**Unless stated otherwise it will be Charlee's POV by default**
"Blaire, shouldn't you be in your room studying instead of being over here?" I asked her as I looked through my set of flash cards for my Espionage 101 test tomorrow.
"See I don't understand the concept of that class. Why do I need to know the history of espionage? It won't help me out on the field," she shrugged her shoulders looking at the small stack of textbooks on my desk with disdain.
"It's useful because espionage has been going on for centuries and we can always learn from past methods. For example, do you know what a honey pot is?" I asked her looking at my vocabulary flash card.
"Are you sure you're not looking at your grocery list?" she asked me raising an eyebrow.
"No its an espionage term, code for a woman who is supposed to seduce a man in order to get secrets from him or place him in a compromising position. This is still used today but it was very popular among female spies in the early 1950's and 60's when women were viewed as innocent and harmless. Of course, we've always known better," I told Blaire and she nodded her head actually sounding intrigued.
"We've done that several times, haven't we?" she asked thinking of several missions.
"Yep, and now you know the term. Thats at least one question you will get right on tomorrow test," I smiled at her hoping this would encourage her to at least attempt to do some last minute studying. She remained silent and looked at my pile of notecards with an unsure expression.
"If you want, you can use my notes? I'm basically just reviewing now," I offered.
"I must seem pretty dumb to everyone huh?" she asked and I nearly dropped the notecards in shock. Where was this suddenly coming from?
"Are you kidding me? Who in the world said that?" I asked Blaire.
"I don't give off that 'smart' girl vibe like the rest of you do. You're smart on your feet and you get yourself out of any situation, Palma is a CIA grade level scientist, Tiffany is like a political expert and leader, and Lavender scored the highest on the IQ test. Me? I'm just here because I'm really good with a knife on any given day. You all must see me as the boy crazed, trigger happy one of the group," she shrugged her shoulders.
"Blaire, we're all smart here. We wouldn't have been recommended to study here at R.I.P if we weren't. You're one of the smartest people I've met. You know when to act, you're aware of consequences, you always know who the enemy is.
I know you wouldn't be able to tell adenine from guanine apart to save your life, but that's what Palma is good at. It doesn't make you less smart. Just the same, she wouldn't know which type of knife is the best to use against a moving target. We rely on each other because we're all different kinds of smart. That's why we're a team," I told her with finality. I didn't ever want to hear her say something like that ever again.
"God I must be getting really soft because I'm seriously buying your whole friendship togetherness kumbaya speech," she chuckled.
"Alright now go study so you can pass that test and impress Cole," I winked and she just rolled her eyes.
"What? I know you have a crush on him," I told her crossing my arms.
"I don't do crushes, Charlee. I simply admire my surroundings," she laughs as she plucks the flashcards out of my hands and walks out of my dorm. I sighed and stared at her disappearing figure. I swear one of these days a boy will finally snag Blaire and send her plummeting down to Earth in realization. Love is going to hit her hard and I hope a good boy will be there to catch her.
Today I had my first shift working at the museum with some of the other students and it wasn't all too bad. All we had to do was small things like hand out maps to the tourists, clean up duty, make sure no one vandalized or broke any laws, nothing too hard.
Then after the museum, we had to head out to school for our classes and training. Our Covert Operations class was probably the most difficult one since Minerva was a dead serious dedicated agent. I actually enjoyed the class despite the challenge. Blaire however, had another less polite opinion about Minerva and her class.
I put all my textbooks away and went to lay down on my bed. I was pretty tired and hungry but I didn't feel like going downstairs for dinner at the moment. I pulled out my phone to call my parents and catch up with them. I had promised I would keep them up to date while I was here in Rome.
As I turned my phone on I realized I had several missed phone calls from Eric. I gulped nervously and felt a weird feeling in my stomach.
Should I call him back or wait until he calls again?
I checked the world clock app on my phone and realized I had a nine hour difference on him meaning it was around four in the morning back in Los Angeles. I was going to put the phone away but in the end I decided to call him. If he was up, he'd answer. If he was asleep, then at least he'll see I tried to call him back once he wakes up.
I waited anxiously on my bed as I heard the ring tones. Just when I thought I should hang up, the phone was answered and I smiled nervously.
"Hello? Alonzo residence, Mr. Alonzo is currently occupied in the powder room. He's probably taking a dump since he's been there for a rather long time. Would you like to leave a message for Mr. Alonzo?" an eerily familiar voice asked.
"Who is this?" I questioned beginning to wonder what was going on.
"Wow Charlee, I'm hurt. I know its been three years but I didn't think you'd forget the greatest love of your life so quickly," he said and my eyes widened in equal horror and realization.
"Jacob? Why the hell do you have his phone? What did you do to Eric? I'll have you know that I can have you tracked and trapped in minutes," I threatened thinking of my various contacts in California within a five mile radius from Eric's house.
"No need to call your girly squad of terror on me sweetheart, I learned my lesson the first time. I'm actually a guest at your boyfriends house. He's quite the roommate," Jacob laughed.
"Jacob give me my phone and go back to watching your nerdy TV shows," I heard a muffled voice say in the background before I could give Jacob another threat.
"Well aren't you just the party pooper? I was just getting reacquainted with my ex here," he replied and I scoffed.
"I dated you because I had to!" I reminded him.
"Charlee? Jacob give me the phone!" Eric said and I heard a crash on the other side.
"Jesus, calm down you ape! And yes of course its Charlee! What other ex of mine do you have the number of in your phone?" Jacob said. I rolled my eyes at the two of them.
"Charlee? Hi, sorry. I went to the bathroom and this idiot got his hands on my phone. He even managed to change my lock screen picture to a selfie of him," Eric chuckled and I couldn't help but laugh as well.
"Looks like you have your hands full with him huh?"
"He's eating me out of house and home," Eric replied.
"Well you did make the best pizza," I recalled one time when we decided to make pizza together instead of ordering as we usually did.
"How's the pizza over there anyway?" he asked me.
"I actually haven't had any yet," I told him.
"What? You're in Rome and haven't had pizza yet? I don't know what you're doing over there, but you're obviously doing something wrong," Eric informed me and I laughed incredulously.
"I'll make sure to fit pizza eating into my schedule. You know, right after cleaning puke from the Modern Art Wing and my Cryptology quiz," I laughed.
"Sounds crazy," he said between a yawn.
"Oh god I keep forgetting what time it is over there. I shouldn't have called," I shook my head even though he couldn't see me.
"No, its ok. I'm glad you called," he assured me.
"Well either way you need your sleep if you're dealing with Jacob. I'll call you tomorrow," I promised him.
"Ok Charlee, goodnight," he said.
"Night, I love you," I replied.
"Love you too spy girl," he laughed lightly and then we hung up. I sighed putting my phone down next to me.
Only two months and a half to go...
~~~
This was more of a 'feelings' kind of chapter instead of action but I hope you guys liked it :)
Any ideas on what's coming up? Also as I mentioned in the first book, the Just Undercover series has many books yet to come and I love any ideas you guys have to offer! The next book is going to be 'Just the Truth' and you guys also mentioned you wanted a small spin off where Charlee and Eric get married?? Someone suggested Just My Wedding and I thought that was cute.
So maybe someday my dear Charlic shippers ;) let's see if Charlic can survive this book and then we can discuss a wedding spin off full of bridesmaids and bombs perhaps??
Either way, leave your ideas in the comments section. Until next time spy girls (and boys??? I dunno)
~Lorna~