Keeping Me (Spy Chronicles Book 2)(30)

“Sixteen.”

“Ah, so she’s totally going to love you, then.”

“Why do you say that?” Sander asks.

“Are you kidding? The day you came to my school, pretty much every female was wiping drool from their faces,” I say.

“But not you.”

“I thought you were cute,” I say.

He smiles. “Good. I thought you were cute, too.”

“I was too skinny to be cute,” I say.

“You were always cute. But you’re looking a lot better now. Healthier. Happier,” Sander says. “Such a huge change from the girl who ate her lunch on the cafeteria floor.”

“You guys have changed me.”

“So, you have a thing for my cousin, right?”

“How does everybody know?” I ask.

“Sebastian doesn’t know. But that is because he’s an idiot. I love him, but he’s completely clueless,” Sander says.

“He doesn’t feel the same way,” I say. “So, it’s pointless.”

“My cousin may be an idiot, but I promise you that he very much likes you, too.”

“Yeah. He told me he likes me,” I say. “But as a friend. And I love that he’s my friend now, instead of my enemy, so I’m not going to complain. I’m okay having an unrequited crush. It’s called a crush for a reason, right?”

“Look, my cousin won’t even admit that he likes me,” Sander says. “And we’re family. The fact that he tells you he likes you is huge.”

I laugh, because that is exactly how Sebastian is.

“He’s changed since you came to Spy School. He’s less... callous. Maybe even nicer,” he says. “Bass has always been one to follow the rules. There is no way he would’ve left Spy School for anything or anybody. He didn’t even leave when his big sister graduated college. Or when his dad had surgery. But he left for you.”

“He left because my dad asked him to,” I say. “He’s working for Spy School now instead of attending.”

“Bass could’ve graduated last year, but decided to stay and train one more year. He wants perfection,” Sander says. “He’s literally the best at our school.”

“I’m glad he’s here.”

“Me, too,” Sander says. “I guess we should head inside to eat.”

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry,” he says, as we walk back to the house.

“So, when are you leaving?”

“First thing in the morning,” he answers. “The sooner this girl has extra protection, the better.”

“Will you be in touch?”

“No, it’s too dangerous,” Sander says.

“I’m going to miss you.”

He stops just in front of the door and wraps his arms around me. “I’m going to miss you, too.”

And it’s true. Sander, Gage... all the guys... have become like family to me. Heck, they are family. And things aren’t going to be the same without Sander around. But I know that his job is important.

I hope that the girl he is going to protect will be okay.

But then again, how could she not be... with Sander protecting her?

Sander opens the door and we walk inside together.

Our last family meal before he leaves.

I have a feeling that after this, nothing will be the same again.





Thursday, August 31

A one-in-a-million kind of thing.





“Harder!” Sebastian yells at me.

I swing my fist at his hand, putting every ounce of force I can possibly muster behind the punch.

“It’s not hard enough,” he says, not even flinching.

“I can’t do it,” I say, my own knuckles are hurting from the impact.

“Yes, you can,” he says. “Now, try harder.”

Sebastian is trying to show me how to fight. The problem is I’m not very strong. I’m kind of short. And apparently I cannot throw a punch to save my life. Literally.

“You are pissing me off,” I tell him.

“Good. Get angry. Use your anger,” he says.

I swing another punch at him, but he blocks it again. It's like he doesn't even have to try.

“Serenity, learning how to do this could mean the difference between life and death in some situation,” Bass says. “Do you understand that?”

“I understand,” I say.

“Then why won’t you try harder?”

“I’m trying as hard as I can.”

Really, I am. I’m out of breath and I am sweating in places I didn’t know it was possible to sweat in. My body is sore, not just from the fighting, but also the running I’ve been doing all week. And I’m still exhausted from the change from Switzerland time to New Zealand time.

“Do it again,” he says.

“No,” I say, sitting down on the ground. “I’m done, Sebastian. I need a break.”

“And you think that somebody coming after you is going to give you a break?” Sebastian asks. “They won’t stop until you’re dead. Do you get that?”

“I’m not as strong as you are,” I tell him. “I don’t want to die, but I can’t do it.”