" WHEN I SAID ' SLEEPOVER', I MEANT STAY AT THE MONESTARY AND PAINT OUR NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAILS!" Mia screeched happily as she gripped onto her seat. " BUT THIS IS BETTER! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A WICKED DRIVER, EM!"

Emma grinned. " I KNOW RIGHT!!"

" GUYS WE'RE TERRORIZING THE STREETS!" Annie screamed.

"WE'RE NOT TERRORIZING ANYTHING!" Emma yelled back, her grin only widening as she took a sharp turn, the car screeching in protest. "WE'RE HAVING FUN!"

"FUN?! WE'RE ABOUT TO END UP ON THE NEWS!" Annie shrieked, clutching the door handle for dear life.

Mia cackled from the backseat, her hair whipping around wildly. "LIVE A LITTLE, ANNIE! THIS IS THE BEST SLEEPOVER EVER!"

"THIS ISN'T A SLEEPOVER—IT'S A FELONY!" Annie shot back, her eyes glued to the speedometer.

Maple, who had been sitting silently in the passenger seat, finally spoke up. "Emma, do you even have a license?"

Emma snorted. "Maple, don't ask questions you don't want the answers to!"

"THAT'S A NO!" Maple screamed, grabbing the dashboard as Emma swerved around a traffic cone.

Mia laughed so hard she nearly fell out of her seat. "GUYS, THIS IS LIKE A VIDEO GAME! EMMA, HIT THE BOOST BUTTON!"

"NO BOOST BUTTONS!" Annie howled. "WE'RE ALREADY GOING TOO FAST!"

Emma grinned wickedly. "Challenge accepted." She floored the gas pedal, and the car shot forward like a rocket.

The group collectively screamed as the car soared over a small hill. They were airborne for a terrifying split second before landing with a jolt that shook the entire vehicle.

"THAT. WAS. AWESOME!" Mia cheered, throwing her hands up.

"THAT. WAS. ILLEGAL!" Annie countered, her face pale as she clutched her seatbelt.

Maple glanced nervously at the GPS. "Um... Emma, where exactly are we going?"

Emma shrugged. "Dunno. Thought we'd just drive until we find a cool spot."

"A cool spot?!" Annie groaned. "HOW ABOUT JAIL? BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED!"

Mia waved her hand dismissively. "Relax, Annie. It's not like we're hurting anyone."

At that exact moment, the car skidded to a stop inches away from a group of terrified squirrels crossing the road.

Annie pointed accusingly at the squirrels, her voice shrill. "THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISAGREE!"

Emma sighed, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. "Okay, fine. We'll stop. Happy?"

"Ecstatic," Annie deadpanned, slumping in her seat.

Emma pulled the car over to a clearing by the side of the road. The group tumbled out, their legs shaky from the adrenaline.

Mia stretched her arms over her head, grinning. "That was SO much better than painting our nails!"

Emma high-fived her. "Right? Best. Sleepover. Ever."

Annie glared at them both. "You two are banned from planning anything ever again."

Maple leaned against the car, catching her breath. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry."

Blackie poked his head out of Mia's bag, yawning. "If anyone needs me, I'll be napping until you all regain your sanity."

Mia smirked, picking him up. "Oh, Blackie, don't be such a party pooper."

Emma clapped her hands together. "Alright, who's ready for round two?"

"NO!" Annie, Maple, and Blackie yelled in unison.

Mia grinned. "Oh, come on, guys. What's the worst that could happen?"

Annie buried her face in her hands. "Famous last words, Mia. Famous last words."

The girls froze as the first lion emerged from the tall grass, its golden eyes locked on them with unsettling intensity. Then, one by one, more lions appeared, their low growls vibrating through the air.

"Uh, Mia," Annie whispered, inching closer to the group, "when you said, 'What's the worst that could happen,' this wasn't what I pictured!"

Mia blinked at the lions, then back at Annie. "Okay, fair point. But they look friendly... right?"

Emma shot her a look. "Friendly?! They're licking their lips, Mia!"

Maple tugged on Mia's sleeve, her voice shaking. "I think we should run."

Mia hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, okay. Running sounds good."

The pack roared in unison as if to confirm their choice.

"RUN!" Emma yelled, grabbing Mia by the arm as the group bolted back toward the car.

The lions charged after them, their powerful strides closing the gap with terrifying speed.

"WHY ARE THEY SO FAST?!" Annie screamed, her legs pumping furiously.

"BECAUSE THEY'RE LIONS, ANNIE!" Emma shouted back, fumbling for the car keys in her pocket.

Maple tripped over a rock and let out a yelp. Mia grabbed her arm, yanking her back up. "Come on, Maple! No time for naps!"

Blackie popped his head out of Mia's bag, his eyes wide. "This is why I prefer indoors!"

Emma reached the car first, fumbling to unlock it as the lions closed in. "GET IN! GET IN!"

The group scrambled inside, slamming the doors just as a lion leapt and slammed into the side of the car. The vehicle rocked violently, and everyone screamed.

"DRIVE, EMMA, DRIVE!" Annie screeched, clutching the back of the seat.

Emma didn't need to be told twice. She floored the gas pedal, and the car screeched away, kicking up dust.

The lions gave chase for a moment before finally slowing to a halt, their roars echoing behind them.

Breathing heavily, the girls sat in stunned silence as the car sped down the road.

"Well," Mia said after a moment, still clutching Blackie, "that was... exciting."

"EXCITING?!" Annie exploded. "We were almost lion chow, Mia!"

Maple leaned back, her eyes wide. "I'm never going outside again. Ever."

Emma grinned despite herself. "Hey, at least it's a story to tell."

Annie glared at her. "The only story I'm telling is how you almost got us killed!"

Mia snickered, patting Annie's shoulder. "Lighten up, Annie. We survived, didn't we?"

Annie threw her hands up. "Barely!"

As the car continued down the road, Blackie peeked out of the bag and sighed dramatically. "Next time, leave me at home."

4o