By squirrelflightgirl
Enjoy!
(Bens POV)
Its not everyday you get a text from Erica Hale. I guess I could say I'm pretty lucky because I even have her number. She doesn't text me often, but that's less to do with her not liking me and just about fully to do with the fact that Erica likes to keep her human contact to a low. A very low low. So when I picked up my phone to see a text alert from her I was at once surprised and slightly worried. Erica tended to keep texting for emergencies, so what I read surprised me.
Erica: meet me at the front gates in five minutes
I texted her back that I was on my way and quickly slipped on a pair of jeans and a navy blue tee shirt. Then I hurried out of my dorm and out of the academy building. It was 8:30pm and the sun was falling from the sky, staining the rays of light a bright tangerine with tinges of pink. I spotted Erica leaning against a sleek black motorcycle at the entrance to the CIA's academy of espionage, or as we students call it, Spy School. Instead of her standard black outfit and utility belt she wore a pair of stretchy black leggings and a wine red formfitting tee shirt. Her long raven black hair was flat and cascading down her back like a waterfall. She had two black barrettes in her hair on the left side of her head, one on top of the other. She wore her standard cool expression.
"You aren't late." she said with her usual monotone voice.
"I'm not." I smiled at her. She motioned for me to get on the bike, then she climbed on in front of me.
"So... whats going on? Why are you dressed like- well, a normal person?" I asked.
"No questions, please." she said flatly, starting the engine.
"Is this your bike?"
"I said no questions." Erica sped off through the streets of DC. After about ten minutes Erica pulled up in front of a swanky Italian restaurant. For a moment I actually considered the fact that maybe Erica was taking me on a date, but when she dragged me around the back of the building and began unscrewing the grate that led to the ventilation system I realized that it was idiotic to think the Ice Queen would ever take me out to dinner. She led me into the system and I began having flashbacks to the last time I was crawling behind Erica in ventilation system. It had been just as dark, just as freezing and just as claustrophobia inducing. We stopped at a grate looking down over the restaurant and and I peered down. Suddenly everything made sense. Sitting directly below us was a thirteen year old girl with long, wavy black hair, piercing blue eyes and a smile that seemed to radiate sunshine. Trixie Hale, Erica's younger sister. Trixie was wearing a blue and white marbled sundress and sitting across from her was a boy with sandy blonde hair and dark green eyes wearing a black bomber jacket and white jeans. They were laughing and joking around. I looked up at Erica who was watching Trixie and her date intently.
"Why did you drag me along to spy on your sister's date?" I asked quietly.
"I-" Erica started, but then clammed up and turned away.
"Erica is everything okay?" I asked, scooting over and sitting down next to her. She didn't move away or attempt to move me.
"Um..." Erica peered down at her sister. She was holding the boy's hand and looking into his eyes lovingly.
"Erica?"
"Yeah?" I looked into her eyes and saw deep sadness that she was obviously struggling to hide.
"Are you jealous?"
"No. I don't even know that boy." she said cooly.
"Not of Trixie's date, of the fact that Trixie is on a date." my words must have struck a nerve. Erica turned her face away so I couldn't see it. What was happening?!
"I- I don't know." she whispered. "I heard my sister was going out with some boy so I decided to come along to make sure he was okay."
"Why did you bring me?" I asked again.
"Emotional support." she grumbled. I smiled.
"Thought you didn't have emotions."
"I- Um..." Erica stopped talking. I tentatively put my arm around her and to my surprise she didn't push me away. She was stiff at first but after she realized I wasn't letting go and I wasn't going to hurt her she leaned into me. Something wet splashed onto my jeans. I looked up, worried the vents were somehow leaking, but then I realized the source of the water drop wasn't the ducts it was Erica. I put my hand on her chin and lifted her face up to see her eyes were wet. That's right- Erica Hale, the Ice Queen was crying.
"Hey! Shh, its okay." I stroked her head. "tell me whats wrong."
"It's just that- that I wont ever have that." Erica choked, pointing through the grate at Trixie and the boy.
"You could." I tried.
"But- what if something happened?" she sobbed quietly.
"Erica don't even think that. I would never ever betray you or leave you."
"But what if you died?"
"It would hurt the same- maybe even more knowing that you never had the chance to even try dating." she looked up at me with a glint of hope shining in her eyes.
"But what about the Ice Queen?"
"Its not a crime to break away from something your not." I told her. She nodded.
"If- if I decide to try it, you'll be there to help me the whole way?" she asked tentatively.
"Of course. I wont let you go through anything alone." a small smile crossed Erica's wet face.
"Lets get out of here." I led her through the system until we were back outside the restaurant. I rushed to get on the bike and took the drivers seat this time. Erica climbed on behind me and I took off.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"You'll see."
TO BE CONTINUED...
