Espionage

Led Down the Wrong Path with the Right Promise

"Do you think he did it? Mr. Solomon. Do you think he ever worked for them?" Kingsley leaned back in his chair, chewing on my question. It took him a few minutes before he answered me, appearing to have an internal debate.

"I'm only a few years older than the age that Solomon was when he was reported to have worked for The Circle. And while there's no way of knowing for sure all I can say is if I came from the same upbringing as Joe had been raised and went to a school like Blackthorne, I can't say for certain that I wouldn't also be led down the wrong path with the right promise and get into something way over my head." Kingsley's eyes bore into mine as he spoke and I felt tears prick my eyes for the millionth time today. I forced them down with a curt nod.

"Thank you, Theo. I appreciate your honesty." I smiled at him and he returned it graciously.

"You're stronger than most of the blokes that run these agencies. It's time they start realizing it." Kingsley grabbed his stack of papers again before nodding over at the door. "Now sod off. It's a Friday night. I'm sure you have more entertaining things to get up to." I laughed lightly and took my exit. Despite knowing it was probably stupid for me to leave Gallagher Academy, I still headed for my designated exit route. I'd canceled on Evan one too many times and his parents are so excited to meet me.

Besides.

If I die, I die.

The route to his house came in like secondhand nature to me. I knocked on the door and waited for him to answer. Instead, a beautiful woman with long golden locks and bright blue eyes greeted me. She was dressed to the nines.

"Oh goodness, you must be Eleanor. I'm Delilah, Evan's mom." She greeted me brightly.

"Just Ellie is fine." I replied, returning her smile.

"Oh! You're the magical girlfriend we've been hearing all about." She responded, pulling me in for a tight hug. "Evan boasts about you, he's completely smitten." She added before letting go. "Come in. Evan's father and I are just about to go out for date night. Speaking of which. Christopher, honey, hurry up before we're late." She called to her husband as she ushered me inside.

"It's ok. So Evan's been talking about me huh?" I asked beaming.

"Non-stop." A deep voice said. I looked up and saw a well dressed man, the spitting image of Evan. "Hello, I'm Christopher, as you so kindly heard my wife yell earlier. Our son is always nagging our ears off about you. I'm so glad I finally get to meet the lovely lady who has him wrapped around her finger."

"Well, it's absolutely delightful to meet the parents of my doting boyfriend." I replied sweetly.

"So sweetie, tell us a bit about yourself. I hear you're from Tennessee." Delilah spoke, wrapping an arm around her husband.

"Yes ma'am. I grew up in a small town in Tennessee. That's really why I like it here. Roseville kind of reminds me of home." I smiled softly.

"And you're a Gallagher Girl?" Christopher asked.

"Yes sir. I do attend Gallagher Academy. I transferred in my Freshman year." I nodded.

"Oh I've always been so interested in that school. What's it like?" Delilah leaned forward, and I felt a bit crowded.

"It's interesting. I mean, it's a bit weird when you first get there because it's a completely different system than any other school I've been to. Plus, it's only girls. But I couldn't ask for a better school. It's quickly become like a second home to me."

"Different system? Are you taking the same sort of classes as you would at a normal school? I mean there are state mandated graduation requirements." Delilah asked, her brows furrowing a bit.

"Oh yes. Our electives are a bit different but we are keeping up with our state mandated course. I just mean the way classes are taught is a bit different. More hands on, if you will." I explained and Delilah seemed satisfied with that answer.

"That's good. I've always worried about the girls at that school. It seems like they got you locked up tight, what with all that security. I mean, geeze, what does one school need all that protection for?" She laughed.

"Oh honey, you're meeting this sweet girl for the first time and interrogating her about her school. My goodness, the security is just to keep those girls safe. And good thing too. You never know who might have the mind to hurt those girls. Right, Ellie?" Christopher glanced over at me and I nodded quickly.

"I'm sure it's for safety reasons, but all those precautions would have you thinking that there's something else going on at that school." Delilah waved her husband's comment off and I bit back whatever look my face was going to make at that comment. "But with exceptional young women like you attending that school, I'm sure it lives up to its reputation."

"Is that who I think it is?" I heard Evan say from his room upstairs. Saved by the bell, or by the boyfriend.

"Depends on who you think it is." His dad called back. Evan came out of his room and spotted me. A wide smile spread across his face before he ran down the stairs and picked me up.

"I'm glad you could make it! I've missed you so much!" He said smiling.

"I missed you too." I replied before pecking him on the lips.

"Alright kiddos. We're going to be heading out. Don't do anything we wouldn't do." Christopher announced before taking hold of his wife.

"Ellie, it was so lovely meeting you. We'll have to sit down for a proper meal sometime soon. I'd love to get to know all about you." She smiled at me before walking out the door. I didn't even realize how tense I was until my full body relaxed when they locked the door behind them. I felt so on edge around them, but then again I've been on edge all day. I turned towards Evan.

"Do you have alcohol in this house? I need a drink and a strong one." I asked, walking towards the kitchen. I felt him grab my wrist and spin me around.

"The alcohol isn't in there. What would my parents think if their golden boy son drank?" He pulled me towards the stairs. "Hop on buttercup." He crouched down so I could jump on his back.

"Giddy up." I yelled while he carried me up the stairs. He threw me on his bed before going into his closet and rummaged around.

"You said something strong. So..." I heard the clanking of bottles. "Vodka, tequila or rum?" He asked, holding up the bottles.

"Rum." I nodded towards the bottle.

"Rum it is." Evan said before bringing out two glasses. He reached in his mini fridge and grabbed two cans of coke before mixing us both drinks.. "Can't let you drink alone."

"Cheers to that." I held my glass out to him and he tapped his against mine. I took a large gulp of the drink, and boy was it strong. I finished it in two more gulps and handed the glass back to him. He got up to make me another one before stopping and turning around.

"I know this is fast and we've only been dating for a few months, but I think I love you." He rushed out nervously. Holy shit. He just said he loves me. Isn't this fast? This is fast. We have only been dating a few months. I don't know what I feel. I mean, I do enjoy being around him and he makes me happy. This is what they say love is supposed to feel like in the movies. He's the guy the girl falls in love with in every teen rom com. He's everything I could ever ask for in a boyfriend. He's kind and considerate and... he loves me. I'm supposed to say it back.

"I think I might love you too." I replied and it's not like I was lying. I do think that I might possibly love him, but I'm not 100 percent sure either. But he looked like he could split his face in two with how wide he was smiling. That should be enough, right? He loves me and that should be enough.