█▓▒▒░░░ GORGEOUS IN GREEN ░░░▒▒▓█

Everyone shouted as they rolled on their yoga balls.

Bose was on his side with his arms and legs wrapped around his exercise ball, almost like he was spooning it. The blue color matched his suit as he rolled around.

Mika, who also had a matching gray yoga ball, laid on her stomach as she balanced on top of it.

Miles, the twin of Mika, was in a position that almost looked like a downward dog. He almost slipped a few times as he yelled words with everyone else.

Chapa was bending backwards and she relaxed on her back. Her tie dye hoodie covered her head as she threw a volt at Ray.

Ray moved as it hit the 15 minute timer that had the words 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 written above it.

I, on the other hand, quietly bounced up and down while sitting on my green yoga ball. I watched the chaos unfold with an amused yet innocent smile.

"Alright, that's enough!" Ray called as he deleted his timer. Everyone around me quickly removed themselves, Chapa sort of sliding off to get off.

"Can we practice tonight and retake this test tomorrow?" Mika asked with wide eyes, seeming to urgently need an answer.

"This wasn't even the test, I just thought it'd be fun if you guys sat bouncy for a while!" Ray exclaimed. I grinned and raised my hand, "I found it fun." Ray rolled his eyes and waved me off.

"Why don't you sit bouncy, if you think it's so easy?" Chapa challenged with a glare. Ray faltered before shaking his head. "Nah."

He used his lazer to bust all of our 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴, except mine, despite his attempts. Green formed a wall with every hit he tried to make. He soon gave up and put his laser down. "The real test is about to begin."

"Finally!”

"Don't ever give up."

"I feel duped."

"Yay." Bose, Mika, Miles and I all said but mine was the only sarcastic answer.

"Who can tell me the easiest crime to commit?"

"Jay walking!" Mika immediately blurted out. "Jay Dancing." Bose said as he pointed at Ray with a smile, seeming to think it was a smarter answer. "Stealing my phone." Chapa said with her arms crossed. For a moment I paused as my eyes grew wide, taking a glance at Ray, who was also giving me a quick look with his eyes.

"White collar crime. Rarely prosecuted." Miles said as I nodded, knowing the answer was, in fact, correct. "Stealing candy from a baby." I added and held my fist out to Miles. He grinned and bumped it.

"You're all wrong. Except for Phoebe and Miles." Ray snapped his fingers. "I'm talking about a crime so easy. It's like taking candy from a baby." He pointed at me. He smiled before suddenly yelling. "𝙎𝘾𝙃𝙒𝙊𝙕!"

I slightly jumped back and exchanged a look of confusion with Miles, who sat next to me. The look faded away as I noticed a blue onesie and giant lollipop. As my jaw dropped and Miles followed my line of sight. Chapa grabbed my bicep and pulled me away as Schwoz seemed to recite lines "I am baby. I loves me lolly and I hope no one takes from me𝘦."

"So you want us to stop you from taking candy... from baby?" Mika asked with a sly smile. "Oh not me. I'm far too good of a person for that." Ray shrugged.

I frowned and tilted my head. "Are you really?" Schwoz and Chapa both smiled at my remark as Ray turned his back to us and messed up his hair.

"You're stopping... Roy." He turned around with a mustache and held his hands out like a T-rex.

"Rawr." I whispered to myself. Chapa glanced at me in confusion and I quickly copied Ray's stance. "Rawr."

She chuckled and shook her head, an emotion in her eyes that I couldn't describe.

"Roy?" Miles asked, unimpressed. "It's Ray but evil." I shrugged.

"And I hope he no takes my lolly!" Schwoz sighed with a grimace. "Oh, Roy's taking that lolly! Unless somebody stops me." Ray, or Roy  grinned.

Chapa was the first to step up. She slid in front of him and threw a bolt. "Get zapped."

"Nope."

"Okay, maybe not. Maybe this one!"

"Miss."

"This one!"

"Miss!"

"You're dodging, stop dodging!"

I sighed as one of her volts bounced off the wall and moved backwards. Green shielded Schwoz before it could zap him in the forehead.

Her red disappeared into my green and faded away. Chapa yelled out as Ray mocked her. He dabbed as Chapa walked back over. I grabbed her hand in comfort but she yanked it out of my grasp. I hid my hurt and crossed my arms instead while watching Bose, who was oblivious to the actions going on.

A hand laid on top of my shoulder and I looked to my side. Mika gave me a reassuring smile as her eyes flickered to Chapa. A blush coated my cheeks as I realized she had seen the interaction. Her hand then moved down my arm and pulled my arm, holding one of my hands. I turned my face forward as a pair of eyes drilled themselves into my head from the other side.

"Did it get a little cloud in here? Cause I think a brainstorm's a brewin'." Bose smirked. I whistled in satisfaction and Roy agreed with me.

With two fingers on his forehead, Bose tried to lift the baseball bat behind Roy. He grunted as it slowly moved off the ground and closer to Roys head.

"Whack him Bose!" Mika encouraged him. The bat lightly hit Roys butt before dropping to the ground. "Sorry guys. One more grunt and I'd have to change my pants again today." Bose smiled despite me seeming disturbed.

"Thanks for the weapon, kid. Roy played Baseball in high school. 400 RBI's. Coulda gone pro if it wasn't for Roy's dang knee." Roy said as he lowered his head in sadness.

"How deep is Roys backstory?" Chapa asked with a bitter voice and harsh glare. I couldn't help but think the same thing, except in amusement.

"Deeper than the seas where Roy's a certified Scuba Instructor." I nodded my head again and pursed my lips. "𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏!"

Mika walked up with a smile. "Get ready to be ‘𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.’" I wrinkled my nose at her actions and shook my head. So much wasted potential. "Unnecessary '𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴.’ B minus." Roy mocked and he quoted his air quotes.

"Dang It!" Mika muttered before she weakly screamed. It only blew Roy's hair as Mika looked at her shoes. "Take that." She cutely pointed. I chuckled as a hand grabbed mine. I turned my head as Chapa glared at the floor. I didn't say anything and I held her hand as well.

"On the contrary, there will not be a next." Mikes said as he stood up. "What?" Roy asked.

"I refuse to be tested, 𝘙𝘰𝘺." Miles mocked. I couldn't help but grin as he voiced his thoughts. "I won't play your game. And besides, the solution will reveal itself."

"So you're just gonna let baby die?" Roy asked. I pulled my head back and looked at him in confusion. "Wait what?" Schwoz asked. Poor Schwoz had obviously not signed up for this. "I thought you were just gonna take his candy!" Chapa yelled.

"What you don't know is that... that lollipop contains the very medicine that keeps baby alive." Roy made up. Schwoz nodded, 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 unimpressed.

Whenever Mika said next didn't matter as red warning lights flashed. "Stranger approaching; school mode activated."

"𝘈𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦!" Schwoz yelled as he ran away. I quickly moved beside Chapa as the chairs fell from the roof and the tables flipped from the ground.

I sat down with everyone else as someone yelled through the main doors. "Oh. Hey handsome." A voice said the doors opened.

A woman in bright neon pink walked in the room. She was leaning towards the older side in age and wore glasses with her dirty blonde hair in a bun. Ray visibly and vocally shivered as she walked past him.

Her fingers trailed over Chapas desk and flicked off imaginary dust. "Uh, can we help you?" Ray asked. "Depends. You know any good lookin' guys with low standards?"

"Yeah, him." I grinned as I pointed at Ray. He glared in return while Chapa laughed.

"Wait, aren't you a teacher at Swellview Junior High?" Mika asked. "I was but Swellview Junior High and I both decided to part ways." She smiled which looked more like a smirk.

"So you got fired." Chapa blurted out, making me cover my giggle with my hand. "Bingo." She snapped her fingers.

"Anyway, I work for the city now. Sharona Shapen, School Inspector, see?" She waved her badge as if we cared. "Gotta make sure every school in swellview has a license. And according to my records... you don't got one."

"Okay, can we get one?" Ray nervously asked.

"Maybe. But you gotta pass my test!" Sharona fixed her suit. Mika slammed her hands on her desk as she stood. "I can pass anything. Give me your test, I'll pass it." She grinned before whispering something to herself.

"Not you, smarty pants." Sharona hissed and Mika cutely looked down for the second time. "Aw, thank you. I like yours too."

"I bet you do, they're Bucci." Shapen grinned as she turned around. I looked up at the ceiling, not wanting to see whatever she was showing us. "This whole school needs to pass my test. You kids, your water supply, your hot teacher."

"I think you mean our single teacher." I grinned as a smirk took over her face. "I need to conduct a thorough investigation of this school right now. Or I'm 𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯’ it down!"

"We can't take your test today because we're going on a field trip!" Mika lied with a sweet smile. The woman raised an eyebrow "Where to?"

"A field!" Miles chimed in. "Well, can I come?" Shapen asked, seeming sad.

"Did you get your parents signature?" I asked with an innocent pout. "No, my parents are ashamed of me." She frowned.

"Alright then, have a nice day." Ray smiled as he quickly pulled her out of the school. "I wanna see all the Eds!" Sharona yelled as she walked out. "And if I don't..."

"You're 𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯’ it down! We know!" I yelled as the door closed in her face. Chapa smirked over at me as my annoyance got the best of me for once.

Chapa couldn't help the way her heart fluttered as she watched the shy and sweet girl snap with an attitude she knew Phoebe usually kept hidden.

"Well, we better find some Eds."

•❂•

"And now you know everything Albert Einstein knew." Ray said as he opened the door that Miss. Shapen was leaning against, obviously trying to look her best.

"Gross." I whispered to myself.

"Well, hello. Whatever brings you to our modest and totally real school?"

"Oh cool your toots, fancy boots." Miss Shapen said as she walked in. "It ain't real till I says it's real. Now let's blast some school inspection music and get this done."

•❂•

"Well that's it. You all failed." Miss Shapen said as she turned off the music and stood up. I gasped as the paper in my hands fell to the ground.

"Failed to do anything wrong! You passed." We all cheered in delight as I high fived Bose and fist bumped Chapa. "Swelvie Academy for the Gifted is an officially licensed school." Miss Shapen said as she handed a paper to Ray, who proceeded to shout, "Nice!"

"You'll get your two new students tomorrow." Everyone around me was quick to protest while I stood quietly as Ray stepped down from the stage.

"Take that, rewind it back. What two new students?" He asked as he exchanged a look of worry with Schowz. "Oh well, there's a shortage of available space at gifted schools. I got two kids that have been learning at a bus station for the past month." Miss Shaphen explained. "I'm moving them here tomorrow."

"Well... What if I don't take them?" Ray challenges with a smirk. I sighed and shook my head, "Well, then she's 𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯’ ya down!" I mocked as Shapen pointed at me and clicked a red button. The doors were quickly opened by cops in clothes too tight and short. "You shuttin' this place down, Sharona?" The tallest cop asked.

"I don't know... Are we?" She glared and turned to Ray. I pouted as I looked down and huddled close to Chapa. She tensed before wrapping her arm around my shoulders. "Fine, we'll take em." He said after a moment of awkward silence. Miss. Shapen smiled before she turned to the cops. "Carry me out, buster!" I watched in a mix of horror and awe as the cop lifted her up and carried her out.

"What just happened?"

•❂•

"So we find out these kids personal information then we fill out an application to-"

"Boring!" Ray shouted as he interrupted Mika from her plan, "Schwoz, go get the memory wiper. The new kids show up, we wipe their memories, badaboom bada-" Ray stopped talking as we all complained, once again.

"Do you ever listen?"

"Are you kidding me?!"

"Oh God, give me strength." Mika, Miles, and I all yelled as Bose shrugged and Chapa gave him a look. "I told you ten times! The memory 𝘷iper got destroyed when you and Kid Danger fought Drex." Schwoz explained. "It's not going to get us out of everything anymore." I rubbed my temples.

"I know how to get rid of these kids." Chapa spoke up. As I turned my attention to her, my heart fluttered.

She wore a long sleeve red, white, gray, and black camo patterned sweater. Rips littered her jeans from the top of her thighs, past her knees. The ends of her pants were rolled –as if they were too long when she bought them– and ended with a pair of black combat boots. Her short nails matched my own but with plain white and she wore one silver skull earring that you could easily see because of her short brown hair.

"We got a chainsaw, a ceiling fan, and a-" We all protested as Bose threw his arms in the air and let them fall around my waist from where we were sitting on the Man Couch as Ray squatted down to her height. "What's your deal? Why are you so scary?"

"A girl stole my cellphone." I tensed as Chapa rolled her eyes. Bose looked at me in concern, noticing how I stiffened in his arms.

“I'll tell you later.” I whispered and continued to look through a book as Ray and Chapa argued. "My best friend moved to Dystopia so I bought five new ones!"

"Aw, love you man." Bose smiled as he retracted an arm from me and held it out for Ray to first bump. "Uh, well get there." Ray smiled as he bumped it. Continuing to read, I spoke up. "Okay, according to the big book of Swellviews Dumb Laws, if the new kids agree to leave on their own-"

"Then Miss. Shapen and her sleeveless goons can't shut us down!" Ray spoke over me and snatched the book from my hands. Green incased the book as Ray launched it across the room, preventing it from becoming damaged. Bose freaked out and waved his limbs around before hiding behind me, like he thought it was going to hit him.

Miles gave him a weird look and I only shrugged when his eyes met mine as I slowly pulled Bose out from behind me and rubbed his arm in reassurance. He seemed to settle at the action but kept his arms around me, almost draped over me.

"So we make life as miserable as possible for these new kids and they agree to leave on their own." Ray clapped at Chapas words as Mika spoke up. "And shockingly not violent."

"You didn't let me finish." She smiled as she stood up, "We find who they love most and in the middle of the night-" I laughed as Mika and Miles whined while Bose and Schwoz looked at her in horror. "I think we understand, Chap." Her face reddened as Bose flicked my side with a small but knowing smile.

•❂•

I returned to the classroom as Mika, Bose, and Ray talked. There were two new chairs in the room and Chapa was missing. "𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘱!"

I gave Bose a weird look at his words but ignored it. "Where's Chapa?" Bose swirled around in his blue chair like a villain would and smirked.

"She's hiding in the closet with a chainsaw. When we give her the cue she's gonna jump out and scare the new kids."

"Like it, love it, I want some more of it. What do you got?" Ray pointed to Miles. "I plan on living with an open heart and strong mind and I'll remain like that until the solution presents itself." Ray sighed and rolled his eyes. "Who made you this way?"

"The system." Miles darkly said as a look of horror glossed over his eyes. I quickly covered my laugh with a cough, not sure if laughing would be appropriate or not.

"𝘐𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺-𝘐𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺-𝘐𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺." Ray muttered as he paced, before quickly collecting himself and turned to Mika. "Okay, don't get mad-"

"You never start with that!"

"Yeah but you see, that always makes me mad."

Mika winced but continued anyway, "But once I learn these kids names I'm gonna enter their person information into-"

"A super computer that will eat them?" Ray asked, "No!" Mika gave him a weird look, "Then I don't care, next?"

"Don't look at me, I'm with Mika on this one." I raised my hands in defense. Ray hissed something along the lines of 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 at me. "Well, what are you gonna do?" I sassed. "I'm glad someone finally asked." Ray smiled as he showcased Schwoz.

Schwoz sighed from where he was sitting. He was relaxed in a wooden chair that was tied to a... tied to something. "It's a test of strength. Just like any other test for strength you'd see at a normal school."

"No, wouldn't see that."

"Where did you go to school?"

"If by school, you mean carnival."

Ray ignored all of us as he tossed around a huge hammer. "Where did you get a-? I'm not gonna ask." I sighed, "You use this hammer to make Schwoz go all the way up there to ring that bell." Ray explained as Schwoz waved to us, "Hello."

"How is this gonna make the new kids want to leave?" Mika asked, "I second that question." I raised my hand.

Ray laughed and gave us a vague answer. Before we could say anything else the school room voice activated. "Stranger approaching," echoed in my skull as Ray clarified to be mean.

As Ray opened the doors two kids gasped. One was a boy and the other a girl. They both wore some sort of hat on their head and they were covered in dirt and grime. The boy had a worn out jacket and gray sweats. His shirt was striped with yellow and blue and they stuck out like a sore thumb.

The girl, however, wore more neutral colors. She had a white bandana to tie back her bright orange hair and she wore a green skirt, or maybe it was a dress considering it was the same color as the collars poking out from underneath her sweater. Her brown sweater was the same shade as her boots and her light purple, almost gray, socks were long enough to go past the clothes she wore.

"Why, Percy, it's our new school! I'm sure we will love it so!" The girl said to her brother, who I could now put a name to. "Oh, we shall, Miriam. We shall finally be happy here in our new school." Percy smiled. I slightly cringed at his perky British accent. "And it smells over so better than the bus station.'' They loudly conversed with one another.

"That's because there's a bathroom here, sweety." They both gasped in delight as Miss. Shapen started talking about free sushi. The girl, Miriam, looked around and locked eyes with me. She brightly smiled before glancing at my clothes. She gasped as she noticed my outfit. "May I say, I just love your outfit. You look absolutely gorgeous in green!" I blushed and looked down.

"Thank you! I'd be happy to lend you some of my clothes if you need them." Miriam blushed and shook her head. "Oh, I could never!"

"No, I insist! I could even do some fun makeup!" Miriam smiled at me before nodding, "I'd love that." I ignored the heat in my face as Ray cleared his throat.

"Hello. I'm your teacher. And-" Ray started when Percy interrupted him. "But you can't be our instructor. You're far too young and handsome." My eyes widened as me and Mika exchanged a look.

"And your generous spirit is as clear as the kindness in your eyes." Miriam smiled as she complimented Ray, almost as if she knew his weak spot was himself.

Ray stared at them before excusing us. He pushed Miles and Bose toward the closet and Mika immediately followed. As I closed the door I locked eyes with Miriam. She smiled and waved at me as a chainsaw started. Schwoz offered them a 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰 as I remembered Chapa was inside the closet.

I closed the door as Chapa removed a yellow mask. "Sorry, I thought you were those gunchy new kids." Chapa apologized.

"Turns out they're not gunchy at all. They're sweet as molasses!" Ray hissed.

"I don't know if I can 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘱 ghost them." Bose admitted. "Their last school didn't have a bathroom." Miles told her in confusion. "They've been through so much! Plus Percy winked at me and it melted my heart." Mika smiled at me.

"Miriam called me gorgeous and liked my outfit." I blushed again. Mika 𝘢𝘸𝘸’ed and I giggled. We gushed as I replayed the memory in my head. "Hey!" Chapa yelled.

I jumped and turned to her as she slapped Ray across the face. I gasped in shock and stopped her with my shield the second time.

"We are crime fighters! We can't have a couple of bus station biscuits sniffing around here or we can't respond to emergency calls." Chapa reasoned. "I don't care how many fake compliments they give us!"

A lump formed in my throat as I pouted, "How dare you." Ray glared and covered my ears at her words. "Or how many fake winks we get!" Mika gasped as she grabbed my hand, "They were real."

"She's so mean." Ray agreed. Chapa raised her hand to slap him again only for green to hold it in place. Ray yelped and jumped closer to me, his hands falling to my shoulder.

"Hey, Hey. I have a non-violent plan that just requires a little bitta paper word." Mika smiled.

"𝘈𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦!" a voice yelled as Schwoz fell from the ceiling. We screamed as Miles yelled at Schwoz, "Where'd you come from?!"

"We've already missed three emergency calls since those kids got here." We all groaned in annoyance as Schwoz proved Chapas point. "See? Swellview needs us. So get out there, be mean to those new kids and send them back to the bus station."

I winced at the thought and exchanged a look with Mika, both of us thinking the same thing. "Who's with me?" Chapa asked. Schwoz was the only one to raise his hand and we all agreed as Chapa got ready to hit us.

"Did they just use a bucket?"

•❂•

"What is math? Can you touch it? Can you hold it in your hand? If you shake it, would it raddle?" Ray asked.

"Over the next forty-five minutes we're gonna find out, together, the answer to all these questions, and more... And I think, along the way, we're going to have a little bit of fun."

Miriam and Percy gasped as I finished a lyric I was writing in my song book. "My termite bench just gave me quite a shock." She frowned. "Are you okay?" I asked her with a smile. She nodded and smiled back, "Nothing anyone should worry about. And you know Percy, that brief pain made me grateful for all the times in not in pain." Everyone groaned at her optimism while I only smiled and tucked a strand of blond hair behind my ear.

"Quite so. It seems the lessons at this school go beyond what can be learned from books alone." He agreed.

"What." Ray blankly stared. "May I also say, I love your festive mask!" Miriam smiled at Chapa. My smile flickered as I remembered Chapas words.

"Yeah, I love yours too. Look, a floating pencil." She said with a monotone voice.

𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳? 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴? 𝘔𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳? 𝘖𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵… 𝘮𝘦?

"Oh no... This place is haunted." Ray said without emotion. Bose took that as his cue as he whispered, "𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘱!"

"Spirits? Can you hear us? Tell Princess Diana that our country misses her so!" Miriam called out. I couldn't help but sadly smile at the kind girl. "We hope she's having all the soup her heart desires." Percy smiled.

Bose dropped the pencil and fell back into his chair as Chapa collapsed forward into a heap on her desk.

"Okay, I can't get over this. When you were at the bus station, where did you go to the bathroom?!"

•❂•

Everyone dragged themselves out as the tube opened and into the mancave. Mika groaned as she sonic-yawned Schwoz awake. The scientist yelped as it blew him away from where he slept upside down. He landed on his head with a 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘺! and Mika apologized.

Miles yawned and stretched, making him teleport. He glowed yellow and appeared beside Mika. I could faintly hear Schwoz asking where we were but I couldn't process what he was saying. I dozed off on the couch around Chapas legs and Bose grabbed my legs and pulled them into my lap.

"Did no one put Ray down for a nap last night?" Schwoz asked. "What are we, babysitters?" I groaned and turned on my side. "If Ray doesn't get enough sleep he turns bad until he can sleep again!" I peeled my eyes open and lifted my head up. "Since, uh, when?" I asked in confusion.

"Remember Roy? Who wanted to take candy from that handsome baby." Schwoz asked. My eyebrows furrowed as I closed my eyes. "I remember Roy." Chapa sassed. Words were exchanged as I drifted off.

"SCHWOZ!" Ray yelled. I jumped awake and quickly sat up with a squeak. "Do you still have that flesh eating bacteria in this old mayonnaise jar?"

"Your what?"

"I'm sorry, did I hear that right?" Mika and I both asked. Ray unscrewed the blue cap and smoke rose from the top. "𝘍𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘩𝘩𝘩." I yelped and moved away from it with glowing hands. "Answered my own question." Ray smiled.

"Whaaaaat?" Mika asked and Miles hmmed behind her. I giggled as Mika shoved him off of her. I tried to stop my laughter but it only grew. I covered my mouth before any more loopy laughs could escape.

"I'm indestructible. And 𝘴𝘰𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥." Ray yawned as he walked away. "But it still might eat off your hair!" Scwoz called after him. I winced as the jar whispered 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘪𝘳𝘳 in response. Ray mumbled as he left the man's nest, "Shut up bacteria, leave me alone. I'm so handsome..."

Schwoz followed after him as I leaned against Chapa. We all agreed that we wouldn't let Ray throw flesh eating bacteria on the siblings as we started a plan. "Step once; we stay awake. If we fall asleep we can't protect Percy and Miriam."

"We’re fine. School starts in ten minutes." Miles smiled. I groaned and collapsed between Chapas legs. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes as I sank into her torso. "𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘢𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺𝘺𝘺𝘺?" I whined. I could feel Chapa laugh as her hands ran through my hair.

"If you keep doing that imma fall as𝘸eep." I slurred without opening my eyes. I didn't notice her smile down at me as she hummed a tune. I also didn't notice the look Bose and Miles shared as they looked at us. And I didn't realize I fell asleep in her arms or that she made sure no one woke me up.

•❂•

"I'M AWAKE!" A voice yelled.

I screamed and shot up from my sleep. If Mika hadn't woken everyone up, I definitely did. I blushed as everyone turned to me. "Sorry."

"Is there something wrong?" another voice asked. I jumped and quickly turned around with a yell. "When did you get here?" I whispered to myself as Miriam and Percy stood at the doors.

"You guys have got to get outta here!" Mika said as Miriam gasped. "We would never abandon you in a time of need."

"No, SWAG forever, I say." Percy said as he hit his chest. "And so say I!" Miriam preached with her brother. Everyone groaned in frustration as I rubbed my temples.

"Has anyone seen Ray?" Another voice asked. I shrieked and turned around while everyone looked at me. I whined and kicked my feet in annoyance, "Chapa𝘢𝘢, make 'em stop scaring me."

Her lips twitched into a smile as I pouted and gave her puppy eyes. She shook her head and pushed herself to me in her swivel chair. She rolled over to me and pulled me close. "I thought he was with you." Chapa said to Schwoz.

"Yeah, he's not." Schwoz briefly said before walking away. "OKAY, out the door!" Mika shouted and stood up. "Lets go, lets go, lets go, lets go!" She shouted as Chapa and Miles both stood up and opened the doors. I pushed past them as the doors opened and yelped when I saw Ray leaning on the door frame.

"Cheerio kiddies? Who's hungry for some mayonnaise?" Ray grinned as he attempted to throw it on us. I shoved them back as Bose shouted, "Into the closet, Canadians!" I gave him a weird look as I ran past him. "They're British!"

"Bless you." Bose smiled back.

"Is there something wrong with teacher?" Percy asked. Miriam hesitated at the closet door when she noticed her brother wasn't following her. I rushed past Mika and pulled her inside. She frowned and went to speak but I quickly spoke before she could. "Don't come out until I tell you to, okay?" she frowned but nodded anyway.

"I'll keep you safe." I smiled at her. She softly smiled back as my eyes flickered between hers. I turned around as Bose and Mika shoved Percy inside and waited for me to come out of the closet. I gave them a last smile before closing it.

As soon as it closed the front doors bursted open. I pressed my back against the door behind me as my hands glowed in threat. Ray stumbled around as he looked around. "Where are those Brits? I gotta get rid of those kids."

"Ray, you need sleep." Bose reasoned. "Which I'll never get as long as they're here!" Ray whined as Miles walked over to him. He grabbed his blue collared jack and gave him a little shake. "Ray. You got two options. Either you go to bed. Or were going to put you to bed."

Ray yawned as he looked down at Miles. "Third option; spin move!"

Ray spun around him and moved through Bose and Mika's desk when Chapa cut him off. She shocked him and he spazzed from her volts. I huffed a breath and looked at her in pride. She turned at my gaze and my eyes shined. She blushed and held my stare before Miles teleported Ray between us.

"Oh, come on! No even out of the room?" I gave Miles a sympathetic look as Ray yelled, "Lemme at those kids!"

Chapa moved past him and pressed her back against my chest as she tried to put a layer of defense between me and Ray. I wrapped my arm around her waist and expanded my shield with a whine. My knees wobbled and hands trembled as a shield covered Chapa and I, forming around the whole door. The team, minus Ray, watched in awe as I summoned my biggest shield so far.

Ray groaned and punched my shield, in an effort to break it. I gasped as the pain echoed in my ribs. Bose noticed and quickly took the jar from Ray. He grunted and suspended it in the air as Ray moved his attention to it. He jumped for it as Mika and Miles moved away from him.

Mika sonic screamed at Ray and he stumbled. The only problem being that her scream also blew Bose away and broke his concentration. Bose fell to the ground as the jar fell and bacteria splattered all over Ray's head.

I gasped as Ray screamed and tried to comb it out of his hair, despite the damage already being done. My shield fell as the door behind me opened and I lost my balance. Chapa turned around as I slumped against her in exhaustion. She wrapped her around my waist and steadied me. I relaxed and hugged her while burying my face in her neck.

I noticed her sigh in contentment as her heart rate picked up. "Friends! We can stay idle no longer!" Miriam called from behind me. Chapa tensed as she glared over my shoulder.

"Are you okay?" She whispered and guided us to sit down beside each other on Mikas desk as she pressed her hand against my forehead. I watched her in close detail as she frowned and attempted to take my temperature.

"Hello? What's going on in there?" a voice called from outside the ajar doors. Bose winced as he tried to help, "Uhh, normal school stuff?"

"Ah-ha!" Miss Shapen cheered as she walked over to us, "There's my little British bake-offs. You're coming with me." she gestured.

The siblings protested as Miss. Shapen offered a new school. "We will never leave our friends!" Percy's pitched voice called. I winced and snuggled farther into Chapa. I sighed as her hand rubbed my head and brushed my hair.

"AHHHHHHHH!" Ray yelled as he stumbled down the stairs. I pulled my heavy head up as he withered around, yelling for the 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 he no longer had. I winced and noticed his red scalp that still had white bacteria on it. He collapsed onto the wheel chair and pushed himself out.

"What's his problem?" Miss. Shapen asked in horror. "He just needs a nap: what's this about a horse-drawn carriage?" Chapa brushed off. I giggled at her lack of sympathy as Mika twiddled her fingers.

"Some billionaire in Border Town runs a school for poor, gifted English kids."

"Oh does he?" Mika asked in fake shock. I smirked and fist bumped her. "Yeah, it's a lot of paperwork to apply. I don't know how you did it." Miss Shappen admitted. "Me neither!" Mika smiled.

I grinned and lolled my head on Chapas' shoulder to her, "It's almost like someone else filled out their applications for them."

"Yeah, whatever. Each kid gets, like, a million bucks and a bange of an education." I smiled over at Miriam and she sadly smiled back. "It's much better than this dump."

"Hey!" Chapa shouted in offense. I practically melted as I turned to her. I locked eyes with Bose from over her shoulder and he gave me a bunch of air kisses. I rolled my eyes as he mocked me. I went to turn away when Miles joined in from beside him, both of them seeming to team up together. My eyes widened as Chapa noticed from the corner of her eye.

They both stopped as Chapa turned around. She gave them a weird look before facing Miss. Shapen, who spoke up. "What kind of gifted school is run by an old man in a wheelchair?"

I jumped as Ray somehow rolled himself up a hill, "I am not old!" Miss. Shapen rolled her eyes and walked over to him. "Oh pipe down, Mr. Clean," I laughed as she kicked Ray back down the hill. He cried and whined as he crashed into something.

"This school can keep its license but I'm never sending another student here again." I silently cheered at her words. Miss. Shapen was quick to usher the two out as she walked away.

"We will never forget you!" Percy smiled. "SWAG forever, I say!" Miriam smiled at us. "So say I!" They hit their chest twice and Miles and I returned the action. I watched as they walked away when I called out. "Hey Miriam!"

She turned around with a smile and nodded, "I-uh... That offer still stands." The ginger smiled at me and nodded before walking out.

"What offer?" Chapa asked, her eyebrows furrowing. I shrugged and shook my head, "Nothing important."

"I can't believe Miles was right." Bose sighed. "About what?" Mika asked.

"The solution revealed itself." Bose smiled as Chapa helped me stand up. "Hey, yeah. It did." She wrapped her arm around my waist as I shook my head. "The universe will provide." Miles smiled at Bose.

"Mika provides! I filled out the application forms while everyone but Phoebe wasn't paying attention to me!" She yelled as Bose and Miles walked away. I shook my head as Mika called after the two. "Hello? What am I, chopped liver?"

I chuckled and smiled at her. "Smart plan, Mika. You saved our butts."

"Finally! Thank you!" I shook my head as she chased after the other two. "I exist!"

I turned to Chapa as it was just us. "Take me home?" I asked. She grinned and looked down at me. "Of course."

•❂•

Chapa held my hand as I knocked on the door. I groaned as no one answered. "The one day I forget my keys." I complained. Chapa chuckled as I repeatedly rang the doorbell. Footsteps pounded as the door swung open, "Who is it-"

I smiled as Matthew opened the door. His black glasses rested on the tip of his nose and his hair was a fluffy mess. "Phoebe?" He asked with a scratchy voice. I then noticed the tea cup in his hand and sweat that clung to his forehead.

"Done singing?" I asked with a smile. He chuckled and nodded his head. I watched as he frowned and pressed the back of his hand to my forehead like Chapa had.

"Jesus, you're burning up." Matthew said as he went to grab my hands. He then noticed I was holding someone else. His eyes trailed up her arm until he completely noticed her. He raised an eyebrow at her and slyly waved. "Uh, hi?"

Chapa tightly smiled back and waved with her other hand. "Matt, this is my friend, Chapa. Chapa, this is my older brother, Matthew.”

Matthew nodded as recognition sparked in his eyes. "So is this the smart one or the pretty one you're always telling Ash about?" I blushed as Chapa looked at me. Embassament clouded over me as I looked up at my shoes, "The pretty one." I muttered.

Chapa blushed as Matt smirked. "Oh, so she's the one that you-"

"Okay! Thank you Chapa, for walking me home!" I interrupted as he tried to spill another embarrassing secret.

She blushed with a smile and let go of my hand. I immediately missed the feeling. "No problem, I hope you feel better."

I smiled back and Matthew ruffed my hair and pulled me inside. "You're gonna catch a cold out there. Are you going to be okay walking home alone?" Matthew asked Chapa.

"Matty, everyone passing should be scared of her, not the other way around." I smiled. He hummed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"I'll be alright, thanks though." Chapa shrugged. "Are you sure? We have a spare room if you'd rather stay the night."

She shook her head with a smile, "No, I just wanted to make sure Be would be okay."

I smiled as she looked over at me. "Goodnight Chapa."

"Goodnight Phoebe."

▒▓▆▅▃▂▁𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍 ▁▂▃▅▆▓▒