The Last Goodbye

Every weekend it was the same, early mornings picking him up and late nights dropping him off. After years of going through the same routine, Sarah’s family was used to the separation between them and her father.

There were times when he was home for longer than three days and when that happened family got dysfunctional. Although he was lucky to be home for another day, their lives continued on. There was an endless schedule that didn’t involve him, while he was home he would hope for quality time with the family but it never happened and he wasn’t in their schedules anymore. So the only thing that he could do was catch up on sleep until it was time for him to be dropped off so he could go to the next destination to pick up or drop off a load.

One week everything changed, it was a week that would change their lives, if only they had known. There was a broken seat and a random speed bum, a huge bounce, a click and a painful but silent snap and crack.

That weekend when he came home he complained that his back hurt. If Sarah knew what was really going on with his back at that very moment, she wouldn’t let the last goodbye happen, but instead she was a part of the very scene.

The light flickered on, in a soft voice their mother asked if they wanted to come to say goodbye to their father. Sarah said yes and because of that her angry little brother and sister were dragged along. They all walked sleepily out to the van in their bathrobes and slippers with blankets around their backs.

The van was freezing but the blanket was warm. All fived packed into their five-month old van. Opening her eyes once again Sarah was in the Meijer’s’ parking lot. There was a huge semi right in front of the van; it was all white except a red STAR logo on the trailer.

A door slamed and the van shook, then there’s a second slam and the van shook again. The massive truck suddenly came to life with a roar and enormous glowing lights shine through the windshield of the van.

The van door slid open as a strong wind whipped right through the inside. To her left there he stood, her hero, the one who got them a better home, the one who had sacrificed so much and there he was to personally say goodbye. He came around to each child except the youngest who wouldn’t wake up.

After he closed the door he hugged his wife and they started to go their separate ways for three painful weeks. Not knowing that would be his last time out on the road. As they drove away Sarah watched her father manover the truck out of the parking lot. Once they got to the highway there was one big sound of the horn as everything that was to happen in the next three years was being set in motion. Sarah waved goodbye to her father, even though he couldn’t see her and sometime down the road he waved goodbye back, for the last time.

Spies (Part One)

Massive metal doors opened and sitting in front of her was her boss, The Chief. His office was large with two large paintings, hiding safes. The couch hadn’t been moved completely back and was showing the entrance to an escape. Agent 316 clicked the couch pack into place as she walked past it. When she reached the chief’s desk she slammed her hands down. “Chief we need to talk.”

“What is it 316?”

“Umm, I’m just going to be honest, I DO NOT agree with sending an agent in ALONE on a mission. Especially the one we had all waited to be assigned for years!”

“316 you have to understand 18 is our best agent, and I have full confidence that she can handle this mission on her own.”

“Chief, from the very first day, our team agreed that no matter what we would not go out there alone. EVER.”

“Well I’m sorry, but when I assigned it to her and she found out she would be by herself she didn’t even give me a chance to tell her that it’s risky.”

“Chief, she could die.”

“And you were once the leader of the team she was on… now she’s all alone, if I would have sent her out there with 27, she could die anyways. Although two great agents and once were apart of your same team, they have become too different and would ultimately lead each other to their death. 18 has no choice, but to do it alone or with her team and as of now she doesn’t have a team.”

“What about 27’s team?”

“She’s still training one, they are growing strong but they are not ready for a mission like this.”

“So you are sending 18 to her death?”

“I gave her the choice, you didn’t.”



2 Years Ago…

Massive metal doors opened and sitting in front of her was her boss, The Chief. His office was large with two large paintings, hiding safes. The couch hadn’t been moved completely back and was showing the entrance to an escape. Agent 316 clicked the couch pack into place as she walked past it. When she reached the chief’s desk she crossed her arms and let out a cough letting the chief know she was there.

The Chief turned around, “yes thank you agent 54 I’ll let them know.” He set down the phone and looked up, “Ahh, 316 just the person I wanted to see.” He said pleasantly grabbing a file off of his desk. He handed her the file. “We have a new agent. You are to train her. Her first mission is in exactly one month, can you have her ready by then?”

Looking at the new agents file and closing it quickly she nodded. “Yes I think I can have her ready by then.”

“Good, but before you give her any training to the way your team runs, make sure she works well with the other agents.”

“Sir, how exactly am I supposed to do that?”

“I don’t know, girl bonding… take the girls out to dinner, have a good time.”

She paused for a second and then nodded, “yes sir.” And with that 316 left picking up a knocked over picture frame on her way out, and the door opened for her. “One month,” she whispered to herself. “Oh dear.”

Wasting no time 316 did as she was instructed, the whole team had dinner at their favorite Italian restaurant. They all met dressed up, agent 316 had told the girls that she had an announcement to make when scheduling the dinner, so the girls were anxious for their fearless leader to arrive.

When she arrived there was a girl, not a woman, a girl dressed in a short homecoming style dress. She had shoulder length dirty blonde hair, very thin and childlike. The entire team sat in silence as 316 walked up to them. Her curly blonde hair bounced with every step she took in her four inch heels. 18 stood up without hesitation, there were no outsiders in their group and 316 knew that. “Sophia what are you doing, we can’t…” she whispered angrily.

“It’s okay,” Sophia nodded, “She’s with us.” All eyebrows raised, “but for safety reasons we can re-introduce later by numbers, lets give names.”

“Gabrielle, this is Chloe (11), Becca, (18) Then there’s Ellie,(21) but she couldn’t make it. We used to have two more, but Stephanie left for family reasons and Lindsey (27) got offered her own team. So this is us… the four, well five now.”

“Girls, this is Gabi. I’m teaching her the ropes at work, and she may be a part of our team.”

“How soon will she be… working with us?” Becca stood in defense to her team, hoping it would be a while.

“One month.” Sophia looked around the table had shocked expressions on their faces. Quickly Sophia wondered if she had just destroyed her team by accepting the Chiefs’ assignment. Although the worry that the best team in the agency may just have started to be destroyed; Sophia continued with the training of her new agent, agent 4.

The month flew by fast, and soon the team started to bond. It was one day during the training that started the bonding. Becca took Gabrielle to their church one Sunday as a part of her training. It was more to be a part of the group, and get a feel of how things went with them. Every Sunday they went to church together and sat in the second row and in the section all the way to the right of the sanctuary. One day Becca decided to stay late and help with the church production of Scrooge. That day the girls started to bond and share secrets while painting the background of the scenery.

Soon after that day at church everyone else seemed to bond nicely, at church, at Sunday night dinners, and during the worst days of training. Sleepovers started, then pictures and the secret chats on the telephone. Constant training took place and Sophia never had to finish the job on her own. The team was by her side training their newest accepted team member.

Training was a success.

The next year they spent together was a complete success, no matter what they did, what problem they came against during a mission. They survived, and won. Nobody got hurt, because they each covered each other when they were in different situations. They were a team, but not just a team they were best friends, sisters. They shared everything sometimes even blood. At the end of the year there was a picture taken (two or three free agents joined the picture due to other times when they came through) the picture was the best friends in the agency, and the best team in the agency.

Soon after that picture was taken things started to change though, Sophia decided to take a break and settle down, she then gave Chloe the title of Captain. Although the girls saw her at church and they still sat together, the team was… awkward. Soon after Sophia decided to settle down, so did Ellie and Chloe. The team was then left with only two.

The girls held onto the title of best team in the agency. Even though there were only two of them, they had been trained by some of the best agents ever seen in the agency and therefore got through everything. Survived everything. Beat everything.

Through the year alone they came to realize that nothing would ever be the same, but that was okay, they had each other. They agreed they would never leave until they were both ready. But like the others things got in the way and agent 4 had a choice to make.

Spies (Part Two)

After a ton of phone calls, messages and even talking during a secret mission, 18 let 4 go ahead with her life. 18 was disappointed but she hoped one day they could all be a team again, maybe from separate parts of the world and years away, but some day.

It was her fourth week without any sort of team, without anyone of her own to train, and without a best friend by her side it was that week that she got a call. Massive metal doors opened and sitting in front of her was her boss, The Chief. His office was large with two large paintings, hiding safes. The couch hadn’t been moved completely back and was showing the entrance to an escape. Agent 18 clicked the couch back into place as she walked past it. When she reached the chief’s desk she sat down in the chairs and asked what it was he wanted her to do.

As he told her, her eyes widened. It was the mission they all wanted they had all hoped for. After years of being a team she was finally getting the mission they wanted and she was all alone.

“Yes I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,”

“If you fail, you know what that means right?”

18 shook her head, she didn’t want to think about what would happen if she were to fail, to get caught. Failure was not an option. She shook hands with the Chief and turned around as he wished her good luck…

Present…

“Chief that’s not even fair to say, I have a life outside of this agency.”

“Yeah, do you ever think that 18’s life was the agency, and it has remained so… and in saying that you were a part of her life.”

“Fine, but tell me where she is. You do know where she is right? I have 11 and 27 in the car, 4 is on her way.” There was a beep, “she’s here, and we are going after 18.”

Dodging alarms, and dogs, already past the car chase (that happened just a few days ago) there she sat at the sneakiest part of the whole mission. The part of sneaking around in the vents… this was practically it. One wrong step and she could be done, she wished she had her girls by her side; they could be the ones checking around every corner and looking for ways to get in and out fast. The mission was supposed to last a whole week and she was only on day four, to get caught now would be horrible. The fact that it lasted so long was what made it so dangerous and risky. It’s what made the team want it so badly.

Taking a step toward the only exit choice she had, she forgot about the water that had collected on the floor when she first came in (it was raining). There was a slip and a slam, knocking over the china in the cabinet of the villainous house. There was a crash as a plate hit the floor, and the alarm sounded as it crossed the line. Next a quick snap was heard as the rest of the cabinet opened and a small flicker of light as the first stage of the alarm was starting. Then there was the bright flashing red and yellow lights that could blind someone and that’s when she knew, she was caught red handed. There was no getting out, without a miracle. Immediately she wished her girls had been there. Then looking up, there he was, the Dr. himself.

Quickly she stood up hoping she could make a run for it before he and she were face to face. She turned around and there they were the security. Her worst fears were coming true; there was no way she was going to make it out alive.

When the girls arrived the first thing they noticed was that there was no security at the door. The second thing was the flashing red and yellow lights that were blinding them, something had gone wrong and they had to get in there. Looking around they realized that the only way they knew how to get in without setting off anymore alarms and sending the guards straight to them, was to go up.

Finally getting a view of the foyer from the sun roof they could see 18 alone completely surrounded. The Dr. was obviously at the part of discussing either what he was going to do with her, or why she was here to stop him, which she obviously already knew, but he wanted to rub it in her face. She didn’t even flinch as he got close and personal, spitting in her face.

“I trained her well.” 316 said watching and waiting for the perfect time.

“Don’t forget we’ve all had to go through that, we’ve all been caught at one point, thank God for our team.” 4 said remembering the day of the first time she got captured, it was intentional, but she was still terrified, and the urge to show fear kept creeping up on her. But she had remained calm; just as she was watching 18 do at the moment. The only difference between the situations 18 is in at the moment and the time 4 had gotten caught… 4 knew she was going to be rescued while he was telling her how she was going to die. 18 is thinking at the moment that she knows she’s going to die.

The Dr. turns his back and 316 knows where he’s leading her, the guards disperse looking for the rest of 18’s team, even though she probably told him already that she’s alone and there’s no need for it, but of course he doesn’t listen.

That was their moment to go...

Together they stood outside of the door. Through a tiny window they could see 18 standing there ready for the first of his many steps to the end (the girls never got to the end he just always explained it). 18’s eyes move toward the door and the girls back up knowing they can’t risk her getting surprised, excited or relieved and accidentally leading the Dr. to find them. The Dr. crossed the room and they knew what was next. They quickly moved to the hallways dispersing until they knew he was upstairs getting ready for his “long night ahead”. Once the pitter patters of his footsteps were gone they opened the door and there she stood. Hands tied behind her back, tape over her mouth. A position they had seen her in so many times, but never had they seen such a look of relief on her face.

Taking their normal route out of the mansion carrying a note with tape on it, typing in the code to the house the front door unlocks. The girls giggle, “he really needs to change that, how long have we snuck out through the front door?” and to finish off their normal routine they left the note.

Dr.

Sorry, but you’ve lost again. 18 never lied to you, she didn’t know we were coming, and though she may be back to take you again, we will be in and out as we please. So here is a warning, watch out cause you never know when we may be back to save her. That is if she ever needs saving… she told us how she got caught, she’s not always that clumsy.

-Your Enemies

-Your Enemies

Spies (Conclusion)

One Year Later…

“Mommy, I don’t want you to go…” the little girl with brown curly hair looked up at her.

“Sophia, try to be home by the weekend.” The tall male with curly brown hair, a cute smile and tan skin kissed her on the cheek.
“I will, I love you.”
“I love you too.”



“Professor I’m going to be e-mailing you my report, I have to work all weekend, is that okay?”
“Chloe, you know I like printed copies,”
“I know but this is urgent, please. I’ll try to stay on top of things next time I’m called in.” The professor signed and gave a “Fine.” Chloe smiled as her monthly routine worked on the professor. She was his favorite student, mostly because of her passion to learn. Chloe couldn’t wait to be a dentist.

“Okay, so babe, you can handle the kids right?” He gave her a disappointed look.

“Of course I can, how many times have I done this, and I know that if I need help I can just call..."



“Don’t call Jessica,"

“But she’s great with kids,” Gabi gave him a look and he knew what it meant, no calling the sister.

“Well have fun on your top secret mission.” He kissed her as she left and hoped that she would be back by the weekend, ready to go back to church with her girls.



“We just got back from a hunting trip; do you really have to already be leaving?” He asked Ellie with a pathetic smile on his face. She smiled back slowly enhancing her dimples.

“This one should be done by the weekend, and then we can spend the whole weekend together, just us.”

“Sounds like a plan. Be safe.” He said and gave her a kiss goodbye.

“Bec, where are you going?” He walked in with a confused look on his face.

“There’s another one.”

“Already?" He shook his head.

“But I’ll be back by the weekend,” she promised.

“Is it with the whole team?” She shook her head yes. It was going to be another incredible week.

“When are you going to finish the book?”

“When I get back I’ll type it up… I’ll have plenty of time to write on the plane.” He let out a sigh as she looked into his blue eyes. She smiled and he smiled back. She remembered the first time she met him as if it were yesterday. As she grabbed her bag she started to walk out the door.

“I'll see you on Saturday…”

“See you on Saturday… and be safe.” She smiled one last time and kissed him on the cheek.

Twenty minutes later there they stood together, ready to get on the plane back to headquarters for yet another big mission. They all had lives at home and had great jobs, college classes and families and the best part… they were still together as a team.

The Campfire

With a couple of words and a kiss it was all over and she knew it. I don’t know why but she dared to tell her best friends, but she did and quickly they warned me that you may no longer be in an almost relationship…




I can see the way you look at her, her reflection glows in your eyes as the obvious loving, and wanting feeling fades and disappointment strikes hard as your best friend walks up and stands right next to her. Your best friend is the one she’s talking to, not you. I see your head drop, the flames of the fire glowed onto your face, I notice your cheeks are a rosy red. You are dressed in sweats from head to toe you look warm from the front but the harsh wind hits our backs and sends chills through our bodies. We both let out a shiver but don’t even look at each other.

Your head lifts a little as we both stare at the fire. I look at you not even knowing why you are standing next to me, company? The wind takes another blow and we let out another shiver, but your gaze doesn’t change and neither does mine. I want to ask what you’re thinking but I think I know the answer. You want to know what you did wrong, but you don’t ask. You just watch as your best friend reclaims what once was his, and takes what was yours’ for such a short amount of time. I see your head turn a little bit in her direction and then back at the fire. I wish you would say something.

I want to say so many different things. Not just to you, but to the three of you. I know I can’t though, it’s your battle to fight, not mine. I hate sitting here watching your heart break, you can’t just hide it, you need to talk to somebody and there’s a part of me that wishes that somebody was me.

I hate to admit it, but you make me smile and laugh and I feel so much happier around you, and I hate to see you like this. The wind takes another hit and at the same time we turn around with our backs to the hot fire. Once my friend - the one who invited me - left, I was kind of worried that the rest of the night would be awkward and lonely - although I’m getting used to that feeling - considering she had brought her own friend, but with you standing next to me, not even saying a word, I feel so comfortable, and not alone.

There’s a tap on my shoulder and I turn around, “the girls are going to go back to the cabin, do you want a ride?” I turn and look at you. You hold your gaze, focused on the fire. I nod, I don’t know if I should feel bad for leaving you to stare at the fire all alone, but it is getting late and I don’t want to think about it all night.

Walking away from the comfort you give me, I also walk away from all of the confusion and pain that she is bringing into the retreat. I say goodnight under my breath and “Enchanted” starts to play in my head.

Conversations with your mom and a ride home, by you yourself, are followed. All I can do is wonder, now that the story isn’t over like I thought it was, is if our friendship will continue and grow, or if there will be another bridge to cross…



She leaned up against the stove as her and I was waiting for our two friends to show up. A few words slipped out of her mouth, there was “I wish I could, but I can’t because you like him.” At first the warning signs didn’t go up, but she said it a few more times that night and I knew from the past that within a few months history would be repeating itself and I would be giving yet another girl a chance at your heart… but you should know… I really was Enchanted to meet you.