█▓▒▒░░░ SIDE HUGS ░░░▒▒▓█

I wrinkled my nose as I walked into the mans nest, looking at Captain Man as he talked to someone on the screen. "Ah! Here comes my favorite sidekick now! Did you catch anyone?" Captain Man asked.

"No, but... I am covered in paint." I waddled into the camera view. I smiled as I waved. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Just a perfect interview with the news." Ray shrugged. "Oh, I should probably introduce myself!" I smiled as Ray went to protest, green wrapped around his mouth, and one of the reporters spoke, "Who are you, Paint Girl?"

"No, actually. My name's Safeguard. Nice to meet ya!" I grinned and twiddle my fingers. "Safeguard?" The blonde woman, Mary, asked with a pout. Mary was a news reporter, and she was incredibly stupid.

"Yes, Safeguard, because I can keep people safe and guard them... Kinda self-explanatory." I grinned.

Suddenly the doors burst open, "Welp, it was nice to meet you. Safeguard out!"

"She said her name three times. That means it's real!" Mary said with a grin.

I didn't protest as I waved. "Sure. Now I've got to go, paint is in places paint shouldn't be." I muttered with a wince. As I walked out of frame, I could hear the other reporter named Trent speak. "That's right. Safeguards, 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦!"

I found the bathroom quickly, locking the door and turning on the shower's hot water. I practically tore off my suit before I stepped into the scalding water. I quickly washed myself down and stretched down to my toes. My back loudly popped, making me groan.

Standing straight, I washed my face and turned the shower off. Looking through my pockets, I groaned in annoyance as I realized I didn't have my gum to change back into my original clothes.

With a sigh, I wrapped the towel around me and opened the door. I glanced in both directions, droplets of water hitting the floor in quiet 𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘱s, before exiting and walking into the man caves main lounge. As I stepped in, I noticed the chaos of Mika on the floor, Miles screaming, Bose holding a toddler, and Chapa dancing. With one hand holding my towel, I waved my hand at Chapa. She turned to me and quickly froze.

I gestured for her to come over, and she rushed closer with wide eyes. "What are you doing?!" She hissed.

"I didn't have a spare change of clothes. Give me your gum!" For a moment, she hesitated before handing me her red case. I popped it open and chewed one. "Thanks."

She didn't reply as I blew a bubble. The blue shined on me as her loose and dark clothes covered my frame.

I hugged her with a grin before dashing off in embarrassment. "I'll return these!"

•❂•

I kneed the punching bag as Ray "encouraged" us. Miles sloppily punched Bose's padded hands as Chapa kicked the rectangle Mika held.

I jabbed the bag, and it swayed backward. My elbow hit the bag again as the sand mushed inside of it.

"We've been doing this for too long." Miles complained as he threw his helmet off.

"Yeah, how much longer do we have to practice fighting?" Chapa asked as she took off her gloves. I, unlike the others, did not take off my gear and kept punching the bag. Chapas clothes hung from my frame as I once again kicked the bag.

"As long as I say." Ray pouted as he ate more of his food.

"I feel like you're mad." Bose announced.

"I am mad!" Ray shouted. "Aye!" I turned around. Everyone turned to me as I pointed my finger at Ray. "Don't yell at my baby Bose like that!" I pointed as Ray curled back into himself. He nodded his head and muttered a 'yes ma'am.'

I huffed and turned back around, punching the bag.

"You guys embarrassed me on the news." Ray said through a mouth of food. "Why do we even need to practice fighting? We've got superpowers." Chapa asked. I sighed and punched the bag once again.

"Yeah, and you're super trash at using them."

Mika and Chapa gasped as Miles and Bose took a step back. "If you were trying to offend us... Congratulations, sir." I rolled my shoulders and unwrapped my hands. I approached them and stood between Bose and Chapa.

"You know what, Danger Force. Let's show this guy what we can do." Mika led.

"Oh, here it comes." Ray sighed as Mika screamed until her lungs gave out. Nothing happened as Bose tried to lift something. Miles continuously punched the air but remained in the same spot. Chapas' hands sparked, but she couldn't shoot anything.

"Miles, are you in a Journey concert?" I snorted and raised a hand over my mouth. Ray chuckled at my reaction and nodded to himself.

Pencils clattered to the floor as everyone stopped. "I moved those pencils with my mind!" Bose jumped with a smile.

"No, I zapped them over."

"I knocked them over with my scream."

"Actually, I teleported over, knocked them down, and teleported back. Points for Miles."

I sighed as they all started arguing. My hands glowed green as they were all shoved to the ground. Green wrapped around their ankles and knees as they all knelt around me.

"That's enough arguing. You're giving me a headache." I hissed. They all looked at me with wide eyes as I limited them from moving. I went to speak when the alarms glowed red.

My barriers dropped as "Stranger approaching; school mode activated." echoed. We quickly grabbed our stuff and threw it into a container. They turned into colorful dots, which looked like Skittles if you asked me and disappeared.

As I closed the door and moved to the side, Chapa grabbed my hand and pulled me with her. We pressed ourselves against the walls as our desks and chairs fell into their places. A royal blue coat slid onto Ray as a pointer fell from the sky.

We rushed to our seats as Ray headed towards the door. "Hey, hi, hello, yes, hi. Can I help you?" Ray asked the tall man at the door. "Kids are just learning."

"Normal,"

"Yeah, we're just-"

"Normal stuff."

"Yeah."

"School. Gifted children of the world."

The man peered in at our responses. "What are you learning?"

"Biology."

"None of your business."

"Books."

I couldn't help but frown as the man entered. "Who are you?"

"Just a guy." Guy said as he walked around. "What are you doing here?" Ray asked.

"Just strolling. Saw this school." He admitted. "Thought I'd stroll in and ask some questions."

"Whoa, slow your stroll, Guy!" Ray shoved him back in defense.

"Is that your kid?" The man asked. My eyebrows furrowed as I turned my head in the direction he was looking. Sure enough, there stood a toddler that was running around with a gigantic pair of scissors.

"Scissors!" The kid yelled to prove my point. I jumped up and attempted to grab him. The child screeched and giggled as he ran away from me. "Get back here!"

"Get out of here!" Ray yelled as he shoved Guy out.

"What is that toddler still doing here? I thought I told you to take him back where you found him." Ray asked as he threw his pointer on his blue desk while I returned to mine.

"And I thought I told you I can't remember where I found him!" I shook my head and rubbed my temples. I leaned back in my chair as my head throbed when fingers started to run through my hair. I hummed as the pressure soon resided.

"We have a bigger problem than how Bose kidnapped a child and gave him giant scissors." Mika stated.

"How is a kidnapped child not a big deal?" I slurred to Mika as my eyes fluttered closed, and my eyebrows furrowed in question.

"I just got a gogo alert. The video of Ray's interview went viral." Mika swiped up as it popped into the screen. I turned my head sideways and looked at Chapa, whose hand was intertwined in my hair. "What'd I miss?"

"A lot." She answers as her hand backs away. I protested while grabbing her hand and pulling it back to my hair. Her hand froze as I turned around before they moved in small circles.

"They gave us stupid names." Mika rolled her eyes. "What?" Chapa said as she pulled back and stood up. I let out a high-pitched whine and lightly kicked my legs as Chapas left my side. I blushed as I realized I was pouting like a child who had just gotten told no to some candy.

"𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴; 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘯 𝘒𝘓𝘝𝘠, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵." Trent, the male reporter from when I hung around Henry, said as he stared into the camera.

"𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥." Mary grinned like a dog as she also locked eyes with me through the screen. "𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘥? 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸."

I sighed and shook my head. "What did you guys do now?"

"𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘖𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘮𝘱, 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘺 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘬, 𝘚𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘉𝘰𝘺." Trent said as Mika, Miles, Chapa, myself, and Bose appeared on screen. Everyone groaned as my mouth formed a circle in realization.

"When will people stop talking about my gorgeous hair? It's like, my eyes are down here, people!" Bose said as he stood up. His voice was laced with a crack, but it wasn't from emotion.

"I do not want my superhero name to be Spicy Milk." Chapa said as she strutted to the front of the classroom. I couldn't help but admire her for a moment as she crossed her arms. My heart skipped a beat, and I blinked a few times before brushing it off.

"I object to the Wing Wimp in the strongest possible terms." Miles said with anger, lacing his words as he smacked Mika's desk.

"Well, have you thought about what you want your names to be?" Ray asked.

"Yes. I want to be ShoutOut cause once I shout, you're out." Mika said as she stood up and hit her desk as well.

Maybe hitting things was common in the family.

"And I'm AWOL because just like that..." Miles snapped his fingers. "I'm gone."

"I'm Volt because..." Chapa trailed off as she attempted to create sparks in her hands. For a moment, she remained still before glancing down. I giggled as her jaw clenched, "Okay, hold on."

"Right." Ray nodded as he moved to Bose. "And I'm Gorgeous Hair Boy." He smiled before his eyebrows furrowed. "Wait, no. I'm Brainstorm. Because I'm smart." I pushed my lips together but didn't say anything. "Wait, no..." he muttered as doubt flickered in his frown.

I grabbed his hand, making him look at me. "Brainstorm works." I smiled at him as he returned it and gave me a sideways hug around my shoulders. I rubbed his arms as everyone turned to me. "I'm Safeguard, as they said."

"Sooo, what do you think?" Mika asked as we all turned towards her. I locked eyes with Chapa and sent her a small smile. Her face remained blank before she turned to Mika as well.

𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰.

"I think... Those names are very sick." Ray admitted. Everyone quickly smiled and talked over each other.

"Well then, you're in trouble." A voice said. I let out a shriek and jumped back, accidently bumping into Chapas' side. Her arms wrapped around me before we locked eyes and quickly separated.

"Because if the news says your superhero name three times, then that's your superhero name forever." Guy said as he headed over to us. My eyes widened at his height before I purposely hugged Chapas' side this time. Her hands sparked in threat before Ray spoke up. "How'd you even get in here, Guy?! Our security system's incredible."

"I know." Guy admitted, "I built it."

I could hear Chapa mumbled 𝘩𝘶𝘩? as Guy quickly ripped a mask off to reveal a familiar face.

"𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐓𝐓?" Ray awed as he leaned closer to look at Schwoz.

"Schwoz!?" Chapa asked in disbelief. "Ye𝘦𝘦s! It's me, Schwoz!" He said as he pulled off the first layer of his name tag to reveal his own name. "I was just pretending to be Guy to make sure you all followed security protocol."

"Well, were you also just pretending that if the news says our dumb name three times, they become our superhero names?" Miles asked.

"Ohhh, no. No, I don't joke about names. Only faces." Schwoz laughed.

"Schwoz is right. Back before I was known as Captain Man, I was almost known as Angry Punch Guy." Ray admitted.

"Why did you call yourself that?" Mika asked as she crossed her arms and tilted her head in confusion.

"I didn't, Trent Overunder almost did. Twice! And he almost said it a third time." Ray said as he pulled out a remote from his inside suit pocket.

"Well, what stopped him?" Miles asked.

"He got a little visit from Angry Punch Guy." Ray turned to the board and quickly flipped through some files. He scrolled past the only one that caught my interest (𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘸𝘰𝘻 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴) and clicked on the one called 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘶𝘺.

I frowned at the 70s clothes and background but didn't say anything. I jumped as Captain Man, or should I say Angry Punch Guy, decked Trent in the face, which caused him to hit the ground, and walked into the screen. I couldn't help the laugh that passed my lips as I noticed the afro Ray had.

"Now let's disco, baby."

I quickly turned away from the screen with a shiver as he and Mary started dancing. Soon, Ray joined in with the same moves. I groaned in disgust as Bose and Chapa exchanged a look. Her left hand covered my eyes as I clinged to her other, and I couldn't help but blush.

"How old are you?" Miles asked. "That's the 70s, bro!" I called back to him as I blindly pointed at the screen.

"The next person to ask how old I am is going to get a visit from Angry Punch Guy." Ray threatened as he paused the video and stopped dancing. "Is it over?" I whispered to Chapa.

She chuckled before removing her hand from my eyes. I winced from the light that I never noticed was so bright in the first place and pulled away from Chapa. "Who is thirty-s... Thirty. Thirty."

"So how did you get people to start calling you Captain Man?" Mika asked. I glanced over at Bose and noticed his uncharacteristic silence. I nudged him with my foot and held my fist out to him. He smiled and pumped it back.

"I just got the most popular person to say my name on the radio." Ray bragged as he leaned against the wooden pedestal.

Mika giggled, "The radio? How old are-" her question abruptly stopped as green wrapped around her mouth. Her eyes widened as she realized what she was going to say.

"Who did you get to say your name on the radio?" Chapa asked as she crossed her arms.

I couldn't help but distract myself as I remembered the warmth that radiated off them when she held me. I didn't even notice my face burning until someone bumped my hip with theirs. I turned to a smirking Bose as he raised an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes and smacked his arm. His grin widened and grew on me as my lips quirked up.

"Oh my god!" Mika yelled, and I turned to her as Ray muttered, "I know."

"No, it's Ellis!" She yelled and pointed to the kid who sat in Chapas red chair. I gasped as he hit the button on her chair and rose up the Man Cave with giant scissors.

"We should probably go get him." Ray suggested. "You think!" I yelled and rushed to my seat. I raised my hand to hit my button as Chapa looked around. I grabbed her arm and pulled her into my lap. She made a sound as my arms wrapped around her waist and her back pressed against my chest.

"Hold on." I whispered beside her ear. Goosebumps appeared on her skin before we were both ejected into the ceiling.

Chapa quickly stood from my lap as my chair stopped moving. I stood up as Bose chased the kid with another pair of scissors.

"Why do you have so many scissors?!" I yelled and threw my arms up in exhaustion. I attempted to grab the kid as he rushed past me, but he only swung his scissors at me and giggled. I reeled back with a squeak, my shield blocking the hit towards my face as Bose chased after him.

"We've got to get that kid back to his parents." Ray admitted as he and Schwoz walked out from the tube. "After I stop Trent and Mary from ever saying those names again." Chapa said as she opened her container and grabbed a bubble.

"Let me grab my gum, and I'll join you." I smiled as I walked back to my seat. I opened my cabinet and grabbed a bubble. I chewed it as I walked into the tube with Chapa, who was waiting for me.

She hit her belt and called. "Down the tube."

•❂•

"Oh! Donuts!" I cheered as we walked into the news studio. "Phoebe-"

"Just one, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘢𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦!" I pouted as I looked at Chapa. She hesitated before letting out a sigh. "Okay."

I let out a cheer and rushed to the table. "But just one."

•❂•

"Swellview loves Benny, that dog with a hat. But swellview also loves laughing at that terrible interview with Captain Man that was ruined by the members of Danger Force."

I looked up and glanced over my shoulder, "Huh?"

"That's right, Trent. And their names are Oopsie Girl, The Wing Wimp, Spicy Milk, Safeguard, and Gorgeous Hair Boy."

"He's my favorite." Trent commented.

"𝘈𝘸𝘸𝘸, 𝘮𝘩𝘢𝘯." Chapa mumbled through a donut.

"Yeah, that Jelly surprise will get you every dang time."

•❂•

Me and Chapa walked into HipHop Purée as someone walked out. "Hey ladies!" Bose called as he walked out with the toddler from earlier.

"Did you get the news to stop saying our names?" Miles asked in his superhero suit.

"Technically? No." Chapa admitted. "But actually? Also, no."

"So the news has said our names twice?"

"Technically? Yes." I mimicked Chapa. "But actually? Yes."

She glared over at me, and I only smirked back. Her lips twitched before she turned around.

"Let's make this quick. If this kid misses his nap, then there goes my day." Bose slumped. I sighed and patted his shoulders in pity.

"Natalie Mazdah!" Mika called to the brunette. "Hi," she smiled back. I couldn't help but smile as I melted for a moment. "Hi." I waved back with a blush.

Natalie giggled before waving back. "Hi." Iljh smiled at the ground as a hand smacked me over the head. I hissed as I glanced at Chapa, who glared at me. "Meanie."

"𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭..." a voice loudly called as three people, more like two and a child, walked through the doors in onesies.

"It's the Toddler! Somebody save Natalie Mazdah!" A blonde girl yelled as she stood in front of Natalie. "Who cares about Natalie Mazdah?" The Toddler asked. "But she was once in a plane with Emma Watson." The blonde defended.

"Okay, let's put a pin in that because I really want to hear that story later." The two girls nodded, and the Toddler snapped. "But first! 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙮." His voice lowered.

"Not on our watch, Toddler." Mika said. The manchild pitched a fit and turned to us. "Who are you?!"

"We're Danger Force." Chapa hissed. "Yeah, that's Spicy Milk, and she's Oopsie Girl." Natalie chimed in. I almost jumped when they all turned and started shouting.

"Okay, alright, enough!" The Toddler called, "I don't care what your names are, just stay outta my way." He said as Mika suddenly screamed.

"Okay, lemme try again." Mika said as she loudly screamed. "What are you doing?" The toddler asked.

"Okay, this usually works." I groaned as Mika screamed again. Our attention turned as a box of pencils fell off the counter.

"You did it!" Bose cheered in happiness. "I got this," Miles said as he walked up and grabbed the Toddler and one of his goonies. "To jail."

"Uh, What-?" They disappeared in a flash of yellow before returning behind the counter. "Ah, great! We're right next to the blended cake!" The Toddler smiled as he shoved Miles, who screamed as he fell to the floor.

Mika rushed to his side as Chapa attempted to throw electric sparks at the Toddler's goonies. Her spark flew off and headed in the opposite direction. As the spark flew to Natalie's arm, it was enveloped in green and smothered into nothing.

The brunette looked up at me with a smile as the blonde beside her screeched. "You saved me." Natalie sighed as we made eye contact. I blushed before sending her a wink that she fawned over.

"Fill them up. Let's get some blended cake." The Toddler smiled as Bose also tried to help. Chapa let out a groan as her volts hit the register, and cash flew around the air.

"Aw yeah! Free money!" Toddler yelled as a worker looked around in panic. "What are you kids doing?" Bose groaned as he spoke. "Saving... the day." I gasped as the blender landed on his head, and he collapsed to the ground.

"I don't think you are!" The worker in an orange top and overalls called. "Forget your powers, just get them!" I yelled as I helped Bose up. Chapa held off her own criminal as Mika and Miles worked together against another. Seeing Chapa struggle, I grabbed the white container and threw the contents in the man's face.

He let out a high pitch scream before I handed the carton over to Chapa, and she threw the spicy milk on the other man. Miles and Mika quickly shoved the two out the door as green enclosed their fists, like handcuffs.

"Hey, no fair!" The Toddler whined as I tensed. Almost as if she sensed my discomfort, Chapa took a step forward and threw the remaining milk onto the Toddler's face, and his words died out.

He cried and whined as he yelled for his Mommy. Miles and Mika both ushered him out as Chapa grabbed my hand. She squeezed as I slowly relaxed.

I jumped as everyone started to cheer and clap. Her hand gripped mine tighter before an arm wrapped around my shoulder. I looked up to a smiling Bose and chuckled. We all exchanged high fives and hugs as Mika turned to Ray, who was now shirtless.

"Ellis!"

"Daddies!" I squealed as the little boy grinned at his fathers. "Uh, excuse me. Who are you guys?" Ray asked.

"We're Ellis' Dad's." The darker male smiled. "Okay. Where are Ellis's moms?" Ray asked. I sighed and smacked my forehead. Chapa chuckled from beside me as I shook my head.

"I'm sorry?" The pale man said in confusion. "I'm looking for this lady." Ray pulled out a picture and aggressively pointed at it. "That's Ellis's birth mother, Samantha. We adopted him." Guy number 2 spoke again.

"He's an angel." I smiled and rubbed the kids' head. He grinned before attacking my legs in a hug. 𝘈𝘸𝘸 echoed at the action, and I squatted down and picked him up. He hugged my neck as I rested him on my hip. "Well, buddy. Guess this is goodbye." Bose smiled as he walked up to us.

Thankfully, Bose didn't have to bend down this time and only had to look down a little. Bose was about half a foot taller than me. I sadly was of the shorter people here, even if being tall was a common factor in my family.

"Goodbye Brainstorm." Ellis smiled. Bose gasped as his eyes shined. "Goodbye ShoutOut. Goodbye AWOL. Goodbye Volt." They all melted and smiled before Ellis turned to me. "Goodbye, Safeguard." He hugged my neck one last time before I handed him to his dads.

I waved as everyone said goodbye. "And that... is the best thing I've seen..." Natalie said from behind us with her phone in the air. "Since I saw... Emma Watson."

I laughed as Chapa started to dance on camera. Mika looked her up and down in utter confusion before glancing at the phone, then at me. I covered my mouth as Mika mouthed 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦- to me.

"On a plane."

•❂•

I smiled as I watched the news with everyone. I couldn't help but stare at Chapa for a moment. She wore plaid yellow pants, and it complimented her more than I'd like to admit.

She double high fived Mika and and fist bumped Miles as Bose spoke up from beside me. "Now I kinda miss Gorgeous Hair Boy." I turned to him with furrowed eyebrows but dropped the topic with a sigh.

"I miss when Ray wasn't obsessed with finding Ellis' mom." Mika admitted. I raised my bottle of red drink and clinked it with hers. "Amen, sister."

I watched as Ray offended the women on the other side of the screen. I chuckled as she hung up on him, and he dialed her back. "Yeah, I guess we got cut off."

✩░▒▓▆▅▃▂▁𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐒▁▂▃▅▆▓▒░✩