1 School Break
Ever since Astrid left the agency she's registered to school to keep a low profile. She doesn't have any friends at school except for this one guy who always partners with her on their assignments and projects, James. They don't talk to each other much but it turns out that he's ok with it. He's never seen her without her glasses or her silver bracelet with her name along with rose floral designs and gold in-between.
She doesn't like attention or gossip and she doesn't date so no one can say she stole someone else's boyfriend when they never even dated in the first place but you can safely say she likes apple pie.
"Alright, class. I shall see you next month but please submit your thesis early so that I can also have a break." Professor Jones says earning a few laughs from his students then the bell rings signaling the beginning of a month's break.
"Astrid, stay behind. I want to talk to you." He says and she stays seated not bothering to ask why she has to stay back as the other students leave and all the female's glare at her.
Professor Jones was a refined man, only twenty-nine years of age with pitch-black hair always neatly styled back, with dark blue wayfarer framed glasses with green eyes always wearing a sweater over his shirt and denim jeans and sneakers. His clothes do nothing to hide his athletic build which makes all the girls drool. Most of the time they join his class so that they can stare at him for two hours and make an effort to pass with a minimum grade so he can compliment them and continue to take the class.
Only when the class was empty did she approach her professor making sure to fix her glasses and remove her hood from her head, letting loose her waist-long loose curled copper-brown black hair which she didn't want to comb.
"Astrid. You're an excellent student but you need to participate more in class." He says, looking at her sternly yet gently.
She shakes her head slightly in response as small smile tugs at her lips. Professor Jones lets out a laugh, showing all his pearly white as he smiles at her.
"I'm not going to ever get you to agree, am I?" He asks her, getting a quiet laugh from her along with a dimpled smile.
"No, Professor Jones." She says to him. Remembering with a start, she opens her bag and takes out two beautifully wrapped pastry boxes, and hands it to Professor Jones.
"Have a good break, Professor." She simply says with a smile as he takes the boxes thanking her with a smile then she heads home.
Upon arrival at her apartment complex, she takes off her glasses and takes a look around making sure only humans are present before she heads inside. As soon as she enters she adjusts the temperature of the apartment to twenty-one degrees Celsius then takes off her Jacket and bracelet as she takes a look around.
"Ollie. Where are you boy?" She calls then she hears a gentle scrape of his nails against the tiled floor as he makes his way towards her. She kneels and gives him scratches and cuddles while he licks her cheek in response.
"Are you hungry?" She asks as puts on gloves then takes out some raw meat from the fridge places it in his bowl then fills his water bowl.
She heads to her room placing her glasses on her dressing table as she switches her jersey for a tank top and her jeans for a pair of jean shorts and sets her shoes near her bedroom door. She returns to the living room and clicks the space bar on her laptop which activates the security cameras footage on her tv and laptop screen. She installed cameras in the hallway and various spots around the block leading up to her apartment.
Taking a seat on the kitchen stool, she proceeds to clean her three handguns and M24s as she eats a slice of her homemade apple pie. When done she lays them in a row before her as she silently and absentmindedly caresses the protective sleeve that hides her left hand from curious gazes while Ollie lays at her feet not wanting to disturb his master and his only family.
"I'm going to get a job for next month, Ollie." She says and he raises his head to look at her and rolls his eyes.
"I guess you don't agree with me." She says laughing softly as she runs her slender fingers through his soft grey fur.
That night after she had a bath, not changing the temperature of the apartment went to bed in baby blue shorts and a thin strap top set without needing anything else to cover her. Ollie joined her by laying at the foot of the bed, close to her feet to make her aware of his presence but not too close so that she can feel his warmth.
The sunlight that peaked out from behind her bedroom curtain woke her up at half six in the morning. Ollie shifted slightly in his sleep acknowledging that he knew that his master was up. It was so cold that her breath came out in white puffs and for some people, they wouldn't be able to stand but for her it was comfortable.
She headed out to the kitchen and while preparing breakfast for herself, she watched the camera footage, watching as people passed by non the wiser. Finished preparing her breakfast which consists of bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, and a cup of lavender tea.
The ringing of her phone gets her attention as she sips on the remainder of her tea. She heads for her hoodie and takes it out of the pocket to see her brother calling her. With a gentle smile on her face, she accepts it.
"Hey." She says with a smile.
"Go secure." He says and she immediately knows that it's not a family call. Immediately she switches encrypted and heads towards her laptop ready to work.
"What's wrong?" I ask him as I place the call on speaker.
"I need you to find someone for me. Incoming." He says as she receives new mail. She opens it to reveal a picture of a familiar elderly man.
"What did he do?" She asks as she runs his picture through her interface pulling him his old files and business dealings.
"Working with the enemy and taking some important files." He responds.
"Shady." She replies as she proceeds to hack into his phone getting his general location in the area around the rival agency.
"Tracker?" She asks him.
"Disabled." He says.
"Not quite. Remember I designed them and unless they have someone better than me, his tracker is on sleep mode." She says with a smile on his face.
"Please." That is all he says which causes her to smile.
"Already turned on and he'll be oblivious to the fact until it's too late." She says as she sends him the traitor's location.
"Interesting. Looks like he works for your second competitor as well. Files sent to you and I'll have some fun while I'm at it." She says to him, earning a laugh.
"Not too much fun." He says in response.
"OK." She says.
"How's school, sweetpea?" He asks like the fatherly brother he is.
"School's good. They just let us out for a month's break." She says in response.
"Are you coming to visit?" He asks.
"I might but I want to get a job so I can keep myself busy in my free time." She responds.
"We miss you, especially Katie." He says.
"I'll visit before the month is out and I'll call if I need anything." She says before he could respond.
"Ok. Stay safe and hug Ollie from us. Bye sweetpea." He says.
"Bye." She says then hangs up the phone then sends anonymous emails to the respective agencies. She stretches her hands and opens the curtains letting the sunlight into the room then calls for Ollie while taking out his breakfast.
"Hey buddy." I say as I kneel to give him cuddles as he licks my face in response then heads off to eat his breakfast while I head to my room to have a shower and get ready for my interview at this club called Eclissi meaning Eclipse in Italian.
After having a semi-cold bath and completing my morning, I change into my black combat boots with navy blue denim jeans with a red thin strap and a white oversized hoodie-jacket along with a black protective sleeve to hide my left arm. I place my hair into a high-ponytail, nude lip-gloss on my naturally pink lips, a little bit of mascara on my lashes and I'm good to go. Of course, don't forget the glasses and bracelet.
"Ollie." I call as I retrieve his collar from his drawer as I hear the padding of his paws on the floor. He sits in front of me obediently and I place his collar gently yet securely around his neck then it's out the door for both of us.
Ollie has enough training to know to stay close to me and he doesn't need a leash but I'll admit that he scares a lot of people with his size and cold gaze as he keeps an eye out for danger. We arrive at the club to see a long line of people wearing clothes that are not supposed to be worn in broad daylight. Lowering my glasses, I look at each of them to see all are human and desperate.
They glare at me as I make my way to the back of the line but recoil once they see Ollie following me, some even scream in fear. Once at the back of the line, I take out my phone checking for missed messages, calls, and emails.
