So welcome! This is my new book, Spy School Reunion. It is technically a sequel to my other book, Spy School: Clash of Spies, but it doesn't directly correlate to it so you do not have to read the first one to understand this. But I highly recommend you do so. It is a fanfiction of the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs.

It is told in first person from Ben's perspective, but sometimes it changes to third person for other character's point of view. Just a fair warning: there will be light swearing and a bit of action that can turn violent. It won't be graphic but there will be action. I'm also going to try to expand my writing techniques in this story. It should make sense but if it doesn't, just drop the question in the comments! :)

So with that, please enjoy Spy School Reunion. I love votes and reviews! And I love to hear constructive criticism too, as I am learning many writing techniques.

May, 2014

Dear [Censored]
CC: Cyrus Hale, Catherine Hale, Alexander Hale, CIA Director Jared Copperfield, Principal Barnes Sidebottom, Academy of Espionage staff

Subject: Academy of Espionage

Hello agents,
I would like to start by saying great work to everyone on Operation Yeasty Meerkat who not only prevented the decimation of many global landmarks, but saved the lives of many world leaders, including myself. Although we didn't catch Joshua Hallal, we do have some great information and now that agent Audrey Hale is on our side, we can proceed with taking down SPYDER. But I think it's safe to say that we won't be seeing them for a while. So good work to everyone who made that mission a success.

On to some graver news. I know that there were many young agents on Operation Yeasty Meerkat, including but not limited to, Ben Ripley, Audrey Hale and Erica Hale. They have been on many missions that helped our country and myself personally. That being said, I looked at the data and, save from a few talented young agents, the students from the Academy of Espionage who later become CIA agents end up at desk jobs or quit. About 1.2% of the agents who come out of the academy end up successful field agents. 39% of the Academy of Espionage students end up at a desk job, 7% work as janitors or other low-way jobs (where the Academy isn't necessary) and 28% end up quitting the CIA altogether right after their minimum two years are up. To make numbers even more alarming, 2% of the agents end up dead within five years of graduating and the rest are just failed field agents, who've never had a successful mission. There is also the issue that 0.7% of these spies-in-training turn against their country to become a double agent. These numbers are more than shocking. We've had this academy for decades, yet it hasn't really helped the CIA at all. We have way more success from people from the armed forces. Their mission success rates are exponential. To hire desk jocks, we can find them through Linkin and not send them to an all-expenses paid six-year academy. So what is the issue?

Maybe these students don't have the drive and dedication as the armed forces. Maybe they realized being a spy isn't all helicopters and car chases. Maybe they don't care. Whatever the case may be, something needs to change. The United States government is going through some rough financial times. It is no longer necessary or cost effective to even have a multi-million-dollar Academy of Espionage.

So, with a heavy heart, I say this: The Academy of Espionage will be shut down. Permanently.

I'm sorry,
David Stern
United States President

XxXxXx

Studio Apartment; Washington DC
1930 hours
January, 2024
10 years later

I heard the beep and I jumped up in alarm. I wasn't expecting to hear the haunting beep so early. Beep, beep, beep. It wasn't going off! I had to do something before it was too late! As I walked carefully into the next room, the beeping suddenly stopped. Huh, weird. So as carefully as I could, I opened the machine. Warm air blew on my face as I took the hot object out. Grinning, I put it down. My cup of noodles was ready.

Hi there. My name is Ben Ripley and used to be a spy. Well, actually, let me start over: Hi, my name is Ben Randolph and I'm an accountant. I live in a studio apartment in Washington DC and work at a private equity firm as the head accountant. What was that about being a spy? Oh right, I used to be a spy with the Academy of Espionage ten years ago, until it shut down due to budget cuts. Now I'm 24 years old, work a 9-5 job and live alone in my small apartment. Oh, how times have changed.

You may be wondering what happened to me and my once amazing life. I mean, most of my fellow friends from spy school live pretty great lives right now.

The CIA and the United States cut spy school back in 2014. They had us go back to our old, normal lives. My friend from the academy, Mike, and I went back to our old middle school to finish our 8th grade year. He went back to being the most popular kid in school, while I went back to being the world's biggest nerd. I was sort of "popular" simply because I was Mike's friend. High school rolled around and Mike continued to be really popular and was the star of the baseball team, who won the national title two years in a row. Because his life got so busy with baseball and other friends, he kind of dropped me. He would talk and text me occasionally, but never liked we used too. I suffered through high school with barely any friends.

The transition for me was hard. I missed spy school so much (even though I almost died a few times over) and I missed my friends there. In middle and high school, I was hung up on the old memories of the good times and missions. I had trouble moving on, which led me to stuck in the past and not focus on the future. But mostly, I was hung up on Erica Hale.

Over ten years ago, we were sitting at a lake, holding hands and life couldn't have been better. Back at spy school, we were becoming closer than friends, with her sometimes inviting me to her room to talk and study, or her actually coming to play frisbee with Zoe, Mike, me and other students. Life was shaping up and I was super excited to see where things went. Then the bombshell news hit. I remember that day like it was yesterday.

"All students and facility, please report to the gym for an important announcement. Everyone, to the gym, now!"

I looked up, startled. Everyone else around me did too. The voice on the loudspeaker didn't sound like The Idiot's (aka the principal) voice at all. For a split second, I could've sworn it was the President of the United States, David Stern's voice. But why would he be here?

We filed out of our Self Preservation 201 class, all really surprised. We all headed to the gym and when we got there, people were frisking us (not agents, but secret service) and making us go through a series of metal detectors. The secret service took guns, knives, ninja stars and other various weapons that the students carried. Anything not attached to our body was to be confiscated. They even took my pencil. This confirmed the suspicion that the president was here, which begged the question: what the heck was he doing here?

We all finally settled into our seats and the POTUS himself, Mr. David Stern came out. No one said anything. No one clapped. All of our excitement was replaced by worry when we saw his face. It was grave.

"Students, faculty and agents of the Academy of Espionage. As you know, I am President David Stern. I have some very unfortunate and shocking news: Due to budget cuts and lack of government funding, The Academy of Espionage will be shut down for good. Thank you for all of your hard work. The United States owes you all a great deal. But we don't have the money to keep the school open. However, if staff here think you have potential to be an extradentary field agent, you will be receiving notice shortly of a meeting with me, the director of the CIA and some staff. But for now, please go back to your rooms and pack. You will be leaving tomorrow to go back to your old homes and towns. There will be further instructions about keeping identities a secret. I am so sorry, but thank you for your service. In conclusion, the Academy of Espionage will be closed forever, effective immediately."

We were all shocked. Even Erica and Audrey Hale looked surprised. But no doubt they were getting a meeting for an offer at a permanent CIA job. But I was shocked and disappointed. There was a small chance at a permanent offer, but it was unlikely. I relied too heavily on Erica or other agents to be successful in the permanent field, even though I saved the world a few times. But I couldn't leave! My whole life was here! I had all my friends and I was truly happy. Was this all going to go away? As much as this life was stressful, it was way better than going back to middle school. This couldn't be happening.

In a zombielike state, everyone walked out of the gym. No one was speaking to each other. Our minds were in turmoil about what just happened. I went back to my room and did what everyone else was doing: we packed. Someone brought boxes to each room and we were stuffing our personal belongings and some keepsakes for home. Somehow I got to remember this place.

Suddenly, I heard a soft knock at my door while I was folding a shirt. Erica Hale came walking into my room. Normally, when we used to hang out, it was either in her room or somewhere on campus, never my room. As she once said, "It smells and looks like a pigsty." But here she was.

"Hey," she said softly as she sat on my bed.

"Hey," I said as I put the shirt in a box. I sat across from her on my desk.

"Did they call you for a meeting yet?" Erica asked.

I shook my head, "No. I doubt they will. I don't have what it takes to be in the CIA for good."

She looked at me incredulously, "You never give yourself enough credit. They will, I promise you. You saved the country and the world multiple times. You've saved me. They will meet with you."

I shrugged, "Maybe. Did they call you?"

She nodded.

"So, I'm guessing you're staying in the CIA?"

Erica took a big deep breath and said, "No, actually I'm not."

This shocked me even more than the news that spy school was shut down. Erica's whole life was being a spy. She was training for it since she was two. She was also one of the best spies I'd ever met. How could she not want to be a spy anymore?

"What?! Why not? Your whole life is being a spy! How could you turn them down?!"

She let a big breath out, "My parents were there for the meeting. It was me, Grandpa, Dad, Mom, the Idiot, the director of the CIA and the president. And well... you said it. My whole life was being a spy. I never experienced anything else before. I only know that lifestyle. My parents encouraged me to try something else. Be normal for a change. And I thought, why not? I'm going to try high school and settle down in our house in New York for a few years and see how it goes. The CIA's offer is still on the table if I decide being normal absolutely sucks."

"It does," I cut in.

"But I don't know that yet. I want to try it for myself." Erica finished.

"Wow," I was utterly shocked, "Good for you."

I know that Erica would do fine in high school. She's super pretty and that's basically all that matters these days to stupid high school kids.

"But what does that mean for you know... us?" I asked apprehensively.

"That's what I wanted to talk about. Ben, in the meeting, they said we can't utter a word about this school to anyone, not even each other. We have to forget everything that ever happened or they'll kill us. I think the best way for both of us to move on and forget about spy school is to not talk to each other. Not continue this special friendship outside of these halls. Not to keep in contact. It'll be the best way for us to move on." Erica finished with downcast eyes.

This stung even more. The final twist of the knife in my already crappy day.

"What? That can't be the only way! Erica, these were the best three years of my life. I can't forget about you or the school!" I got really frantic.

"Hold on, calm down," She said, "I didn't say to totally forget these memories, we just have to keep them to ourselves and only ourselves. I was saying the best way to do that is to keep out of touch. Out of contact. Trust me, Ben. This is as hard on you as it is on me. No one expected this."

"I.. I," I was at a loss for words, "But I don't want to."

"Nor do I. But it must be done. We must be done. But here," Erica slapped a sticky note in my hand, "Normally, I don't want to give out personal information like this on paper because anyone could see. But here." I looked at the note. It said ERICA on the top with a phone number on the bottom.

"As my farewell gift to you, I am giving you my personal phone number. Only you, my grandpa and my parents have it. And you have my word that I will not change it. If there is a real emergency, call me and I'll see what I can do."

I was touched, since I knew how important Erica's privacy was to her, "Thank you. I don't know what to say."

"I do," Suddenly, she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, "Bye forever Ben." Erica left without me saying anything else. That kiss was the final thrust of the knife. Erica Hale was truly gone.

Ten years later, I still have the sticky note. It is in the bottom drawer of my dresser. I've yet to use it. I haven't found a good-enough excuse. Plus, there is less of a chance she'd answer now that she is who she is.