Best Friends

Chapter 26

"You do?" she gulped.

"Yes," Owen nodded. "We like seeing you so happy and carefree."

"Oh," she whispered. Just then the timer went off, breaking the moment between them. "I'll go get the last batch of cookies out of the oven now."

She dashed to the kitchen and they sighed, "So close," Nathan growled.

"We're making progress," Kota nodded, "Just remember that."

"Go get cleaned up," Axel said and North, Owen, and Raven headed upstairs to get the icing off of them. The rest of the team entered the kitchen to find her cleaning it all up.

"I'll help Cupcake since I helped make the mess," Luke smiled as he grabbed a rag.

"It's fine," She shook her head, "I'm almost done anyway."

"Those pies smell wonderful," Sean smiled as Luke swept past them.

"There's two apple and two cherry," she smiled as she started decorating some sugar cookies. "There should be plenty of snacks for everyone."

"Thank you," Kota smiled and she smiled softly.

"You are welcome," she said as she went to another cookie to start decorating it.

"Oy, Trouble, I got pictures of Mr. B, North, and Raven with icing on them," Gabe laughed as he sat down across from her. She giggled as she worked on the next cookie.

"They won't like that," She said softly.

"But it will be great to hang up in your room," he pointed out and she nodded.

"Come on, let's go watch a movie while they finish baking," Luke said once she was done with the cookies. "After we get cleaned up that is. Someone will start making the popcorn for us."

"Okay," She smiled and headed to her room. She took a quick shower and slipped on some leggings and a Naruto tee-shirt. "Here Meanie," She said as she sat in front of him and handed him the brush. He brushed and braided her hair and by the time he was done Brandon and Corey were bringing in multiple bowls of popcorn.

"What are we watching?" Victor asked.

"Avengers," Silas said as everyone got comfortable.

"Oh the pies," She said when she heard the timer go off. She rushed to the kitchen and pulled them out. She sat them on the cooling rack and turned off the oven. She packed the chocolate chip and white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies into some containers then laid out the decorated one in some boxes that Luke had set out for her once they were done. She went back into the media room and got comfortable again.

Sometime during the movie Luke decided to throw some popcorn towards Gabe to see if he could catch it in his mouth. He looked away when Gabe looked at him. Gabe grabbed some and threw it back at Luke. That started a little battle between the two and various people were getting hit with the missing pieces. Before she knew it everyone was in a popcorn fight and the living room was a mess but the house was filled with laughter. It made her heart bloom in happiness. She knew it was going to be chaotic to clean up all popcorn pieces but it was worth it seeing how happy everyone was right now.

"Heads up," Luke called right before a piece hit Jennifer in the face.

"Really?" She asked then took a handful of popcorn and threw it at Luke.

"Really Cupcake?" He asked laughing before throwing some at her. "I'm going to get you for that Cupcake. We are supposed to be a team. I see how it really is."
She burst out laughing and fell over into Victor's lap. He started to tickle her which caused her to squeal in surprise. She broke free and started running out of the room laughing. She heard them call out for her and so she kept running. She couldn't remember the last time she had this much fun, she loved it.

She managed to run to the backyard and just as she was about to enter the garden someone grabbed her, "Caught you," Brandon growled into her ear.

"What are you going to do with me?" she asked breathless as he turned her to face him.

"This," he whispered as he kissed her softly on the lips then deepened it once he felt her gasp in surprise. He ran his fingers into her head and gently pulled making her tilt her head back which gave him more access to kiss her.

She pulled back in shock and gently touched her lips. Brandon watched fear and confusion fill her eyes seconds before she took off to the house. He followed after her and heard everyone follow. Her bedroom door slammed shut and lock before they reached it.

"Fuck," he sighed as he leaned against her door.