RIVALS NEXT DOOR

chapter 1

Clara

I lay sprawled across my bed, tangled in the sheets, the world outside my window a vibrant canvas of blue sky and fluffy clouds. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, teasing me to get up and join the day, but sleep was far too inviting.

Just as I was about to drift back off, my phone buzzed insistently on the bedside table. I groaned, my hand fumbling to grab it. The screen lit up with Ralph's name. Great. My workmate was at it again.

"Wake up, Clara! Did you forget about our meeting?" His voice crackled through the speaker, a mix of urgency and excitement.

I squinted at the time, my heart racing as I tried to remember. "What? Meeting? You can't just break into my house! I'm not a criminal...yet!"

"Come on, I'm outside! If you don't open up, I'll hack into your coffee machine and make it pour cold brew everywhere!"

Rolling my eyes, I pushed the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. "Fine, fine! I'm coming!" I shuffled toward the door, still half-asleep. "What's the mission again? Are we planning to rob a bank or just steal the last slice of pizza from the break room?"

"Both sound good! But seriously, it's about our next gig. We need to finalize the plan," he replied, his voice getting animated.

I unlocked the door and swung it open to find Ralph standing there, his oversized glasses slipping down his nose, a laptop bag slung over one shoulder. He looked like a classic nerd, but I knew better-he was a genius at hacking and a crucial part of our crew.

"Alright, mastermind. What do you have for me?" I asked, stepping aside.

Ralph grinned, his enthusiasm infectious. "Well, we're set for this one. Just need your leadership to pull it off!"

"Adventure sounds great, but first, coffee. Then we can plot our world domination."

"Deal!" he said, bouncing on his toes.

As I led the way to the kitchen, I felt a rush of excitement. With a team like this-me, the fearless leader; Ralph, the tech wizard; Lena, the acting prodigy; and Damon, the info king-we were unstoppable.

I poured myself a strong cup of coffee, the aroma filling the kitchen as Ralph set his laptop on the table. Just as I turned to grab a mug for him, the door swung open, and in walked Damon, an apple in hand, with Lena following closely behind.

"Hey, team!" Damon called out, taking a dramatic bite of the apple, juice dripping down his chin. "I brought snacks!"

"keep your filthy apples to yourself," Lena replied, rolling her eyes.

"Come on! It's just a little apple. It's not like I'm trying to steal your heart or anything," he said, leaning against the doorway with an exaggerated smirk.

"Right. Because you have such a track record of subtlety," she shot back, clearly unimpressed.

Ralph grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You two need to stop playing around and focus. We have a mission to discuss."

"Fine," I said, settling into a chair. "What's the plan, Damon?"

Damon leaned over the table, looking serious now. "Okay, so here's the deal. Our target is Mrs. Ravenscroft, the wife of that rich businessman. She's heading to the city's top jewelry shop today to pick up some exclusive pieces."

"Sounds fancy," I said, intrigued. "What's our angle?"

"Her assistant leaked the time-she'll be there at 7:00 PM. Mr. Ravenscroft covers all her bills, so we'll slip in under the radar," Damon explained, his tone turning conspiratorial. "We'll disguise ourselves as her and her assistant to get past security."