chapter twenty-two ━ scavenger hunts & future careers
( season two, episode ten )

❝ does anybody really want to watch
indiana jones after all this? ❞

𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 paper in her hand, furrowing her brows at the contents. She raised her head and found Milton and Jack standing by their lockers. "Tell me, do I look like I'd be a good librarian?" she asked and they looked back at her in confusion. "Because according to the career evaluations from the guidance counselor, I would make an excellent school librarian. Do people not realize how thankless education workers' jobs are?"

"Well—"

"Last day of school! Whoo!" Jerry cheered, excitedly running up to the trio before his face fell. "Until summer school... Whoo..."

Milton shook his head. "I've gotta find a way to get my Venus Flytrap home for the summer," he told them, and Veronica stuffed her evaluation into her backpack.

Jerry frowned. "It's just a plant, dude. Take it home."

"I've been growing it hydroponically with a synthetic photosynthesis light since the first day of school and it's pretty huge," he replied making Veronica and Jack nod.

"It's not even eating flies anymore," the boy added. "It's eating meatballs."

"It's disgusting," Veronica quipped.

Jerry scoffed. "Right." She crossed her arms. "A plant that eats meatballs." He opened Milton's locker and inside, the plant burped, hitting the boy in the face with a meatball. Veronica gagged at the sight and hid behind Jack and Milton. "Yep, that's definitely a meatball."

"What are you doing?" Jack asked, furrowing his brows.

"I'm hiding in case the plant decides to take over the school," she replied as though it was obvious. "Duh."

He rolled his eyes just as Kim came up to them. "Hey, did you guys get your end-of-the-year career evaluations from the guidance counselor?" she asked, holding up her own paper.

"Yes, I did, and they're a joke," Milton replied before Veronica could continue to gripe about her results. "Mine says I'm best suited to be a farmer." She paused and looked at him. "Exactly. I'm allergic to cows, terrified of hay, and seriously..." He pulled back his sweater. "Do these shoulders look like they can hold up overalls?"

"Ronnie's already complained."

Kim looked at Veronica. "Do I look like I'd be a good librarian?" she asked the blonde, crossing her arms. "I like books but people annoy me. What about me says that I'd like to keep a library organized surrounded by so many books I'd lose count..." She trailed off and her friends raised their eyebrows. "I'm starting to understand why I'd be a good librarian."

Jack shook his head. "I didn't even pick mine up," he said with a sigh. "No one believes a word those things say."

"I just got my career evaluation." Eddie was suddenly standing behind them in excitement. "I believe every word that this thing says!"

Veronica chuckled and looked up at Jack. "You were saying?"

"Really?" Kim asked, furrowing her brows.

Eddie nodded. "Yep. You're looking at a new Eddie. I'm gonna be an archeologist, baby. I'll be discovering lost cities, traveling the high seas, and navigating the globe. And now... to Spanish class!"

Veronica cleared her throat when he began walking up the stairs. "Eddie, your Spanish class is that way," she said, pointing in the other direction and he chuckled.

"I knew that."

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𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐒 sitting in the dojo, snacking on a bag of pretzels while watching Eddie practice with Rudy. "Wow, Eddie, I'm really impressed," he said with a nod. "I've never seen you so focused before."

"That's because I'm taking it seriously," Eddie replied, walking over to his locker. "One day, martial arts is gonna help me avoid getting wedgied by a mummy."

"You know, I was wedgied by a mummy once," Rudy told them and Veronica shook her head. "Halloween, 1995."

Veronica hung her head while Eddie sighed. "Oh, no."

"It was so intense, I blacked out," he continued while the two teenagers looked at him unimpressed. "When I woke up, all my candy was gone except for two Jolly Whoppers shoved up my nose."

"How do we always end up with a story from your childhood?" Veronica asked out loud with a frown.

"Rudy, I'm talking about actual mummies," Eddie said, standing up. "We got our career evaluations back from the guidance counselor, and it said I'm going to be an archaeologist."

Rudy tilted his head. "Don't they just dust sand off old bones in the desert?"

"Yes."

Eddie looked at Veronica who shrugged. "That's not what I'm going to be doing."

The uncle and niece both stared at Eddie who was telling them about his future career plans which included running away from a cement ball, narrowly avoiding swords and a chasm, and using his whip to jump across the hole before getting a wedgie from a mummy. Apparently, there was an old man in his underwear underneath all of the tissue.

"So you're gonna be Indiana Jones?" Veronica asked when he had finished and she tilted his head. "You know, I can get behind that."

Rudy nodded in agreement. "Oh, but for the record, mummies wear tighty-whities."

Veronica furrowed her brows. "Why do you know that?"

"Hey, you know what..." Rudy ignored his niece's small quip. "I have the hat and bullwhip from the Bobby Wasabi classic 'The Stink of the Sphinx'. You can totally have it!"

"What? Thanks!"

She smiled lightly. "He doesn't give away his Bobby Wasabi stuff to just anybody," she said to him. "He must really like you."

"Eddie, are you still talking about your career evaluation?" Jack asked and they looked over to see their friends walking towards them. "I told you, man, it doesn't really mean anything."

Kim nodded. "And seriously? Archaeologist? You come from four generations of accountants."

"Oh, because everyone wants to become an accountant when they grow up..." Veronica muttered sarcastically.

"And that is not true," Eddie added, turning to Kim. "My grandfather was a urologist."

Veronica nodded. "So there!"

"Eddie, you're not exactly the explorer type," Milton said and she frowned, looking around at their friends; why was nobody supporting his newfound dream? "Remember that Easter egg hunt? You didn't find any eggs and you lost your basket."

"I didn't lose it," he replied quietly. "Someone stole it. And ate all my Peeps!"

Veronica shook her head. "So what if he wants to be an explorer?" she asked with her arms crossed. "Why are you telling him he can't?"

"Maybe you're just looking at it all the wrong way," Jack suggested and she rolled her eyes. "Accounting can be exciting. Oh, and don't even get me started about the thrill ride of urology."

"Maybe you guys are right," Eddie said with a humorless chuckle. "I don't know what I was thinking. Thanks anyway, Rudy, but I won't be needing that."

Veronica sighed. "Eddie—" But he walked out of the dojo and she pressed her lips together. "Way to go, fun killers."

"Yeah, what was that?" Rudy asked them.

"What?"

"I have never seen Eddie more alive than when he was talking about being a treasure hunter," he said, gesturing outside. "And what did you do?"

Veronica crossed her arms. "You killed the fun. Who on earth wants to be an accountant? You told him that was his destiny."

"But, guys, you don't understand," Milton said, walking towards them. "He thought those career evaluations were real."

"It doesn't matter if they're real or not," Rudy replied, shaking his head. "They're real to him. Friends build each other up. They don't tear each other down. I thought I taught you better..."

Veronica looked at them. "Fun killers," she said again and Jack sighed. "Didn't you see how sad he looked when he walked away? You people did that. Besides, being a treasure hunter sounds like fun. Much better than sitting at a desk doing math all day." She tilted her head. "Am I turning into Uncle Rudy?"

"A little bit."

She shrugged. "Could be worse."

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒' 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 it up to Eddie was to give him a geo-cashing device that sent them on a scavenger hunt. Yes, them. Which was how the group of six found themselves climbing down a rope at seven in the morning in different outfits. Fortunately, Veronica, Kim, and Jack's were the most normal whereas Milton was wearing a British explorer outfit and Jerry was wearing a dress.

Eddie looked like Indiana Jones.

"Hold the rope tight, y'all," Jerry called down from the top of the cliff and Veronica bit the inside her cheek. "I'm coming down."

"Man, I still don't get why he's wearing a dress," Jack said with a frown while Eddie held onto the rope tightly.

"It's a caftan," Eddie corrected him, sighing lightly. "It's traditional desert wear."

The boys let out a breath before looking up at Jerry who was attempting to climb down. They all groaned and Jack covered Veronica's eyes. "You'll thank me later," he told her and she shrugged. "Would it kill him to wear some traditional underpants?"

Jerry jumped the rest of the way and smiled. "I kinda like wearing this thing," he said to his friends. "It lets the rest of Jerry breathe."

Veronica wrinkled her nose at him. Eddie's GPS beeped and they all looked down at it. "Oh, ho! This must be the spot. The GPS is flashing us a clue."

"You're doing well," the GPS spoke. "You're on the case. What you seek's between a rock and a hard place."

"Whoo, this is ever so exciting!" Milton exclaimed in the British accent he'd been using for the entire search and they all immediately sighed. "It reminds me of the long, cold nights in the Congo where the only things keeping you warm were a sleeping bag and a hyena."

"Would it kill you to stop with the accent?" Veronica asked him, tilting her head with a frown. "You're giving me a headache."

Jack nodded. "Yeah. If you don't stop doing that voice, I'm gonna shove that monocle up your nose!" he added, agreeing with Veronica.

"I'm sorry," Milton retorted, back to his usual voice. "I'm just trying to get into character for Eddie. I suggest you do the same. Americans!" he quipped, once again speaking in a British accent. "So obnoxious."

"Fake Brits!" Veronica coughed, crossing her arms and looking at Milton. "So annoying." She smiled sweetly at him before glancing back up the rope. "Kim, why did you stop? I need another girl down here to deal with these idiots."

"Guys, I found a falcon's nest," she replied, hovering in the middle of the cliff. "It's full of little baby falcons! Ooh, you are so cute!" Milton tapped Veronica on the shoulder and she glanced at him. He pointed up to the sky and she followed his extended finger, her eyes widening when she saw a large bird coming directly for the branch where Kim was stopped. "Yes, you are."

"Kim, darling," Milton called out in the British accent. "Their mumsy's back and she appears to be a tad peeved."

"Ah!" Kim screeched and they winced when the falcon began to attack the blonde. "Get off me. Stop it!"

She screamed when she accidentally let go of the rope and began falling. She landed on top of Jerry and coughed, falcon feathers flying everywhere.

"Are you okay?" Veronica asked her, helping her off the ground and dusting her off. She picked out twigs from her hair.

Jack smiled and stood behind Veronica. "Those cute baby birds messed you up, didn't they?" he asked teasingly. "Yes, they did. Yes, they did."

"Why don't you shut it?" she snapped and Jack hid behind Veronica who frowned at him. She shook her head, shaking off his arm.

"The brave boy..."

"Guys, I think I got it!" Eddie exclaimed, finding the object they needed. "Cool. Our next coordinates." The GPS beeped once more. "It looks like our next location is over in Kramer Woods. Come on, let's go."

"Ew!" Kim winced, hearing a squelching behind them. "What are those disgusting things?"

Milton stepped forward. "By Jove, I do believe those are giant springing jellyfish!" he answered with a smile. "Ooh, they must have washed in with the tide."

Jack furrowed his brows. "Why do they call 'em 'springing'?" he asked. His question was answered when a jellyfish suddenly jumped at his face and he yelped, falling to the ground.

"I'm guessing that's why," Kim said.

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐃 finally made it to Kramer Woods after successfully getting the jellyfish off of Jack's face and Kim was trying hard to not laugh. "Way to go, Jack," she said and he looked at her. Veronica glanced up at the boy who was covered in jellyfish slime. "Your first kiss was with a sea creature."

"Touché, old girl!" Milton exclaimed, giving a high-five while Jack gave her a mocking look.

Eddie's GPS beeped once more. "Quiet, guys, it's our next clue," Jack said, walking over to Eddie, and dragging Veronica with him. "She doesn't tease me if you're with me."

"Hmm..."

"You're in the right area," the GPS told them. "The moment's yours to seize. The tin with the coordinates is hidden amongst the trees."

Veronica sighed, looking around at their surroundings full of trees. "Well, that narrows that down... Is the GPS aware that we are surrounded by trees?"

"We'll find it," Eddie assured them making Jerry and Veronica glance at each other in doubt. "We just need to split up. I'll take Kim over there, you four look around here."

"Hey, guys..." They looked at Jack as Kim followed after Eddie. "Look up there." They followed his extended finger to a tree branch. "Right up there. Look, there's something shiny in that knothole, I bet it's the tin box."

Veronica tilted her head. "Or you're playing a trick on us."

"Good show, old chap!" Milton said with a smile while Jack gave Veronica a look. "But how in the figgy pudding are we gonna get up there?"

"Do you have a grappling hook?" she asked, crossing her arms. "No? That's all I got."

Jack gestured to the tree. "We'll hold the branch down," he said, pointing between himself and Jerry. "And then either Ronnie or Milton—" She gave him an unimpressed look. "—Milton—will climb up and get the box."

Veronica nodded and helped Milton onto the branch. "Alright, go see if the box is up there."

"Brilliant," Milton replied, turning to look at his friends. "But do hold it steady. There's a good bit of tension on this branch."

"We got it, Milton," Jerry said in annoyance and Veronica bent down to help them hold the branch when Jerry suddenly squealed. "Whoa! Okay, that's not good."

Jack looked at him. "What's your problem?"

"Uh—I think a chipmunk just ran up my dress," he said, standing up to shake the animal out of his outfit with a shriek.

"Jerry!" Jack exclaimed, struggling with the weight of the tree branch and Jerry ran into Veronica who fell into a bush with a loud thud.

"It's foraging and not in a good way!"

Jack looked back at them. "Jerry, Ronnie, I'm losing my grip!"

"Blimey!" Milton cried when he flew through the air after Jack let go of the branch accidentally. Veronica looked up at the flying boy with a small wince before standing up out of the bush, scratching at her arm and neck.

"Whoo!" Jerry screeched, still trying to shake the animal out of his caftan. "Jack, Ronnie, help me get this chipmunk out of my dress! Ow! Ow!"

Jack tilted his head. "I'm—I'm good, thanks." He looked over at Veronica who was still scratching at her arms and neck. "What happened to you?"

"I don't—" She glanced behind her at the bush. "I think I just fell in poison ivy." She whimpered to herself, continuing to scratch at her skin. "I hate nature..."

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐏𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 to the dockyard and Veronica glanced around, still scratching at her arms in frustration. She knew that a rash would eventually show up which did not help her mood in the slightest.

"Uh—Eddie, are you sure we're in the right place?" Kim asked, the question being on everyone's mind. "We're in a dockyard."

Jack nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't really look like the place for anything—" The GPS beeped. "Eddie's got this, psh! Doubting him..."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Suck up."

"You've found the dock, succeeding beyond all measure," the GPS informed them. "Near one of these crates lies your hidden treasure."

"Alright..." Kim looked around at the many crates that filled the dockyard. "Where do we start?"

"Okay, here's what we're gonna do..." Eddie said to his friends. "Kim, Milton—"

"Check it out, guys." They looked over when they heard a voice, seeing a group of men at the other end of the yard. "Another bunch of losers down here on our docks looking for their little box." He pulled out the box from his pocket and waved it in front of him. "You're not getting it."

Eddie stepped forward. "Mister... My friends and I have been through a lot to get that. And I know it seems like a silly game to you, but... we're not leaving without it."

"Really?" the man questioned with a chuckle. "And what are you gonna do to get it?"

Eddie took the man's wrist and pushed him in the other direction. "Did you guys have to buy the game with evil men at the end?" Veronica asked with a sigh, looking at her friends. "It couldn't have ended easier?"

Jack shrugged and she groaned, catching the leg of one of the men who tried to kick at her. She rolled her eyes and threw him backward, sending him into a box. He quickly got back up and aimed a punch at her head which she easily dodged and kicked him on the back. She wiped her hands on his shirt before stepping over him to join her friends.

"You guys want this box so bad?" the first man asked, holding it up to the teenagers. "You should go fish it out of the ocean!"

He threw the box towards the water and Eddie ran after it, falling over the edge. "Eddie!" Veronica winced when she heard a splash of water. "Poor bloke." She looked at Milton. "Never even had a chance. He didn't even have his floaties."

Veronica turned when she heard coughing and saw Eddie walking back to them covered in gunk. "Eddie!" Kim exclaimed. "We thought you fell into the ocean."

"I wish," he replied with a frown. "I fell into a barge filled with fish guts."

Jerry crossed his arms. "Lucky..." he pouted.

"I can't believe we came this close to getting our treasure," Jack griped. "And all I got was a close encounter with Jerry's chipmunk."

Kim and Veronica glanced at each other. "You can keep some things to yourself, you know..."

"Yeah..." Eddie nodded. "It'd be a real shame to have gone through all of that without ending up with..." He pulled out the box. "This!"

Kim shrieked and gripped onto Veronica's shoulder. "Open it, open it!"

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𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐏 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 teenagers walked into the dojo, all looking as though they'd gone through hell. "Hey guys, who was geocaching?"

"Well, I got covered in fish guts," Eddie said.

Kim held up her hand. "I was attacked by a falcon."

"I had a chipmunk run up my dress," Jerry added.

Milton nodded. "I was a human cannonball."

"I fell into a bush of poison ivy," Veronica told him.

Jack smiled. "And I got to first base with a jellyfish."

Rudy looked among them all. "That sounds horrible!"

"No way," Jack replied, shaking his head. "Best summer vacation ever." Veronica nodded as their friends started talking over each other in agreement.

"And check out our treasure," Eddie said, holding up the box. He opened the lid and pulled out a small plastic rabbit figurine.

Rudy stared at it. "That's it?" he asked in disbelief. "It's a... crummy rubber rabbit." Veronica frowned. "Oh, there's money inside it, right?"

"No." Eddie shook his head. "The rabbit is the treasure. A reminder of the adventure I went on... with my friends."

"But there's money in it, right?"

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut it, you."

"You know what, Eddie?" Jack said, resting his arm on Veronica's shoulder and she looked up at him. "After today, we'll follow you on any adventure you wanna go. Right, guys?"

"I already supported him, but yes," Veronica replied with a smile. "Just remember that I was your first supporter when you're a big famous treasure hunter."

Eddie chuckled. "Thanks, guys." He placed the rabbit figurine on the shelf. "Now, come on, guys. Falafel's on me."

They followed him out of the dojo and Veronica rubbed at Jack's cheek with her sleeve. "You still have slime," she said when he looked down at her. "All better."

He nodded, watching her hurry after Kim, linking her arm with Kim's. He let out a breath and cleared his throat, joining his friends inside the restaurant, a faint blush still on his cheek.

"Does anybody really want to watch Indiana Jones after all this?" she asked and he chuckled softly to himself.

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━ author's note:

happy to report that we're very close to a cute little crush realization/ronnie and jack finally figure themselves out :)