CHAPTER 11

Today seems promising. Janice is out of my way and Candace is her usual self. In the bus, no one talks to me, and I'm grateful for the silence. I use the opportunity to track the truck carrying the new gadgets. At the next bus stop, Ivy plops down beside me. She wearing a tie-dye cashmere sweater which looks neat on her. Ivy looks gorgeous in anything she wears.

"Hey girlfriend. How you doing this morning?" She questions while applying her lipgloss.

"Hey. I'm okay I guess. Just tired."

"Yeah I can totally see."

"Thanks for boosting my self confidence." I chuckle. Even though I've known Ivy for a short while now, I feel like she gets me. Too bad after this mission I will have to leave.

We get off the bus and move towards the school building. Ivy has my full focus so I don't notice when someone bumps into me. I look up to see those girls on Josh's table. If you've noticed already I don't give two butts about their names. I walk buy but one of the girls grab my shirt sleeve.

"Get back here. Let me you something freak. I don't care who you are or where you are from just stay away from Josh!" She snarls into my ear.

   I look down at my sleeve and back up at her. With the look I'm giving her she had better get the hint and leave my shirt, but apparently dummy here can't take a hint. I grab her hand and roughly yank it off my shirt.

    "One, never grab my clothes ever again. Just because you have maids running around your house doesn't mean I have same. Two, you ain't my mama. You ain't the boss of me. I can be with who I want to be and there's nothing you can do to stop me. Now if you will excuse us, we have a class to go to." I shove her out of my way and grab Ivy, making a dramatic exit. We look back to see the dummies glaring at us, and I can't help but flick them off.

   "Damn! I never knew your delicate self could be feisty. That was smoky. I thought the whole Jason incident was hot, but this one was totally smoky." Ivy is laughing at the dummies at this point.

    "Sweetheart, there's a lot you don't know about me." I reveal.

   "Hell yeah!" She high fives me before we meet up with the boys waiting for us at my locker.

    "Hi Dan." Ivy is twirling her hair and trying to look flirty.

   "Hi Ivy. How you doing this morning?" Dan says ruffling up her hair. Dan is well aware that this gesture annoys Ivy but he still does it anyway. I have known Dan for long, and I know why he is trying to friend zone her. He likes her. I know that by the way he looks at her, but he is aware that if he lets her in, she'll just be hurt along the way when he has to leave. I guess even I should treat Josh this way, but I can't.

Hey isn't that Janice? I know I saw her sneak by now. Ah well! I shrug it off and head off to class when the bell rang.

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Class is the same. Shocker! During class though I take a look see on my phone about the location of the truck. After long, excruciating hours, it's finally lunch time. In the cafeteria I meet up with Ivy and the twins. Something catches my eye but moves quickly out of my vision.

Is Janice watching me? I can swear it's her. Huh?!

I'm puzzled. Why would Janice be watching me? That girl is just too sneaky for her own good.

As I am thinking, Josh's green eyes are in my line of focus. I notice he is heading towards me and my annoying friends are snickering besides me. I roll my eyes at their childish behavior.

   "Hi." He says smiling down at me.

    "Hi." I reply.

    "I was wondering if you'd like to join me and my family for dinner party tomorrow night?" He asks.

Sweet cheese and biscuits! Family dinner already? I feel like that's too intimate?

    "Ummm.... let me think about and get back to you." I reply rather that accepting. I glance over to Ivy and give her a look the means 'we gotta talk'.

    "Cool. Text me." He instructs. He waves at me and heads back over to his table.

That boy just gives me the butterflies. I giggle out loud and met with the curious looks of my friends. I shake my head at them and resume to eating my lunch. Before class, I track the truck only to realize that it's passed the border and will be in the city very soon. That means I have less that an hour thirty to skedaddle. The teacher comes to class and begins to teach but as usual my mind is never there. Slowly, the time goes by. Finally, and hour has passed, and we all head out to the hallway to prepare for our next class.

I meet up with the boys and tell them that I'm ditching school.

"Hey guys, Mentor is sending me some new gadgets so I have to ditch school to go get it." I whisper to them so that no one else can hear what I have to say.

   "Ouuuu new tech huh?" Remember to share though." Dave says.

   "Nope I'm not sharing. They are girls only. Now I've gotta go. Cover for me." I tease. I'm walking towards the door when the bell rings indicating that class is starting. I sneak out of school and by the security. I call a cab and direct the driver to my house.

"Aren't you supposed to be in school young lady?" The cab driver is looking at me from his rear mirror with a raised eyebrow. He has a slight southern accent.

"Yeah I'm supposed to be but there's an emergency at home that's why I'm ditching school today. FYI I'm a good girl and I don't ditch school so you must know this is an emergency." I'm giving him the best innocent look I can muster. I don't really have to do much though because when you have a delicate face as mine it can fool anyone.

"That's good enough." He nods.

I look at my phone to see that the truck is almost at my place. I tell the driver to step on it.

I reach home just in time to see the truck pull up. I pay the driver and jump off to meet the truck driver. Tom has been driving the Agency's trucks for as long as I can remember. He may look like an older guy, but don't let the moustache fool ya. He throw great punches.

"Tom!" I run up to him and give him a hug. He has always been a father-like figure in my life.

"Anaise!" He say hugging me back.

   "How are you doing dear?"

   "I'm great, but I hate school."I whine.

He just laughs at me and hands me the package.

"I've got to go now dear. I have another run to make."

"Awwww! Thanks Tom." I give him a peck on his cheek. He smiles at me, tips his hats, and jumps into his truck, speeding off.

I make my way to the door when I feel like I'm being watched and followed again. I reach out for my taser. When I feel the person get closer, I spin on my heel and zap the person. When I see who I zap,

I can't help but yell,

"YOU???!!!"

Ohhh shit!