❝Why do always call me Cherry?❞
❝Because your lips taste like Cherries.❞
When teenage supervillain Havoc stands up to the head of the League of Villains, Colby Madden's family is forced to change their identities and relocate to a sleepy Texas subur...
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𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 out across Colby's lap on the couch, her head tilted back, laughter spilling from her as the news segment on the TV played. Amy was beside her, nearly doubled over in giggles, pointing at the screen.
"This show never disappoints!" Aveline managed between laughs, her hair falling across Colby's chest.
Colby glanced down at her with a grin, trying to focus on the controller in his hands but clearly distracted. "Oh, whoo! It's the funniest thing on TV!" he said, shaking his head.
Amy waved her hands dramatically toward the screen. "Were you laughing at other people's misfortune on the news again?" she teased.
Aveline shrugged with a guilty grin. "Not me!" she said, though another snicker escaped her. "Okay, maybe a little. That lady trapped in the elevator for five days? She looked like she'd just given up on life!"
Colby laughed, ruffling her hair. "If they didn't want you to laugh, they wouldn't put it on TV."
Hartley, sitting cross-legged on the floor, looked at them with a puzzled expression. "I don't get it," he muttered, turning toward Amy and Aveline. Then his eyes lit up with an idea. "Wait, you two! Did you know The Round-Up is holding their annual Battle of the Bands this Saturday? You have to enter!"
Aveline lifted her head, her laughter fading into excitement. "Wait, so we get to sing and battle people? Like, with instruments and everything?"
"It's not a real battle," Hartley clarified, smirking. "It's a contest where bands perform original songs and face off against each other. But if we win, it'll boost our cred as a new singing trio."
Amy leaned back, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, I am already popular. The other day we were singing at the food court, and someone—someone!—threw curly fries at us while yelling, 'Stop singing, I'm trying to eat!' Best two ninety-nine I ever spent!"
Aveline laughed again, shaking her head. "Classic. But wait... to perform at the contest, we'd have to write an original song, right?"
"Which we've never done before," Amy said, frowning slightly. Then her face brightened. "Big deal! I used to write songs with my villain band all the time... until they met their fiery demise. Literally. Fiery Inferno. That was going to be the band name too. Poetic, huh?"
Aveline rolled her eyes, grinning. "Only you could make villainy sound... adorable."
Before they could argue further, the front door swung open. Eva, Vic, and Jake stepped in, followed by Celia, who practically floated in with her usual energy. "Oh, hey, everyone!" she called. "Come on in! I know I'm supposed to knock, but I'm too excited to care. Robert just booked us a romantic weekend at Lady Bird Lake. Sunrise, shuffleboard, kayaking for two—oh, and yes, there's going to be snacks. Important snacks."
