𝑼𝑵𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑬𝑫 | 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡

𝑆𝐸𝐶𝑅𝐸𝑇'𝑆 𝑂𝑈𝑇

─────⊰ ✦.*🥀*.✦ ⊱─────

Bestie👭🏼💖
ADDILYNN 
3:13 PM
You have to help us! 
3:13 PM
We're getting flanked by the lunch ladies :((
3:14 PM

Chase❤💋
They have metal detectors. They keep going off at our bionics
3:16 PM

Brothafromanothermotha🤪💪🏼
Pls bring a sandwich
3:16 PM
I'm starving
3:17 PM

Chase❤💋
Shut up Adam
3:17 PM

Bestie👭🏼💖
Shut up Adam
3:17 PM

Chase❤💋
Perry is getting airport detectors. You have to come quick or she'll know everything!
3:18 PM

Me
Okay, okay. Omw
3:18 PM
Which sandwich do you want Adam?
3:20 PM

Chase❤💋
Now is not the time Addilynn!
3:20 PM

Me
Geez, fine
3:20 PM

　　 𝐈 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐎𝐅 the library, my heart pounding with every step as I rush toward the entrance hall. The sound of my shoes slapping against the polished floor echoes like a countdown in my ears. Ahead, two lunch ladies—armed with ladles as if they're guarding state secrets instead of shepherd's pie—pivot toward me with narrowed eyes. For a second, panic seizes me. If they stop me now, the whole plan falls apart.

I veer sharply, slipping past them before they can even register my face. My pulse races as I make it to the cafeteria entrance, where—of course—Perry is already holding court, her beady eyes locked suspiciously on Adam, Bree, and Chase. My stomach twists. Of all the people in the world to be standing guard, why her?

Her gaze snaps to me like a hawk spotting prey.
'Evans? What in the world are you doing here?' Her voice is sharp, full of suspicion. She takes a step toward me, her heels clicking like a gavel striking down judgment.

Think, Addilynn. Think fast.

I force my expression into something casual, though I can practically feel the sweat forming on my neck. 'You see, I got wind of the situation here,' I start, desperately stringing words together. 'And I feel like you should know the truth. There's no need in getting all this equipment for nothing.'

My brain scrambles for something—anything—that might make sense. 'Right... so... you see... Adam, Bree, and Chase... have weak necks.'

'Weak necks?' Perry repeats, her eyebrows climbing so high they nearly vanish into her hairline. She doesn't buy it. I can tell.

I double down, my mouth running ahead of my brain. 'Yeah. Well, have you met Davenport? His ego is so inflated it practically has its own gravitational pull. His kids inherited that. Big heads, Perry. I mean, enormous. When they were little, their necks couldn't even support them—it was tragic. Davenport had to fix it by putting metal plates in their necks. That's why the detectors go off.'

I hold my breath, praying she's just gullible enough.

Her eyes narrow, then flick over at the three siblings. For a terrifying heartbeat, I think she's about to call my bluff. But then—miracle of miracles—she nods. 'That makes sense. They all have gigantic heads.'

I nearly collapse with relief.

'But,' she continues sharply, 'they're still going through airport security.'