Chapter 5: Of Love And Lava

A/N: Alright folks here's the next chapter. I own nothing save for my original characters and the plot. Dan Schneider owns the stuff that isn't that

Reina's heart raced as Carly's confession echoed in her mind, filling the room with a mixture of warmth and uncertainty. Yet, as much as she wanted to hold onto this moment, an insidious doubt crept in.

She likes you now, but what happens when she discovers who you really are?

The shadow of Nevel Papperman loomed large in her thoughts—a ghost of a past she had spent years trying to outrun. But it wasn't just the name or the memories that haunted her; it was the fear that Carly might see her as the person she once was, not the woman she had become.

You think you deserve this happiness? After everything you've done?

Her fists clenched at her sides, nails pressing into her palms as she fought to ground herself in the present. The warmth of Carly's gaze—a gaze filled with vulnerability and unguarded affection—was the only thing tethering her to reality.

I can't let Nevel ruin this. I won't.

Taking a steadying breath, Reina met Carly's gaze, her voice trembling but resolute.

"I… I don't know what to say," she began, the words spilling out cautiously. "You have no idea how much this means to me, Carly. But…"

She hesitated, the weight of her secret pressing down like a physical force. Her throat tightened as she fought to give voice to the fear that clawed at her heart.

"But I'm afraid," Reina continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm afraid that if you really knew me—if you knew everything about me—you'd… you'd take this back."

Carly's brow furrowed in concern, her eyes searching Reina's for answers. But instead of withdrawing, she reached out, gently taking Reina's hand in hers.

"Reina," Carly began softly, her tone steady and sure, "everyone has things they're not proud of. Things we wish we could undo. But that doesn't change how I feel about you right now. We can face whatever comes together."

Reina's breath caught at Carly's words, her chest tightening with emotion. "Right now?" she echoed, her voice breaking. "Carly, does that mean your feelings could… could cease?"

The vulnerability in Reina's voice struck Carly to the core. She tightened her grip on Reina's hand, shaking her head firmly.

"No, Reina," Carly said, her voice gentle but insistent. "That's not what I meant. What I feel for you isn't going to just disappear. I'm here. I want to be here—for you, with you."

Reina's lower lip quivered as she let out a shaky breath, her composure beginning to crumble under the weight of Carly's unwavering sincerity.

"Then why does it feel like I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop?" Reina murmured, her eyes brimming with tears she couldn't hold back any longer.

Carly shifted closer, her free hand reaching up to cup Reina's cheek. "Because you've been through so much," she said softly. "But you're not alone anymore. I'm here, Reina. And I'm not going anywhere."

Reina threw her arms around Carly, whispering a soft, "Thank you," as she relished the closeness, both physical and emotional. Before too long, Steven called upstairs, stating that Freddie was there. Carly and Reina separated but maintained their blushing smiles as they made their way downstairs.

"Hey, Reina. Hey, Carls," Freddie greeted as the two girls descended the staircase. Both girls returned Freddie's greeting, noticing Maria chatting with Steven in the living room.

"Hey, Freddie, are Sam and Shelby already there?" Carly asked, glancing at him as she adjusted her bag.

"Last thing I heard from Sam was that they were pulling into the parking lot now, so we'd better get down there," Freddie explained, motioning toward the door.

"Wait, if Sam and this Shelby are together, why haven't I seen Sam with anyone but you two?" Reina asked curiously, tilting her head slightly.

Freddie smiled and replied, "Sam and Shelby are kind of in a long-distance relationship. Shelby doesn't get to visit much, but when she does, they make it count."

"Yeah," Carly added, looking over at Reina with a small smile. "We met Shelby a few years ago and stayed friends ever since. Shelby and Sam just kind of... became more."

Reina nodded thoughtfully, glancing between Carly and Freddie. "That makes sense. It's sweet, actually. Long-distance can't be easy."

"It's not," Freddie said with a grin, "but if anyone can handle it, it's Sam. And Shelby's a fighter, literally and figuratively."

Reina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Fighter?"

"You'll see," Carly said with a knowing smile. "Let's get going before they start without us."

Oh no—Reina thought to herself, her stomach sinking. Fighter? Shelby? If it's her... after everything that happened between us, she'll never forgive me.

She couldn't shake the memory of the prank—how she had made Shelby think Carly had intentionally tackled her grandmother, all for a laugh. It had been a cruel joke, one that could have ended in disaster. Reina had been so fixated on her revenge that she'd forgotten the consequences. And now, facing Shelby again... Reina was flooded with guilt. What if she still remembers that day?

The thought of Shelby's angry eyes—so full of betrayal—sent a shiver down her spine. Reina had been Nevel then, and Nevel had been petty, vindictive, and reckless. But Reina? She wasn't that person anymore.

But would Shelby see me as Nevel? she wondered, biting her lip. Would she even want to talk to me? Would she hate me forever?

She tried to breathe through the anxiety building in her chest. It didn't matter what happened with Shelby. What mattered was who she was now. But would that be enough to fix the past?

As the group made their way out of the building, Carly suddenly heard the sharp tone of Mrs. Marissa Benson behind her.

"Carly, I need to speak with you," Mrs. Benson commanded, her voice firm and leaving no room for argument.

Carly turned, suppressing a sigh. "Mrs. Benson, this really isn't a good time. We're heading to the Groovy Smoothie."

"Oh, I know," Mrs. Benson said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Freddie told me all about it. This will only take a moment."

Carly hesitated before turning to her friends. "Okay, Freddie, take Reina and Maria down to my car. I'll catch up with you soon."

Freddie nodded, giving her a concerned glance before gesturing for the others to follow him. "Come on, let's get moving," he said.

Reina hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking between Carly and Mrs. Benson, before following Freddie and Maria toward the parking lot. Carly watched them go, steeling herself before turning back to face Mrs. Benson.

"What did you need, Mrs Benson?" Carly asked cautiously.

"What do you know about that Maria girl Freddie has been spending time with?" Mrs. Benson asked, her hands firmly planted on her hips.

"She's a friend of mine, Sam, and Reina," Carly said carefully, trying not to let her irritation show.

"We've all gotten to know her over the past couple of weeks. Freddie met her at the Pear Store, and they hit it off."

Mrs. Benson raised an eyebrow. "Hit it off how, exactly? It's one thing to make a friend, Carly, but Freddie has been spending an awful lot of time with her. What does she even do? Where is she from?"

Carly held back a sigh. "Maria works at a floral shop downtown. She's really into design and wants to be a florist someday. Freddie says she's amazing with arrangements and helps with weddings and events all the time."

Mrs. Benson sniffed, unimpressed. "A florist? That's not exactly a stable career path, is it? What happens when Freddie needs someone who can keep up with him?"

Carly's patience wore thin, but she forced a polite smile. "Mrs. Benson, Maria's great at what she does, and she's really focused on her goals. Plus, Freddie likes spending time with her, and that's what matters."

"And her family?" Mrs. Benson pressed, folding her arms. "Have you met them? Do you know if they're respectable people?"

Carly hesitated, feeling a twinge of annoyance. "I haven't met her family, but I know Maria is a good person. That should count for something, don't you think?"

Mrs. Benson didn't look convinced. "We'll see. If she's going to be around my Freddie, I'll need to get to know her myself and decide what kind of influence she is."

Carly gave her a tight-lipped smile. "I'm sure Maria would love that. Now, can I go? Freddie and the others are waiting."

"Fine, Miss Sassypants." Mrs. Benson shot back before turning on her heel. Carly gave one last parting shot before making her way down to her car.

"You don't talk to Spencer like that, do you? Didn't think so." Carly called back with a smirk as she made her way down to her car where the others were waiting—seriously why does she feel the need to be so nosey—Oh well, at least for one moment Freddie and Maria don't have to deal with it.

"So, what did my mom want?" Freddie asked awkwardly as carly approached the trio standing near her car.

"She wanted to interrogate me about Maria." Carly replied crossing her arms.

Maria turned to freddie slightly dejected. "Freddie, we've been seeing each other for two weeks, why won't you let me meet your mother?" Maria asked somewhat dejectedly, her self-esteem plummeting slightly.

Freddie shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not that I don't want you to meet her. It's just…she's a lot. Like, a lot a lot. She means well, but…"

Maria crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. "Freddie, if we're going to keep dating, I'd kind of like to meet the people who mean the most to you. Even the ones who are, um, 'a lot.'"

Freddie smiled sheepishly. "You're not wrong. It's just—okay, imagine if your mom knew every detail of your personal life and had no problem telling you how to live it. That's my mom, but multiplied by ten."

Maria tilted her head. "So, she's…what, nosy?"

"Nosy doesn't even begin to cover it," Freddie muttered. "She's like a human GPS, but instead of giving directions, she gives unsolicited advice and lectures. It's not that I don't want you to meet her, I just—I want to ease you into it. Like dipping your toes in lava, instead of jumping in."

Maria raised an eyebrow, the corner of her lips twitching into a small smile. "So you're saying your mom's like lava?"

"Pretty much," Freddie said with a half-laugh. "Super hot-tempered, and if you stay too long, you might get burned."

Maria stepped closer, resting a hand on Freddie's arm. "Freddie, I can handle it. She's your mom, and if she's important to you, she's important to me, too."

Freddie sighed, his shoulders relaxing a bit. "Okay, okay. You win. I'll talk to her, and we'll figure something out." He hesitated. "But when you meet her, just…be prepared. She's going to bring up some embarrassing stuff."

Maria smirked. "Oh, I wouldn't expect anything less. And for the record, I think it's sweet that you care so much about protecting me from your mom."

Freddie groaned playfully. "You say that now. Just wait until she's lecturing you about the dangers of dust mites."

Maria laughed, and the tension between them melted away. After Maria and Freddie hit it off at the Pear Store, they started seeing each other every day, just like Carly and Reina. But unlike Carly and Reina, Freddie and Maria were quick to confess they felt something for each other and began dating immediately.

Freddie had been caught off guard by how easy things were with Maria. She wasn't like the girls he'd chased in the past. There was no guessing game, no trying to read signals that might not even be there. With Maria, everything felt natural—simple, even. He liked that.

"So," Maria said placing her head on her shoulder as they enjoyed the ride, "does this mean I'll finally get to see little Freddie photos? You know, like the ones where you're in overalls or wearing a cowboy hat?"

Freddie groaned. "Please don't give her ideas. She'll have a slideshow ready before you even walk in the door."

Maria grinned. "I'm not sure you're selling this whole 'meet the mom' thing. What if I end up liking her more than I like you?"

Freddie gave her a mock glare. "Don't even joke about that. I already have to compete with the newest phone model for your attention. My ego can't take much more."

Maria laughed again, the sound light and teasing. "I guess I'll just have to reassure you then." She gave his arm a gentle squeeze.

Freddie smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness bubble in his chest. Maria had a way of making him feel seen and understood, even when he was rambling about things that most people would've tuned out.

"Okay, fine," Freddie said they pussed out of the parking lot. "You can meet my mom. But if she starts talking about tick baths or making you a safety kit, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Deal," Maria said, grabbing freddie's hand and shooting him a playful wink. "Bring it on."

From the driver's seat, Carly glanced at them in the rearview mirror, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You two are disgustingly cute, you know that?"

Reina, sitting in the passenger seat, chuckled. "Agreed. It's borderline nauseating."

Freddie rolled his eyes, slinging an arm around Maria's shoulder. "You're just jealous because we figured things out faster than you two."

Carly feigned offense, her hand dramatically flying to her chest. "Excuse me? Reina and I don't need to rush. We're taking our time because we're classy like that." —-not to mention the fact that I only confessed that I hand feelings for her only a few moments ago

Reina smirked, playing along. "Exactly. We're not about to become one of those couples who finish each other's—"

"Sandwiches?" Freddie interjected, grinning.

"Why Freddie Benson, were you really just about to quote one of those horrible Dingo motion pictures?" Reina chastized, though her smile gave away her amusement.

"Hey, Permafrost was a good movie." Freddie defended, the pitch of his voice too high for its own good.

"Oh come on, they ripped off a classic fairytale," Reina berated with a bemused smile on her face.

"Hey, it challenges what we know aout traditional true love and relationships." Freddie tried to defend again.

"Speaking of relationships," Carly chimed in as they pulled into the Groovy Smoothie parking lot. "Sam and Shelby are already inside. Brace yourselves for Sam's commentary on your 'borderline nauseating' relationship, Freddie." Freddie groaned.

"Why does everyone act like my love life is a group discussion?"

"Because it's fun," Maria said with a laugh. "Plus, it's nice to see you all flustered." Carly parked the car and turned off the engine.

"Let's hope Sam's in a good mood. Last time we all hung out, she almost threw her emergency beef jerky at a kid for cutting in line." Reina raised an eyebrow as they stepped out of the car.

"Almost?"

"Okay, fine," Carly admitted, "she did throw it. But she did get it back and no one actually got hurt, so technically it's fine." The group shared a laugh as they headed inside, the playful banter carrying them through the door and into the chaos that was the Groovy Smoothie. They immediately spotted Sam making googly eyes at a leather-clad brunette in their usual booth.

"Look at her," Reina said, arching an eyebrow as Sam leaned casually toward the woman. "Is she flirting, or is that just her 'I dare you to challenge me' face?"

Maria chuckled, nudging Reina lightly. "With Sam, isn't it both?"

Carly rolled her eyes, grinning. "That's Shelby Marx, the MMA champ. They've had this weird, flirty thing since forever."

Freddie groaned. "Yeah, and it's always the same. Sam makes a move, Shelby humors her, then Sam finds a way to make it awkward."

"Oh, you mean like how she tried to impress Shelby by flexing and accidentally spilled hot sauce in her eyes?" Carly teased, laughing.

"exactly," Freddie muttered, shaking his head. "Classic Sam."

As they approached the booth, Sam glanced up and spotted them, smirking. "Took you long enough. Did Freddie get lost, or did Carly hit every red light?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Freddie said dryly, sliding into the booth beside Maria.

"You look like you've been waiting for hours," Carly teased, sitting next to Reina. "What'd you do, order the entire menu?"

Sam shrugged, grabbing a fry from a basket on the table. "Nah, just enough to scare off any kid who tries to steal our booth."

Maria tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "And by 'scare off,' do you mean...?"

"Yell, wave a fry like a weapon, and then stare them down until they back off," Shelby supplied with a grin, folding her arms. "It's a whole show."

"I call it effective crowd control," Sam said smugly, popping the fry into her mouth.

"Anyway, Shelby, this is Maria Porter," Carly said, motioning to the brunette beside her. Maria offered a small wave, her voice barely above a whisper as she added, "Hi."

"And this lovely blonde next to me is Reina Spicer," Carly continued, her tone softening into a fond smile as she gestured to Reina.

Reina managed a quiet, "Hello," but her stomach churned. Her palms felt clammy, and her mind raced. Oh no. Shelby Marx. Of course, Shelby Marx. Why didn't I put it together sooner? What if she recognizes me?

Shelby tilted her head slightly, her sharp brown eyes scanning Reina as if trying to place a familiar face. The silence stretched uncomfortably. Reina resisted the urge to fidget, her heart thudding in her chest. Why is she just standing there, staring at me like that?

Shelby's expression shifted into a polite smile. "It's nice to meet you, Maria." She shook Maria's hand before turning back to Carly. "Carly, do you mind if I borrow Reina for a minute? I'd like to get to know her better."

Carly blinked, her uncertainty clear in her tone. "Uh, sure. We can just… order while you two talk."

With a nod, Shelby led Reina toward the door. Reina glanced back once, meeting Carly's eyes for a brief moment before the door swung shut behind her.

As Shelby guided Reina out of the building, Freddie leaned toward Carly with a smirk. "Well, I never thought I'd see the day. Sam's girl is trying to steal yours."

Carly shot him a look but found herself watching Reina disappear outside, her brow furrowing in quiet curiosity.

Reina followed Shelby outside, her heart pounding as she trailed the taller girl to the back of the building. Shelby stopped abruptly, turning to face her with a glare, her hands firmly on her hips.

"Let's cut to the chase," Shelby snapped, her voice sharp. "I know who you are—Nevel Papperman."

Reina froze, her breath hitching as the name hit her like a slap. Her hand instinctively flew to her charm bracelet, fingers fumbling for some form of grounding.

"I'm sorry, Shelby," Reina began softly, her voice trembling. "I don't know—"

"Save it!" Shelby interrupted, taking a step closer. "What's your game here? Why are you hanging around Carly? What's your angle?"

Reina straightened, a flicker of her old defiance flashing across her face, but her voice remained measured. "I acknowledge you have every reason to be angry with me. But let's get one thing clear—I will not tolerate being deadnamed or misgendered."

"Oh, don't you dare pull that card," Shelby retorted, her tone sharp. "You think you can hide behind that after everything you've done?"

Reina held up a hand, her voice steady but firm. "I am not hiding behind anything, Shelby Marx. I have been living as Reina Elizabeth Papperman for nearly four years. I've worked hard to leave the person I was behind, and I refuse to let anyone drag me back to being someone I'm not—especially not by using that wretched name."

Shelby paused, her expression flickering with a mix of anger and uncertainty. Her sharp glare softened slightly as she studied Reina's face, taking in the raw emotion in her voice.

She crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing as she took a step back. "You expect me to just forget everything you did?" Shelby snapped, her voice rising with frustration. "You tricked me into thinking Carly attacked my grandmother on purpose! You used me, Reina—or Nevel, or whatever you're calling yourself now. And now you want me to believe you've just magically changed?"

Reina held her ground, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. "No, I don't expect you to forget," she said, her voice quieter now but no less resolute. "I don't even expect you to forgive me. But I need you to know I've spent every day since trying to be better—trying to be someone who deserves the people in her life."

Her voice hardened slightly, a flash of steel behind the vulnerability. "And I need you to please stop using that horrible name. I am not Nevel Papperman anymore, Shelby. I haven't been for a long time."

Shelby tilted her head, her expression a mix of skepticism and something softer, almost hesitant. "You say that, but how do I know this isn't just another act? Another scheme to get what you want?"

Reina's voice broke slightly as she responded. "Because what I want isn't part of some scheme, Shelby. What I want… is to live my life as the person I was meant to be. And what I want more than anything is to keep Carly in my life."

Shelby's posture stiffened at the mention of Carly, her eyes narrowing again. "You really care about her, don't you?"

Reina nodded, her voice trembling. "I always have, more than I've ever cared about anything. And that's exactly why I'm terrified of losing her."

Shelby pressed her lips together, crossing her arms again."Then why did you do all those things to ruin her life? Why did you use me?" Shelby asked, her tone less sharp but genuinely curious.

Reina hesitated, her fingers nervously tracing the charm bracelet on her wrist. Finally, she pulled a small trading card from her purse and held it out to Shelby.

"A children's trading card?" Shelby asked, raising an eyebrow. She glanced at the card's name. "Lava Golem?"

Reina nodded, her gaze distant. "I love this game. And this card in particular. While I don't play this particular card anymore, it symbolizes who I was—and who I never want to be again." She took a shaky breath. "Look at the image. The person in the cage? That's me. The real me. And the monster made of lava… that's who I was back then. The person I saw every day in the mirror. Take a look at the effect."

Shelby's eyes flickered to the card, her expression softening as she studied it more closely. "The effect says… 'During your Standby Phase: Take 1,000 damage,'" she read aloud before frowning. "Wait, doesn't it have some weird summoning—"

"It doesn't matter," Reina interrupted firmly, her voice cracking. "What matters is what it represents. Every quiet moment… every time I was alone… it was like taking damage. I was trapped in the cage of my mind, in a body that was destroying me. I didn't know what I was feeling, or how to process it. So I lashed out. At Carly. At you. At the world." Reina paused as realization hit her. "Actually, yes the summoning condition applies here too. I didn't realize that until just now. It's not something I wanted it was something I was born with as if it was summoned to my side of the field as opposed to me putting it there myself, just like the card."

Shelby's eyes flickered to the card again before she looked up. Her voice was softer this time, but still carried an edge. "That's… heavy. And it explains a lot."

Reina nodded, swallowing hard. "I'm not asking you to forget or forgive, Shelby. I just… I want you to understand that back then, I was drowning in my own mess. And I know I hurt people—people like you and Carly—because of it."

Shelby studied Reina's face for a long moment before slipping the card back into her hand. "I'm not going to say I trust you yet," she said carefully. "But… you're not the same person I remember. That much is clear."

Reina clutched the card tightly, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "Thank you, Shelby. That's all I'm asking for—a chance to prove it."

Shelby nodded slowly, stepping back. "Just don't screw it up, alright? Carly's been through enough."

Reina managed a small, hopeful smile, her grip on the card relaxing. "I don't plan to. Not this time."

"Anyway, we should probably get back in there." Shelby said turning around to head back, but not before glancing back at Reina one more time. "Oh, and Reina?"

Reina stopped as she waited nervously for Shelby to say what she wanted.

"Call me Tori, at least when we're in private." Shelby or rather Tori requested.

"Tori?" Reina asked curiously.

"It's my real name. Shelby is a ringname or octagon name i guess you could say, and only my friends and family can call me Tori when I'm dressed like this and only in private." Tori explained the unspoken confession washing over Reina like a warm shower, but Tori had one more thing to say before they made their way bak. "I'm still keeping my eye on you though."

Reina blinked, caught off guard by the revelation. "Tori…" she repeated softly, the name rolling off her tongue like a secret. "So, Shelby Marx is… like a persona?"

Tori nodded, glancing over her shoulder as if checking for eavesdroppers. "Yeah. Shelby Marx is the fighter everyone knows—the MMA champ, the fearless athlete. But Tori… Tori Vega is who I am when I'm not in the spotlight. When I'm just me."

Reina hesitated, her fingers nervously brushing the edge of her charm bracelet. "I… I get that," she admitted, her voice quiet.

Tori turned back to her, raising an eyebrow. "You do?"

Reina took a deep breath, her hands tightening around the card in her palm. "Yeah. I've spent so much time trying to figure out who I really am. And even now… sometimes it feels like I'm living two lives. The person I was… and the person I've worked so hard to become."

Tori studied her for a long moment before nodding slowly. "That's a tough line to walk," she said, her voice softer now. "But it's worth it, isn't it? To be the person you're meant to be?"

Reina looked down at the Lava Golem card in her hand, a small, bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. It is,but—." Reina hesitated for a beat before continuing. "Why did you tell me your real name? Why are you letting me call you by your real name now?"

Tori's tone shifted, a faint hint of humor creeping in. "Because Carly's my friend, and she cares about you, and if this is real, I want to be your friend too." Tori confessed softly before she smirked. "just don't go pulling a 'Shelby Marx' and body-slamming anyone who doesn't get it, the feeling like you have to hide part of yourself i mean."

Reina let out a startled laugh, the tension easing from her shoulders. "I'll try to resist the urge, and you don't go pulling a…..erm….Nevel and making me rue the day I met you."

"As long as you don't start building hateful websites about me, I think we're good."

Tori smirked and gestured toward the door. "Come on. Let's get back before Carly starts wondering if I've gone all MMA on you."

Reina hesitated for a moment, clutching the Lava Golem card tightly. "Tori… thank you," she said softly.

Tori glanced over her shoulder, her expression unreadable but not unkind. "Don't thank me yet. Just keep proving that you've changed. Carly deserves the best."

Reina nodded, her voice resolute. "I will."

Reina followed, a warm sense of understanding settling over her. For the first time in a long while, she felt like someone truly understood the balancing act she'd been navigating.
*

Carly smiled when she saw the two girls return to the table. "So, what do you think, Shelby?" she asked, glancing between her friend and Reina.

"I like her," Shelby said with a nod. "She's got that classy vibe, but she's cool, too. You've got a good one on your hands, Carly."

Carly's cheeks flushed slightly as she grinned at Reina, who responded with a small, polite smile.

Sam, however, crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at Reina. "Alright, Queenie, don't get any ideas just because Shelby's all googly-eyed over you now," she said, grabbing a fry and pointing it dramatically. "I don't share."

Reina raised an eyebrow and tilted her head, smirking. "Don't worry, Samantha, I have no intention of stealing your hype woman. I know better than to come between such... passionate loyalty."

Shelby burst out laughing. "Passionate loyalty? That's one way to put it."

Sam gave Reina an exaggerated squint. "Good. As long as we're clear." She stuffed the fry in her mouth, muttering, "Territorial boundaries, Queenie. Respect 'em."

Carly shook her head, trying not to laugh too hard, while Reina's smile lingered, clearly amused.

"Just as long as you remember these three words, Samantha." Reina leaned in close with a playful smirk, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Carly. Is. Mine."

She straightened up, her eyes twinkling with mischief as the group burst into laughter.

The conversation turned lighter as they continued eating, the sound of their banter filling the air. After a while, Carly cleared her throat, a small, mischievous smile on her face.

"So, this morning I talked to my dad, and he thought it would be cool to throw a Halloween party this year."

Sam groaned and leaned back in her chair, her head flopping to one side in exaggerated exhaustion. "Carly, it's, like, two weeks into September. What's the rush? We've got almost two months! Can't you at least let me procrastinate in peace for a while?"

Shelby smirked. "You say that like you wouldn't still procrastinate even if she told you the night before."

Sam shrugged. "Yeah, but it's the principle of the thing."

Carly grinned at Sam as the group finished their food. "Come on, Sam, you know you love a good party."

Sam groaned dramatically, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, but only when someone else does the work. I'm just here for the snacks."

The group laughed, and Carly shook her head. "Well, too bad, because you're all helping. I'm not doing this alone."

Reina smiled softly, glancing at Carly. "I'd love to make something for the party. Maybe something Halloween-themed. And..." She hesitated, her lips curving into a small, mischievous smile. "I could bring my Werewords game, if you're all up for it."

Carly raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Werewords?"

Reina's smile widened slightly. "It's a fun little game of deduction and secrets. Very fitting for Halloween, don't you think?"

Sam squinted at Reina, picking up another fry. "As long as it doesn't involve actual werewolves, I'm in. I've been through enough weird stuff with this group already."

The group chuckled as they grabbed their things and headed for the door, their laughter filling the air. The promise of a Halloween party—and a mysterious game—lingered in their minds as they stepped out into the cool evening air.

A/N: That's another chapter down. So tell me, dear readers, what do you think everyone's costumes will be? who will be the werewolf? Will Mrs Benson like Maria?