𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙

5 | Jet X

IT WASN'T OFTEN THAT Mia hung out with the boys, but on this day she was heading to Mr. Bender's class with Chase and Michael.

Quinn didn't have Mr. Bender's class and as for their other female friends, Dana, Nicole and Penny, they were all rushing because they woke up late.

"And then I thought, you know," said Mia, to Chase and Michael, as the three of them walked through campus, "how come they're called bacon and cookies when you bake cookies and cook bacon?"

"Heh, that's a good one," chuckled Michael, just as Chase's phone started ringing, its tone cutting through the ambient noise of the campus.

The three of them had stopped on the path, surrounded by students speedily hurrying to class.

"Who's that? Logan?" Mia guessed, noticing Chase's quick glance at his phone. "No, Penny." He replied, his brow furrowing as he answered the call and held the phone to his right ear. "You got me."

"Chase, emergency." Penny's voice immediately came through, urgent and breathless. "Could you make Mr. Bender late for class?" She asked.

"Why?" Chase asked, taken aback by the unexpected request. "Because we're gonna be late! We slept in!" Penny exclaimed. Her sheer panic was certainly palpable, even over the phone.

"And we can't afford a zero!" Nicole suddenly echoed in the background, adding to the chaos.

"Please, Chase?" Penny asked, her tone tinged with desperation. "Okay, calm down," said Chase, his attempt to sound reassuring only heightening Mia's concern and deepening Michael's confusion as they watched. "I'll make sure Bender's late to class."

"You rock!" Penny beamed, right away. Her relief was evident, before she ended the call abruptly.

"What's going on?" Mia questioned, her eyes wide with curiosity. Chase turned to her and Michael, a smirk playing on his lips. "I rock." He declared, the weight of the situation not yet sinking in.

"Eh, you're okay," Michael teased, his hand landing lightly on Chase's shoulder before he sauntered on ahead with his laughter lingering in the air.

Mia's lips twitched with suppressed amusement, her eyes dancing with mirth as she observed the interplay between Michael and Chase.

But the girl's giggles subsided when she noticed the subtle shift in Chase's demeanor, an affronted flicker crossing his features at Michael's jest.

Sensing Chase's discomfort, Mia reached out, her touch gentle as she nudged his arm in a silent gesture of solidarity. "You rock." She said, her voice a soft reassurance amidst the bustling campus.

Chase's gaze met Mia's, gratitude shining in his eyes as he offered her a small, grateful smile.

The tension in the boy's shoulders eased, replaced by a newfound warmth sparked by Mia's gesture of kindness. With a nod of acknowledgment, he returned his focus to the task at hand, slipping his phone back into his pocket as he quickened his pace, his friends falling into step beside him.

As they navigated the familiar path through the campus, their footsteps echoing against the pavement, Mia couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity prickling at her senses. "Seriously, though, what's going on?" She asked, her voice filled with genuine intrigue and a hint of concern, her eyes searching Chase's for answers.

Chase looked at Mia, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. "Distracting Mr. Bender so Penny can make it to class before him. You in?" He asked, his voice tinged with excitement and determination, a plan already starting to form in his mind.