22My Life- Chapter 8
Everyday we had the same schedule. Physical activities in the morning. Running, swimming push ups- Yuck. After breakfast we would do team building such as the activities in trust that we always did. Those weren't much fun either. They were too boring. Then came lunch. It was the afternoon activities that I liked the best. They were mostly done in the classroom, learning the history of various countries, studying current events and discussing what should be done about them. And there were languages, I knew how to say so many basic phrases that I was afraid that I would forget what language they were in and make a fool out of myself. And then there were case studies (that we had to memorize) they told of CIA agents that had been stuck in standard and unusual situations and what they did to get out of them. Or (in rather depressing situations what they did to get caught). But occasionally we learned 'skills', and after hours of classroom study we finally get to try these skills out. We got to learn how to use lie detectors, guns and all sorts of confidential gadgets. And then there was driving. The younger recruits had to learn how to drive, while us older recruits got to learn special manoeuvres. That was fun. We also learned basic martial art moves. It was like in The Matrix where Neo is plugged in to the computer thing and he learns everything from Karate to drunken boxing. Needless to say it was interesting.
In the late afternoon and early after dinner we had special training where we helped our partners in their problem areas. Poor Ryan, he must have hated all the extra running he had to do on my behalf, but it paid off. The better at running I became the more points we won. Although I hate to brag I have to say that even my excellent memorization skills help Ryan and me out in the point standings. Only Sydney and James were ahead of us at the standings at the end of the second week.
"You have all come a long way in the past few weeks," Agent Greenwood informed us recruits on our fourteenth day at training camp. I had to agree, I felt as though I had learned a lot. But one thing was still bothering me. Why wouldn't Ryan be my friend. I had certainly made an effort to get him to like me. Despite being shunned constantly I still talked to Ryan. I asked him if his parents or sister had written him, he shrugged. Last time I checked it was either a yes or no answer not maybe. The one thing that consoled me throughout it all was the fact that Ryan didn't even speak to anyone else. Sometimes I thought that it wasn't me Ryan hated, it was life.
That thought isn't depressing at all.
"That is why we're giving you all the day off tomorrow. Of course we want this time to be used for team building, but for once we aren't going to force you." Agent Greenwood continued. This was good news, I really needed a day off. Maybe Sydney and I would be able to hangout.
The last comment started scattered conversations among the recruits, but it appeared that Agent Greenwood wasn't finished speaking yet. "We are also going to send the two leading pairings to town tomorrow evening, to see a movie, or whatever else they want to do."
Sydney poked me and said, in a loud whisper "That's us Layne!" I squealed in excitement. This would be fun. Agent Greenwood glared at us, Tyler rolled his eyes and Ryan, well he didn't even flinch. Jerk. Wasn't he excited that we got to get away from the camp.
Agent Greenwood continued to talk, boring the other recruits with his compliments and criticism on our first weeks of training. But I wasn't listening, being too excited about the evening out.
The next day was one of the nicest days we had experienced yet. And it was a good thing too, seeing as I spent half the day in the lake (not by choice mind you.) I awoke, much to my dismay at 8:00 that morning. I had been hoping that I would be able to sleep in but Erin and Jessie (two of the younger recruits) woke me up, wondering where the key to something or other was hidden. I think that I growled at them (who could blame me? I was still asleep- I also thing that they were joking- why would I have the key to the White House?). I rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, but Sydney, who surprising was awake before me, came prancing in singing the latest Linkin Park song at the top of her lungs. She grabbed my blanket and pulled. Not only did the she get the blanket, but she half pulled me off the upper bunk also.
"Morning!" she chirped. I glared in response and tried to throw a pillow at her. This sudden moment threw my body off balance, and CRASH. I had once again fallen out of my bunk. Sydney laughed, "That was so your fault!"
"I'll get even," I vowed as I picked up my pride and stormed out the door. It didn't look as though today was going to be my day. I guess that I was wrong though. Coming out of the girls' shower/ bathroom ten minutes later I literally ran right into Ryan.
"owww," I moaned. Then noticing who I ran into I groaned. Why on a day like today did I have to run into Mr. Grumpy?
"Oh Layne, I'm sorry," Ryan said genuinely. Weird, some one was in a good mood today.
"It's okay," I mumbled, once again picking up my pride. At this rate I wouldn't have any left by lunch time.
"No it's not," Ryan insisted determinedly. "I should have been watching where I was going. But I was looking for you."
"For me?"
"Ya, we are partners," Ryan stated the obvious. I had notice that little detail before, but this was the first time I had heard him acknowledge it. "I thought that we could do something today."
I swear if I were in a cartoon little question marks would be floating out of my head. Why the sudden change of attitude? "Sure, just let me get dressed." I motioned at my pyjama bottoms which I was still wearing.
"How about I meet you in the dinning hall," he suggested.
"Okay I'll be there in a few minutes," I responded, jogging off. That was weird.
Sydney was still in the cabin when I got back. "I knew you'd back," she said with a grin. I glared, my side was still sore from where I had landed. "You luuvv me."
"Right Sydney," I said, digging out some clean clothes. I sure needed to do laundry.
"What are you all doing today?" Mandi asked, noticing the tension and changing the subject.
"Me and Tyler are gonna hang out." Sydney said grinning. She was using Tyler to no avail. She knew he liked her, and she would use his love to get what ever she wanted. I would be disgusted if I weren't so proud of her.
"Jessie and I are taking over White House," Erin added.
"We would have left already, but Layne doesn't know where she left the key," Jessie added with a smirk. Ha, I knew that was what I had heard.
"what 'bout you Layne?" Mandi asked.
"I dunno, I sounds like Ryan has something planned."
"Ryan?' Sydney asked in surprise, "he isn't going to sit in the guy's cabin and pout all day? Wow."
"I know," I responded, "I was really surprised when he suggested it. I'm going to go meet him for breakfast right now." With that I headed out of the cabin.
A bunch of "awes", "oooohs" and "Go Laynes" followed me.
I sat down across from Ryan in the dinning hall, and was greeted much to my surprise by a huge grin. "Hey," he said handing me a plate of my favourite- waffles with raspberries, strawberries and a ton of whipped cream.
"Yumm," I said stuffing my face, "Thanks."
"Welcome. What did you want to do today?" Ryan asked.
"I dunno. I thought you had something planned."
"Nope."
"Well, I do need to get even with Sydney sometime today. She made me fall of my bed this morning. The top bunk!"
"ouch."
"I've done it before. I've learned how to land properly by now."
For the first time that I had known him Ryan laughed. What had caused this complete change of attitude I wondered.
"Maybe you can help me throw her in the lake." I suggested. "Tyler's going to be there, and I don't think that I can take on both of them at once."
"Okay," Ryan said with a shrug. For once that shrug wasn't one of indifference. Wow!
After breakfast Ryan and I took to stalking Sydney, (and Tyler once she met up with him). We followed them all around the camp, waiting for the opportune moment when Tyler was going to pick up Sydney and carry her to the lake. We wanted to wait until we were close enough though because Ryan didn't think that he could carry Sydney (probably kicking and screaming very far.) Ever once and a while we could hear snippets of their conversation. It was absolutely hilarious, Tyler, it appeared had fallen head over heels for Sydney, and was trying to convince her to 'go out' with him. Sydney kept insisting that the CIA wouldn't like it very much if they started dating.
"What happens if we take it too far?" Sydney asked, "I don't think that the CIA provides condoms at their training camps. They don't want to encourage their agents getting that close.
"We wouldn't let it get that far," Tyler insisted as the pair drifted out of earshot. I turned to Ryan and laughed silently, he even smirked a little.
Finally after half an hour or so of stalking Sydney and Tyler headed down towards the lake. They were talking about getting a boat. I glanced at Ryan and he nodded. This was going to be our opportunity. We blindly followed Sydney and Tyler into the boat house, completely forgetting about the second entrance. When we got in the building they were gone, and it took Ryan and me a moment to figure out where they had gone.
It wasn't a long moment of time, but long enough for Sydney to get hold of one door handle, and for Tyler's large frame to appear in the doorway on the other side.
"Gotcha," he said with a grin. He scooped me up (rather like the way Ryan had planned to pick up Sydney,) an deposited me in the lake.
"Hey, that was our idea," I protest upon resurfacing.
"Ya, but we stole it." Sydney added.
"How long did you know that we were behind you?" Ryan asked seriously.
"I knew almost the entire time," Sydney said, "I saw you coming out of the dining hall, but I just told Tyler."
"Well now I have to get even twice," I said trying to get back onto the dock. Ryan offered me his hand and I grabbed it. Of course, Tyler being the utter loser that he is thought that it would be funny to push Ryan in also.
"Three times!" I screeched at Sydney an Tyler's retreating backs.
That was the first time I landed in the lake that day. But it certainly wasn't the last.
There were many times over the next few weeks that I wished to go back to that day, when we were all so happy. When It didn't appear that Ryan hated me, or the world. Unfortunately nothing ever stays the way we want it, and by the next day Ryan and I were back on non-speaking terms.