asked myself. “Long enough.” Two voices said from behind me. I jumped, and sawVittoria and Keira sitting on my bed. “Hmm thanks guys.” I said sitting besidethem. Then there was a shout. “HEY GUYS! THE RENTALS GAVE US ONE MORE BITCHINSURPRISE!” Luke yelled. Naturally we went down the elevator (dogs and all) theguys were standing next to the front doors with a heavy looking envelope. “Beforewe proceed, I must caution you this next is not for the faint hearted, those with

kidney and lung failure,” “Luke!” I snapped. “okay, okay. Now we’re not sure who’sis who’s yet but they’ll say somehow.” They lead us out the front doors, and outto the little house thingy. It was a garage. “What the-,” “oh wait it getsbetter.” Luke promised punching in a key code. The doors opened and we gasped.There were five cars in it including a red Ferrari, a canary yellow Porsche, amidnight blue mustang, a black Mercedes, and a silver Aston Martin. “OH MY FREEKINGOSH!” I screamed. I’d wanted a Ferrari since I was like ten. “Hey, there’s nameson the licence plates!” I ran to the red Ferrari and was extstic to see it said LOon the plate. I smiled, and saw the yellow porshe said, VITTORIA, and the mustangsaid KEIRA. The Aston Martin was Zac’s and the Mercedes was Luke’s. “Well, I’mhungry…..” Luke said trailing off hopefully giving me a meaningful eyebrow wag.“Fine, you want omlets or chocolate chip pancakes?” “pancakes!” they chorused. Iwalked off to the kitchen and the clock said 2:30 PM. Shrugging, I started the

batter. When I was done, I picked up the tall stack and a couple cans of whippedcream with chocolate syrup. I walked to the elevator and pressed the 4 button. Icame to the media room where everyone was watching reruns of that 70’s show. Iplopped down on a couch, and chucked everyone a couple pancakes. I sat down, andlooked around at my new life. Sighing, I turned to look at the tv, and in tenminutes I was out like a light. When I woke up, Luke was dragging me to theelevator. “damn you’re 5’0 of muscle.” He said exaggerating a bit.when he finallydragged me to the elevator, and to my room, he opened the door with the key card,and dropped me on the bed with my key. In two minutes I was asleep dreaming ofParis, shoes, and a nameless, faceless stranger.



Antarctican Ice sculptures3The next morning I woke up to a pounding on my door. “Lo! Get up, there’s aconference call from jerry, he needs us at the Command off ice ASAP.” Vittoriasaid banging on my door. I sat up, surprised to see that the whole Chateau in theParis countryside thing wasn’t a dream. I sat up in bed, my head spinning and Iran to the door. I flung it open and fallowed her to the elevator. We got in andwent onto the REC room. When we did we saw jerry on the tv screen briefing Keira,Luke, and Zac about the mission. “When you get to the Command airport we’ll giveyou all necessary gear. Be there in five minutes. Thanks.” Jerry finished hisconference, and the big screen TV went blank. “Okay, well lets go.” Zac saidwalking to the elevator. “Where are you going?” I asked Zac puzzled. “Theelevator.” He said simply. “Come on we’ll show you.” Zac said I fallowed without a

second thought like um proper clothing. I fallowed everyone into the elevator. Zacpunched in the 1 button, the 7 button, and then the 1 button again. We slid downfurther than the 1st floor and then down further. When the doors opened, we werein the middle of Jerry’s office. We got out and he looked at me. “Er Lo, whateverfashion statement you are trying to ensue, but I would not recommend you pursuethat dream.” I immediately looked to see what he was dictating. I was wearing alime green camisole - boy-short set, and hot pink fluffy slippers. My hair wastied up in a messy bun. “oh yeah well these are my pj’s, so not exactly formalwear.” “good.” He said laughing and turning behind his desk. Jerry used to beuptight according to my mom, but that was hard to imagine. The jerry I knew wasmarried to Lizzabeth Appleton and one of those firm but fun types. He tossed useach a couple of boxes. I opened mine to reveal hot pink leggings, a pair of darkwash true religion skinny jeans, a hot pink tank top, a lime green sweater, and a

hot pink fur lined parka, with the Command emblem over the breast. I traced myfinger across the globe with the spyglass beside it. In the last box there was apair of chocolate brown furry Ugg boots with wedge heels. Vittoria and Keira’sboxes contained the same thing. Zac and Luke’s boxes were basically the same, butthere were puma tennis shoes and their clothes were in black. “Change on thePlane. Be careful, and get him out safe, if it’s not too much trouble.” He said aswe walked out. “Yeah, yeah, don’t get your whitey tighteys in a twist.” I laughedover my shoulder. We got in the plane, and on the way we all changed into the warmclothes. I still had no freekin Idea where we were going, but I hadn’t thought toask. When the plane landed, we all got out. Fierce winds at over 100 miles an hourthey whipped my stray pieces of hair into my eyes. The wind was so strong, thatthe elastic pulled out of my hair, and my long golden tresses cascaded down myback, and blew around me. “Okay, I still have no fucking clue what we’re doing

here.” “Saving some kidnapped rich guy.” Zac said pulling out a tiny screen.“Why’d VOID kidnap him?” “His father owns some prestigious hotel chain. The kidhimself just beat out Warren Buffet for the richest guy in the world. VOIDprobably wants a ransom.” Luke said shrugging. “Split Up. Divide and conquer, allthat jazz.” I said turning and heading the opposite way. I wasn’t particularlywatching where I was going, not a smart idea really, and I took a wrong step. Mybalance faltered, and I rolled down a huge hill. Then I hit something slick andfuzzy. With a squeak, I saw a penguin slide away. “Ow. Penguins lovely.” I sat upand walked up to a big shape. I raised one of my delicately waxed eyebrows. Itlooked like a statue of a guy. A hot, well dressed guy. He had dark brown hair,and he had the brightest, bluest eyes I’d ever seen. He was wearing a blue Lacoste



Polo, under a black leather jacket. He was wearing jeans and a pair of blue pumasthat matched his shirt. I looked at the ice he was in. “Hmm.” I took a lighterout of my pocket, and held it to the ice. The ice began to melt, and I looked atthe guy’s face. It was attractive, and strong. Maybe even my age. When the icemelted, he fell to the ground. I crouched over him. “Hey there, you okay?” “Y-yeahI’m okay, cold, but I’m fine.” “Good, now,” then there was a loud bang of agunshot. “what the fuck?” I asked turning around. A VOID agent was running overthe slope. “go run until you find the others!” I said running to head him off. He

grabbed my ankles and knocked me on my back, and sat on my legs. I reached into myboot, and pulled out a knife. I shoved it into his back and shoved him offa me. Ipulled the knife out and slid it into my boot. I went back to the others. “Lo! areyou okay?” Vittoria asked me as I limped over the hill. “Yeah I’m fine. The dumbass VOID agent knocked me over.” “Hey I don’t believe we’ve formally met. I’mEden.” He held out his hand to shake. I took it. “Hi, I-,” my voice cut and Islumped onto Eden. Before my eyes closed, I heard the guy Eden say, “I think she’sbeen shot!” And then I blacked out.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a Command hospital room, and I had a poundingheadache and a part of my hip was throbbing. “Ah Hell, what happened to me?”“You’re feeling better.” Luke said laughing. “Yeah accept for that throbbing.”“Okay I’ll see if I can get you checked out.” He left and I went to get dressed. I

checked the calendar, and according to it, I would be starting school on about twodays. Luke came back with my bag. He drove me home, and we went home. A few dayslater I was getting up for my first day of college! I got dressed in a white, kneelength sundress with orange sunflowers. I blew my hair dry, and left it down. Formy finishing touch, I put on orange peep toe wedges. I grabbed a Louis Vetton bag,and slid my MacBook Air into it, along with my iPod, and my Juicy Coture SideKick.I got into my red Ferrari and drove off. When I pulled into the parking space withmy name on it, I went to get my schedule. “Bonjour!” I said smiling to the ladywith the schedules. “Ju Mapel?” she asked me politely. “Ricci- Tanner, Lola.” Shenodded and handed me a schedule. “Merci!” I said walking away.The schedule said,Lundi-Choral Studies 8:30am- 10:30pm

Writing Theory 12:00pm- 2:00pmHistory of Theater 3:00pm- 4:30pm

Mercedi-Story Composure 12:00pm- 2:00pmTheater Arts 3:00pm- 5:00pm

Vendredi-Music Theory 9:00am- 11:00amEnglish Lit. 1:00pm- 3:00pmMusical Theater 3:30pm- 5:00pm

“Perfect!” I said running off to my first class. Choral Studies was great. My

professor, Professor Logan was one of the best singers I’d ever herd, but by theend of class, she insisted I was better than she. Writing theory was mainly alecture for the first day, so it was no trouble. Nothing particularly interestinghappened to me until History of theater. When I walked in to take my seat, Iwalked into someone, and their books fell. I bent down to pick up his books. Theywere all Shakespearean Literature books, Including The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet,and Othello. “Wow, you’re a Shakespeare Fan?” I said. “Yeah, I consider himpractically a god.” I looked up and flashed my most dazzling smile, and then Ifelt it wipe off my face. “Hey! You’re the, well you know,” “Lo, I go by Lo. Andyou’re Eden, right?” “Yeah, thanks for saving me.” He said pointing to my hipwhere I was shot. “No problem thank you for saving me. I heard you were the one



who found out I was shot.” He smiled modestly. “I want to thank you for saving mylife, and I got reservations at that restaurant on the top of the Eiffel tower, incase I found you, so do you want to go out with me on Friday?” “It’s a date.” Isaid smiling and taking a seat. At the end of the class he smiled at me on my wayout. The rest of the week was amazing, and I was falling in love with college.Then as Friday approached, I began to get nervous about the up and coming datewith Eden. I picked out a knee length sapphire blue strapless dress with a heartshaped bodice and a bubble bottom. I pinned half of my hair back with a silver

tiffany’s clip embedded with sapphires, and spiral curled the rest. Then I put ona pair of sapphire blue stiletto Jimmy Choo heels. I had spent all week nervousabout this date, and I’d seen him in all of my theater related classes. Then atprecisely 9:00, the doorbell rang.Lo, you look, wow.” Eden stuttered looking me up and down. “Thanks.” I saidsmiling and looking him straight in the eyes using my most dazzling look. Wewalked out, and I was surprised to see he had a smart car. Nothing fancy, just aplain red smart car. “Surprised?” he asked opening my door. “Is it that obvious?”“No, but some people think I’d have some kind of outrageous car like a hummer. ButI prefer to spend money on more important things.” He said shrugging. “Oh likewhat?” I asked teasingly. “Hair gel.” He responded. “Oh, wow.” “Lo, I waskidding.” “Oh okay because I was thinking, “did I really say yes to him?” “Hayeah, hair gel is a big ‘no’ unless you’re a backstreet boy.” He said laughing and

opening my door for me. I slid in, and we both reached for the radio, but I’daccidentally hit the CD button, and one of my favorite songs came up on theplayer. “Dear Prudence, won’t ya come out and play-dear prudence greet the brandnew da ha heeey the sun is up the skies are blue, it’s beautiful, and so are youdear prudence won’t ya come out and play” Eden’s voice cut me off. “You’re reallygood, and I don’t lie.” I blushed. “So you’re a big time Beatles fan?” I askedraising my perfectly waxed eyebrows. “yeah, and my favorite movie,” he leanedforward, and hit the next button on the panel. I almost screamed when the songreached my ears. “Deaaaarrr, Kindly Sergeant Krupke you gotta understand, it’sjust our bringin’ upkey that gets us outta hand, our mothers all are junkies, ourfathers all are drunks, golly Moses ,naturally we’re punks!” “No way! You’refavorite movie’s West Side Story?” I gasped. “Tell me it’s not yours and I’mkicking you out of the car!” he l,aughed “It’s my favorite movie of all time!” I

laughed. “But it never seemed like a movie a guy would love……you’re not gay?” Iteased. “Even if I was, which I’m not, I would probably turn straight for you.” Helaughed. “Okay, I thought I’d ask…” my cheeks flushed at the compliment. He pulledto a stop outside the Eiffel tower, and hurried to open my door for me. We walkedto the elevator, and went all the way up, with me looking out the window all thewhile. “Wow, girls I bring here usually stand grabbing onto the bar for dear lifeand praying the whole way up!” I laughed. “Well, it would be bad with my line ofwork if I didn’t like heights.” I replied stepping out of the elevator as itshuddered to a stop. “Oh, well, true.” He shrugged. We walked into the restaurant,and I let my mouth fall open with an audible gasp. The whole place was empty. “Youdon’t do things halfway do you?” I asked walking along the wall of glass windows.“Looking for something?” Eden asked. I nodded, and came to a stop in front of awindow. I traced my fingertips along the engraving. “Cette plaque est dévouée aux

agents d'ordre braves qui ont risqué leurs vies pour protéger l'honneur françaiset notre Tour Eiffel; Genevieve Ricci, le Meunier d'Allyson, Ben Tanner, AnthonyPendant que. La santé et Prospère.” I whispered. Eden’s brows furrowed, and helooked at me. “Oh, you don’t speak French?” I asked teasing him, just a little.“No, actually not very well. Tell me the story.” I sat at the table, and began toun spin the tale that I’d heard a billion times. “My mom and my Aunt Allyson camehere to save my dad and my Uncle Anthony from this guy Seips Teg. They all almostdied when they fell off the edge, but they got caught by the suicide net, and theymanaged to save the Eiffel tower. So then the Parisian Government dedicated aplaque to Command, and put it right here.” I felt almost like I didn’t know enoughof the story to make it interesting, but when I looked up from the plaque, he was



staring intently at me, riveted. “wow, well anyway, uh….. er…. Yeah so, tell meabout yourself.” I spluttered. “well, you know pretty much everything about me.”“no, I know everything about your family. Not you, I would love to hear about youEden something Puccini.” “Um… yeah about that middle name….” “it can’t be thatbad.” I chided. “yeah, well it is.” “come on spit it out, I’ll tell you mine….” Iswayed. “fine, but I know you’re gonna laugh.” I smiled, crinkling my nose a tinybit. Eden rolled his eyes, “It’s …. Edward.” He said with a shudder. Edward? Thatwas it? The same name of the hot, brooding, gorgeous, glorious vampire from the

Twilight books? “Not exactly my idea of an embarrassing name.” I said. “Honestly?”he asked disbelievingly. “Yeah, it’s pretty hot, actually.” “you read Twilight.”He said raising his eyebrows. “so I think the name Edward is hot, and now I’m atwilight fan?” I asked skeptically. “oh,” he said taken aback. “well, are you?”“hell yeah.” I laughed. “Knew it.” He said leaning back, our conversation had hadus leaning so close we were only about six inches away. I leaned back as well, andgave him a once over. “does that make me a terrible person?” I asked only halfhumorously. “no, my little sister Arianna reads them.” “Ah. How old?” I askedcautiously. “Seventeen.” He responded. I smiled. “you have any siblings besidesLuke?” he asked me leaning forward slightly. “Yeah two sisters actually, bothseventeen.” My phone beeped, a text message. “sorry, hang on.” I said pulling outmy phone. I checked the message. It was from Luke. I vaguely looked over thepreviously sent messages, and found nothing life threatening. When Eden and I

were finished with dinner, he drove me home. He walked me to my door, and theporch light was on. “Well I guess I’ll be seeing you around?” Eden asked cockingand eyebrow. “Hmm, that all depends…. When?” “how about, Sunday at eleven at Lethéâtre Magnifique?” he inquired. “Yeah, works for me!” I smiled again beforeunlocking the door, and stepping inside. “Bonne nuit Eden!” I said, swiftlykissing his cheek, and closing the door.

Jealous in Japan

4 “Geez Zac, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re quite jealous of my littlesis’s new beau!” I stopped outside of the gym. New beau….. Eden? Ha ha, veryfunny. I’d been on one date with the guy. I mean sure I liked him, and I hadtaken a bullet for him, but it was my job. Even if he’d been an unattractive girl,I still would’ve taken a bullet to save his life. I didn’t have much time toponder the conversation, I had to get in and out of the gym so I could get readyand then meet up with Izzie and Ginny at Le café de Bernet. So I took a deepbreath, and turned on my iPod to “Let it Rock”. I cranked it up as loud as itwould go, and I went in, and went straight to a treadmill. I was briefly remindedof my theatre arts class: “Lesson One,” Professor Lafitte had said, “is simplyprops. Props are the perfect apparatus to deceive your audience.” I smiled and

waited for their conversation to start up again. “Really though, you guys made amutual decision to end it.” Luke hedged once he was satisfied I couldn’t hear him.“No, I went along with that so she’d never know.” Zac said adding ten more poundsof resistance. “Dude, know what?” “How much it… hurt.” “Zac, you sound like achick.” Luke teased. “Say what you want, I loved her, I still do.” I gritted myteeth and turned up the treadmill, each footstep was in tempo with the music.“Because when I arrive I I bring the fire make you cold alive,” it still wasn’tfast enough. I turned up the treadmill high as it would go, and looked at thescreen. I was pushing a two minute mile, and still wasn’t satisfied. Then with outwarning, the treadmill stopped. I, of course, had kept running, and had hit thepanel at the front of the screen, and flipped onto my back. “Holy shit!” I gasped



clutching my stomach. “Lo! you okay?” Zac asked helping me up. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Isaid getting as far away from Zac as possible, without being obvious. I looked atthe screen on the treadmill. It was a live feed from a Command camera. “Hellothere, and Lo dear I’m so truly sorry about your … incident.” Jerry said stiflinghis laughter. While he was in the middle of a spazz attack, Zac and Luke leanedforward. “Slut bet.” They whispered, and I nodded. “Now, gentlemen, what’ll yourbets be?” they talked it over. “Usher op.” they agreed. “And yours sister?” Lukeasked innocently. “Rescue op, totally.” When jerry had total control of himself,

he continued with his briefing. “You will be escorting President Sarkozy and PrimeMinister Fillon of France to Japan for the election of Le dirigeant mondial dupentagramme.” “Wait, Jer, that’s the world leader of the pentagram.” “Yes, and?”“Well, if my symbology checks out, a pentagram is a cult symbol, and that wouldmake this election a cultist meeting.” “Oh, no, it’s simply a reference to thefive elements of a stable government; balance, republicanism, federalism, economy,and well, the last will sound bad, but bereavement.” “Bereavement… as in… death?”I asked. “yes, but not like that. It’s bereavement as in civic responsibilitydeath.” “Ohhhh gotcha, like killing someone cuz they killed someone.” “Exactly,now you’ll need to be at the Charles DeGall airport in an hour. You will boardprivate jet No. G49-1047. Onboard will be the expected attire for all six of you.Oh, and Lo, since I believe you lost the slut bet, yours will be the box with thelittle blue dot on it. Sayonara.” The screen went blank. “Damn. I’ll get Vittoria

and Keira, you guys go and get Dan.” I said heading to the spiral staircaseinstead of the elevator. I ran up and found Vittoria and Keira watching VH1’s top100.”Guys! Mission!” I shouted over the thrumming beat of Viva La Vida. I ranback down the stairs, and threw on a sweatshirt with the Command emblem on thefront. “What’s wrong sweetie?” Vittoria asked on the way to the garage. “Well, Ilost the slut bet, and look at this!” I shouted pulling back the sweatshirt.Vittoria gasped. “Dio Mio!” a long purplish bruise was already popping up on myflat, yet defined abs. “Yeah and it hurts like a mother!” Vittoria, Keira, and Iall rode to the airport in my Ferrari, and Luke, Dan and Zac all rode in Zac’sAston martin. When we got there, we were briefly introduced to the prime ministerand the president, before we went to change. I begrudgingly picked up the garmentbag with the blue dot on it, and went in to one of the many rooms to change. Thedress was a beautiful, in lush Lavender silk with a neckline that plunged nearly

to my waist; the dress was very long and had a dragging train. The sleeves werelong and billowing, and I simply couldn’t believe that this was the almighty slutdress. Until I saw it. There was a slit in the dress, and not just any slit. Thisslit went all the way up to my waist. I pulled the ornamental hair chopsticks outof the box and used them to twist my hair up. Lastly, I slid on the lavender silkstilettos and tied the deep purple sash around my waist. I put on make up, andstepped out. “Well Keira, she may have lost this bet, but you’ll always be theslut to me!” Luke said with a chuckle. I went to sit next to the President, and Isaw him looking at my… outfit change. (or at least that’s what I hope he waslooking at.) then the guys stepped out, and I practically hissed in rage “Suits!?I have to wear this scrap of silk, and you are graced with suits!?” I spent thenext couple of hours seething silently. Minutes before touchdown, Luke came overto me.“Oh sister, dear,” he said slipping off a shoulder of the dress and

strapping a tiny microphone to my purple bra strap. “All right,” I said standingup in my dress and walking to the door of the plane, “Let’s do this shit.”LWe took a limo to the tall skyscraper where the election was going to be held, andwhen we arrived, the president and prime minister were let in easily, but theguard took one look at Luke, and Zac, and blatantly refused to let us in. Ipushed my way to the front and looked at the guard and smiled coyly. I slid my legout of the slit, revealing my whole leg up to my hip. “Please Signore,” I’dnoticed his tag said he was from italy. “My friends and I are from italy, andwe’re pretty important, we simply must be allowed in!” I tilted my head andsmiled. I emphasized my exposed leg. He looked at it for about two and a half



minutes before he nodded his head gruffly, and I smiled. The inside of theTakamora Government Center was like being in a Zen garden. It was full of cherryblossoms and those puny trees. We fallowed the prime minister and the president upinto the elevator. “ Okay, a group as big as ours will draw a lot of attention ifstay together, so Lo, Zac and I will follow the president around. Vittoria, Danand Keira, you follow the Prime minister.” luke said as the elevator came to astop. I got out with Luke and Zac, and waved to the others, feeling a little smug.Well if the trade was between the slut dress and the president, or no slut dress

and the prime minister, well that was easy. I kept up with Zac and Luke despite myimpractical attire, and we came to the end of a long tight hall. The door at theend was guarded by two burly Frenchmen in their mid twenties, wearing sunglassesdespite the fact that they were clearly inside a building where the highest lightfrequencies were florescent. “Stand back and watch me get us in.” I mutteredwalking to the guards. I flashed the slit in my dress, and my exposed leg. Theysmiled and took off their sunglasses. They were both Command agents from ourdivision. “Damn guys! Why didn’t you tell me it was you Felix, Brian?” “Well weheard from the dumb bloke downstairs that some hot chick just flashed him someleg, and that she was coming up the stairs, and so we figured it was you, and thatyou’d lost the slut bet.” Brian chuckled. “Well guys can you get us in?” I askedimpatiently. “Lo, after a leg like that, I’ll let you into the top security filesin Command!” he laughed. He swung the door open and we went inside. There were one

hundred and ninety five people seated around a colossal meeting table. The roomitself was the size of a whole cathedral. It reminded me of an election of thepope, only there were fewer hopefuls. One representative from each nation all overthe globe. Someone would win, and literally be the leader of the world. OnlySarkozy was in here. The prime minister must have been in the waiting room withall the other delegates’ replacements. No one seemed to question our belongingthere. I sat behind Sarkozy, and slipped a tiny microchip under his lapel, withouthis noticing. No one would be permitted to leave until a new world leader waselected. There was only one delegate missing. The Italian delegate was late… itcame to my attention I hadn’t the foggiest who would be their delegate. Then hecame in. A sharp in take of breath whistled through my lips, and made the bruiseon my stomach hurt. I felt a hand on my shoulder, “Lo, come on what is it?” Zac’sworried tone asked. “Achille Cognomi.” I gasped. “Who Lo?” Luke asked me shaking

my shoulder. “It’s Achile Cognomi, the head of Void.” Why would he be thedelegate? Unless… unless he wasn’t the delegate…but he’d made himself delegate.“Misour Sarkozy? Who is le Privilégié?” I asked dreading the answer. “SignorCognomi of Italia, but I’ve never heard of him.” He scoffed leaning back in hischair. Then it wouldn’t be a long night…. Not in the slightest.The first round of voting began, and unless someone won by a vast margin of twentyvotes, there would be a second round. My gut instinct was telling me that therewould be one round of voting. I was right. Three hours later when the votes hadall been counted fifteen times, as was tradition, the previous leader, Mr. Loyidaof Japan, came to announce his predecessor. “Mr. Achille Cognomi of Italy.” Hesaid stepping away and clapping politely. “Mr. Cognomi only speaks Italian, andwants to have a translator. Are there any translators. Unthinking, I boltedupright. “I am.” I said already walking to the podium. “Signor apre vous.” I said

gesturing out. He cleared his throat. Smug bastard. “Il leader mondiale delpentagram è un grand'onore per qualunque uomo. Senza parlare di un col piccoloriconoscimento nella comunità politica. Farò la spalla questa responsabilità colpeso del mondo come un promemoria di ogni persona, non importa comeinsignificante. Dunque ci condurrò se il bisogno mai sorge, e romperemo poi ilVuoto dall'ingiustizia alla destra.” He finished, and nodded for me to translate.“The world leader of the pentagram is a great honor for any man. Let alone onewith little recognition in the political community as I. I will shoulder thisresponsibility with the weight of the world as a reminder of every person, nomatter how insignificant. So i will lead us if the need ever arises, and we willthen breach the Void from wrong to right.” Everyone clapped, and assumed he meant



what his words implied. But I knew the truth. When everyone had exited the room,he grabbed my wrist. I swung around, and he whispered into my ear, “Be careful,Signora, you are a Command agent, and I will come for you.” He left the room, andI stood staring after him for a few moments until I got myself together. I walkedout of the room, and turned to the elevator, little did I know the drama of TheTakamora Government Center had only just begun. Then there was a scream.

Takamora Center

5The source of the scream seemed to be coming from the lobby of the TakamoraCenter. I took an elevator down, and in the lobby there were three men, Felix,Brian, and someone I didn’t know. They all had a gun drawn. Bystanders were caughtin the fray and that was the screams I’d heard. “Sir, Drop your weapon and come

quietly!” Brian urged setting down his gun. The man seemed derailed for a second,and then seizing the opportunity he’d been given, the man fired at Brian. Felixshouted in outrage, and then fired at the man. Once the man fell, I ran to Brian.I knelt next to him, “Brian! You okay?” “Uh, I’ve been better, but once I get thisvest off I’ll be fine.” Felix ran over. “Brian! Buddy! You okay?” “Dude I’mwearing a bullet proof vest.” “What?” Felix asked ominously. “Why the hell didn’tyou tell me?” Felix exploded. “Here I am, thinking you’re dying, and you’re‘fine’?” “Umm, n- no?” “That’s what I thought.” Felix said, seeming quiteserious, until he rumpled Brian’s curly brown mop of hair. I laughed, and thenwent to find Luke; I at least needed to find my brother¬¬¬. I walked along throughthe maze that was the Takamora Center. I ended up in the completely wrong



area(without my knowledge) and I opened a nearby door, and flipped the light on.It was a closet, and two people were intertwined , their lips practically solderedtogether. The girl had hair that was long and a mousy brown, and it was tangledaround her face, and her deep blue dress was hanging off one shoulder, revealing abright red bra strap. The guy, had dark brown hair, and an Armani suit with a redtie… “LUKE! What the f are you doing?” “Having a make out session! What else wouldI be doing?” he asked angrily. “No, I mean with who?” “Whom.” Luke corrected.“Well?” I asked practically seething. “K-Keira.” He muttered around Keira’s lips.

“Would you two quit groping each other and listen.” Luke and Keira disentangledthemselves, and looked at me. “Okay, we’re listening.” “Well, just now, AchilleCognomi threatened to kill me, we’ve been compromised.” “Nuh-uh!” Luke said. Inodded grimly. Luke grabbed Keira’s hand and fallowed me out of the tiny littlecloset. I rolled my eyes. I told them! My head was spinning, or maybe I’d becomemore aware of the earth’s rotation. And then my phone rang. ‘Lace up your shoes ayoh ay ooohhh here’s how we do, run baby run, don’t ever look backkk’ “Uh hello?”“Hello it’s Achille Cognomi. Are you alone?” “No.” “Good. Now listen closely;there is a bomb in the Takamora Center. It is an exceptional type of bomb. Ibelieve you are familiar with the subjective term antimatter?” I felt like I’dturned to ice. “yes.” My voice was barely a whisper. “very good. Now at thetwelfth stroke of midnight, the antimatter hidden in the Takamora center will runout of time, and will explode with it, the three hundred and ninety five world

delegates and over fifteen hundred Command agents. Good Luck.” The phone in myhand went dead. I flipped around the screen and began texting Jerry.We’ve been compromised. The newly instated World Leader of the Pentagram isAchille Cognomi. I need to evacuate everyone. I’m so sorry.It’s okay, we’ll evacuate everyone immediately; every world delegate MUST BEACCOMPANIED BY AN AGENT OF COMMAND. Good luck.I sprung into action immediately. I didn’t even pause to see if Keira and Luke hadfollowed me, but I could hear their quiet footsteps, so I assumed they hadfollowed. I sighed and went to look for Vittoria and Zac. I found them at thevending machine, where Zac and Vittoria were pacing and sharing a giant chocolatebar. “For the love of god where have you been!” Vittoria asked CHUCKING (Author’snote: that was for you Brooke) the second half of the chocolate bar on the ground.“I wanted that.” Zac mumbled looking forlornly at the dirtied dregs of the once

delectable bar. I smiled unwillingly; Zac always did that, made me smileunwillingly. He saw from the corner of his eye, I was sure of it. I wasn’t surewhy this made me so uncomfortable, but it did. Maybe because… no. NO. shook myselfmentally, and got back to business. “Okay, guys, there’s antimatter in heresomewhere, and we need to get it neutralized, or something before it blows up atmidnight.” “Do you know how much, that’ll depend on how big the explosion willbe?” “Uh…” I actually didn’t know the answer to Zac’s question. “Okay, then let’sassume that’s it’s… .00179 kilobits. Then up to two miles is toast, so…” “so wehave two hours to find it, get it in the air, and we have to get everyone else outin case the bomb does go off.” I said realization hitting me with the force of abus. “”I’ll go with Keira!” Luke said grabbing her hand. “I’ll go with Vittoria!”Dan said already walking off with Vittoria following. “I suppose we’re togetherthen…” I said breaking the awkward silence. “Yeah! I mean, er… I guess so.” He

said quickly stifling the building enthusiasm. We saw a clock on the wall, andtook of running, we’d spent nearly three quarters of an hour talking overstrategy. We worked our way from the middle up, running quickly up thestairs.(avoiding the elevator seemed like a good idea, because of the loomingexplosion…) We were on the roof when I got the text message,No Antimatter canister. Sweeping research- V,D,L,K“Where would he put it if he’s planning on obliterating a ten mile radius?” Iasked Zac urgently. “Uh. Probably somewhere in the very center of the building…why?” “know what’s in the center of this place?” I asked raising my eyebrows. “Theelevator,” we whispered together. We took off like bullets from a gun. “Okay,slide open the roof escape hatch!” I ordered taking off my stilettos. “oh and let



you climb into that tiny black hole?” “uh, yeah Zac, that’s the point.” I saidcrawling through the tiny whole into complete obliteration. It was dark, and theonly thing I had to cling to was the cable holding the elevator up. I took a deepbreath and climbed further, until I reached the top floor where there was a LEDlight. “Zac! I found the antimatter!” I chorused in bliss and by the clock we hadfifteen minutes, enough to get the antimatter in the air. I reached up to grab thecanister, when I saw a bright light from above, and a tall Italian man leaned overthe cable “Ciao Bella el agenta Lola.” And then he lifted a samurai sword and

hacked down the cable.

Free Falling6

As soon as the cable was cut, I shimmied down fast as I could. I felt a hand gripmy ankle and yank me down. I screamed, until I was in the elevator. “it’s me!It’s me!” Zac shouted I exhaled, and nodded. “ Okay help me open the doors!” Ishouted. “Why?” I held up the samurai sword I’d nicked from Achille on the falldown.” Zac pried open the doors, and I speared the sword through the cable, andinto the wall. The elevator shaft jerked to a stop. “One minute until theantimatter self destructs…” Zac said looking down at the LED light. “Everyone’sout of the building, so throw it up into the air, and I’ll wrench the sword outand we fall!” I spit the words out, but he caught them all, and nodded, throwingthe antimatter up, and out of the elevator at the same time I wrenched out thesword. We fell, and fell, and fell. Then a flash of extraordinary light, and then



everything was gold. I was dead. I knew it. A whispering in my ear… “Lo? where’dya go?” Oh, I knew that voice. Zac. He must be dead too. ‘Lace up your shoes ah ohah ooohhh.’ Wait there wouldn’t be cell phones in heaven would there? Hmm, maybeGreat Aunt Gertie was right, and cussing too much did get you sent to hell… I betthere were cell phones in hell… annoying ass things… “wait if I’m in hell can Icuss?” I’d meant to say it to myself, so it was funny that Zac answered, “Sure, Imean I suppose in theory that would be okay, but what would you have done to landyourself in hell?” I opened my eyes. “Oh, ow.” I said rubbing my hip. “Ha yeah

tell me about it!” Zac said getting up and limping. “Oh you okay?” I askedfrowning. “I think my leg’s broken, but I’ve broken it thousands of times,remember in the fifth grade when I broke it playing futbol?” I nodded. I didn’tlike the attention from him it didn’t make my me blush, and make my stomachmuscles clench like it did when Eden stared at me, it made me… awkward, extremelyawkward. I shook my head, and helped Zac out into the lobby. Nothing was left ofthe Takamora. It was all obliterated glass, and rubble. “What d’we do now?” “Weslip out before the press slips in. Let’s hurry, I have a date.” We met up withVittoria, Keira, Luke and Dan at the plane. We got home at eleven am, so I wentto bed until eight o’clock, when I woke up a took a shower. I dried and spiralcurled all but my sweeping side bangs. I put on a strapless dress with a blackheart shaped bodice, and a long white skirt and train. I slid on some black Manolostilettos, and At ten o’clock I got a text from Eden,

Hey there! Meet me at my house first, the address is 29647 La Tua Cantate.La tua cantata? Hmm, well he was Italian. I got my clutch, and stepped carefullyinto the red Ferrari, and drove to his house. It was gargantuan, to say the least.I gasped, and drove through the gate and up to the door. I went to knock on thedoor, but there was a note.Come on in Lo.I opened it, and a huge dog, a Great Dane, bounded twords me. He was the cutestthing I’d ever seen that weighed over a hundred pounds! “Sandler, no! Off!” Eden’svoice shouted, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “You know that only encourages him.”Eden said disapprovingly. I shrugged. “it’s cold, you need a jacket?” he askedfrom around the corner. “oh no, I’m cool,”

ONE CHAPTER LATER; YOU’RE ALREADY READ IT BROOKE, CHILL OUT!

book 2Zac

Prelude/ Epilogue/ Whatever you call it

Love. It SUCKS. I don’t buy it. It’s like, when you fall in love you’re supposedto feel all tingly or whatever, but all I feel all the time is like… depressed.Weird huh? But then some would say, “if you don’t feel that you’re not in love.” Iam. But she doesn’t love me. I wish she did. She’s in love with him, not me. Oh,some rich, attractive… guy, sure, but not the guy she’s dated since, like,kindergarten when they kissed on the monkey bars, oh NO. But him, some guy shedoesn’t know… why the hell not? I’ll tell you one thing, my life, HELL IN AHANDBASKET.Zac Evans (Guy in love)



(Flightless bird American Mouth)Ow.

7I’ve survived assassinations, and world catastrophe, and… high school for godsake! And all it took to snap me was a girl. But not any girl. She was gorgeous,and smart, and talented. So it was my surprise when I’d ended up at the gargantuanestate of Eden Puccini. I busted through the door, and heard the end of theconversation. “… stay the night…” “NO!” the words busted through my mouth as Ibusted through the door. The look on her face; shocked, betrayed, confused, and…angry. She stood fluidly. “Zacery Gregg Evans! Since when do you have the right todictate my life? You’re not my older brother you’re not my parents, you’re not myconscience! You get out of Eden’s house, and my life!” Lo seethed. When she yelledit was scary, if she didn’t yell, you were in deep shit. Envy bubbled inside melike shaken soda. I wanted to be this guy sitting on a kitchen counter, with thisamazing girl staring at him with the beginnings of… could it be… love? No I

refused to think it. It was not a possibility. Lo glared again. “Go now.” Her armflung out, and for one wild second I’d winced and thought she would hit me. It wassimply her arm flinging out to jab a finger in the direction of the door. “GO! IHATE YOU AND I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! WHEN I GET BACK TO THE HOUSE TOMMORROWYOU WILL BE EITHER GONE, OR WE WILL NEVER BE IN THE SAME ROOM AGAIN! DO YOUUNDERSTAND ME? NOW GO!” Lo wasn’t shouting, she was screaming. I’d never heard herscream. So I left. I climbed into my Aston Martin Vanquish and drove off, butbefore I left I saw her, in his button up white shirt, in his arms, with her headagainst his chest. I gunned it and drove, not to the house, to the airport. I goton a plane to Venice, home. Mom and Dad and the Tanners would be in Turin in thewinter houses, and I could go home for a while and be alone. I didn’t need anexcuse to be missing from college; it was my issue, as far as the school wasconcerned. I Pulled up to the brick house on the water of Grassi Place, and felt

like I was a puzzle piece that a kid had shoved continually into the wrong place,and then gotten it stuck, before finding where it really goes, and moving it. Ifelt like I was back in my proper slot, where I just… fit. I sighed, and unlockedthe door using the key under the eave. I ran up the stairs, and flopped on myparents bed. I spent a week in Italy. On exactly the seventh day, I packed up andleft, realizing that I might not fit in the place I wanted to be, but I could makea place in the puzzle for myself. Or… or I could take a piece out… Eden. So thiswas why I was on a plane home now… the same reason I’d left. How much had a weekchanged things? It was like I can imagine it would feel If I was in a coma, andthen woke up to go back to my life like nothing had happened. When I pulled intothe drive, I heard music… ‘Falling Slowly’ from Once. Lo must have her iPod on. I



went in, and the back door was open, with only the screen closed. “Hello?” Iasked. The house was empty… The music got louder. “Take this sinkin’ boat, andpoint it home we’ve still got time” I went out the back door. Lola was sittingcross legged on the hood of her grand piano that was on the back porch. She wasplaying her acoustic guitar and she was singing… but the piano was going too… itwas him sitting playing the piano she didn’t let anyone but her touch… they weresinging together, in perfect harmony, and when the song ended, she slid down andsat next to him on the piano bench. “I love you.” She said kissing him. “Mmmm I

love you too.” He murmured against her lips. So this was how much had changed in aweek of absence. But I noticed this was not the only union that had formed. Lukeand Keira were kissing in a corner. “Well hey there brother.” Keira saidsauntering over to me, past Lo and Eden who’d just ceased the make out session. Lojumped up. “No!” she exclaimed her face switching from ecstasy to shock. Ow. Thishurt, it was the expression on her face that ripped my heart. She was happy withme gone… she liked it that way. She was still standing glaring at everyone. Keiralooked pissed; like I’d personally wronged her. Luke looked like he was waitingfor an explosion, Vittoria was worried, the mother of the group, ready to protectwhoever needed it, Lo, like she was either going to shoot someone, or rather, me,and Eden was watching Lo. Then, she was gone, running, out into the orangeorchard. Everyone glared at me, before turning and walking into the house. Theonly person who didn’t pass me was Eden. He was standing though. “You know, she

felt guilty as hell that you left, and then once she got over it and started tobe happy again, you came back and pissed her off again. I hope you know how muchshe hates you.” He said glaring at me, and then bolting to the orange orchard. Iwent inside, to confront the others. “What the hell did you do?!” Keira saidslapping me. “We had no idea where you went! And now you show up expectingforgiveness?” she left the room towing Luke behind her. Vittoria frowned at melike a mother who had an unruly child who kept getting in trouble with theirteacher. “Well?” I asked impatiently. “You need to go apologize to her. She wasworried sick about you, going and feeling all guilty, you’re like a brother toher, and if you need to have something more, try dating.” And with that she turnedand walked away. If Vittoria was scolding me, I’d pissed off everyone. I trudgedtrough the orchard looking for them. When I found them they were in a patch ofmoonlight. They were twirling and swaying to music I couldn’t hear… I waited for

complete silence. And then I heard it. ‘Have I found you?Flightless bird, jealous, weeping Or lost you? American mouth big pill looming.’They were dancing to music playing from Lo’s blackberry, some song with a hiddenmeaning for the two of them. Then I knew that I couldn’t try to ruin this for her.The best I could do was be a friend… that wouldn’t change the fact I’d always loveher. Always. “Lo?” I asked stepping forward. Her head shot up. “What?” “Um I needto talk to you… alone.” “Love, I need to get home, my sister’s in town.” He bentand kissed her, before turning and leaving. “Lo, I’m here to stay, but I’m nothere to ruin your life, so I’m just going to be your friend. Okay?” she raised aneyebrow, surveying my expression for weakness. Satisfied, she nodded, and began torun to the house. I tried to catch her, but her speed was unfathomable to me, atwo minute mile was ludicrously quick, and I knew I’d never catch her. I followedher to our gym, where she went to the gymnastics room. She went to change into a

leo, and then she tied her hair up and chalked the bars. I watched her, and shedidn’t say anything to me. I remembered the last time we’d had fun, could itreally have been the slut bet? Lo’s candy apple red blackberry began to ring. Shedismounted, and pulled off her grips, before answering the phone. “WHAT?” sheshouted in response to whatever the person on the other line had said. “Uh, okay.Fifteen minutes? Okay. I’ll – we’ll be there bye.” She hung up. “Fuck!” she saidyanking her hair out, and stomping out of the gym. I followed her to the rec room.“C’mon guys, mission time.” She said going to the elevator. We all crammed intothe elevator, and she hit 717. we slid down into Jerry’s office, and piled out.“What is it Jerry?” I asked him. “Zac, Keira, you’re mother was killed at fortyeight hundred hours in a car crash organized by Void. Lola, Luke, Dan, Vittoria,



your parents have yet to be found.” Terror, or shock crossed the room. But Lo,she looked… irritated. “Yeah, yeah, where are we looking for them?” Lo asked.“Braga Portugal. In the Falperra Church.” He said handing Lo a map. “Please try tolook like tourists, and not like spies!” he said as we turned towards to thewaiting plane. Lo was the only one who passed as a tourist even though she was theone wearing the most untouristy clothes. Lo was wearing a red and white checkeredbutton up from Hollister with a white tank top underneath, jeans that were flarelegged with large holes on the knees and had other rips in various places, and she

was wearing leather flip flops with beaded flowers on the tops. Her hair was down,and all flowy around her hips, and occasionally she’d run her hands through herhair, pushing back her side bangs. But she was so… perfect she literally fiteverywhere. “Lets go,” she said typing in Braga to her GPS on her Blackberry. Weall ran to the Plane; desperate to save our parents. Parent. I amended No mom.Weird. Well, I supposed I did still have a mom… kinda. Genevieve was always like asecond mother… but not my mother. And I was suddenly struck by the brief solidityof death.

Does Mother knows best disappear when she does?8The plane ride was excruciating what with Lo lashing out, Luke screaming back, andKeira and Dan glaring at each other daring the other to talk. I was numb…everywhere. I was lost too. I suppose I should have registered the toll this wastaking on Lo, but her mother was still alive. Not my issue. Well, we arrived inPortugal, and Lo and Luke ran to the church. We all followed suit, Lo and Lukewere always in charge; we never challenged that, they were the spy family dreamteam. The inside of the church was brightly colored, and, quite honestly thechurch was… ugly. It was morbid even with all the bright, stained glass windows,mainly because they were depicting death. Ping! Ping! Ping! Gun shots ricochetedoff the pews, and Lo dodged them neatly, and I heard her exclaim, “Well hell!Why’m I always getting shot at?” I laughed, classic Lo. “To hell with this!” she

said pulling her gun out of her Vera Bradley bag. She fired off, and nailed one ofthe guys, but the other made a break for the stairwell. “Oh hell no!” sheexclaimed chasing after him. A gun shot. That was all I heard. Lo clapped a handto her side, and then shot him; quickly, I might add. Still, she kept on going, ina desperate haste to find her mother. I could see the blaze in her eyes: for hermother, just as Luke’s was for their father. But as much as I admired her, I couldsee the crimson blossoming against the white, and Luke snagged her. “Lo! stop!” hesaid. “You got shot; I think it’s time for our thing.” Ha! Their thing, everymission they each put a Jordan Almond in their mouth, and if it wasn’t still intheir mouth when they were out of danger, or it was gone before we were out, thenthey declared the mission bad luck, and they got everyone out ASAP. The scarything was, they were always right. So they each shoved a Jordan Almond in theirmouth, and then they smiled. We all went up the stairs into the tower and saw our

parents on the floor, all tied together. The door snapped shut behind us. Lo spither Jordan Almond out; “Sorry Luke, I know this is bad.” “Well I’m keeping mine;there still could be help.” Lo rolled her eyes. Nothing had triggered the door,but we could feel the bad luck coming. Lo bent down and untied them. “Okay, sowho’s up for a little base jumping?” she asked our parents. Genevieve stood up.“Oh hon, we invented base jumping.” The parents went first, and then the girls,and then me, Dan, and Luke went last. We dropped the parents off in the VeniceCommand center, so they’d be safe in a spy filled area. Then we headed back toParis, where we headed to the hospital in the underground Command center. Lo satdown on the vinyl paper- covered bed, and drummed her fingers impatiently. “Pshh,good thing I’m not terminal.” She muttered. Then Eden bust through. “Lo! are you



alright?” he asked weaving his hand into hers. She winced, and nodded. Then thedoctor came in with the longest pliers I’d ever seen. Lo gritted her teeth, andtwisted herself. The doctor was using the pliers to try to remove the bullet, butit was a slow process, and every time I saw lo’s long manicured nails dug intoEden’s hand, but he barley even winced. When the bullet was finally out, thedoctor taped her up, and let her go.























A break up, a make up

50I bit my lip in hesitation of the upcoming moment about to happen. My handtwitched convulsively for the heavy oak door handle. “NO,” I said to myself firmlytwitching my hand away. I couldn’t do this. Eden had made it quite clear, thatthere was nothing between us. And even if there had been, he was marrying Whitney.Not that I had anything against Whitney, she was a very nice person, and gorgeoustoo, but the thing was, she was marrying the man I was in love with. That, ifnothing else, gave me an excuse to a pore her. Then in a split second, thebriefest blink of an eye, I knew. I pushed open the oak door a smidge, andlistened. When they were wed, I would congratulate them. Then, I listened duringthe “I do’s” and when it was Eden’s turn, I hear him say, “There’s no one who I



love more than you, Lo.” I gasped, and backed away from the door. “HOLY SHIT!” Isaid backing away from the door, until with an audible gasp, I realized I was in achurch. “Oh, Sorry.” I muttered. Then I listened to the brief argument inside.“I’m sorry, I love her. And I can’t be here.” Then Eden ran into me. “Lo, I’m sosorry, and I know you’re impossibly pissed with me, but this isn’t,” he gesturedvaguely around himself “this didn’t feel right.” “you can’t do this to Whitney,she’s so nice, and I-,” “but I don’t love HER!” I shook my head over and overagain. “But you can’t just do this! I mean seriously, this stuff only works in

movies, and Nicholas Sparks books! What makes you think I still love you?” “Youdo.” He said simply. “And why would you do this?” “because, ‘I love thee, I lovebut thee With a love that shall not die Till the sun grows cold And the stars growold.’ That’s why.” “and you intend to take full credit for those words?” I askedhim crossing my arms, and scowling. “No, but they sound better from me thanWilliam Shakespeare.” He said shrugging, and pulling me towards him. “no, I can’tdo this again Eden. I love you more than this world, but sometimes, love justisn’t enough.” I said turning around, and leaving him standing behind me in thechurch. I ran to the red Ferrari parked in the lot. I jumped in and slammed downthe gas pedal and was surprised when there were tears in my eyes. I pulled into mydrive and ran into the house. I jumped into the elevator and stabbed the 7 button.It slid up and once I’d gotten to my apartments I jumped out and into my bedroom.I flew to the closet and began to throw all my things into suitcases. Deciding

three would be enough for now, I threw my credit cards into my purse. Happy no onewas home, I scribbled a quick goodbye, and taped it to the door on my way out. Iloaded my dog, and my suitcases into the Ferrari, and took off to the airport. Isogned for a ticket to London, and my Ferrari to be shipped over. When I got onthe plane, some ass was in my seat. I saw a flight attendant passing, and I said,“hey there’s someone in my seat. Where can I sit?” I asked irritably. “uhhh askaround.” She said looking scared like I’d scream at her, so I smiled. “Thank youso much.” I said genuinely. Deciding I needed somewhere to sit, I shouted, “heyany open seats?” “there’s one here!” a smooth, sexy voice said. Shrugging, Iclimbed next to the guy who was reading Romeo and Juliet. “You seem upset.” Henoted. “Yeah. I just interrupted this guy’s wedding because I love him, and thenwhen he told me he loved me back, I said no.” hearing it the second time was evenworse and I thought about what I’d done in mortification, and made myself a

resolve; if Eden ever cared enough to ask again, I’d say yes. “I don’t think hecares enough.” I said more to myself than anything else. “Sure he does.” The mansaid. “Sorry, what?” “He does care. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have raced out of achurch into a waiting limo, gotten three tickets for speeding on the way to theTiffany’s, bought a ring worth 60 grand, bribed his way onto a full plane, paidsome dusch to sit in you’re seat just so you’d end up next to him, so he couldask, “Lola Allyson Delilah Ricci- Tanner, Will you marry me?”



UM…1No.” I said shaking my head abruptly. “No.” I loved him but he wouldn’t do this.Not to me, and I wouldn’t do this to him; wrong, wrong, wrong. He nodded, stoodup, and got off the plane. I sat there for fifteen minutes before I decided Icouldn’t just leave that would be running away from Whitney, and Achille and Jerryand Luke and Zac. I stood up with MiuMiu, and followed Eden off the plane. I ranthrough the DeGall airport and to one of the many cabs outside. I tossed some

Euros over the seat to the cabbie. “The Gibson store on Luna and fifth.” Henodded. He put the radio on to an American broadcast channel. ‘You’re hot thenyou’re cold, you’re yes then you’re no. you’re in then you’re out you’re up thenyou’re down you’re wrong when it’s right it’s black and it’s white we fight webrake up we kiss we make up------ ’ I almost laughed with the irony of it. Hot andCod by Katy Perry. I ran into the Gibson and bought an acoustic guitar. I ran backinto the cab, and told him Eden’s address. He drove there, and pulled to a stopoutside the wrought iron gate. I slid off my jacket and my sweater, and left themand the shoes in the cab. I pulled my long hair out of it’s braid, and ran to thegate with the acoustic guitar slung on my back. wearing nothing but a white tanktop, and jeans with two holes on the knees, and barefoot, I climbed up onto thebalcony like I had a million times. I laid down on the cement rail of the balconyand saw the doors were open and the light was on. I began playing his favorite

song, but with a few changes. “ Dear Eden, can you forgive me? Dear Eden, I am sosorry----- if not I I’ll leave my heart in two, both pieces, belong to you dearEden, won’t you ask me again?” no response. I continued. “Dear Eden, I’m in lovewith you, Dear Eden, I only sing what’s true---- I want to spend my life with you,there’s never been a righter two, dear Eden, won’t you ask me again. He came overto the threshold, his arms folded, his shirt off. “Dear Eden, I’m all out ofwords, but before I leave---, you should know it hurts-------, to think I’mtotally wrong for you, and then find out, you love me too^ dear Eden, won’t youask me again?” he crossed the balcony in two quick strides, and yanked me into asitting position, and then off the rail and into his arms. Our lips met roughly,and we stayed there, our lips fused together, until he murmured around my lips,“Lo will you marry me?” “ I Love thee, I love but thee, with a love that shall notfade until the stars grow old and the sun grows cold.” He pulled me to the room,

and I followed him, knowing what would follow.* * *I woke up the next morning, sure the whole night before had only been an amazingdream. I sighed. What a comfy bed… surly not mine even though mine was goose down…this one was… sturdier… and yet still soft as a feather. I opened my eyes. My headwas resting on Eden’s muscular chest, and his arms were wrapped around me.“Morning.” He whispered pushing the tangled golden strands away from my face.“Morning!” I whispered back, sitting up and tying my hair up in the top of my headwith the elastic on my wrist.

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Confidential The Second Generation by Jenny Robbins

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