"What's up, bitch?" Alice elated as Eary walked through the front Door of the safe house.

"Oh my god! I couldn't shake Ephraim for the life of me." Eary groaned as he walked across the threshold.

Alice smugly stated."That's because he likes you."

Eary shook his head."No, it isn't. He was always like this before, and he still dated Josh."

Alice replied, "Maybe he was confused back then. But that boy thinks he's getting an awesome miracle. You need to set him straight."

Eary rolled his eyes, "Enough, okay? You know I love you and appreciate your help, but I can handle this."

Alice crossed her arms and said, "Okay, I didn't really want to talk about boys, anyways. Because tonight is girls' night." Alice gestured her hand into the mansions' living room. There sat Mei, Hannah, and Maggie.

Eary smiled, greeting them warmly, "Hey ladies." Sitting next to Mei, he asked, "Why haven't you two been around?"

Hannah smiled coyly to Maggie, "I've been pretty bust catching Maggs up on the last few months."

Maggie shyly glanced in Hannah's direction as she said, "How have you been? How's Decan?"

Eary sighed, informing the girls of his 'speed bump' with the Villa Gómez boy.

Maggie stated, "Don't worry, Eary. Even if it doesn't work out for you and Decan. I'm sure you'll find someone great!"

Eary replied, staring at his shoes, "Yeah." He sighed deeply, looking up at his friends. He said, "Seems if I was so great, this would stop happening to me."

Alice alsat down and embraced her friend, "Look at the bright side. You can always go after your brother's ex." She said, holding back her giggles.

Eary folded his arms and glared at her. Alice pursed her lips into a smile. She exclaimed, "Oh, don't be that way, boo. Welcome to being a girl, men suck." Hannah chuckled to herself as Alice flashed her a sideways smirk as she continued. "You have a boy problem. But that's the thing, boy problem."

Eary looked to her in confusion, "What does that mean?"

Alice rolled her eyes and explained, "It means you don't need to be putting any value on what boys think. Why? Because their children." Alicebrushed her long braids behind her shoulder. "I don't want to see my friend upset because of a stupid boy! So stop it."

Eary nodded as he let his guard down. Sighing deeply, he stated, "I will work on that."

Alice smiled, "Good. Now for the night's festivities." She straightened her posture and folded her hands on her lap. She said, "We were thinking of heading out to eat tonight. Nothing special, just a bunch of friends going out. No powers. Then stay in, and Ill teach you ladies the joys of 'Sex And The City'."

Eary beamed, "That's just what I need! So where are we headed off to?"

Mei chimed in, "That's what we were waiting for you for. We want you to decide, sweetie."

Eary smiled. He looked to his girlfriends and, in a warm tone, replied, "You guys are the best." Placing his hand on his chin, he pondered. "Nope, can't think of a thing. Does anyone else have an idea?"

Hannah lamented, "You're the one who's from here. We dont know this place.

Eary felt a swirl of pressure and inadequacy. 'Medieval Times?' He thought. 'No, too chidlish'. He was about to pull out his phone to look for a spot. When a swirl of blue light erupted from his shoulder.

Mote, in a cheerful pitch, exclaimed, "How about Olive Garden? Can't beat endless breadsticks!"

Alice grumbled, "Mote, this is girls' night! Why don't you head off and rule your people or something."

Mote scoffed, "And miss the party? Not a chance! You're old pal Mote knows how to keep things lively! Just you ladies wait! Er, and Eary."

Eary and his friends relented to the moteling's imposition, as the crew loaded up into Eary's new car.

Once at Olive Garden, the group was seated at a table towards the back. Once the arrival of the breadsticks and menus, Mote insisted on his friends erecting a menu enclosure for him around the table. So he could enjoy the breadsticks. To which the moteling was shot down by Alice.

"Tonight, isn't about you blue man. It's about Eary." She said.

Mote ranted a flurry of complaints. Until Maggie assured Mote she would hide away some breadsticks in her bag. The five friend's and the moteling waited patently until their server arrived.

"Hey, how we doing tonight?" An old waitress wearing an all black uniform, and an old grey wig, addressed the table.

The group replied with a polite 'Good' as their server dispersed the menu's and introduced herself. "I'm Gladys, if you kids need anything just let me know."

Eary sat in shock as Gladys had laid a child's menu and crayons before him. "I'm sorry Gladys, what's this?" He lamented. Staring at the precieved insult.

Gladys smiled, "That's your menu sweetie, and some crayons for the puzzles. Did you need more colors?"

Eary sat in shock and shame. Alice immediately chimed in, "My friend is actually sixteen."

Gladys fumbled as she replied, "I'm so sorry. I'll go get you an adult menu." She scooped up Eary's menu and crayons and retreated to the back room.

A faint chuckle could be heard from Eary's shoulder. Quickly, the boy shot back at his mocker, "It's not funny, Mote!" Eary folded is arms in a huff. "I'm 5'4 now, dammit! And almost seventeen. And I've been getting chin hair."

The girls tried to console their friend. However, the situation grew tense as Decan and Laura walked in and were seated nearby. Before the two could notice, the group erected Mote's menu blockaid, preventing the two from noticing.

Gladys returned moments later with Eary's menu and the breadsticks. She asked, "Did you kids build a little fort over here or something?"

Alice replied, "Hey Gladys, could you give us a little more time?"

The waitress looked a bit annoyed as she agreed. Once again, the friends were alone. Mote zoomed into the center of the table. In a frantic pace he downed one breadstick, and quickly grabbed another. Mouth still full, he exclaimed, "That bitch is really tryin' me today. First, the menu's. And now only one thing of breadsticks? Cunt!"

Eary replied as he ducked behind the menu's, "Agreed. Now hush up, I'm trying to hear what Decan and Laura are saying.

Alice grumbled, "You're not going to hear them from this far away." She stopped and stared in their direction beyond the menu's. "They're also too far away to get a detailed read of their minds."

Mote erupted in excitement as he said, "Let your old pal Mote do some spyin' for ya!" Mote shimmered invisible. As Gladys returned.

"Hey, are you kids ready?" She exclaimed in anticipation.

Mei replied, "We actually are going to need a few more minutes."

Mei was interrupted by the growingly disgruntled waitress, "I don't know if you kids can tell, but it's a pretty busy night here."

Alice's tone shifted as she interrupted Gladys, "Look, lady. I understand you've got tables, I've been there. But my friend is having a hard night, and it just got worse."

Gladys shot back, " I don't need your lip, young lady. You've been eating up breadsticks for a good while now."

Hannah erupted, "You just set them down."

Gladys snarked, "They're all gone. You kids aren't planning on a dine and dash, now would you?"

Alice and the girls erupted in anger as a full blown argument with Gladys ensued. Soon the management staff was at their table.

Eary heard a voice whispered to him, "Kid, I got the info. We should scram."

The young man whispered urgently, "How? I think they're gonna call the police."

Mote scoffed, "Leave it to me!" A few seconds later, Mote yelled out, "Snatch!" Gladys wig then flew right into Decan and Laura's meal.

Eary shot up, as did Decan. Staring each other in the eyes, Eary screamed out, "Run!"

The five friend's and their moteling companion made a break for it as the whole restaurant fell into chaos. Eary drove back to the mansion as fast as he could. While the four girls and Mote recounted their tale of 'That bitch, Gladys'.

Later, back at the safe house. Mote revealed what he had learned from his spying mission.

"Seems like Laura was in cheerleading, but had to quit." Mote said.

Eary replied, "And?"

Mote sighed, "Laura is pregnant Eary."
The whole group fell into silence as Mote continued. "It was from before you's two got together. I'm sorry, kid."

Eary sighed, "It's okay." As soon as the world's left his lips, he began to cry. His friends consoled him for hours. But the young man was consoled, finally, by the arrival of a text from Ephraim.

Alice inquired, "What's it say?"

Eary replied, "He's asking how I am." A faint smile crept up his face.

Alice stated, "See. I know he likes you. Decan does too, it just not supposed to be with Dec."

Eary nodded as he clenched his phone hard in his hand.

Hannah and Maggie departed, shortly after, late for "something'. Eary, and his remaining friends, however, settled into the couch as Alice put on the show.

They sat, and watched half a season. Until Alice proudly announced, "I think I'm the Samantha of us three."

Mei nodded, "Yes. And I'm definitely the Charlotte!" She exclaimed in normal chipper fashion.

Eary chuckled, "I'm definitely the Miranda!"

Mei giggled as she and Alice glanced at each other. "Are you sure?"

Eary grumbled, "Yeah, who were you thinking?"

Alice giggled, "I think you're a Carey."

Eary scoffed, "I am not her! She's terrible! She's always writing about her friend's personal life."

Mei replied, "Just personality wise. I still live you but your a Carey. Miranda is more of a cynic. You're bubbly and know for your love triangles. So you're a Carey."

Alice continued, "And I think Mote is more of our Miranda in this set-up."

Mote materialized, "Yeah, Eary. I'm the Miranda, here! Sheesh!"

Eary slammed his hands down on the couch. "Fine! I guess I'll be the awful one." Eary whined as he put his face in his hands.

Alice and Mei glanced to each other and smiled softly as they consoled their friend once again.

Alice exclaimed, "You can be Miranda, Eary. I'm sorry."

Eary replied between sobs, "Thank you!"

Alice mouthed, "Such a Carey" to Mei. As the two girls smiled and nodded.

The drama was interrupted by the arrival of Luke and Sakile. Luke announced, "Good, you're here!" His face and tone reflecting worry and distress.

Eary replied in confusion, "Of course. I told Mom and Dad I was hanging out with Alice today."

Luke interrupted, "Something has happened. It's bad guys."

The three braced themselves. Sakile then stated, "Ben's foster family. They're dead."

Alice replied quickly, "Where's Ben?"

Sakile replied, "The hotel. He goes there a lot still for his animals. He went home today to a dead family and rushed back to Bright Hope."

Alice sprang fromnher seat. Quickly, she moved towards the portal door. "Let's go!" She called out.

Luke and Sakile followed and Luke gestured for Mei and Eary to follow. They made their way to Bright Hope, unaware of the horrors the next chapter contained.