"Seventeenth."
"Eighteenth!"
"Nope, seventeenth."
"EIGHTEENTH."
"You guys argue about everything," Lena interrupts, and Chase nods like he's proud of it. I just roll my eyes and smile. Chase didn't get to respond, so I won that round.
We're on the sidewalk, on our way to some new bakery that's apparently run by a Character. It's for Dani's first birthday, and we're supposed to pick out a cake-but it was a mistake to bring Chase along, because I already know he'll want everything. I'm planning to have Ben keep him in conversation while Lena and I search for a cake, but he's currently a few feet behind us, busy doing something on an M3.
We walk in silence for a while, and then Lena says, "It's nice of you to give Dani your stuffed elephant, Chase." Chase, however, just groans dramatically and buries his face in his hands. "I told you not to mention that," he mutters, and Lena and I grin at each other. Embarrassing him is a lot more fun than it probably should be.
Chase quickly attempts to change the subject like he always does. He says, "Anyway, I think we should get a chocola-"
"THAT'S IRRELEPHANT," Ben yells suddenly. Lena and I burst out laughing, while Chase attempts to glare at all three of us at once. "I'll get you back for that someday," he says to all of us, but there are hints of a smile on his face so I'm not too worried.
I'm a little too happy right now to notice the mischief creeping into his voice as he talks about which cake he wants to get, while Lena reminds him that it's for Dani's party, not his. At some point Chase slid his arm around my shoulders, and I make the huge mistake of closing my eyes and letting him lead me.
Lena suddenly yells at me to look out, but it's too late.
I crash into a pole. Chase runs away cackling.