❝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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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐍 spilled through the tall windows of Room 203, casting warm streaks of light across the rows of desks and bouncing off the glossy covers of textbooks. Aveline sat near the middle of the classroom, her notebook open but mostly untouched as her mind wandered. She had been unusually distracted lately, her thoughts constantly flitting between the events of the past few weeks and the quiet, comforting presence of Colby. Even the hum of the overhead lights and the occasional squeak of a chair didn't seem to pull her fully back into the room.
Her teacher, Ms. Granger, a woman with an ever-present stack of papers and an affinity for dramatic hand gestures, clapped her hands together, instantly pulling the class's attention. "Alright, everyone, settle down. Today I have an announcement that I think most of you will find very exciting."
Aveline's ears perked up despite herself. Excitement? It wasn't often that Ms. Granger's announcements brought genuine excitement. Usually, it was a lecture about overdue assignments or the latest warning about phones in class. But this had a different tone, a sparkle in Ms. Granger's eyes that made Aveline sit up straighter.
"We've been given a fantastic opportunity," Ms. Granger continued, pacing in front of the whiteboard. "The school has arranged a trip to Washington, D.C.! This is a chance to see the monuments, the museums, and even some of the historic sites we've been studying this year."
Aveline's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected a field trip this big—not just a local museum or a science center, but the nation's capital itself. She felt her chest tighten with excitement and a little disbelief. Washington, D.C.? Really?
"We'll be leaving at the end of next month," Ms. Granger said, pulling a stack of papers from her desk. "And of course, each student will need a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian. Please, take one at the end of class."
Aveline barely caught the teacher's words before her mind had already spun a dozen scenarios—walking along the National Mall, seeing the Lincoln Memorial up close, wandering through the endless exhibits of the Smithsonian museums. Her notebook, forgotten, lay open on the desk, but her pencil twirled idly between her fingers as she imagined it all.
The teacher continued, explaining the schedule and the expected costs for the trip, but Aveline hardly heard anything. Her mind was already racing with anticipation, imagining how she would tell Colby, how he'd probably grin and suggest some way to make it extra fun. She could almost see him, leaning against the wall with that lazy, confident smile, ruffling her hair or pretending to complain about the early morning.
When the class finally ended, Ms. Granger handed out the permission slips, and Aveline practically snatched hers from the pile. She unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the details with a mixture of glee and disbelief. Washington, D.C., in just a few weeks. The idea that she would be able to visit the city she'd seen in books, on TV, and in documentaries sent a wave of exhilaration through her. She felt as if she could barely contain herself.
