Quick warning: The movie Black Panther is mentioned in this chapter.
Of course, it's been well established that Piper isn't the best at thinking on her feet. She knew she shouldn't take the risk and come up with an excuse first.
But it was too much. She took a few steps back so it would look like she just came out of her room and stomped downstairs as if she was mad about something.
"Jasper, WHAT are you going here?" Piper didn't have any reason to be mean to Jasper right then, but she knew it would look weird if she were nice to him.
Jasper rolled his eyes. "I," he declared, "am hanging out with your brother."
"Don't forget me," mumbled Charlotte under her breath.
"What do you want, Piper?" Henry stood up, making himself taller.
Miraculously, a thought popped into her head. "Well, I just woke up, so, oh, I don't know, breakfast?"
"She's got a point," said Charlotte, smiling. Piper smirked at her brother, who nodded. "Yeah, I guess."
Henry sat back down, and there was an awkward silence. Piper, unsure of what else to say, went, "So what are you three up to today?"
Henry and his friends exchanged weirded-out looks. "Nothing much," he finally said.
"What about work?"
"It's Sunday. Junk N' Stuff is closed." That was Charlotte.
"Oh. Well…" Piper swallowed, hoping she wouldn't regret this. "Maybe we could all hang out out today."
Once again, the three teens looked at each other, unable to find reason for Piper's behavior. "Uh, sure," Charlotte said finally. "Why not."
"Cool. Hey, have you guys eaten yet? I know a really good pancake recipe-"
"NO." Henry, Charlotte and Jasper all said at once. Piper had let cooking go, but she still stunk at it. Bad. Like, worse than the food itself.
"Okay then." Piper walked toward the pantry and searched for the Pop-Tart box she knew was in there.
Behind her, the three teens huddled together a little. "What's going on?" Jasper whispered.
"I don't know, but just go with it!" Henry hissed back. "This is weird, and it's creeping me out!"
"Guys, she looking!" Charlotte was the first to lean back, then Henry, who struggled to not use his Hyper Motility, and then Jasper.
Piper walked back to the table and put down her food, then started for the fridge for some milk.
"So," she said when she came back, milk glass in hand. "What do you guys wanna do?"
It was Charlotte's idea.
Piper put Black Panther on the TV, and, while she was distracted, Henry, Charlotte and Jasper stretched out on the couch- Jasper faced the TV on the cushions closest to the kitchen, and Henry sat next to Charlotte- so Piper would have to sit on the floor, which is something she kind of liked doing anyway. Then they would text each other, with their phones silenced. That way, they could communicate without Piper noticing.
Not that she didn't know what they were doing; she could see their reflections on the black screen before turning the TV on. Henry, Charlotte and Jasper started texting each other as soon as they were sure Piper was distracted.
Henry: Jeez, this is weird.
Charlotte: I know, but at least I had this wonderful idea. You're welcome, by the way.
Jasper: Thz.
Jasper: *Thx.
Henry: Yeah, thanks, Char.
Charlotte: And that's why I'm the brains of the group.
Jasper: Gee, Thanks.
Charlotte: You're welcome.
Henry: Guys, we're getting off topic here. Why do you think Piper is acting like this?
Jasper: I Don't Know, And I'm Really Not Sure I Want To Know.
Jasper: Maybe She's Finally Growing Out Of Her Bratty Social Media Phase.
Henry: Maybe. Charlotte, what do you think?
Henry: Charlotte?
Jasper: Charlotte?
Henry nudged Charlotte, whose eyes were fixed on the TV screen. She blinked and looked back down at her phone.
Charlotte: Sorry, guys, you know I love this scene.
Jasper: Why, Because You Think T'Challa Is Cute?
Charlotte: No, because Shuri is THE best character in this entire movie and you know it.
Jasper: Yeah, She's Cool. But I Still Don't Understand That Joke.
Henry: That isn't the point! Although Charlotte's right. And I'll explain that to you later, Jasper.
Jasper: Thx.
Charlotte: And, to answer your question, Henry, I'm starting to get a little concerned. Piper seems to keep popping up. What if she suspects something?
The conversation temporarily stopped. Henry swallowed.
Henry: You really think so? Honestly, I think maybe she wants something. We've kept this secret for so long, I don't thinks she'll ever find out.
How laughable.
Jasper: Henry's Right. She'll Totally Act Nice To Get What She Wants. Or Blackmail You.
Charlotte: Yeah, that's true. And I know for a fact that Piper loves this movie, so watching it isn't some big loss for her.
Jasper: Yeah.
Charlotte: Also, we've got other problems. How on earth are we going to catch Minyak?
Henry: *sigh* I don't know, you're the smart one.
Jasper: Thank You.
Henry: I was talking to Charlotte.
Jasper: Oh. Yeah, That Makes More Sense.
Charlotte: Getting off topic again here, guys.
Henry: What else are we supposed to say? It's not like we can come up with anything.
Jasper: He's Got A Point.
Charlotte: Yeah, I guess you're right.
Henry: Guys, let's just watch the movie. Maybe we'll get some ideas. Or AN idea, at least.
Jasper: We'll See.
Henry, Charlotte and Jasper weren't the only ones who were neglecting to watch the movie. Piper had been thinking the whole time, not of Shuri's awesomeness, but of how to catch her brother in the act.
Eventually, she gave up and just tried to pay attention. (Coincidentally, it was at the same time her brother and his friends had.) They only got a few more minutes into the movie, though, before Henry's watch started beeping.
He gasped and smacked it, but everyone in the room- including Piper- had heard and all turned to him. His eyes went wide.
"Um… sorry 'bout that, I um… this thing is... broken.… I, um, I'll go toss it upstairs…."
Of course, Piper has figured out by now that the watch probably meant something. Like… like Captain Man summoning him!
Instead of turning her head, Piper watched the top of the stairs via the paused TV screen; it was dark enough that the reflection was clear in some spots.
She could also see Charlotte and Jasper squirming. Piper bit her lip.
This HAS to be true. No way all this is a coincidence. No way. Maybe he's talking to Captain Man. Piper was thinking about going upstairs "for her phone" (it was in her pocket, in reality) when Henry appeared on the stairs.
"Charlotte, Jasper, we gotta-" Henry stopped short when he realized that his sister was still downstairs. "We gotta… go… to… the… oh, the library! We need to go to the library!"
Piper had to work so hard to not to roll her eyes. As if, liar.
As she expected, Charlotte and Jasper played along. "Oh, um, right!" Charlotte picked up her and Henry's phones from the couch. Jasper just nodded and got up behind her.
Henry looked at Piper. "Pipes, we'll be back in a bit!" He and his friends ran out of the house, Henry closing the door behind him.
Piper watched them all jump on their bikes (Henry having grabbed his from the garage) and ride off. She pulled her phone out and opened up the tracker app.
There is no way, she thought, that I am letting him get away this time.
Alright, since no one guessed the Easter Egg I'll give y'all a hint: it's referencing a Disney show that has already been finished.
Chrystal E. Fall: (Chapter 7.) Thanks for pointing that out! (Chapter 8.) After reading your review I went back to find it... and now I'd can't. Guess I hid it too well. (Chapter 11.) She's trying to get solid proof. Also, thanks!
PicassoPenguin: Thank you!
Ciao, and Happy Reading!