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• Hey , how're you all doing today? ♡

• This update's a bit of a one before we hit things up in later chapters..

• So sit back, relax— maybe grab a mini chocolate cake & strawberry milk— and let's read to the end!

• Prior announcement: I have a bit of things to discuss with everyone at the , so no rush, but I'll see you again at the bottom lovelies!

"Jamie."

I heard my simple name being called and I looked up as my eyes focused on who had spoken, only to realize that everyone had said it in an echoing effect to each other at the same time.

And I realized I just startled them by laughing out in a dry tone. I quickly shut my mouth and eyed them all with longing eyes before I looked away and began motioning for Liam to follow my footsteps into my room.

"Wait, where-" Helene broke the silence as she felt my body passed hers.

"I'm changing," I replied as I advanced to the room and stepped in, Liam walking in as well.

"With HIM??" I heard Axel's voice rising an octave higher than he was used to. Well done. I just ruined the good reputation that Liam worked hard for. Now they'll remember him as the man that saw Jamie naked. Even though none of that will be true, and I'll make sure of it.

-

Once I locked my door, I glance back at Liam to my right and let out, "How much more time do we have?"

"Like 10 minutes," he sighed as he checked his watch, "possibly even less. That was a tough crew you got there."

I couldn't help but smile at his remark. "Tough crew indeed. You did well."

I began zipping down my suit from the back with my left arm, but found it oddly difficult with my right arm angled differently as Liam replied back with, "Yeah? Well now my effort's are gon-"

He saw me struggle and his face angled away for a moment as his hair covered what his face was showing, before he let out a quiet breath and reached for the zipper, his fingers brushing on top of mine.

I froze as I felt him take the cold zipper and help me undress quickly. "You're not a peeping Tom, are you?" I joked as I let my left arm drop and waited for him to finish by looking back to the front.

"Just trust me," he said quietly, reaching the limit of the zipper and letting go of my suit. I felt his warm breath on the back of my neck as he began backing away the best he could.

I was completely naked, save a bra and an underwear, and the millions of bruises and cuts from previous missions now all shamelessly exposed. Any piece of clothing that got stuck because of the cuffs, I just ripped it right through. I glanced to my side and found Liam patiently waiting with his eyes closed, facing away.

Holding back a small laugh, I lightened up knowing that he still was as respectful as a Liam could get, remembering the last time we went on a 'date.' How will this 'date' go, I wondered, now that three years have passed, and now that I was the one joining his mission, not the other way around?

Interesting, I could say off the top of my head already. Fairly interesting.

Looking through my closet of suits, disguises, and normal wear, I realized that there was no way I could wear a dress. We'd have to cut a strap, or I could wear a strapless dress, but well, the boys have joked many times that my bust area needed more work, and whether or not that was true I was NOT willing to test it out on this man who had commented on my chest before.

"Looks like we're going to rock a different look," I murmured to myself as my eyes landed on a pair of clothing that I knew I hadn't bought. A second thought on it and I realized Jay probably prepared it, since the top had a zipper at the back, just like I needed. I'll just stitch the sleeve part real quick.

Count on your team leader to go shopping for you, ladies.

"Open your eyes," I laughed as I leaned towards the mirror and began collecting my hair into a high ponytail. I saw Liam at the corner of the mirror opening his eyes as they focused on the room before he looked to his left and into the mirror, eyes exploring my new look.

"Damn," he remarked with a smirk playing on his lips, "You're a sniper, come again? Hit a guy up."

I rolled my eyes as I struggled finding proper hair-ties that haven't already broken. "Aren't we going on a 'date' in a few minutes?" I responded slyly.

Liam side-smiled and looked at my eyes through the mirror. "Slightly different," he said under his breath. But when I raised my eyebrows and wanted him to explain what he said, the man shook his head slightly and reached for his pockets.

"Here, let me," he came in quietly, stepping behind me again as he replaced my hands to collect my hair. In a few seconds I felt some sort of thin string wrap around the back of my head and secure the ponytail.

When his hands loosened after the hair was tight, I tilted my head a few degrees to the side and glanced at the mirror for the sideview, only to discover it was a black ribbon that replaced what should have been a black hair tie.

My heart skipped a beat as memories from the past of me using a black ribbon as a hair tie came rushing forward. Was this the same black ribbon as three years ago? I reached up and rubbed the edges a little, bringing my hand down and near my nose for a quick sniff.

Metal. It smelled like metal.

My eyes widened and it soon narrowed as I looked at the man in the mirror who was slightly de-focused as he thought of something else. How did he get his hands on this? I wondered as I remembered leaving the ribbon back in his room before Allison's party. He turned back for this ribbon? I frowned as I was flooded with new questions. Why?

But I snapped out of my thoughts when a memory of him from when we were 'students' popped in my mind after I realized our eyes just met.

-

We stared at each other for a while before he spoke up, "Your hair's different."

Huh.

Oh, right.

"Y-yeah," I piped, truly startled this time, "I just felt like putting it up into a high ponytail today."

I needed the black ribbon today. I was finding answers.

"Do I look weird," I asked in a small tone, keeping my act up.

Now Liam was grinning. Where was that grin when I expected it?

"Not at all, you look cute," he popped, giving me a soft, side smile.

-

He was still staring at me, eyes focusing but dazed at the same time, not saying anything.

"Let me guess," I chimed and broke both of us out of our trance, "I look cute?"

And I was taken back when he let out a genuine chuckle and gazed at the ribbon before looking back at me through the mirror, "Cute? Not at all. Why'd you think that?"

Ouch.

Realizing that trying to bring back memories will only hurt me since he couldn't remember anything, I let out a slightly shaky breath as I tried again. "... Just a boy in the past."

Liam arched his brows as he listened on curiously, "A boy said you looked cute wearing a black ribbon? That's some freak right there. Don't listen to boys like him, I would know. They're just trying to get on your good side. Sounds fake as fuck. How'd you even get tangled up with him?"

There was a moment of silence before it was my turn to laugh. And the whole air transformed into a lighter atmosphere as I realized maybe there was some fun in him not remembering who he was. It would help sometimes when the situation became too much for me to handle.

"Yeah?" I croaked out as I wiped a single tear that escaped, "And why is he a freak? He was cute." My elbows propped up on the table as I rested my head on my hands while looking up at him through the mirror, smirking.

"Sounds like a Prince Charming," Liam commented, watching me in a slight laugh, with slight confusion playing in his eyes, "You like those types of boys?"

I regained my breath and grinned like a freak as I stared up at him through the mirror, "Yeah. A lot."

"Yeah?" Liam let out, eyes searching mine slowly, "I figure he'd call you something like 'Princess?' Don't you know they're all dumb fuck-boys trying to get some?"

"Pfft," I let out, my eyes watering as I looked away from his eyes, "Right on, Carter. I'll watch my back next time, thanks."

_

We ran out of the room as quickly as our four legs, four arms, two heads could run and we managed to get to an elevator before Axel or Chestin could catch up. After that, leaving the R.U. building was a piece of cake.

We got in Liam's car, both through one door, and I realized that as Liam climbed to the right side and I settled at the driver's seat, that I was tonight's driver. Liam put up his phone as a GPS and we ran through a few directions one-on-one before I started the engine and headed out at night.

"By the way," Liam commented from next to me as we got a few minutes of driving in, "What does 'R.U.' even stand for? I asked Jay but he just mumbled something about his team and left."

Realizing that Jay was probably hesitant to tell the man about what WE always joked it to mean, I let out a laugh as I came to a stoplight.

"Alright it's been a secret for who knows how long. Only top elite agents and their teams know."

Liam opened one eye as he turned his head slowly to the left and waited.

"Ready?" I asked with a sly smile.

Upon seeing his curious— yet trying not to seem curious— face, I was struggling to hold back yet another laugh that wanted to escape.

"The 'R.U.' stands for the...

.

.

.

.

eally gly building."

"I'm going to murder you."

-

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