My eyelids fluttered, and I quickly sat up as I noticed Josie standing over me, watching me with soft eyes. "Wake up Rose, General Washington's here." She said, before sitting down on the bed. "Washington?" I asked, and Josie nodded. "Yes, Washington." She said. "Did you forget about our expedition yesterday?" She teased, and at her words everything came crashing back.

Meeting Washington. Josie and Oliver's fight. The kiss. Oh my gosh, the kiss. Josie must have noticed my face pale, for she put her hand to my forehead, checking my temp. "Are you okay Rose?" she asked anxiously, and I nodded numbly. "Yes, yes, just tired." I said, the lie dry on my tongue. "Good." Josie said, before giving me a look of gratitude.

"Rose, I can't thank you enough." She said, and I gave her a strange look. "This morning Oliver came to apologize, and said you talked some sense into him." Oh we did more than talk, I wanted to say, but instead I gave her a weak smile. "I'm glad you and him are talking again." I said and Josie beamed.

Another lie.

"Well, I'll leave you to change. Washington is in his suite, and he brought a few soldiers with him, so Oliver and I will wait for you in there. They're going to tell us about the plan Washington's been proposing, and how we're going to play a part in it over breakfast. They brought your favorite, cinnamon rolls!" She said eagerly, and I nodded before getting up to change as Josie left the room.

I clutched the edge of my bed and took a long, deep breath, forcing away the guilt and fear that swirled inside of me like a typhoon. Josie seemed so happy this morning, she couldn't possibly have found out about the kiss, I thought, and at the memory of Oliver and I's kiss longing tugged at my heart, so hard it seemed to fill my entire being.

It had been so wonderful, so soft and sweet, and so ungodly forbidden. One of the Ten Commandments were don't commit adultry, and though Oliver and I's kiss wouldn't really be considered that, it was pretty close, and I sent a silent prayer of forgiveness to God,while my twisted mind begged for more and squirmed in horror at my actions.

But I knew one thing, and that was that it was only going to happen once. No matter my feelings for Oliver, I had to let them go. He was Josie's boyfriend, not mine, and I had to accept that, no matter how hard it hurt. And one day, years and years after they were married and had five grown children with a bunch of grandchildren I would tell her about the kiss. But I wouldn't dare tell her now, dare ruin the perfect match they were.

The thought made my insides feel stronger and weaker at the same time, but I pulled myself out of bed. I changed out of my nightgown and into one of the dresses I packed, a light lavender one with white lace, and threw on my coffee-colored pair of shoes before running a brush through my hair and hurrying out of my suite to see Ken outside it. "Morning Ken," I said, and he tipped his hat to me.

"Mornin' Rose. I decided not to go in and hear the plan... I'm actually planning on leaving in the carriage tonight. Washington'll send a few soldiers to bring you home." He said, and I watched his eyes cloud over with a feeling I couldn't figure out, and I got a feeling he had seen more than I ever have and suddenly had an urge to ask him all about himself.

In that moment I realized there was so much I didn't know about Ken, so much I wanted to know, but instead of asking him I gave him a nod instead. "Alright Ken. Well it's been fun, and most of all thank you." I said, and Ken snorted.

"It's not like I'm dying. I'll see you soon." He said in his usual 'you're crazy' crabby sort of way and I cracked a smile. He was back to himself. "Now go on in." He urged, gesturing to the door, and I took a deep breath and opened it. Washington, just like Josie had said, was sitting in his desk with two soldiers next to him, and Josie and Oliver sat next to each other, their hands entwined.

A sudden urge of emotion crashed over me, and I felt my heart ache with longing to be Josie. I felt my eyes meet Oliver's, where an unreadable expression flitted across his face, and I turned away, afraid that my emotions might get the best of me and I'd do something rash. So instead of ripping my best friend and her fiance's hands apart I turned to Washington, who fixed me with a grin on his face.

"Miss Indenza!" He said, gesturing to the chair next to Josie and Oliver. "Please sit, we have much too talk about." He said eagerly--passing us a bowl of fruit and breakfast rolls which I eagerly ate--and I looked at him and his boyish grin, feeling a smile slip onto my lips. I glanced at the two soldiers next to him, who both nodded at me, and felt a rush of pride. I was really helping the Shadow Group, really making a difference, and it felt so good.

"Alright." Washington said, his fingers tapped together, and I focused my full attention on him.
"About this plan of mine that I've been proposing... it is going to be rather difficult, but it will work, thanks to the secret weapon that the Shadow Group has given me. And in order for this plan to work, I will need to share it with you." He said, and my heart thumped with excitement.

Finally I was going to find out what was in that letter. My mind would finally be put to ease about what the letter might contain, about what information so important it couldn't be trusted with anyone, and as Washington opened the envelope and handed it to me I took a deep breath and read out loud in a hushed whisper:

The British are settling in Trenton on December 25th.

I looked up at Washington's proud face, my expression one of awe. It was no secret that Washington and his army had been hunting for the British for weeks but had found no trace of them, causing them the victim of surprise attacks. But now that the Fiona and the Shadow Group, however they did it, had found where they were, everything changes.

I looked to Josie and Oliver, forgetting my sin for a second, and saw my excitement reflected in their eyes. "So what are we going to do about this? We have to strike somewhere." I said, and Washington nodded. "That's right Rose. And how we're going to do this, I'll tell you right now. Now come closer." He said, and Oliver, Josie and I leaned in, ears pricked and eager to listen.

"Okay so this is how it's going to go. Ever since the Shadow Group gave me that information, I thought that we could launch a surprise attack on the British in New Jersey on Christmas. It won't be easy, but I can bring you all down to the Delaware River with me, and we can cross it together with the soldiers.

The British will never expect it; they'll be so full of food and drunk off rich rum they wouldn't dream that we'd attack. And if all goes well, the victory might encourage soldiers to stay for the next enlistment and pump some much needed energy and spirit in them." Washington said, eyes gleaming. I looked up at him in awe, and for a moment I forgot all my worries and clapped my hands excitedly.

"What a clever plan. I'm in." I said, and suddenly Oliver's hand was on my shoulder, which he squeezed. "We're all in." He said, and I suddenly shivered, from glee or guilt I couldn't determine. Washington fixed us with an excited and proud gaze before standing up, suddenly looking very much like a General.

"Well now that that's settled, we have much work to do, so let's get started."

...

The next week passed by in a flurry of planning, arguing, and hiding. Ever since that morning Washington told us his brilliant plan we were always busy gathering supplies, talking over details, packing our clothes,going over our assigned jobs, and giving pieces of advice to Washington as he planned his journey.

I stayed inside most of the time doing chores and devouring the secret hotel's amazing food, out of fear that someone on the street might recognize me and call the British authorities and draw attention to the suite where Washington was staying at, which was the last thing I wanted.

One day a pale-faced Josie gave me a newspaper with a description of me and my story as the front page, and a sketch of me in a pink dress with a tiara on my head. A reward for a 1,000 euros was next to my tiara, and that's when I knew I had to be careful.

That was also the day Ken left, when we gave him a tearful goodbye and watched as he galloped off in the sunset with his beloved horses, leaving us to a daunting journey with my two friends. I was going to really miss him, (even his sarcasam and annoying habit of rolling his eyes) and felt a few tears in my eyes when I said goodbye to him, and saw Josie and even Oliver even had some in their's too.

Speaking of my "good" (sorry for the sarcasam,) friends, I usually let Josie and Oliver go for walks outside to gather ingredients for the kitchen or play around. Sometimes I watched them from my window, my heart breaking as I watched them kiss or hold hands but forced myself to turn away so I could resist the urge to throw myself out the window and rip them apart.

Usually turning away and busying myself helped and was easy enough, not to mention it kept my mind from wandering from where it should be, usually to Oliver's hopeful gaze, which seemed to follow me everywhere. When Josie wasn't looking he'd sometimes try to get my attention, or ask me to talk, but whenever he did I'd either make an excuse or hope that he'd just give up and go away. It pained me to do so, but it was for the best, and it eased my aching guilt.

Well that's what my head said.

Meanwhile my heart flew whenever I caught him looking at me, longed to kiss him once more, desperately tried to find ways to be with him that wouldn't upset Josie, which wasn't possible at the moment. And as devious as it seemed I couldn't help but notice a space between them. Oliver no longer called Josie "darling or love" all the time, but Josie didn't seem to notice.

I did.

And I felt bad, I really did. But I can't control my feelings, and my heart hopes that one day Oliver and I might be a possibility, that one day I might be able to be with Oliver without hurting Josie, be with the man I knew I loved with all my heart.

But I couldn't focus on him for too long, no matter how tempting it was, for the week soon slipped away and it was Christmas Eve, the day before the attack. I now stand in my suite, rechecking my luggage for the hundredth time, looking out my window to see the soldiers hiding in th back of Washington's carriage as he sat covered in the trunk, Oliver and Josie sitting up front so no one would draw suspicion.

I knew I had to get going so I grabbed my trunk of things and ran out of the hotel, climbing in the back of the carriage with Washington since I was wanted too. He gave me a smile and patted the seat next to him like it was normal to be hiding in the back of carriages, and I stifled a laugh besides the serious situation, knowing it was all part of the plan.

My laughter died quickly though, for I spotted Josie and Oliver whispering in their front of the carriage, their fingers laced together, causing a sword to spear my heart. To my dismay but excitement Oliver turned around and caught my eye, a desperation in his eyes I knew all too well. Can we talk later? He mouthed, and before I could think throughly I nodded my head, and he smiled before turning back to Josie, who I was at the moment very jealous of.

Before I could reprimend myself for being jealous of my best friend the carriage took off at full speed, leaving me alone with Washington and crammed in the corner of a trunk. Even though I couldn't see what was ahead (they put a sheet over us so no one would suspect anything) I could tell we were taking the back ways of New York so we wouldn't draw suspicion.

The journey was long; longer then the one from Virgnia to New York, but it passed ever so quickly. My days were full of hiding in the back of the trunk with Washington, stopping to feed the horses and ourselves every few hours, and trying not to stare at Washington as he scribbled notes on his notepad, making the awkwardness of silence between us even greater.

But I don't want to get into the full side I saw of him for it would be far too compilcated. He shifted emotions like a boy, sometimes excited and friendly and forging small talk, other times yelling in frustration, pounding the trunk walls and writing so fast and fierce his hand was a blur of the parchment. Watching him write led me to believe the rumors that Mr. Hamilton "wrote like he was running out of time" because Washington did too.

As uncomfortable as it was to just sit in the back of the carriage and not talk, the silence was almost nice. It gave me time to think about my past decisions and future ones to come and helped me clear my already over worked brain. The weather throughout the journey was unperdictable but not unmanagable; it rained here and there, and snowed a few times, but the past four days were easy going.

So for all of the journey I sat there as the carriage carried on over hills, past forests, by rivers and farms, regretting leaving my books at Josie's, listening to snippets of conversation from Josie and Oliver and the guards and admiring the scenery through peeks of the sheet that covered my head.

When we finally did arrive at New Jersey, I could feel my body tense up, from excitement or anxiety I couldn't tell. But I did know one thing, and that was that tomorrow night, Christmas Day, would be the most important day of my whole life and I was ready for it. So when the carriage sidetracked the city and traveled over hills and forests before pulling to a stop next to a camp that stretched for miles I was prepared for anything.

I couldn't help but sigh with relief when the carriage pulled to a stop for a final time. Finally all the traveling, all the long hours of tossed sleep and turmoil would come to a stop to our final destination. I waited impatiently with Washington as Oliver and Josie--were they going this slow on purpose?--climbed out of the carriage's front seat and as the guards checked the area before lifting the sheet off Washington and I's heads.

When I emerged from the carriage I took a sharp breath, gazing at the confusing beauty that stretched out in front of me. Hundreds, maybe thousands of tents stretched out before me, their messy white tops bending in the wind that blew over them. Snow coated the ground, and with a jolt I realized it was coming down heavily on us.

Thousands of soldiers marched around and darted in and out of the tents, carrying supplies or guns or even boats that they perched next to different tents. I watched in wonder as they worked as a full force, one general (or instructor, whatever you call them) who's name I didn't know ordering them. When I peeled my eyes away from the sight in front of me I turned to Washington and Josie and Oliver instead, seeing a different look in each one of their eyes.

Josie looked fearful but excited, while Oliver had a look of complete awe and pride on his face, while Washington gazed at his army like a Father would a newborn child in his arms, full of so much pride and protection they could burst. And in that moment I could see that, despite the stress and anger and worry of having this job, Washington loved being General with a burning passion.

"Alright. It's almost nightfall and I have many things to discuss with the temporary General and my soldiers so let's find you all a tent and get settled so we can have dinner and go over the plan and your roles one last time." Washington said, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Okay, sounds like a plan." Josie said, and Oliver nodded. "Lead the way." I said as I distributed our trunks of clothes to one another, and we followed Washington into the mass of tents.

I hitched up my dress and followed Washington as he weaved throughout the mass of tents, Josie and Oliver close behind me, watching as he waved to soldiers and men as they called out excited or angry greetings to him, aware of the men staring at us strangers as we walked.

"Okay here's a tent next to mine. I'll be here soon with dinner." Washington said when we arrived at a huge tent surrounding a bonfire next to Washington's. "Thank you." Josie, Oliver, and I said in unison, and overwhelmed, we all picked a cot and sat down on it, and as we did I felt like I hadn't seen the two in years.

A silence stretched over us, awkward and stifling, and I felt Oliver's eyes run all over me, and my cheeks heated up. "Well that sure was a journey." Josie finally said, blind to the obvious tension in the air. "Yeah it was." Oliver said softly, and the three of us began to unpack without saying anything, silently waiting for Washington to come to end the tension.

The night began to creep on, and when Washington still hadn't came in two hours, Josie determindedly stood, still deaf to our "silent fight." "I've had enough, I'm starving. I'm going to go see what's going on." She said, and I nodded, watching as she left the tent, leaving Oliver and I alone.

He fiddled with his hands in a cute way, and he noticed me staring and our eyes met, the silence weighing on us like bricks. "Rose, I think we need to talk." Oliver said slowly, and I swallowed, knowing what was coming. "Yeah." I said, and Oliver opened my mouth, and I braced myself for a goodbye that I already knew was due.

"I love you." Oliver said, and I snapped my head up, eyes flashing. "What?" I breathed, and Oliver squeezed his eyes tightly. "Yes Rose, I do. I liked you the moment I saw you with Josie in the house and that developed into love." He said, and I felt tears threaten to overtake me. "Oliver, I..." I struggled to contain myself. "I love you too but we can't have this conversation. You are Josie's fiance for Washington's sake!" I cried, and Oliver grabbed my hand.

"I'm aware of that Rose. And I like Josie... but I'm torn Rose, I'm torn. I've tried so hard to love her, and I once did. But she changed Rose. She's depressed now and... I'm trying not to give up on her, but she's not the one for me. You are." He said, and my heart ached with anger and love.

"You don't get it Oliver! Josie's my best friend I can't just-" I was cut off by him grabbing my hand and pulling me up. "I know." He said softly, eyes brimming with emotion. "Just dance with me for a moment." He asked, and I let my heart overtake my head and took his hand, letting him sway me into a waltz. In the distance, a broken violin played, and as wrong as I knew this is, I still put my head on his chest, drinking in every moment.

I felt Oliver's fingers entwine with mine, like I'd want to do for so long, and I smiled at him, letting him twirl me, all the while my heart throbbing with guilt. This is wrong... I have to tell him we can't do this... I opened my mouth to speak, but he interrupted me, as if he was reading my thoughts.

"Rose, I know this is wrong. It isn't meant to be. But... I can't imagine a world without you right beside me. I know you're used to royalty and riches, and I can't give you that. But I can give you all the love in the world if we found a way to do this. But I just have to know..." He said, fixing me with his hazel gaze. "Do you really love me?"

I swallowed. I should tell him I don't, that we can't be together, that it would end in flames. Instead I sighed and let my emotions overtake me for the hundreth time today. "Oliver I love you." I said, and he sighed, and we kept dancing, the snow swirling around the tent and keeping us safe inside the tent, our own little world.

When the violin stopped, it was replaced by footsteps, and Oliver quickly (but not unkindly) let me go, and I settled back into my cot, my mind still in a haze when Josie entered the tent, balancing three plates. "Food's here!" She said cheerfully, setting a plate full of canned beans and biscuits next to each of us.

"Washington sadly can't come and talk to us after all." She said between bites as we dug in, Oliver and I silently sizzling with emotion."But he said to be especially prepared for tomorrow night and go to bed after food." She said, and I nodded dully.

When we finished eating Josie kissed Oliver, hugged me, and got into bed, smiling to herself while Oliver and I avoided each other's gaze. Before we turned in Josie gave me a little smile, eyes glimmering in the moonlight, and I felt the fingers I'd laced with so many times meet mine, making my heart stop with a mix of so many emotions.

"It's okay Rose, everything will be okay." She said, patting my hand. "How do you know I'm scared?" I said meekly, in an attempt to be funny and ease the tension. Josie's grin widened. "I've known you since we were kids Rose." She said matter of factly. "Besides, your silence says a thousand words." She said before turning away from me into her sleeping position, her breathing growing deeper and deeper until she fell asleep.

Meanwhile I lay awake, wondering if Josie knew how much my silence really did say.