Ben and Erica are at Spy School one day normally, (It's just after Spy Ski School, but if it happened when Ben was 15, and if Erica just turned 16 so she's only like a half a year older. None of this for dirty reasons, It's just always harder to have relationships that last when you're 13 or 14 and it's more awkward, especially with their age gap. So, Ben is more muscular and 3 inches taller than her now, and the rest of the details I'll leave mostly to your imagination. But anyways, I really like the ending to that book and think it would be cool to write this after that, etc.) when they get into a pretty heated argument. The next day they both wake up, and their personalities have completely switched. He is icy and cold no matter how hard he tries to be nice, and she can't avoid being nice and honest. Can they figure out how to undo it, or will it become permanent? There will be some dirty jokes in this, so read at your own risk lol, kidding, they're not that that bad. Read as they both learn why the other person acts they way they do and their friendship is greatly strengthened, maybe even blossoming into something more ;) Anyways I'll shut up, and here's the chapter. Hope ya enjoy!

The Mess
Spy School
6:30 PM
Tuesday
January 12th

Ben's POV:
"Yo that last mission was awesome! You disarmed a Russian bomb while hanging in the air! And You're a spy! And your friends are too! And I am too now!" Mike yelled excitedly. 

My other best friends Zoe, Jawa, and Chip were all sitting with us laughing at how excited he still was.

He had just been recruited after Operation Snow Bunny in Vail, which ended a little under 2 weeks ago, though Mike was excited as ever.

"Pretty cool huh bud?" 

"It's AWESOME! I knew you weren't telling me something but I didn't know it was a matter of national security!" He kept talking but I was no longer paying attention to him, as rude as it sounds. 

I was paying attention to her. 

I was sitting at dinner with my best friends talking when Erica Hale walked in. 

She was the most beautiful, talented, and dangerous girl I know, possibly to exist. Now when normal people say a girl's dangerous, they mean she might rip your heart out emotionally or whatever, but her? It meant deadly dangerous. Like she'd actually cut your heart out and kill you if you gave her a reason to. Or she'd shoot you, blow you up with a bomb, beat you up so bad you lost blood or couldn't breathe and died, etc. Long story short, she's dangerous dangerous. 

She, and my friends and I, are all spies in training at the Academy of Espionage, or Spy School. So we knew all kinds of literally dangerous things like how to shoot or throw. Her, with perfect aim, regardless the weapon. She was a legacy. We were all pretty good, but she was literally legendary and super amazing. 

She walked in the same as always, and I stared in awe and wished she'd actually spend time with us, more specifically me, more than just when required on missions, instead of icing us out and acting like we didn't exist. As you may have guessed, I had a huge crush on the girl. And while she paid no attention, I knew she knew I liked her, and she knew I knew she knew, etc. 

While she was an amazing spy, she wasn't exactly what most people, or anyone, would call 'friendly.' I've met ice sculptures warmer than her.

Speaking of ice, her nickname from Zoe is literally 'Ice Queen.'

She'd liked a guy named Joshua Hallal and they'd been friends, sorta kinda, (Not that it really matters but he kinda liked her too). In her 2nd year, he'd died in an explosion caused by Spyder, the evilest organization I'd encountered, (also kinda the only but whatever). We found out last June that he hadn't died, but switched and joined Spyder.

First, she'd been heartbroken that he died, and came to find out he betrayed her. So she decided to never get close to anyone ever again in fear of that same pain.

I was slowly kinda getting to her and getting her to kinda like, but it was taking a while, considering how hard she was resisting any kind of relationship with anyone.

She walked in casually, and sat at her usual table alone. The tables were rectangular and all in rows. There was one table between where she sat and where we sat. She paid no attention to me, also as usual. Maybe even less than usual, if that was possible. But while I knew she wasn't looking at me, she knew I was there and that I was staring at her trying to get her to look over. Which, of course, and to my dismay, she didn't.

After every mission, she distanced herself from everyone again to get all that human interaction out of her system. 

But after the last mission, we'd kissed. More specifically, she'd kissed me. We'd been trying to defuse the bomb, but the time was still ticking. I looked to her helplessly, and she leaned in and kissed me. And we found out the bomb was disarmed, unlike the timer.

After the fact she'd insisted it was just to calm me down, it was just to make sure my last seconds on Earth weren't terrifying, and it meant nothing. She also said she'd kill me if I told anyone. I have a few problems with the first part. One, I wasn't panicking that much, I was scared but I was pretty calm. Two, they weren't just my last seconds, they were hers too, so she wouldn't have kissed me if she hadn't wanted to, at least a little bit. Three, she'd already gotten jealous when the target flirted with me and later, hugged me, so all together it meant she liked me.

She probably didn't like me anywhere near as much as I liked her, but it was a start. 

Of course, as customary, she distanced herself from us, especially me. 

But this time I'd only seen her at her table at lunch and then it was like she disappeared. 

"BEN!" Zoe yelled into my ear. 

"Huh? Oh uh hey." I smiled.

"Hey? Ben you've been staring off into space for like 10 minutes." Jawa said with a confused expression

"No I haven't."

"True. A few minutes was into space, the rest was at her." Chip teased.

Everyone knew who he meant.

"Ha. Ha. You're very funny Chip."

"What happened between you and Ice Queen on the mission?" Zoe asked jealously.

"Nothing. Why would you think something happened. Nothing happened. Someone else talk please." I said, very, very, very quickly. Too quickly.

"Well she seems like she's distancing, as usual, but a lot more, and especially towards you in particular. I mean she hasn't said a word to you or even looked in your direction." Jawa answered.

"Thanks for reminding me. I totally wasn't upset about it already. And I had nooo idea." I said sarcastically.

"He's right Ben." Chip agreed.

"That was a lot of resistance bud. You wouldn't have been so resistant had there been nothing to hide. What happened?" Mike smirked knowingly.

"I'm not allowed to say. Erica said she'd kill me if anyone found out."

"Two things. 1) So something did happen. I knew it. And 2) She can't kill you, she likes you." Mike said with his wolfish grin.

"Yes something happened. And maybe she does like me a little, but I doubt that'd stop her."

"You'd be surprised what girls do for guys they like." Zoe joked quietly.

I put my arm around her shoulder and smiled at her, glad for something to distract them from Vail. I saw Erica's eyebrows furrow, ever so slightly, and smiled wider. And then felt a little bad about being happy she was jealous. And then proud that she was jealous. 

Liking her is an emotional roller coaster. I thought.

"Yeah, you might be right Zo, but... Erica isn't like most girls. Unlike girls like you, she's not very friendly or sweet or kind, but keep in mind she's been hurt. She's cold and distant because she's badly broken and is afraid of feeling that pain of losing someone she loved or betrayal again. I mean, yeah she's Ice Queen; she thrives at being one of a kind. No matter how annoying or maddening or maddeningly gorgeous or absolutely amazing she can be depending on the situation. But I feel like most people don't give her enough credit. Guys fall all over her because she's beautiful, girls get jealous and mad that the guys like her, and everyone wants to be her. But her skills and beauty also come with pain. She's hurting." I laughed. "But... I still love her. I love her so much. Like an idiot and a complete fool, but I do." I shrugged.

Zoe smiled happily, then frowned as she registered the last bit.

I swore I heard something drop and looked around. I saw that Erica dropped her fork and her mouth was hanging open, her eyes wide. I grew confused. She didn't hear that, right? She couldn't possibly have. But then what else could have happened?  

I shook the thoughts away and focused on my friends.

We talked for a little while longer when Zoe shivered a little.

"You cold Zo?"

"A little bit." She said quietly.

"Here, I don't need this."

I took my jacket off and draped it around her shoulders. She beamed at me and kissed my cheek.

I noticed Erica's fists were clenched very tightly.

"What'd I get that for?" I asked playfully.

"For being an awesome and super sweet best friend."

I put my arm around her shoulder and fist bumped her with my other hand.

"Not as awesome as you are, you're always helping me with Erica since I have no idea how to figure out what's going on in her head. She's so confusing. But since I got an amazing girl best friend like you, I have a slightly better idea, and anything helps."

Zoe's smiled faded but she nodded to try and cover it up.

I know it was pretty obvious, but Zoe liked me, not that she knew I knew, and hadn't figured out how to tell her I didn't really like her that way. So I tried to be as nice as possible so she'd hopefully hate me less when I did. But I felt she thought I liked her and felt I might be leading her on so I knew I had to tell her soon, I didn't know what to do, the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her. 

"So, what happened with Ice Queen?" Mike smirked. "You seriously didn't think we'd forgotten, did ya bud?"

"Hoping is a better word."

"No chance, now, tell us or I start guessing and I'm gonna start off pretty bad." He grinned slyly.

"Like you could and or would do that to me."

"I'm a 16 year old boy Ben. I got plenty of dirty jokes. So tell us or I tell you."

"I can't. You know she'd find out and kill me."

"Okay, you asked for it. Did you two make out in minimal clothing in a hot t-"

"DUDE NO!" I shouted, causing some people's heads to turn.

You asked for it, I guess I'll have to turn it up a notch. Did you two sleep together-"

"WOAH CHILL BRO!" 

"Didn't answer my question."

"That was intentional."

"Fine, did you two hav-"

"No! Seriously Mike! It was just a kiss!"  

The entire lunchroom turned and looked at me in shock. I assumed people were listening but I didn't realize how many. 

My eyes widened to the size of basketballs and I slapped my hand over my mouth. Erica looked at me and I swear I thought she was gonna kill me by just glaring at me. She was also part in shock and

"Mike. Buddy." I laughed a little. "I'm gonna strangle you." I said as I jumped up and then onto the bench and then over the table, tackling him.

"Are you serious bro! I told you to shut up about it and now she wants to kill me! I gotta get my passport, bags, and dye my hair in an airport bathroom as I flee! She'll find me eventually but at least I'll be able to prepare for being murdered!" I said as I waved at Erica who was walking towards us, more specifically me. 

I stood up and backed away a little. She was trying to keep her cool but was clearly embarrassed and very angry.

"Benjamin Ripley." She said through gritted teeth, her fists clenched.

"Erica Hale?"

This confused her and she calmed down a little. But not for long.

"I know you didn't say what I think you did. Because, if you did, I think I have to kill you like I said I would if you told anyone about what happened."

"Depends, what'd you think I said?" I said innocently.

"I think you just told the entire school I kissed you."f

"I think you did." I said as I winced. 

Her eyes widened. "What?" She asked quietly.

"I just said that the thing that happened was just a kiss to make Mike stop making dirty jokes that were way worse, I promise."  

"Like what?" She asked.

"Like he asked if we made out in a hot tub in 'minimal' clothing and..." I waved my hand to signal she should get it now.

But she didn't seem to.

"And what?"

I rolled my eyes and put my hands on my face to hide my face growing red.

"And asked if we... you know..."

"I don't actually."

"If we... slept together." 

"Why would I sleep in the same bed as you intentionally? Much less the same room? And how is that so bad?"

"Oh my gods!" I swore at the ceiling as I shook my head. "He meant slept together slept together. As in like... you know..."

"I reeeally don't."

"Good gods! He meant-" I leaned in and whispered what he was talking about into her ear. "Now do you get it?"

She turned red and then glared at Mike, who just shrugged.

"ANYWAYS, it was already pretty obvious that the kiss was with you because you're the one I like." I took a deep breath. "But no one knew you kissed me until you said that."

She turned so she was looking at all the people and stopped after a 450 degree turn. Everything that happened finally hit her like a bullet train and she froze. Her legs buckled and she started to fall. I threw by arms out with my palms up. I caught her and she fell onto my forearms but she'd already thrown her arms around my neck. Our faces were inches apart and I wanted so badly to lean in and kiss her, but knew she'd probably be even more in shock. So you can imagine my shock when she kissed me. Again. 

I was staring into her eyes when she just put her hands on the sides of my face and kissed me.  There were gasps and my eyes widened but I just closed them and tried to figure out what was happening. When she pulled away I opened my eyes and looked at her with a confused little head tilt.

She realized what she did and turned red.

"I- I- uh... um... I-"

"It's okay Erica." I smiled.

She stumbled away from me before running out with watery eyes.

I heard people start whispering.

I stepped onto the table. 

"Listen to me! ALL OF YOU!  She is allowed to have feelings! She's human too! She's been hurt and she's broken, but that doesn't mean she can't have feelings! This is between us, so if I hear anyone talking about what happened, we're gonna have issues! Am I clear?" I shouted.

Everyone nodded.

"Good, now, please go back to your meals and your personal conversations that better not be about this lunch period! Thanks everyone!"

I hopped off the table and decided to go try to talk to her.

"Duuude. Told ya she was into you." Mike grinned.

"Yeah, I guess so, but I feel bad. She seemed really upset. Which is way, way, wayyy more than normal. I feel like I should go talk to her."

"Ben-" Zoe started.

"I really think I should. Be right back." I said to my friends as I walked away.

Okay, this preview is still going bc I wrote so much, so I'm making a part 2.