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Cara made her way to Natalie's house seeing Bishop's car and the three teens talking. She walked down the brick pathway that was lined with green shrubs. "I think I ran out of tissues." The girl heard Bishop say, "Can you just..? Can you just give us a second?" Heather asked also glancing at Cara. She nodded and followed Bishop into the house as he said "Yeah, yeah h-happily, yeah."
The two teens walked into Natalie's house quietly, and as they walked by the girls dad Cara said "court hearing" gesturing outside as she say his confused face. He simply nodded as Bishop and Cara walked past him into the empty kitchen.
"Okay so when we're those two fighting?" The girl asked still confused on what had happened. "So Heather is upset because Nat kinda blew up on her about her competing and that she basically said she has no chance at winning. Natalie's upset because she thinks Heather is competing against her and more that Heather is the one who always talks about how stupid and dangerous Panic is and now she's competing." Bishop recaped.
"oh" Cara said lightly with a nod. "ok, well I mean Heather must have a reason for doing it she wouldn't just enter into a seriously dangerous and crazy fun game for no reason, right?" Cara said, Bishop rolled his eyes at her words calling Panic 'fun'. "Exactly and It makes sense that Natalie's pissed, I'd be upset too if my friend who hated a game started playing against me." Bishop stated. "Yeah" Cara said with a shrug of agreement.
Bishop leaned in a little looking at the brunette, "so what's going on with you and that Dodge Mason guy?" Bishop asked with a small smirk. Cara playfully rolled her eyes, "Nothing" the girl said matching his slight lean. "Don't think I didn't see the way you two were laughing together last night" He said, raising his eyebrows. "That was a friendly conversation" Cara quipped. "Well just don't get to friendly" Bishop said playfull, making the girl jokingly scoff.
"Hey I think the clients came to an agreement" Bishop said looking past the girl pointing out the window as they saw the other two girls shake hand then hug. Cara followed where he was pointing as the two walked over to the front door walking out. "Are you guys gonna make out?" Bishop said from the other side of the porch. "Yeah maybe we should go back inside" Cara said from next to him with a laugh.
The two girls pulled away from the hug, "You wish."Heather said as the other two approached "Really?" Nat said as Heather laid her arm over the other girls shoulder. "So, all good?" Bishop said Cara words following after him,"You guys friends again?"
Natalie and Heather looked at each other, "Partners." Nat said looking back at the other pair. "Hey Car' you want in?" Heather asked a slight smirk on her face. "No no thanks I prefer to stay solo." Cara chuckled despite the offer she had extended to Dodge that still stood. "Okay you loss but, don't be upset if we're rich from Panic and you're" Natalie's words trailed off as she realized either way Cara would be fine.
"Hey, may the best player win" offering to two girls a handshake, which they accepted with some laughs. "Okay come on I'm hungry, lets go to that diner down on main street" Heather said, with the group all mumbling agreement. Cara's mind immediately went to Dodge, his family owning the diner- the four walked off the porch and they got in the black car, pulling out of Natalie's driveway.
꧁꧂
The four teens sat, at the bar counter. They shared a basket of fries and Cara's couldn't keep her eyes from the brunette boy behind the counter. Bishop waved his hand in front of her face to break the occasional eye contact between the two; "hey keep your eyes were they belong" he said as Cara looked over at him hesitant to break the staring contest taking place between Cara and Dodge.
Cara rolled her eyes playfully at his words, "oh hush" the girl muttered, taking another fry from the red basket taking a bite. The other three leaned in as Natalie says quietly "I mean what kind of person doesn't have a social media account?"
The two other girls quickly replied, "A sane one." "someone one who values their time." a giggle falling from Cara's mouth. The teens continued to snack, "Careful." Bishop warned jokingly.
"Hey, do you think now that the judges know who we are, that they're watching us?" Heather said, her words gave Cara the chills as she rubs her arms mumbling "creepy" to the blonde. "Of course they're watching. How else are they gonna get intel on all the players?" Heather says, "They're probably tracking where we work and live and hang out. Watching what we do when we think there's no one watching, keeping tabs on who we're with."
The other teens listened to her words quietly, "They're studying all the players" Nat say taking a bite from the fry in her hand. Her words put Cara on edge as she suddenly felt more conscious, mulling over the Natalie's words. The bell on the door swinging open made Cara jump, yanking her from the void of her mind.
She turned to see Ray Hall walking through the door. As they all looked up at him from the stools he asked "what, no invitation?" "Nope" Heather states simply as the boy leans over the counter between Bishop and her. A grin on his face. "Uh, we were actually just leaving." Bishop shares as Ray looks at Heather as they nodded towards each other, the tension thick Cara could feeling it in her bones.
Cara raised her eyebrow as the two stare at each other. "I'm just saying hello to the new kid." Ray says pulling his gaze from Heather, patting Bishop firmly on the back. "Cool" Bishop mutters as Hall walks past them down the counter. "Let's get out of here" Natalie says as they stand from their seats grabbing their stuff, walking towards the door.
Cara trailed behind them turning around looking toward Dodge. Though he was already staring back at her, she sent him a small wave, he flashed her a closed lip smile. As, the girl turned around walking out the door the bell ringing with her departure. A matching smile to the boy's never leaving Cara's face as she trailed after her friends.
