Life As A Spy

Chapter 32

<Garrick's Pov>

We leave for Will Black III today.
The papers say we're going to Ruby, Alaska.
I wonder what I should pack.
I go to Morgan's room to ask if it will be really cold.
I knock on her door.
When she doesn't answer I open it and say, "Morgan, are you in here?"
No one answers, so I go downstairs.
I find her in the kitchen.
"Hey," I say.
"Hey," she says pulling a tray out of the oven. It's filled with chocolate chip cookies.
I pick one up and she smacks my hand.
"Those are for the plane ride," she says and turns around to get a plate.
I quickly pop one in my mouth.
It's really hot.
"Oww! It's hot!" I yell and spit it out in the trash can.
"They just came out of the oven," she says and hands me a glass of milk.
"Thanks," I smile sheepishly.
She rolls her eyes.
"So what can I do for you?" She asks.
"I can't just spend time with my pretty girlfriend?" I ask fake hurt.
She looks at me questionably.
"Okay, fine. How cold is Alaska this time of year?" I say giving in.
"Pack long sleeve shirts and pants. A thick coat, gloves, and maybe a scarf," she says, "And don't forget boots."
I kiss her cheek and run upstairs.
"Thanks," I yell as I'm on the stairs.
I pack and look at my papers closely.
I look the same as I do now, but I have a different name than I usually do.
It's my real one.
I can do that.

*Clara's Pov*

I wake up early and can't go back to sleep.
I'm tired of it being awkward with Brandon. If he's going to be a coward, so be it.
I guess I'll make the first move.
I knock on Brandon's door.
"Can't sleep?" He asks me when he opens the door.
I shake my head.
"Me neither," he says and invites me in.
I sit on his bed and sigh.
He sits beside me and rubs his neck like he does when he's nervous.
"Brandon, I'm sorry if I made you think I was cheating on you," I say.
"Clara, this is all my fault. I overreacted. I just don't trust people easily. I became a player, so I wouldn't get hurt. And I never meant to hurt you. I'm the one who should be sorry and I am," he says looking down.
"Hey, it's okay," I say lifting his chin.
"Will you take me back then?" He asks hopefully.
"Of course, I will. I wanted you to ask me to the dance, but I knew it probably wouldn't happen," I say and hug him.
He hugs me back and kisses my cheek.
He picks me up and throws me over his shoulder.
I laugh and he carries me to my room.
He sets me down and leaves smiling.
Then, I finally fall asleep.

-Morgan's Pov-

I'm making breakfast when Clara and Brandon come down the stairs holding hands.
I wave a spatula at them and they blush.
"Make up?" I ask.
They nod.
"Sage know?" I question.
They pale.
"I'll take that as a no," I laugh.
"What will she do?" Clara starts freaking out, "She might hang you off of a shark tank!"
Brandon starts to look scared.
"Hey, you'll be fine," I try to calm her down, "Just explain to her that it was a misunderstanding. Anyway, when I said you would get over him, she wasn't so sure."
She smiles and they wait for Sage.
When she comes down, they walk slowly over to her.
"Let me guess you're back together?" She says.
"Umm...yes and how did you know?" Clara asks.
"It was only a matter of time before Brandon stopped being a coward or you made the first move," she says, "No offense Brandon."
"None taken," he says but looks a little hurt.
"I give you my blessing, but if this happens again, I will hang you over a shark tank no matter what she says," Sage says sternly.
I don't know what it is with her and shark tanks.
"Yes m'am!" Brandon says scared.
"Good, now let's eat," she says.
Clara is smiling trying to calm down Brandon who looks ready to collapse.
Sage does have that effect on men, or people in general.
Soon, everyone is eating.
When we're done, we load the suitcases.
We take the truck and Sage and Isaac are on their motorcycles.
It's still a little awkward on the plane.
We have our normal seats, but Sage and Isaac won't sit anywhere near each other.
I don't know why they are upset, but I heard Sage singing on her balcony last night.
She only goes out there when she's really sad or really happy. And by the looks of it, it's the first one.
What did happened?
How is it always that one "couple" is mad at each other?
First, they were our mortal enemies.
Now they are family.
Isaac falls asleep and so do Clara and Brandon.
I notice Garrick is too.
It gets a little rough, so I put his head on my shoulder.
I can tell Sage is thinking about what to do with Isaac.
"Just do it," I say.
She nods and puts his head in her lap.
She starts playing with his hair and whispering.
Actually, I think she's singing.
What is wrong with her?
I've never heard her sing for a guy.
She's so independent.
"Will you be okay visiting your whole family?" I ask her.
Ruby, Alaska is pretty much run by Sage's whole family on her mother's side.
She's visited them a couple times. They don't really approve of her dad and mom leaving, so she doesn't see them much.
"I guess. It's been a while. At least I had Autumn change my status from married to engaged. Oh, yours is now just dating. So Garrick doesn't have to propose to you. Believe me if he does you'll be married by sundown tomorrow," she says and laughs.
"You know they're going to try to marry you there," I realize.
"Hopefully not, but I'll just have to act like I'm in love," she says sadly.
"I don't think there will be much acting," I tease.
She frowns.
"You should know William asked me to be his girlfriend, but I said no. And when I went in to the dance, I saw Isaac kissing Saira. He didn't look like he would be pulling away anytime soon either," she says, "But it's none of my concern. He likes her and I'm fine. We were never together, so he's free to live his life."
I feel bad for her.
We stop talking and I fall asleep with Garrick's head on my shoulder.

When I wake up, Isaac is the only one still asleep.
I doubt Sage slept at all, since it doesn't look like either of them have moved.
"Okay, guys you should know Ruby, Alaska, is my mother's home town. Her whole family lives here and makes up almost all of the city. We are staying in my grandparents's house. Oh and please read your papers," she says, "You won't have to change your looks or names and absolutely no powers. Morgan and Garrick are just dating and Brandon and Clara are the same."
"What about you and Isaac?" Brandon asks.
"We're engaged, because my grandparents would kill me if they weren't invited to the "wedding" and we are the distraction," she explains using air quotes.
Isaac's head is still on her lap and stirs a little after she finishes talking.
I look out the window and see a small city.
"We're here," I say.
"Isaac, wake up," Sage whispers.
He opens his eyes forgetting where he is. When he sits up, his face flushes in embarrassment.
"What did I miss?" He asks trying to act cool.
"I'll tell you on the way there," Sage says.
She opens the door when we land.
"Did you read your papers?" Sage asks him.
"Not all of it," he admits.
"Great," she says sarcastically.
Walking down the street, I notice everything says Ruby's something.
Ruby's tackle shop, Ruby's cafe, Ruby's bookstore. It goes on and on.
We get to a dock with a boat waiting for us.
Sage drops down and runs to the person steering the boat.

{Isaac's Pov}

Sage gets on the boat and hugs the person driving.
"Grandpa!" She says.
Grandpa? How did I miss this?
"Sage, I've missed you," he says.
She helps us get down with our luggage.
"Grandpa, these are my friends Morgan and her boyfriend Garrick, Clara with her boyfriend Brandon, and finally my fiancé Isaac," she says nervously.
"Nice to meet you. How come you never told us you're engaged?" He asks.
"Umm...I wanted to tell you in person," she says.
When he nods, she sighs in relief.
We sit in the front, so he can't hear us.
"Grandpa?" I ask.
"You were asleep! Anyway my family makes up most of Ruby, Alaska and my grandparents are...well you'll see. Anyway, we are engaged, because we are the distraction and they would freak out that they weren't invited to the wedding. They'll be dealing with that, so we'll have time to look for Will. And if they try to talk about the wedding day, it's going to be in a couple of years," she explains.
I nod trying to take it all in.
Soon, we are docking at a huge white house.
It must be Sage's grandparents's.
Wow, they are rich.
I wonder why Sage doesn't live here.
We get out and go into the house.
A woman greets us and Sage hugs her.
"Grandma! How are you?" She asks and introduces us again.
"Fiancé?" She asks shocked.
"Yep. We're not getting married for a couple years," Sage says quickly.
"Alright dear. Let me show you your rooms," she leads us down a hallway. The first one is Clara's, then Morgan's, Garrick's, and Brandon's.
"Where do you want us?" Sage asks.
"You can have your parent's old room. Plenty of room for you two," she says and Sage starts to object, "It's fine I know you guys probably already share a room at home."
She walks away as Sage face palms.
She gives me an apologetic look.
We go up a flight of stairs and into a giant room with huge windows.
It's beautiful.
We put our stuff down and look outside.
"Sorry about that. My grandparents are just..." She trails off.
"So why don't you live here if all your relatives do?" I ask.
"My mom left, because she wanted to be somewhere where her parents didn't control everything. She met my dad and got married back home. My grandparents weren't so happy. I've only been here a couple of times," she says quietly.
"Hey, I'm sorry. Look, I'll take the floor tonight and everything will be fine," I say trying to cheer her up.
It's getting late, so she goes downstairs to tell her grandparents not to bother with dinner for us.
When she comes back, she has the team with her.
"Wow, nice room," Garrick says looking around.
"Okay, so it's my grandma's birthday in two days, so we have to defeat Will after that. Oh and I just found out they are trying to plan our wedding," she says and flops on the bed.
"Really?" Clara squeals.
Sage glares at her.
"I'm not getting married," she says.
"Not yet," Morgan says and they all run out.
Cowards.
"Oh, before I forget, I got you this for future missions," she says handing me a ring with intricate designs, "You won't use it this time, but maybe for your next mission when your playing a nice husband."
"Thanks," I say and kiss her cheek.
She looks at me confused, but I just walk into the bathroom.
When I get out, Sage is already asleep.
I find the remote that closes the curtains and eventually fall asleep on the floor.