Running Out Of Time

Don't Stop The Music

Olive's house was the ultimate hangout spot. The pantry was always stocked with all sorts of sweet treats, and the living room was furnished with the comfiest couches one could hope for. On top of that, Olive's mom, Maddy, was always home to whip up whatever their hearts desired.

It was no surprise that the power quartette chose to retreat to Olive's after the disastrous rehearsal. As they walked in, Maddy welcomed them with a warm smile, immediately noticing her daughter's best friend who was looking a bit under the weather. “Hey, girls!” Maddy called, bustling into the living room. “What’s the plan for today?”

“A lot of therapy and some form of junk food,” Olive replied with a playful grin, plopping down onto the floor and grabbing a handful of popcorn. Jett followed suit, sitting beside her, but not before losing some of the popcorn Olive had tossed her way and moping about it.

“Good choice!” Maddy laughed, noticing Adele’s worried expression. Without a word, she headed to the kitchen and returned with a cup of warm cocoa sprinkled with marshmallows, handing it to Adele, who looked surprised yet grateful. “Here you go, sweetie. This should help.”

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Richards. You really didn’t have to,” Adele said, her voice a bit shaky.

“I already told you, call me Maddy! Mrs. Richards is... too formal," Maddy replied, her eyes twinkling. She was known for being a cool mom, but not one of those try-hards — she was just genuinely cool. “Anything else you all need? Snacks? A shoulder to cry on?” Her down-to-earth approach earned a few chuckles from the girls.

“Just snacks will do!” Jett chimed in, attempting to catch some falling popcorn with her mouth. “Just admit that you're not better than me at this! Maybe you can catch it with your hands next time!” Olive teased, nudging her playfully.

“Shut up!” Jett laughed, rolling her eyes as she playfully shoved Olive.

As the girls settled into a circle on the floor (despite the incredibly comfortable sofas behind them), Adele cradled the mug, the warmth managing to ease the chill of worry gnawing at her. “Can we get back to my thing, please?” she exclaimed, feeling a wave of frustration wash over her.

“Still thinking about Anthony?” Olive asked, concern replacing her earlier playfulness. “Of course! How could I stop?” Adele's frustration was evident in her voice. “He’s not responding to my texts or calls. I just feel like I really messed everything up!”

“You didn’t mess everything up,” Olive said, emphasizing the word "everything" as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “That I know for sure.” The curly-haired girl looked at her friends with an anxious glance, quietly seeking validation.

“Yeah! You just need to talk it through. It’ll be fine!” Ariana added, trying to lighten the mood.“It’s Anthony. He can’t stay mad at anyone for too long,” Jett chimed in, trying to be optimistic.

Adele sighed heavily, pulling away from Olive's touch. “How can we talk it through if he’s not responding to my texts and calls? What should I do next, send a carrier pigeon?” For her, it almost seemed hopeless.

“Maybe you don’t need words,” Olive suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You know how he is; he’s more of an actions kind of guy anyway.” This pinch of hope was just the right thing.

“Exactly! Remember that time you two argued about the duet, and he showed up with that ridiculous fake mustache to apologize?” Jett added with a grin. “You adored that gesture!”

Adele’s expression shifted, a mix of amusement and frustration. “I really don’t think the mustache trick will work twice,” she said, holding onto the warmth of that moment yet grappling with the fear of losing him. “Okay, so... you need to make him feel appreciated, but it needs to be grand... Oh! What about an end-of-year mixer?!” Olive suggested, a spark of hope in her voice.