Jake smirked at me, like he'd just won the lottery or cracked some secret code. Then, with a tap on my shoulder that felt more like a poke of doom, he said
"Next time, come with me."
I gasped in disbelief—like I'd just been told that the sun rises in the West.
Seriously? He's the one who ran away faster than a cheetah on roller skates, and now he's telling me to come with him? Yeah, sure, buddy.
Ethan, with a serious face that could scare a ghost, looked at Jake and said,
"Hey, this is getting out of hand. They targeted your sister. We need to be careful. We don't want her getting hurt." His voice was so calm, it sounded like he was describing the weather—midnight sea calm.
Jake nodded, raising an eyebrow like he was about to reveal some top-secret spy operation.
Then he looked at me and said, "Since my crew here cares so much about you, you're not going home alone today never even. Nope. You're coming with me, Ethan, Liam, or Mark."
Wait, what?
That hit me like a truck—no, a truck-sized truck, driven by a guy who just ran away from a mob of goons.
This is the worst. Why? Why in the world would I have to stay with them? I wanted a lawyer—no, a bodyguard, and maybe some popcorn.
"Can't I just have some time alone? Can't you stop this crazy nonsense?" I suggested, hoping they'd get the message and leave me be.
But nope. They all burst into laughter like I'd told the funniest joke in the universe. And with Ethan, cracking a rare smirk,
And I said, "Why are you laughing? Am I a clown now?"
"You should be," Liam chimed in, cracking up with that goofy grin of his.
I couldn't help but laugh too—probably because I was losing my mind.
Ethan, slowly, like he was delivering a deep philosophical statement, said, "We can't stop. We're already trapped."
He headed back to the car, looking like he was about to take a midnight stroll through a haunted house.
Their expressions turned serious, and they stared at me like I was the main character in a suspense movie.
"Don't worry," Mark said, voice steady and serious—the kind of tone you use when you're about to reveal a shocking secret. "We will keep you safe."
Jake followed, like he was about to deliver the punchline of a very suspicious joke, and Liam patted my back as if he was escorting me to the VIP lounge of danger.
They started walking toward the car, all serious and mysterious—like they'd just been handed secret spy dossiers.
And me? I was just standing there, thinking, Strange? Yep. Very strange.
''So, uh… where are we going?'' I asked, sitting between Mark and Ethan, clutching my bag like it's my lifeline.
Mark was gazing out the window like he was contemplating the meaning of life, or maybe just the next book to read.
Ethan's hand crossed his chest tightly and pouting slightly—sleeping like a log.
Liam, the tiny hero of the moment, handed me a candy—like a mini lollipop—saying,
"Here… Have it is just for you..." He smiled sweetly, his heart shaped birth mark widening.
I grabbed it, and said, "Thanks Liam, Thanks so much...." and popped it into my mouth faster than I can breath.
Just as I was about to enjoy my sweet victory, my brother cleared his throat loudly—probably trying to sound serious but failing miserably.
"Ayana," he said with the tone of someone about to deliver bad news, "remember what I told you. You've gotta stick with us until everything's settled. Until you're safe."
He was driving the car like a boss—effortless, like he'd been doing this in his sleep.
I nodded, still munching on my candy.
'' Sure, don't remind me of the misery I will have to go through'' I sighed, and then I glanced at Ethan—who looked so peaceful I almost felt guilty waking him.
Almost.
Then I looked at Mark.
He was staring out the window like he'd just discovered the meaning of life. Or maybe just the meaning of the clouds.
I couldn't help but smile.
But honestly, I was so tired I decided to nap. I gently rested my head on Ethan's shoulder, thinking, "This is fine, I'll just sleep here."
Suddenly, Ethan flinched, opening his eyes and looking down at me like I'd just sprouted a third arm.
He wanted to push me away—probably thinking I was a sleeping koala. But he stopped himself, just staring.
Mark, ever the wisecrack, said,
"Stop starring! She could wake up and go bananas on you," which was actually pretty good advice. Ethan looked at him like he was speaking Martian.
"I wasn't starring, It's just...." Ethan mumbled, as if that would make everyone forget he was caught red-handed.
No more words.
Just silence, And yes I was sleeping, and Ethan pretending he wasn't totally creeped out by my nap attack.
Then Jake, the driver, broke the silence with a careful,
"What's gotten into you, Ethan? You've been acting like you're.... not our friend since we changed schools. What's up?"
''Yeah Ethan You've stopped coming to my house, to shake it to the max, you know practice..'' Liam added and Mark nodded in agreement.
''And you've stop coming to learn math... one thing I can do better then you'' Mark said and Jake smirked.
Note I was still sleeping.
Ethan shrugged, replying, "It's nothing," like he was hiding a secret.
Mark, still staring at the clouds, added, "Should I take her off your shoulders? Or do you want her to start snoring louder than your car's engine?"
Ethan shot him a look that said, "What the heck, dude," but didn't say a word.
Mark just nodded, still watching the window, and I drifted off again, dreaming of candy and peace.
--------------
"They are so annoying, Nena… you would be so annoyed by them, you could kill them," I shouted into my phone, clutching it like it was my lifeline.
Nena, my angelic best friend, always knew how to make everything better.
"Ayana, you can't keep calling me every day to complain about F4 or R4 or whatever...," she said, sounding tired already.
"It's R4," I interrupted, rolling my eyes.
"But if they're really that annoying, why don't you just avoid them, shoo them away, or turn invisible?" Wow, Nena—that's really helpful.
Thanks for the life advice from the girl who's never even seen a ghost, let alone made one disappear.
"I hope that could be easy," I sighed, leaning back into my bed like a stressed-out potato.
Then Nena's voice got all mysterious, lowering to a whisper.
"And, Ayana… maybe I should tell you this..." Her voice was so dramatic, I half expected her to say she was a secret agent or a spy.
"Maybe you should check outside your house... just maybe..." Like she was offering me a job interview. Or maybe a treasure map.
My curiosity was piqued. I got up, stepped out my room, and looked around—nothing. Just my boring yard.
"Nena, you made me go outside because I'm always in my room?" I asked, crossing my arms, phone still glued to my ear.
"Just come out a little more outside," she said, her tone like I was about to discover the secret to eternal life.
And then—bam! My jaw hit the floor.
My eyes widened, and a goofy smile spread across my face. There she was—Nena, my best friend of five years, who I'd never seen face-to-face until now.
She was wearing a cute outfit, but—wait for it—a sleek black ensemble that made her look like she was auditioning for the next superhero movie.
It was a black crop top with tiny ruffles, high-waisted jeans, and a leather jacket that screamed
"I'm mysterious but adorable." Her short, black hair was styled perfectly—like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine.
"Nena? Is that you?" I asked, hands in my hair, blinking like I'd just seen a unicorn.
And yes, it was her—beautiful, radiant, and even more stunning in real life.
She looked like she belonged on the cover of a magazine, not just my backyard.
Without waiting, I ran and threw my arms around her, drowning in happiness—matching her vibe perfectly.
She hugged me back, jumping up and down like she just won the lottery.
"Oh, it's so good to see you!" she squealed, grabbing both my cheeks like I was a cute puppy.
"Oh, you're even cuter in real life," she squealed again, and I giggled, feeling like I'd just been hit with a happiness tsunami.
I dragged her inside, took her luggage, and flopped onto my bed.
"This is my room—small but cozy. We can manage, and plus..." I paused dramatically, "why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"If I did, maybe your reaction wouldn't be as satisfying," she said with a mischievous grin.
I nodded, pretending to be hurt but mostly just excited. "Yeah, I'd probably be lazy and hug you like I just fainted." I plopped next to her.
"How was your trip?" I asked, eager for her stories.
She smiled, all bright and happy. "Great."
She looked around my room, and I could tell she was trying not to judge.
"Wow, I love your room—so cozy and so… small. I'd love it here," she said with a big grin.
I returned her smile, but I couldn't help but add a little humor.
"My room isn't big but empty so boring,'' she said and I smiled
''My room is small, by noise it's filled with R4—my brother. The annoying one." I groaned dramatically, and she burst out laughing, making a funny face that had me cracking up.