Drawing the Wildcard

Chapter 15: Shocking Developments

After a tedious amount of boring classwork, the trio made their way to their lockers. Unknown to them, they were being followed by the new girls, who were hiding around the corner from them.

"OK. Lunchtime. Where do you guys want to go?" Jake asked as he put his books in his locker and grabbing his wallet, stuffing it in his back pocket.

"I think it's Ari's turn to pick." Kit piped up. Ari twirls a lock of her raven hair around her finger as she thinks.

"How about that diner on 55th?" She suggests. "It's not too far from here, plus they have pretty good pies."

"Sounds good to me." Kit says. "What do you think, Jake?" He turns to him.

"I'm in. Let's get going." Jake says with a smile and they walk off.

"Good, because you're buying." Kit pipes up.

"Wait, what? Hell no." Jake protests. Kit only smiles and nudges Ari slightly. Taking that cue, she begins to pout.

"That's not going to work this time, Ari." Jake says, looking at her stoically. Ari only pouts more, her lower lip starting to quiver slightly.

"Fine. Lunch is on me." Jake relents.

"Thank you, Jakey." Ari says with a smile, giving him a peck on the cheek. Jake rolls his eyes and smiles slightly.

"Where are you three going?" A voice pipes up. The trio turn to see Cassie and Rachel looking at them with a smile.

"Oh, hey. Cassie and Rachel, right? We're just going to get a quick bite to eat." Jake says, slightly surprised that they managed to sneak up on them. "You can come with us if you want."

"Jake's buying." Kit pipes up, snickering at Jake's playful glare. The two nod and with that, the quintet was off.

---

"And that's why, in my honest opinion, that if you try to take on the Hulk, use kittens. Or puppies. Or any cute animal, to be honest." Jake says, taking a bite out of his cheeseburger.

"See, babe? You'd be a valuable asset against him." Ari says with a smile, sipping her lemonade. Kit only rolls his eyes with a smile. Cassie and Rachel only look at the trio in mild amusement.

"Do you three have these conversations all the time?" Cassie asks.

"Pretty much." Ari replies. "Sometimes, they either get weirder or violent. Like the whole 'Bugs Bunny vs Dracula' debate. That one was the most insane one we've had."

"And we're still having it until Jake can understand that Dracula can turn into mist. Boom! Fricasseed Rabbit." Kit proclaims, glaring at Jake. Jake returns the glare with a smirk.

"Nah. Bugs pulls an ACME vacuum cleaner out of nowhere. Dracula's done." Jake replies, finishing his burger. "Cartoon Physics, pal. Look into them." Kit only growls and goes back to eating his tuna melt. Jake snickers at his behavior.

"So, now that the insanity is over, where are you two from?" Ari asks, turning her attention to the two newcomers.

"California." Cassie says, popping a few french fries into her mouth.

"Cali, huh? Were you two beach bunnies?" Jake asks with a small smirk. Rachel returns the smirk.

"Well, I was and still am. Cassie wasn't. Until you get a couple drinks in her." Rachel snickers at Cassie's pout.

"Rachel, you promised not to tell."

"At least I didn't talk about the 'Banana Incident.'"

"Banana Incident?" Jake and Kit question in unison.