Hi! Sorry I kept everyone waiting. School's really taking up all my time. Enjoy this chapter!

P.S. I don't own Spy School, Stuart Gibbs does. I think I'm supposed to let you guys know that.

"Do you like Erica or Zoe?" Mike asked me. I stared at him in shock-surprised that he'd asked me this question.

"I can't answer you," I said, not wanting to make eye contact. I couldn't choose between Erica and Zoe. But the fact that Mike had asked me this question now had made me understand that he wanted an answer now.

"Tell me. Seriously. Please, Ben. I'm your best friend. You can trust me, right?" That really threw me off the edge. I took in a deep breath and responded the one answer that I realized that I would regret later.

"Erica."

Mike smiled. "I have to admit, good choice. Because I have a dirty secret too. I like Zoe."

This didn't catch me by surprise. Everyone knew this; it was way too obvious. I noticed that Mike was as red as a cherry tomato. I smiled wide.

That's when I realized that Zoe and Erica were standing in our doorway. They had been listening to us the whole time. Zoe was a mix of emotions-happy for Mike and angry, jealous, hatred and sad at me. Erica seemed emotionless as usual, but only I could see it-a tiny glint of surprise and shock that I had picked her and not Zoe. If anything, both of the girls had reddened around the ears, although Erica's quickly changed back to their normal color almost immediately.

"We have to go back to Spy School tomorrow," Erica said sadly, as she was enjoying all these missions. "We need to get back. Orion had a nice little jet that we can take to get back to the United States."

Zoe and Erica left the room quietly having finished their business. Mike got under the covers and yawned. "Man, I'm sleepy."

"Yeah, me too. You have no idea," I said, getting settled myself. What was in that tiny heart-shaped box? I thought as I drifted away to sleep

-Linebreak-

I woke up around nine in the morning, and Mike was in the shower. I got out of bed and headed to another bathroom to get refreshed. The hallways had Greek vases, amazing renaissance painting and much more. I made my way to the bathroom and took a nice warm shower.

"Good morning, Benjamin!" Catherine happily greeted me as I made my way down the curvy spiral staircase to the dining room. "We are having a grand farewell breakfast!"

Although she appeared sad for us leaving, her melodious accent made her sound like a five year old who had just been given a birthday present. I grinned and sat down at the table, where everyone else was already seated. Orion himself looked really sad, as if our company was like having relatives over. A huge plate of bacon, waffles and oranges sat in front of my seat. Erica and Zoe were already helping themselves to their food. I gingerly picked up a piece of bacon, a nauseating feeling rising up in my stomach. Erica eyed me as I finished my food, then made a slight motion that she needed to have a word with me.

"Alright! While I get the craft ready for takeoff, you children get ready," Alexander said, heading towards the back door that led to the jet.

I noticed Erica heading towards the rose gardens, so I followed her.

"Ben," Erica's voice was grave. "I need to talk to you about something."

"What?" I asked her. She simply pulled out the same little red box from the day before and placed it in my palm.

"I was meaning to give this to you on valentine's day, but it got a little delayed," Erica explained, rubbing her toes on the grass nervously. I blushed and took it from her. Now I understood why she had not given me anything on Valentine's day.

"Go on, open it," she nudged me. "We don't have much time."

I gently lifted the lid of the tiny box up, and inside was a small keychain with a pink heart on it. Erica's initials were engraved on it, and mine were on the other side of it. I blushed even deeper and noticed that even she was blushing deep red.

"It's beautiful," I breathed. Erica took it from me and placed her thumb on her initials, and the keychain immediately turned into a small dagger. I smiled.

"Now that's the Erica I know," I said jokingly. She smiled and quickly led me to where the others were. Alexander had gotten the jet up and ready to go, with Catherine and Orion waiting. Alexander and Catherine appeared extremely sad to leave each other. Catherine wrapped me and Erica in a bear hug.

"Goodbye, Benjamin! See you later, sweetheart," she said before we boarded the jet. Something told me that we were going to meet again very very soon.

"All set?" Alexander asked the pilot before strapping in. With a gentle but fast motion, the jet took off into the air. I watched until Orion's magnificent chateau was nothing but a small dot.

I smiled at the thought of getting back to school. Everything's going to be absolutely perfect.

Oh, how wrong I was.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I will try to write the next few chapters a little quicker. Bye!