Ben 10 (Reader insert)

Kevin 11

Standing with my back to the counter, I gazed at the fancy surroundings in blinding awe. The hotel had a beauty that was hard to look away from, with tall, burgundy support beams, and lush plants in their overly fancy pots. It was only the lobby, with its over sized space and expensive rugs, that we had seen. I was expecting the rooms to be even more lavish.

"Wow! This hotel has everything. Indoor pools, full day spa." Gwen spoke up with elation while gazing down at the hotel's pamphlet. I leaned against her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the pictures that they had of the mentioned rooms. Ben gave a exaggerated yawn from behind us, bored out of his mind. 

"Now don't get used to it. It's only for one night." Max commented over his shoulder. Gwen and I nodded in understanding.

In the corner of my eye, I notice Ben stand up straight instead of leaning against the counter. His green eyes sparkled like lights on a Christmas tree. Without a word he darted forward, a smile spread widely across his face. "Woo hoo! The new Sumo Slammer video game is in there." came his excited shout.

At the title of the game, I also got excited. I watched from afar as the guard shot a hand out in front of Ben. A stern, unmoving expression on the man's face. With the lobby being as empty as it was, the words the guard spoke were easy to hear from where I stood. "Pass?"

"Uh," Ben stuttered out, digging his hands into his pockets like he was searching for it. When he found nothing, because he didn't have a pass, he pointed behind himself vaguely. "Must have left it inside. I'm one of the game pros testing out the system." Ben stood tall, crossing his arms over his chest.

The guard did not look like he believed Ben at all. "V.I.Ps only."

Defeated, Ben slouch over and trudged his way back to us. Max had finished signing us in and now held two suitcases which were filled with what we would need to stay here for the night. He looked down at Ben with a frown, not amused with the boy's little stunt.

"I know what you're thinking, so no sneaking back there."

"I won't!"

Grandpa Max took the lead towards the elevator after giving Ben one last stern look. Gwen and I began to follow, only to feel a tug on my shirt sleeve. Whirling around I met Ben's green eyes, which were narrowed into a look of mischievous.

"What do you want? We're about to see our room. I want first dibs on beds." I asked, tilting my head to the side.

Raising up the watch, Ben nodded his head to the guard. "Wanna go play the new Sumo Slammers game? I know you want to."

A nervous laugh slipped pass my lips. I knew what he planned to do, with or without me, and it made me uncomfortable. "Well, yeah...but the guard said V.I.P only, and last time I checked we weren't."

Ben frowned, scoffing at my refusal. "You're no fun. It's not like we'll get caught." 

Before I could respond, Ben hit the watch and transformed into Ghostfreak. Instantly the hairs on my arms stood on end, and the air dropped a few degrees. It felt like I had suddenly been stuffed into a freezer. I watched in muted worry as Ben vanished before my eyes. I turned my head to watch the guard, who grew tense and wide-eyed like he had heard something disturbing.

I could only wait in a tense silence, watching as the guard turned and disappeared behind the curtain. Ben would be caught, I knew, but the consequences would probably be high for all of us. In a few minutes, Ben and the guard came back out, the man having a tight hold of my friend's arm. He swung his head from side to side before landing on Max. In a storm of stomping steps the man in a suit  stomped over to the elder.