"How much longer?!" Nick whined for the billionth time in two hours.

Nick, Reyna, Cupcake and I were sitting in a seven-seater taxi on the way to Ravadyn.

Reyna called shotgun, Nick and Cupcake were sitting in the middle row while I was at the very back; and there was a driver. Obviously. She was a lovely lady called Lana.

"Are you always this whiny?" Lana chuckled.

"Yup," Reyna answered, and Nick pouted and shrunk back in his seat.

"You're still looking at the blueprints?" Nick's voice echoed.

"I want to be prepared," Argenta answered.

"Cupcake, get some sleep. You barely slept last night and the night before,"

No, no, no, that's too sweet

"We don't want a zombie slowing us down over there,"

Woo! Nice save.

She ignored me.

"Oh, so that's how it's going to be, huh?" I asked, raising one eyebrow challengingly. Still no response.

"Well, you leave me no choice," I bent a little and snatched the blueprints from my Cupcake's hands.

"Hey! I was reading them!"

"I know," I smirked.

"Lory, give them back!" She said as she turned around on her seat.

I inched closer to her until our faces were only a few centimetres apart.

"Take them from me,"

"Don't try me," She raised an eyebrow and inched even closer.

Control your thoughts

Control your thoughts

Control your thoughts

"I want to," I whispered, but my voice came out raspy.

Control your thoughts

She came closer still, so her mouth was now next to my ear, and I could feel her breath tingle my neck.

Control your thoughts

Control your thoughts

Control your thoughts

Control yo-

"I don't think you do," She whispered back, very seductively.

Well, fuck!

Before I knew it, she snatched the blueprints from behind my back and returned to her seat with a triumphant grin etched across her face.

I-

I feel... used

"That was not fair!"

"Everything is fair in love and war, babe," She winked.

Babe

Babe

BABE!

She's going to be the death of me. I swear she'll give me a cardiac arrest someday.

Pushing my thoughts aside, I leaned, so my mouth was next to her ear.

"And what is this?" I whispered as seductively as I could and couldn't help but feel proud of the fact that she started blushing furiously.

"LET ME OUT!" Nick's wailing destroyed our little moment, "The sexual tension is too much! Let me out of here,"

Oh, dear god!

Exhaling loudly, I slapped the back of his head.

Woah, hold up.

It's the perfect distraction!

I jerked the blueprints away from her and sat back in my seat, feeling victorious and grinning smugly.

"Aw, seriously?!" She complained.

"Yup," I grinned.

She shook her head at me, but I could see that she was trying very hard to hold back her smile.

"Sleep." I commanded, leaving no room for argument.

"Okay, dad," She mocked me and slumped back in her seat.

"I prefer daddy,"

Where the hell did that come from?!

"In your dreams, baby,"

Girl, you have no idea.

~3 hours later~

"Okay, kiddies, we're going to stop here for a break," Lana announced as she parked the taxi in the parking lot of a restaurant.

"You're waking her up!" Nick yelled as he jumped out of the car, followed by a snickering Reyna.

"Gladly,"

"Oh, dude, you've got it bad!" Nick chortled and walked away.

Let's wake her up.

I climbed to the middle row seats and turned to look at my Cupcake sleeping.

She looks so sweet!

Unable to help it, I pulled out my phone and clicked a picture of her drooling face.

"Cupcake," I whispered, "Hey, cupcake, wake up,"

"Go away, pretty face," She complained and turned the other way.

"Heyy, get up. We've stopped for food,"

"I don't want food,"

"But you need it,"

"Nahhhh, just goooo,"

"Please?"

"Nope,"

"Don't force me to do this,"

"Huh?"

I stepped out and grabbed a water bottle.

Yeah, I'm going to hell, I know.

"Last chance, cupcake,"

"Piss off!"

"Fine then, I'll piss you off," I said before emptying the bottle on her.

"OHMYGOD!!!!" She shrieked and shot up, "...I'm going to kill you,"

Shit!

I started running away from her while she tried to catch up.

I need a place where she can't reach me. Maybe a higher ground or something.

And that's when I saw Jax.

Bingo!

"Hey, Jax!" I yelled, still running like a cheetah on crack.

"What's up?" He turned to face me.

Without another word, I climbed onto his back and sat on his shoulders.

"What the-," He said before grabbing my legs, so I wouldn't fall.

"Lory, get down!" Argenta yelled while slapping Jax's back. She was too tiny to reach me.

"OW!" Jax cried, "Stop hitting me, you weirdo,"

"Jax put him down," She said, stressing every word.

"No, no, no, please don't,"

"Don't worry, I won't," He said, "But can someone please explain why she wants to kill you?"

"He poured water on me!" Cupcake ranted, "I was sleeping!"

"Oh, damn, that's bad, dude," He chuckled.

"She wasn't waking up!"

"You're un-be-lievable!" She stomped her foot and walked away.

"Okay, you can put me down, now," I told Jax.

"Thanks, bro," I said once I was on the ground.

"No worries," He saluted and walked into the restaurant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lunch went by pretty smooth apart from the occasional glares cupcake sent me.

But I knew how to make it up to her.

"Half blueberry and half chocolate truffle," I said.

I paid for the cupcakes and sneaked up behind my Cupcake.

"Don't sneak up on me,"

"After you see what I have, you'd want me to," I said smugly.

"What do you have?" She questioned, turning around.

I lifted the bag and started shaking it. Cupcake snatched it open and gasped when she saw what was inside.

"So, am I forgiven?" I said, giving her my best innocent puppy look.

She looked up at me and slowly smiled.

"Yeah, you're forgiven," She said, before quickly adding, "but try something like that again, and no amount of cupcakes will be able to save you from me,"

"Okay, got it," I chuckled at her feeble threat, raising my hands up in surrender.

How can someone be so cute?

"Can I have one?" I asked, pointing to the bag of cupcakes that she was holding like it was a precious gem.

"No way," she said, "these are mine,"

"Wow, rude!"

"You didn't let me sleep, now, suffer the consequences," she shrugged.

"Touche,"

"Ready to leave?" Lana asked.

We all nodded and went back to our taxis.

"Um, Lana?" Argenta said.

"Yeah?"

"What's Timothy like?"

"From what I've heard, he's a sweetheart! You won't have to work very hard to convince him,"

"Oh, that's good,"

"You're doing a recon mission for a recon mission?!" Nick mocked my Cupcake, "unbelievable!"

His cackles filled the car.

"At least I've got some useful information, Mr disappearing butt," she retorted, causing Nick's laughter to die down and mine and Reyna's to erupt.

"It is a very useful piece of info. You'll thank me someday," He pouted like a kid.

"I doubt it," Lana chuckled.

"You're all bullies!" He frowned.

"Aww, hey, if it makes you feel better, it was something I'll never forget," Reyna said.

"That does make me feel better, thanks, Rey," He smiled.

" *cough* simp *cough* " I coughed out.

"You're one to talk!" Nick said.

"He likes someone?" Cupcake asked.

"Oh, yeah," Nick smirked evilly, "Crazy about her,"

"Really?"

"Yeah. He just doesn't stop talking about her! Ar-"

"OKAY! THAT'S ENOUGH!" I stopped him before he could reveal my crush.

"You're such a killjoy!" He whined like a kid.

"Mhmm,"

"Y'all should sleep, now," Lana suggested.

"Yeah," Reyna agreed.

~5 hours later~

"Okay! Get up!" Lana shouted.

"We there?" Nick asked before yawning.

"Almost," Lana replied, "Get in character,"

"I'm Ashley Jenkins," Reyna said.

"And I'm your boyfriend, Blake Donovan," Nick smirked.

"Whose idea was this again?" Reyna asked no one in particular.

"Yara," Cupcake answered leisurely, "Said it'll be easier to go inside clubs and other 'selective entry' places if we go as couples,"

"We're here, kids," Lana cheered, "This is the hotel you're staying at. Remember to act all lovey-dovey,"

"Yup!" Nick hollered before stepping out.

"Got it! Hey, boyfriend! Wait up!" Rey followed suit.

"Ready, Ajax?" I heard Cupcake.

"Absolutely," I smirked.

This is gonna be fun!

We stepped out of the car, ready to leave when Lana called us.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Do any of you happen to know a Flora and Adam in your school?" She asked, "They're a lovely couple. My brother is in Gladys too, and he was telling me about them the other day. He told me Adam knew Thea, and I kind of need to talk to Thea. She's a fashion wizard, from what I've heard. And I need a dress for this ball I'm going to attend-"

"Hang on, woman!" Nick said, "Take a breath! Damn!"

"Sorry," she said.

"I don't know any Flora. Adam, yes, but the one I know has been single for a while now," I said.

"Oh. What about you all?"

They all shook their heads in no, and Lana smiled sadly, "That's okay, it was nice meeting you guys. All the best!"

"Hey, Lana?" I said before she could drive away.

"Yeah?"

"I'll try to find Flora and Adam or some alternative for that dress of yours," I smiled kindly, and she reciprocated.

"Thanks, Lorcan. I appreciate it,"

"That's what friends are for!"

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Welcome," A worker greeted us as we entered the hotel, "The reception is that way,"

We followed the directions he gave us to see a desk with three people standing on the other side of three booths.

We went to the booth on the very left and were greeted by a middle-aged lady.

"How may I help you, sir?" She asked chirpily. Wayyyyy too chirpy.

She then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear rather seductively and bit her bottom lip.

Woah, is she trying to flirt with me?

Gosh, I hope not!

"We have a reservation," I replied, looking away, trying to look uninterested.

"Can I please have an id?" She asked with the same voice.

I didn't even grace her with a reply this time and slid my fake id across the marble top of the desk.

I tried my best to look uninterested.

But obviously, she didn't get the hint because she grabbed my hand; on purpose and then said, "oh, I'm sorry", and giggled.

What the hell was so funny?!

"Are you here alone?" She asked.

Oh, gosh! Take a hint!

"No," the voice belonged to the person who just grabbed my bicep in both of her hands let her head rest on my shoulder, in other words, my Cupcake.

The moment her hands made contact with mine, I felt as if a spark volcano had erupted in my arm. Was I being electrocuted? No, right? But I looked around just to make sure. When I finally recovered from the shock, I grinned. Because this feeling, oh gods, I wanted to put it in a box and keep it with me forever.

"I'm here with my girlfriend, Olivia," I said with a smug smile etched across my face.

Miranda, the receptionist, on the other hand, seemed deflated. It was hilarious!

"G-girlfriend?" She stuttered.

"What's so shocking?" Cupcake asked.

"No-nothing, I needed the information for... for this form!"

Soon, 'Ashley' and 'Blake' also joined us.

Miranda verified our identities and sent a staff member to show us our rooms.

"You should've seen her face!" I cackled, "g-girlfriend?!" I mimicked Miranda.

"Dam, I wish I was there to see it!" Nick laughed.

"Guys?"

"And then she started stuttering like a maniac!" I laughed, and Nick joined.

"GUYS!" Argenta's voice bellowed.

"Yes, darling?" I asked.

"We need to leave for the ball,"

"Right!" I said and stopped using the bed as a trampoline.

Nick followed suit, and soon we were ready to leave, wearing our tuxedos.

We were in connected rooms, Nick and I in one, and Rey and Cupcake in the adjoined one.

"Ready, girls?" Nick asked, knocking on the door separating the two rooms from within.

"Yeah, one sec," Reyna said from the other side.

When they stepped into our room, I swear I stopped breathing for a good few seconds.

"Cupcake..." I trailed off.

She looked absolutely breathtaking!

She was wearing a long blue silk gown with splits below the thighs. Her hair was put up in a bun, and a few loose ringlets were framing her face.

"...you look... amazing..." I gulped.

Why the hell is my mouth so dry all of a sudden?!

"You look amazing too, pretty face," She said, her eyes roaming over my body.

"Eh, thanks," I said, scratching the back of my head, something I did when I felt nervous.

"You're still here!" Reyna's voice echoed in the room, "Guys, we have to reach the ball today!"

Oh, um, yeah, forgot to tell ya, we were going to a ball tonight. We were told that some information regarding Timothy could be there, and hopefully, some of the fallen too.

About half an hour later, we were standing in front of the large gates of the ballroom, where this ball was taking place.

Our mission was to sneak into the main offices above the ballroom and check their logs for dealings in gadgets and weapons; because apparently, that's what Timothy had started doing after retiring as a spy.

"Let's go," I said, holding out my arm for Argenta.

She interlinked her arm with mine, and we walked in. And as soon as we did, I felt my jaw drop several feet before Cupcake closed it.

"Close your mouth, idiot!" She chuckled.

"It's beautiful!"

"Yeah, it is," she said.

The ballroom had white marble tiles on the floor and huge golden and silver chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The ceiling that was several feet above us. Humongous pillars lined the round room, making a circle along the walls.

And about a hundred people were dancing in the middle.

"Here we go," Argenta said.

Here we go...