Spy School Oneshots

Taking a Hike

Takes place after SSR because I still haven't read SSAS.

Ben's POV

Me, Erica, Mike, Chip and Jawa were just sitting on a bench during our first day at spy camp for the year, (Zoe wasn't sitting with us because she was still ashamed of the whole Croatan thing) when the speakers that were installed by the camp caretakers a few weeks before we came suddenly crackled.

"Activities for today are cancelled because of, er...unfortunate events. So all you lucky runts are off for the time being until the issue is solved." Came Woodchuck's booming voice over all the static-the government really didn't put much money into those.

Me and the gang were just as surprised as everybody else, and rather disappointed. We were all looking forward to a day outdoors after being cramped up in classrooms the whole school year. 

I instantly turned to Erica, knowing there would be a good chance that she already knew what the 'unfortunate event' was.

"There was a squirrel that crept into the Idiot's room, and he freaked out. After the 5 minutes it took him to run 500 meters to Woodchuck, his story changed from a squirrel accidentally coming into his room through a window he didn't close himself, to an assassin breaking in and holding him hostage at gun point. Now he's making a big fuss to the higher-ups for him to be transported back to the school and swearing up and down the squirrel's eyes were red after they pulled up the security footage." She said nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders. 

We blinked. "A squirrel?" Jawa repeated.

"Yep."

"Wow." Said Chip, shaking his head. "The one year that the Idiot decides to come, an animal has to take away all the fun of us students pranking him. Hopefully the higher-ups don't let him leave, I had this idea planned out for months." 

That wasn't exactly true... you see, the principal didn't come at his own free will. Erica told me a story a few days ago about how her grandfather forced him to come. "Go there and learn how to live without a TV and steak, or stay here and I'll take you to go camping. The Hale way." Erica had quoted.

"Well, now what?" Mike interrupted my thoughts. 

Erica's eyes twinkled mischievously, she really has been a lot more open since our last mission. "How about we go hiking?" she suggested innocently. 

Without knowing what we were getting ourselves into, we foolishly agreed.

~~~~~ 

"Erica... can we please take a break? We've been hiking for three hours, where are we even going?" I asked tiredly after I had just conquered a very steep hill. The rest of the boys came up just beside me panting and groaning, even Jawa was starting to run dry.

"Come on guys, don't tell me your tired already?" Erica teased gleefully. "And to answer your question Ben, we're going to a very special place I discovered a couple years ago."

I took a deep breath and continued walking up yet another steep part. Because the road (if you can even call it that) was so narrow, and the alternative was a 30 foot drop, we had to walk in a straight line. Erica was behind, of course, with Jawa next, then Mike, Chip and finally, me.

Approximately an hour later, we came across a river. It was about four feet deep and flowing rapidly.

"Are we here? Can I finally rest?" Mike asked dramatically.

Erica rolled her eyes. "No, we're not there yet, about three-quarters of the way there. But yes, we can rest." She sat down on a rock and took a water bottle out of her bag. We mimicked her and gulped down water we had in our own bags that we packed back at camp.

"Are we even on camp property anymore?" Asked Chip as he somehow got water down the front of his shirt.

"Nope, all this is pure wilderness." Erica replied. "Come on we haven't got a moment to waste."

Mike groaned and made a show of him lying on the rock he was on and dying. Erica rolled her eyes again and said the magic words. "If we aren't back in time, we won't be able to have dinner."

Mike's eyes popped. "Let's go to... wherever your taking us, I am not missing dinner." He said, suddenly full of energy with the prospect of food.

I laughed, "Yeah guys, come on, let's go."

~~~~~~

It was just another exhausting hour before we reached our destination. 

It was a giant lake. The midday sun shone across the surface of the lake and made it shine brightly.

It was breathtaking. "Erica, this is amazing!" I exclaimed, sitting down. 

"Thanks," she said. "I found is it three years ago while taking the exact same route we did. I couldn't stop coming back afterwards. It's just a place I feel comfortable at, and as a bonus, the view is magnificent."

No one could argue with that statement, not even Chip, who normally complained about everything.

Suddenly, Mike gave a huge yawn. "Well, you guys sit there and enjoy the view, but I'm going to take a nap." He took off his backpack, put it on a soft patch of grass and lied down using his backpack as a pillow. 

"Actually I would like to spend some time alone with the person I feel the most comfortable with, in the place I find the most comfortable." Erica said sternly.

She then proceeded to sit down next to me and lay her head on my shoulder.

I blushed beet red, but what could I do? It was Erica. 

"Um, you know we're still here, right?" Jawa said uncomfortably.

"TAKE A HIKE!"