One Stupid Thing

2:1:44

"Wait, hold on, why does she get to tickle?" JJ asks, offended.

"She's the best tickler," Pope tells him.

We are all still sitting in Kie's SUV parked across the street from Gavin's house, waiting for the perfect time to set our trap. Now that night has fallen, that time is now.

"Should I do an accent?" Kie asks.

"Why not?" I say.

"Definitely disguise your voice," Pope suggests.

"Disguise my voice how? How would you like me to talk? Like this?" Kiara asks in a fake English accent.

"Yes, do that!" I tell her.

"Not like that." JJ shakes his head disapprovingly.

"Not like that, no," Pope agrees. "Batman."

"Batman," Kiara says with a deep voice.

"There you go," Pope says.

"Spot-on. Let's do it," JJ encourages.

"I'm still in favor for the English accent," I protest, crossing my arms in front of my chest. I give Kiara Gavin's phone number and she dials it on her phone. He picks up on the third ring.

"Hello?" a man answers.

"Hello," Kiara greets in a deep voice. She then holds the phone farther from her and whispers, "I can't."

"Just talk," Pope whispers back.

"Hello?" the man repeats.

Kiara clears her throat. "Is Gavin there?"

"This is Gavin. Who's this? Hello?" he replies impatiently. I hold my breath as if the sound of my breathing would give us away.

"I know what happened on the tarmac," Kiara says bluntly.

Gavin laughs nervously. "Um... who's this?"

Kiara ignores his request. "It was Rafe Cameron. But you already knew that, and you lied about it." My breath hitches as soon as my brother's name comes out of her mouth.

"Okay. Who is this?" Gavin repeats. His tone wavers. "You're gonna tell me who this is right now."

"We're gonna prove it. You're guilty. You could've saved her, Gavin, and you didn't. And you're not getting away with this," Kiara replies.

"Listen to me! Who is this?" Gavin shouts into his phone, but Kiara just hangs up without another word. She's gotten the point across. Now, Gavin will hopefully be scared enough to do something about it.

"How was that?" Kie asks.

"Yeah, I was scared. Good job," JJ assures her.

"All right. We tickled the wire. Phase two complete. Now we wait and listen," Pope instructs.

"Okay," Kie replies.

"All right. Here he comes. Stay down," Pope whispers. We all slink down into our seats just as Gavin's headlights shine into the car. He drives past with no hesitation.

"He didn't see us. He didn't see us. Hit it," JJ whispers encouragingly.

"Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go," Pope urges her. We all sit back up in our seats, but when Pope reaches for his seatbelt, it locks. "M-my seatbelt!"

"Are you seriously buckling up right now?" JJ scolds.

"Yes, I'm buckling up right now!"

"Screw the damn seatbelt! Kie, drive!" I shout. Kie puts her green SUV in drive and quickly whips around to follow Gavin.