I am pretty sure I should not trust someone who lied to me – big time! – or rather, held back most of the truth from me, so quickly. But I did it anyway. After all, I don't really mind. I know him. I know that he does everything for a reason. And that he would have his own reason for not telling me either.

"You know what I would love to do the most right now?" I asked Gray thoughtfully and absent-mindedly, breaking the awkward silence between us.

"What?"

"To find out something about how my family – or rather, I – am involved in that organisation thing that Desmond runs..."

Gray turned to look at me, cocking his head at the same time. Amusement and mischief twinkled in his eyes. "It's really not as easy as you think. They have... Tools, technology. We don't."

"But we have courage. And the spirit of adventure. And besides, there are only two of us. It's a small chance that they will spot us in crowds of people," I pointed out.

"True... True..." he replied thoughtfully.

"But...?"

He chuckled. "You know me so well... But I don't think it's a good idea."

"Come on!" I pleaded with him, using my puppy dog eyes which I know perfectly well that it's his weakness. "Just this one time?"

He glared at me for a while, as if trying to resist my puppy dog face. But eventually, he gave up and sighed, clearly defeated. "Fine, Willow. But just this one time."

I nodded eagerly in reply. Yes! Maybe I'll find out something about whatever Dad wants to tell me at eighteen. Or how he knew that he was about to die on that very day. Maybe he was involved in this? I don't know why, but I just have the hunch that he was.

For one panic-stricken moment, I thought I saw fear flashed in his eyes. But I can't be sure, because it was gone almost as quickly as it came. It was as though it never happened.

He sighed softly from beside me. "I sure hope you know what we are up against. And how much risk you are about to take," I heard him mutter from beside me.

~~~ ♥ ~~ ♥ ~~ ♥ ~~~

I am totally surprised that I have these many clothes in my closet. I thought that I barely had any clothes at all in my house. Apparently, I was wrong.

I found clothes in the container of presents that was sent to me on many different occasions, but was never opened. I found it in the store room where I keep the stuff that I still want; the stuff I brought with me from my old house. Heck, I even found clothes in the bathroom!

I somehow managed to fish out a cream-coloured trench coat, a pair of black leather gloves, a pair of tights with denim pattern on them and a pair of brown leather high heel boots I normally use to formal events during the winter – well, my sister did anyway... – in the huge messy pile of clothes that I dumped on the floor of my room.

I never thought I'd say this, but perfect.

I wonder what Gray is going to wear for today's so-called 'outing'.

Hopefully it's nothing too obvious or suspicious looking.

I yanked open my chest of belongings at the foot of my bed and peered inside. I have never been able to summon up the courage to open this chest as it reminds me too much of the time when my family was still alive.

I myself am surprised by the amount of accessories and jewelleries I have in here. I dug through all of them. It took me approximately seven minutes to find the perfect accessories to go with my perfect outfit: a pair of huge sunglasses, a pair of diamond-studded loop earrings and a few multi-coloured bangles.

Interesting find, Willow, I bet that they will come in handy when it comes to disguising how I really look.

That should be enough, I tell myself, somewhat calmly. I stole a quick glance at the clock. 10.02 am. Still about two hours more to go before Gray comes here to get me. I wonder if he likes this idea of trying to dig out information, and eventually having to 'ransack' someone's office to get it.

Once I told him about my idea of 'barging into the building where Desmond works', he got all defensive and told me, and I quote, that "it is too dangerous and we could get killed." Despite what he said, I still begged and begged that we do that.

Eventually, he agreed. Reluctantly. But only after he made a bargain with me. We agreed that we will go to where Desmond works, but we will try to sneak in as quietly as possible without being seen so that we won't be in too much risk.

I gathered up all my outfit for today – except the shoes – and made a beeline for the bathroom. I closed the door shut gently behind me, instead of the usual slam I always do. Which reminds me, my make-up is still outside. But I can't blame myself, I barely ever use make-up.

Scowling, I yanked open the door forcefully; my expression obviously giving away the fact that I am annoyed. I stormed over to the dressing table, snatched my make-up kit off the table top, and went back into the bathroom. And this time, the door closed with a loud slam.

I dumped my make-up kit on the sink top and started working on my make-up. I have to make myself look slightly older – looking like I am in my mid-twenties – and not the seventeen-year-old girl I really am.

It's very annoying, yes, but at least I might get some answers to all the questions in my mind right now, with the emphasis of this sentence on the word 'might'.

I groaned in frustration when my hand shook too much and my eye shadow went out of line, smudging my mascara in the process. This is going to be one extremely long hour for me, seeing as I rarely ever – heck! I don't think I ever have! Or, maybe only when my parents forced me to last time – used makeup.

And I also think that I would not like the outcome of this...

~~~ ♥ ~~ ♥ ~~ ♥ ~~~

I heard the door being pushed open as I was halfway through tying the shoelace of my leather boot. Once I was done, I stood up and went to examine myself in the full-length mirror at the corner of my room which I rarely ever use.

And what I saw amazed even myself.

What I see is not a depressed seventeen-year-old who looks like she does not have anything at all in life. No. What I see is the polar opposite of that.

What I see is a twenty-one year old woman, who is a socialite, who has the day off and looks like she is about to tramp the streets of Los Angeles or New York City.

Wow.

"Wow," someone gasped from behind me, echoing my thoughts.

You'd think that that person had read my mind.

I didn't bother to see who it was. I was way too busy taking in my own outfit. Note the irony in that! Me taking in my own outfit. Ha ha! It's so funny, that I forgot to laugh out loud.

My dress was long sleeved, and my black leather gloves covered both my hands. It stopped just below my knee and my tights were showing. My boots went all the way up to mid-calf, and there was a three-inch heel to it as well.

"Wow," the same person breathed again, but this time, into my ear.

I spun around. Gray was standing there, mouth gaped open, his eyes raking my body like there was no tomorrow. It actually made me pretty embarrassed. I blushed. I stared right into his beautiful grey eyes, but my gaze soon landed on my large, red handbag on my bed.

"I'll get it," Gray said, and went to grab it off my bed.

He passed it to me soon afterwards.

"Thank you," I muttered, my face still hot with embarrassment.

I opened my bag and checked its contents.

Wallet? Check. Loose change? Check. Phone? Check. A tube of strawberry flavoured lip gloss? Check. A black ball point pen? Check. A pencil? Check. A pair of sunglasses? Check. A tape recorder? Check. And last but not least, a notebook? Check.

I took out the tape recorder and slipped it into my dress pocket, in case I need to use it in an 'emergency' situation. Then, I opened my bag once more and took out my sunglasses.

"Shall we go?" he asked me.

I put on my sunglasses, my bangles banging against it as I put it on. Okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration, but you get it. I plastered a fake smile on my face.

"Sure," I replied, my voice sounding mischievous, and looped my arm with his.

I definitely do not sound like myself just now.

We walked out of the apartment building and he led me to his car. He held the door open for me, and I got in. Then he closed it, and slipped into the driver's seat. He revved up the car and drove out onto the main road.

I switched on the radio – as it was way too quiet for anyone's own good – and surfed through the channels until I was satisfied with it. After doing so, I turned to face Gray.

"Where are we going?" I asked him out of curiosity.

His lips curved up into a smirk. "Oh. We're only going all the way to NYC."

My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when I heard that. "What? That's like so far away!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah. I knew that," he replied in a matter-of-factly tone of voice, making it sound like it's the most obvious thing in the world and that I was an idiot.

"But why?" I protested.

"Oh, you'll see for yourself soon enough Willow," he said, clearly trying to annoy me.

I grabbed hold of one of his arm and shook it playfully, forgetting the fact that he was driving a car.

"Willow!"

The car swerved, but luckily, Gray managed to regain control.

"What were you trying to do? Trying to get us killed?" he demanded after that.

"Sorry," I muttered under my breath, very much embarrassed.

He chuckled and messed up my hair, much to my amusement. He continued driving, his eyes one hundred per cent glued on the road ahead of us. As for me, I somehow ended up playing an iPhone app – which I have no idea what its name is – on Gray's iPhone. The silence between us was awkward and unnatural, but no one bothered to break it.

All of a sudden, a notification popped up on the screen, stating that there was a new message that he had just received. I decided to play naughty. If he could read my messages, why can't I read his?

I opened his inbox, and what I read really, really surprised me to the max.

I can't believe who he's texting. This is impossible. But the phone in my hand right now clearly proves otherwise.

Gray was texting... Desmond...

Desmond: So, is she coming?

Gray: Yes, I am bringing her.

Desmond: Don't let her suspect anything or the whole plan will fail. Make it seem like it's her idea.

Gray: Easier said than done. But in this case, it's easier done than said. She suggested the idea, and I pretended to reject the proposal that she had made. But knowing her, she is a very stubborn girl, so she insisted.

Desmond: Very well done. As always. I'll be waiting.

So, how is it? (: I'll try to update soon. And I also have another story in mind... That I want to write... -.- I might post it soon, and enter it in the Awards as well, under Adventure! ;P