"This is a reconnaissance mission."
Cassidy Valentine crouched behind a potted plant in the main hallway, her eyes locked on the target across the corridor. Her sister Harlow crouched beside her, looking significantly less stealthy in her pink hair accessories and the fourteen keychains jingling softly from her bag.
"I thought this was a casual conversation?"
"It's a tactical casual conversation. Reconnaissance first. Engagement second."
"That sounds like spy stuff."
"It IS spy stuff. We're gathering intelligence."
"On Isaiah?"
"On the CANDIDATE. Don't use his name. It humanizes him."
Harlow blinked. "But... he IS human?"
"Not to us. Not yet. Right now he's just Target Alpha."
Harlow looked at the potted plant they were hiding behind. Then at her sister's laser-focused expression. Then back at the plant.
"We could just... talk to him? Like normal people?"
"Where's the fun in that?"
"I don't think job interviews are supposed to be fun."
"Everything is supposed to be fun. That's my philosophy."
The target, Isaiah Angelo, was standing by his locker approximately thirty feet away. He was talking to that round friend of his. The food heir. Beaucourt? Belmont? Something French.
Cassidy had done her research. Limited research. The kind of research that involved listening to hallway gossip and absolutely not thinking about Isaiah Angelo more than necessary.
"Okay." She pulled out her phone, pretending to be texting while actually keeping eyes on the target. "Here's the plan. We wait until he's alone. Then we approach casually. Start a conversation. Assess his personality, his reactions, his potential weaknesses."
"His weaknesses?"
"Harlow. Are you in or not?"
Harlow considered this for approximately half a second. "I'm in! This is like a buddy cop movie! I'm the good cop!"
"You're always the good cop."
"Because I'm GOOD at being good!"
"That's... disturbingly circular logic."
"Thank you!"
Cassidy sighed. Vivienne owes me for this.
This whole situation was Vivienne's fault. She'd wanted a "thorough evaluation" of the candidate before scheduling a formal interview. Cassidy, in a moment of misguided confidence, had volunteered to handle it.
"I can get close to him without raising suspicion," she'd said. "We're in the same classes. It'll be natural."
"You threatened to ruin his life two weeks ago," Vivienne had pointed out.
"I'll apologize."
"You don't apologize."
"I'll PRETEND to apologize. Same thing."
Famous last words.
Now she was hiding behind a fern.
Attempt One: 10:47 AM
Isaiah finished his conversation with the food heir. Perfect. He was alone. Moving toward the east hallway.
"Now." Cassidy stood, smoothing her skirt. "Follow my lead."
"What's the lead?"
"I'll improvise."
They walked casually toward the east hallway. Very casual. So casual it hurt.
Cassidy rounded the corner.
Isaiah was there, alright.
Surrounded by three underclassmen who were apparently asking him questions about homework. One of them was holding a textbook. Another was showing him something on her phone. The third was just staring at him with the kind of expression that suggested she was memorizing his face for later sketching.
Since when is scholarship boy popular with underclassmen?
"Abort." Cassidy grabbed Harlow's arm, pulling her back around the corner.
"What? Why?"
"He's with people."
"We can talk to him WITH people around!"
"No. That ruins the controlled environment. We need him alone."
"For what?"
"FOR THE ASSESSMENT."
"This feels very stalker-ish."
"It's not stalking. It's... observational research."
"That's what stalkers say."
"Harlow."
"I'm just stating facts!"
Attempt Three: 12:45 PM
Class change. The hallways were chaotic with students moving between periods.
Cassidy had positioned herself strategically near Isaiah's next class. He'd have to pass by. He'd have to see her. She'd initiate a casual greeting. Maybe comment on the weather. Or the homework. Or literally anything that wasn't "remember when I threatened you?"
This is stupid. I should just walk up and talk to him like a normal person.
But I'm not a normal person. I'm Cassidy Valentine.
And Cassidy Valentine doesn't approach people. People approach HER.
Except he won't approach me because I told him I'd ruin his life.
Which, looking back, might have been slightly excessive.
Slightly.
Isaiah appeared in the crowd. Walking toward her. This was it.
He was three feet away.
Two feet.
One foot.
"Isaiah!"
A girl stepped directly into his path. Brown hair. Student council pin. Rebecca Something.
"Do you have a minute? Ms. Vance wanted me to pass along a message about the essay deadline."
He stopped. Started talking to her.
Right in front of Cassidy.
Like she wasn't even there.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
Attempt Five: 1:34 PM
Study hall. The library. Surely, SURELY, this would work.
Isaiah was at a table in the corner. Actually alone this time. Reading something. Doing homework maybe.
Cassidy adjusted her skirt. Flipped her hair. Marched toward the table with confidence.
She was halfway there when the librarian intercepted her.
"Miss Valentine. I don't believe you signed in."
"I don't need to sign in. I'm just—"
"Everyone signs in. No exceptions."
"But I'm only going to be a minute—"
"Sign-in sheet. By the door. Those are the rules."
I hate rules. I hate everything about this.
By the time Cassidy signed in and turned around, Isaiah was gone.
His table was empty.
His homework was gone.
He had literally vanished while she was writing her name on a piece of paper.
"WHERE DID HE GO?"
"Shhhh!" Ms. Chen glared. "This is a LIBRARY."
"I KNOW it's a library! I'm asking where—"
"SHHHHHH."