ʀᴇᴀʟɪꜱᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ... | ᴍᴄꜱᴍ x ᴍᴏᴅᴇʀɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

| ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀᴍ | ꜰᴏᴜʀ

  It was now the next morning, and Lukas was long gone. You were just reading a book and waiting for the trio and pig to get back. You sighed, flopping onto your bed. You loved the people you'd met in the few weeks you'd been in the game, but you had to admit it was pretty exhausting being around them at all times. What can you say, you were an introvert after all.

  As time passed, you eventually heard a bustling chatter approaching the treehouse. Jesse, Axel, and Olivia began climbing the ladder as Jesse hoisted Reuben up with him. As soon as he was set on the ground, Reuben dashed towards your door, nudging it open with his snout. He sent you a happy oink before hoping on your bed and laying down by your feet.

  You gave him a soft pat on the head as the trio barged into your room. "Y/n! We got the fireworks like we said!" Axel said rather loudly.

  Olivia gave him a light tap on the back of his head, "Wanna help me make some cookies? I told these two dimwits I would make them, but they keep insisting yours are 'special'."

  You giggled as Axel complained about her taunting, "Sure, just let me put this away." You gestured to the book as you slid off your bed.

  "I'll start getting the ingredients ready, just meet me in the living room." Olivia gave you a small wave as she slipped out the door, pushing the boys with her.

  You smiled and placed the book you were reading on a nearby bookshelf before heading out the door.

  "Olivia, how about I try adding carrots to the cookies this time?" You casually ask as you shoot Jesse a devious look.

  She smirks, playing along, "Maybe they'll be orange, just like how the beetroot made them bright purple."

  You both laugh as Jesse watches unamused. Reuben however snickers along with you, pleased with the idea of cookies made with his favorite snack. He did like the beetroot ones, after all.

----

  As you started baking, you remembered a mildly important detail.

  Over the beaters, you yelled, "Hey, Olivia! Where's Axel?"

  Olivia shrugged. She was over babysitting the two boys. "Maybe he went to gather some materials for the con?"

  You looked over to Jesse who was reading a book in the treehouse's main room. He looked up, feeling your gaze, "I'm sure he'll be fine. We can just wait here and he'll turn up eventually." You gave Jesse a pointed look, "Fine, fine, I'll go look for him." Jesse begrudgingly got up, bookmarking his page and exiting through the treehouses trap door.

  You and Olivia continued baking the cookies, sharing stories and joking around as you waited for the oven to chime. You were both glad and upset that you had to actually bake the cookies, but hey, at least you were able to craft other things. Another plus was seeing Reuben's excitement as the cookies rose in the oven.

  Though, one though was weighing your mind, "Olivia, do you think it's weird that Jesse hasn't come back yet?" You asked, worried about your friends' disappearances.

  Olivia gave you a reassuring smile, "I'm sure they'll be alright. You know, once Axel went out and didn't come back, even when it got dark. We all went to go look for him, even Petra helped out! After a while, I headed back here to see if Jesse had found him, but all I found was Reuben!" She smiled reminiscently at her friend's misfortunes, "Jesse had gotten lost in the woods, but he showed up the next day perfectly fine. Well, besides how muddy he was. He'd lost one of his suspenders too!" She laughed at the memory.

 You laughed along with her, "What about Axel? Where was he?"

 Olivia smile brightened, "We found him the next day. He was hiding in a fort near the tree house, waiting to scare us. He lost track of time and eventually fell asleep."

  You two laughed, sharing your favorite hobby -which was making fun of the boys-. Eventually, your laughter died down. Her story was fun to hear, but now you were worried, "Do you think Jesse could be lost again? I mean- you all got lost when you met me, so I wouldn't put it past eith of them."

  Olivia sighed at your worried tone, "I'm sure they're alright, but if it makes you feel better, you can go look for them. I'll stay here and watch the cookies. Take Reuben with you too. I don't want him to burn his mouth the second I take the cookies out."

  You laughed once more, "Alright, thanks Olivia!" You grabbed Reuben -against his will, he didn't want to leave the cookies' side- and climbed out the trapdoor of the treehouse. 

  Once you got to the bottom, you set Reuben down and he trotted off to your garden to see if any of the carrots were ready to be eaten. Food really was all he thought about.

  Suddenly, you heard a call from behind you, "Jesse now!"

----

  As Axel watched the short girl fall through the piston door at the base of the treehouse he cheered in victory. "That was awesome! We totally got her!" Axel went over to Jesse, seeing him looking away guiltily. "Come on, Jesse, it was just a prank."

  Jesse sighed, still looking off into the woods, "I know, I just feel bad pranking her. You know, she was the one who told me to go look for you." Now it was Jesse's turn to give Axel a pointed look.

  Axel avoided looking at Jesse, clearly now feeling a bit guilty. Though, that's never stopped him before. "It's fine, I put water at the bottom so she wouldn't get hurt."

  Jesse sighed, "How deep is it? I've never seen her swim before."

  Axel looked upwards, trying to remember, "I think it's a meter deep? No one can drown in water that low. Even someone as short as her." Axel looked at Jesse, his brows furrowing, "Right?"

  Jesse looked back, now concerned. "Do you think..."

  They both rushed over to the base of the treehouse, looking for any signs of you being down there. When they got to the hole, they both froze. Nothing was in there. Not even any items to show you had died. They didn't know whether to feel relieved or terrified.

  Before they could make a decision on their conflicting feelings, they heard a quiet 'boo' from behind them. They both jumped, terrified of the monster who may have eaten their friend.

  You took this moment to push them into the hole, grabbing onto the ladder from the side as you said, "Looks like the victory goes to me." You gave a chuckle before grabbing Reuben and climbing up the ladder. "Oh! And one more thing!" You said as you reached the top. "These are for you!" You threw down the freshly baked carrot cookies. Luckily for you and the two boys, items, when thrown, didn't get wet.

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Hope you enjoyed reading! These little 'before the storm' chapters have been fun to write.

You know, I think I'll change their titles to that.

((Not checked for grammar/ spelling errors))

;P