A Recipe for Disaster (Clash Of Cliches Book 2)

Chapter 16- You Think You Got This? Nah

Chapter 16- You Think You Got This? Nah

I was up early on Saturday morning, just raring to go on a morning jog, and somehow managed to be accused of eating half of Deshaun's candy when I got back to the campsite.

The audacity.

The only people awake when I crept out of the RV after a quick shower were Paris, who was doing jumping jacks by the cold, dead fire pit remnants, and, surprisingly enough, Brooklyn, who was blazing. I was starting to think that was all she did.

Legend has it that she hasn't been seen without a cloud of smoke around her for years.

"Why are you up so early?" Paris asked, mid-jump.

I took in the scene as I tied my still damp braids into a top knot. Brooklyn was wearing a silk robe, sitting cross-legged on a conveniently placed log, staring off into the void. A total space cadet. "I'm going on a jog."

"Oh, yeah, you're on the Sac State track team, aren't you?" Paris looked me up and down, an appraising look in her eyes as she entered stretch mode.

I couldn't stop the beam that slipped on my face as I nodded, trying my best to appear as humble as possible. Which one of my proud brothers had told her about my achievements? I was betting it was Deshaun. He bugged relentlessly, but I knew he was beyond impressed by his little sis. "Yeah, I am."

"Kam told me."

My head cocked towards her at the mention of that name, but, although my insides were roiling with curiosity, luckily, my voice came out devoid of expression as I asked, "He did?"

What else did he tell you?

"Mmhmm," Paris drawled, before changing the subject and leaving me on tenterhooks. "I'm a film student but I moonlight as a personal trainer. Are you any good?"

Almost getting whiplash with the change in conversation pace, I furrowed my brow in confusion. "At running?" A challenging smile on her face, Paris nodded, and, just like that, the competitive side of me surfaced. Oh, who am I kidding, competitive Janessa never left. "Why don't you find out?"

Scratch jogging, I guess we're going for a sprint.

"Got your sneakers laced up tight?" Paris asked tauntingly.

Smirking, I replied, "Always do."

"Dude, what is this shit?"

My head snapped towards Brooklyn, who was touching a glistening leaf which had fallen down on the log beside her. It was wet with morning dew, and I frowned a little bit. Surely, she wasn't serious? "It's dew...?" I ventured slowly, as Paris groaned, facepalming.

A scowl on her pretty face, Brooklyn muttered, "Man, I got a bad feeling about this," in a dark voice.

Let me find out she's scamming me.

Paris and I shared a commiserating glance, and she said, "Let's get out of here before I get a contact high," out of the corner of her mouth. And, while I giggled, because how true was that, she took off and left me in the dust.

Oh, hell no.

Spoiler alert- I won the race.

When we got back, I took another shower and that's when all hell broke loose. When I walked out of the RV into the sun, I found myself the target of Deshaun's accusing eyes as he held up a half-full bag of candy. "Are we sure it wasn't Janessa who ate it?" he snapped, asking the world at large. I immediately took offence.

"We're positive, asshole." My lips scrimped into a tight line as I faced him, hand on my hip. "You're going to accuse me? Have some evidence to back it up."