6:59 (17 page)

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Authors: Nonye Acholonu,Kelechi Acholonu

BOOK: 6:59
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They
knew
? I suppressed a gasp. Miss Monica must've told them. Now I must look like a freak. But judging by the way they were smiling at me so warmly and welcomingly, they must still like me, right?

I met eyes with Anjolie, who was shaking her head discreetly, pantomiming the fact that we had things to do tonight. I knew she was right. If I didn't get my work done tonight, the king would be pretty angry. And that's putting it nicely. I almost gave in to her warning.

Almost.

“Sure, I'll join you guys!” I exclaimed, mimicking Olive by clapping my hands together and smiling wide.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they burst out in greetings and conversation. The past silence of the room was quickly diminished as the sound of musical instruments and light chatter began to permeate the room, all traces of anxiety out the window.

Once everyone's attention was not on me, I gazed at Olive and smiled, giving her shoulder a light jab. “You're everywhere,” I said, digging my hands into my shorts pockets. Ugh, plaid. Cameron and I did
not
have the same taste in clothing.

Olive glanced down at the floor shyly, her cheeks taking on a pinkish color. “Well,
Cameron
and I are pretty close,” she said quietly, not meeting my gaze. “I'm pretty much always with him before you come along.”

I nodded, taking this all in. So everyone knows that Cameron and I are two different people. Well, at least they won't call me the wrong name anymore. “What, are you two an item or something?” I asked.

“I guess so.” She was looking at me now, communicating more with her eyes than her words. She really liked Cameron, I could tell. And for some reason, this newfound knowledge sent pangs of jealousy shooting up my spine.

But I ignored it. I don't get jealous.

I leaned over and flicked Anjolie's hair. She glared at me, swatting my hand away. “Don't,” she said through her clenched white teeth. She went back to her texting.

Okay, so she was mad at me. Fine. I really didn't care much. Tonight I just had to grab some expensive watch from some rich guys. That wasn't going to be hard for her to do. She was good at stealing.

Anjolie stopped texting and stood up with a groan. “I have to leave, everyone,” she said, grabbing her backpack out from under me. When it wouldn't budge, she shoved me away forcefully and ripped it out from underneath me.

“Why?” Hudson asked, standing up and walking over. I knew that if I were a dog, I'd be panting like crazy just watching her walk over like that. As a matter of fact,
every
girl in this room was crazy hot. Was I lucky or was I lucky?

Anjolie shot me a glare. “An
idiot
bailed on me. I'm stuck with the job now.”

Hudson looked over at me and I shrugged. “I'm taking a sick day,” I said lightly, plucking on the banjo in front of me. Olive giggled next to me.

Anjolie rolled her eyes so far back in her head that I thought she'd get stuck like that. “You know how much I hate it when people bail on me,” she said, growling.

I ignored her and continued plucking on the banjo. Only when Hudson kneeled down and stared at me did I pay attention again. “Cam, you should go,” she said, staring at me with her reddish-brown (mahogany?) eyes. “I don't want Anjolie to have to do all the work.”

“Anjolie's strong, she can handle it,” I said, smiling at Anjolie.

Hudson shook her head. “Get up and go,” she said, patting my leg. She stood up and walked away.

“Seriously, Anj?” I said, getting up and grabbing my bag. “Why do you always have to whine about missions? Stop acting like a little girl.”

“I
am
a girl! And I'm not whining!” she protested. “I'm just annoyed because it isn't my job! It's yours. Now you heard her. Let's go.”

“I'm coming!” I barked, glaring at her. Anjolie rolled her eyes and left the room. I glanced over my shoulder at Olive and instantly smiled. “You coming?” I asked her under my breath.

Her eyes widened and she looked over her shoulder at the rest of them. They were all busy with the instruments. “I can't,” she whispered. “They warned me about missions. It's too dangerous.”

“I'll keep you safe,” I said. I knew that if anything were to go down tonight, my eyes would be on Olive. Especially after the way I'd treated her during the last mission.

Olive eyed me for a moment before standing up and grabbing her bag. Smiling, I looked over at the rest of them. “Olive's gonna show me the way out, alright?” I lied, taking her hand. When our hands came in contact, Olive shivered. I looked over at her and saw her blushing.

“Alright, see you guys,” Hudson said with a wave. Armando nodded a goodbye and I smiled.

Then the two of us rushed from the room laughing.

Chapter Thirty

Olive

“Why did you bring
her
?” Anjolie shrieked from the passenger seat. Her eyes had gone all huge and angry. If I hadn't disliked her so much, I probably would have been scared.

Cam laughed as he climbed into the driver's seat of his car. He started the engine. “Anjolie, get your panties out of a twist,” he laughed.

Anjolie flicked her eyes at me and briefly glared. Then she spun around and faced Cam. “Tonight you have to steal the four watches on display. They're brand new and he wants them all. They have the lasers and everything so you have to be
really
careful.” She looked over Cam's body with disdain. “You have to change. No way will you go unnoticed with a polo and plaid shorts. Pull over.”

“What? Why?” Cam asked.

“I brought an extra shirt and jeans tonight in case you forgot to get home before seven,” Anjolie said, yanking clothes out of her bag. “Go stand in the bushes and strip down. Put these on instead.”

Cam pulled over and put the car in park. “I don't have to stand in any bushes,” he said with a grin. “Two hours of working out every night shouldn't go unnoticed.” He slid out of the car with the clothes and walked around the car to stand right in front of it. The headlights shone right at him.

Then he stripped down. The second his clothes came off, I instantly blushed all the way to my toes. Cam was
not
lying about his workout schedule, I can tell you that. His abs were to-die-for, his arms were beautiful, and I fell in love with the rolling muscles.

“Oh, quit gawking,” Anjolie said, sliding a shimmering dress on. When had she started changing? “Must you feed his already huge ego?”

I wanted to tear my eyes away from his body but I couldn't. If he hadn't pulled the T-shirt over his stunning torso, I would've remained gawking like an idiot.

“Haven't you seen his body already?” Anjolie asked, brushing makeup onto her face. “You're going out with Cameron, right?”

“Yes,” I said a little too quickly. I cleared my throat and said lightly, “I haven't seen Cameron's body since sophomore year's pool picnic.” And trust me, it was not
nearly
as impressive as it was now. Not even close.


That
long ago?” Anjolie asked, gazing at me with wide eyes. “But you… you're a couple. You didn't already…” she trailed off but her arm gestures finished her thought.

“We just got together, Anjolie,” I said firmly, but blushed anyway. Why did I have to blush! Couldn't I just act like a normal teenage girl for two seconds?

The car door swung open. “Talking about me?” Cam asked as he slid into the driver's seat. He glanced at me with a grin. “Did you like what you saw, princess?” he asked, widening the grin.

My face felt as though it were on fire! “Yes—no—I mean, sure. I mean—” Why couldn't a normal
whatever
possibly leave my stammering lips? Did I have to have Hudson here whenever I talked to a hot guy? Come on!

Cam winked at me and started the engine again. When he got back onto the road, he looked at Anjolie. “What are you doing in a dress? Trying to impress me again, Anj?” he asked with his famous grin.

Anjolie shook her head as she pulled on her heels. “And why would you think that?” she asked, stuffing what looked like guns into her white purse. It took all of my cool to not freak out and jump out of the car in fright.

“Come on, Anj. You're
always
trying to get in my pants. What's new?” Cam asked, smiling at me through the rearview mirror. I smiled back.

Anjolie sighed. “What is wrong with you, Cam? I don't want you!” She spat out the words as she pulled her hair into a high bun.

“That's not what you said last month,” he said.

“I was drunk and so were you. Can we leave it at that?”

“Only if you don't jump my bones tonight.”

“I promise you that won't ever happen.”

“Am I supposed to take your word for it?” Cam asked, pulling the car to a stop in front of a large mansion. Lights gleamed from every corner, illuminating the house like the White House. The fountain in front was laced with sparkling lights, shining up to the night sky like diamond stars. It was breathtaking.

“Stop flattering yourself and let's go,” Anjolie said as she hopped out of the car.

Cam quickly bounded out of the car and went to my window. “This is what's going to happen, beautiful,” he said after I'd rolled down the window. “You're going to drive the getaway car. When you see me running out of the house, you start up the engine, shut off the headlights, wait for me to hop in through the open window, and drive. Got it?” he asked, staring at me with piercing gray eyes.

“There is no way I'm driving a getaway car, Cameron,” I said, shaking my head fervently. Did he honestly think I'd be an accomplice to his illegal activities? I mean, come on! I'm not an idiot!

“You mean
Cam
,” Cam said, pulling his black beanie over his platinum-colored hair. The way his face stiffened proved his disapproval of my name slip up. Sometimes I was so stupid even
I
couldn't be around me.

“That's what I meant,” I said flushed.

Cam rolled his eyes and shook his head. “It's whatever,” he said, shrugging my name-flub away. “All that matters is that you're on board. I need you to help me out. Without a getaway car, I might not… well,
get away
.”

“Why can't Anjolie drive the getaway car?” I asked in an unflattering whiny voice. At least my voice didn't crack.

Cam looked over his shoulder at Anjolie, who was already hiking up the long driveway in foot-high stilettos and a white gown. “She's going to the party. She needs to be there so that the other Gray Eyes can know where to find the stuff.”

My face broke out in shock. “There are
other
Gray Eyes?” I gasped loudly. Images of angelic-looking people swam through my head.

Cam cupped his hand over my mouth, gazing over his shoulder. Apparently Anjolie had heard me; she was turned around, flapping her arms angrily. Cam glanced back around and stared at me with warning eyes. “Yes, there are others,” he said in a quieter tone. “But I doubt you'll ever see them. The only reason they're here is for the mission. Most of them work or go to school upstate. Anjolie and I hold up Los Angeles.”

“Why do they need to be here?” I asked, making sure my voice was ten times quieter.

“We're breaking into a rich guy's house to steal his stuff. It's a pretty big house and there's a lot to steal. We need backup tonight.”

“How will the others get out?” I asked.

“I assure you, they'll find a way,” Cam said, pulling on a fitted jacket. He buttoned it up to his neck and pulled up the collar. “Now, Olive, please. I can't get away as fast as the others — I'm not a full Gray Eyes. So
please
drive the getaway car.
Please
.” His gray eyes bore into mine with so much pleading, I felt it in my stomach.

I groaned and ran my hand through my hair, my fingers getting caught in the tangles. “Fine,” I sighed reluctantly. “I'll drive the getaway car.”

Cam's face broke out in a smile. “Thank you!” he cried and moved away from the car quickly. But before he was long gone, he swiveled back around and came up to my window. “You just have to drive up a few miles and then you could drop me off. You can take my car and drive yourself home after that, okay?” he said and then he took off running up the steep driveway.

Then I was alone.

I sighed again, suppressing my urge to shriek. What had I just done? Now I'm a part of an illegal mission to steal stuff from an innocent man? Am I an idiot? I sure am! Who in their right mind agrees with this kind of thing?

I groaned and crawled into the front, falling into the soft driver's seat. I'm guessing that if I was the getaway car driver then I'd better be ready. Now that I was sitting in the driver's seat, I decided it was time to prepare myself.

Cam would jump in through the passenger window so that window should be open. I rolled the window down.

Check.

Were the headlights off? I flipped the switch.

Check.

Key in the ignition? Seat adjusted? Rearview mirror set up?

Check. Check. Check.

Now, I was ready. All I had to do was wait.

I stared into the darkness, trying to clear my mind of anything that would distract me. If they expected to steal something, they'd have to do it quickly, right? That means that Cam would be out here any second.

I focused my gaze towards the bright shining house, waiting for something to happen. What was going to happen? I didn't know. But I suspected that Cam would be tearing it down the driveway with a chest of jewels or something, hop into the car, and then I drive. And all of that would happen in seconds. I was ready for it.

But then my cell phone rang.

I jumped and looked around, scrambling for it in the backseat. Stupid cell phone had to be
somewhere
. Feeling around in the darkness, I found my cell phone underneath the seat. I steadied the vibrating machine and pressed the screen, answering the call.

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