7
Maxwell
I slept like a brick all night and woke up feeling strangely well rested. Maybe I needed to almost get mugged more often.
But that wasn’t even the craziest thing that happened last night.
As I packed my things and got ready to leave, my mind wandered once again to Theo. My throat hitched as I remembered his pretend kiss, and how close he had been toactuallykissing me. I licked my lips, as if trying to chase the sensation that never even happened.
I sighed. Whatever I’d been hoping would happen didn’t. Maybe it was for the best, anyway. I didn’t need another distraction at work, especially not a distraction of this magnitude.
But despite the overwhelming logic screaming at me to forget Theo, I couldn’t tear him out of my mind.
When I was ready to leave, I opened the door. Theo was standing right outside. I almost shrieked from how startled I was, but Theo slapped his hand to my mouth, silencing me. I stumbled backwards, feeling my cheeks grow hot beneath his touch again.
How does this keep happening?I thought.
“Sorry!” Theo said, removing his hand when I’d gone silent. He ducked his head, checking the halls, then turned back to me. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Again. And also sorry for covering your mouth. I just had to talk to you, and I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to be here, and Adriel will probably kill me if he finds me talking to you--”
“Slow down!” I cried. “What’s going on?”
“So, long story short, Adriel put me under house arrest. And then he kind of banned me from seeing you? Or any other humans? He’s totally overreacting, but that’s just him. Anyway, I talked to Benji and Caleb and they agree it’s a dumb plan, so we came up with a dumb plan of our own, but this one, er, requires your cooperation.”
He gave me so many facts to take in at once that it practically made my head spin. “You… what?”
“Will you help me?” Theo begged.
I stared into his eyes, blinking in confusion. Desperation shone in them. Whatever this plan was, he needed it. How could I say no?
“Yes,” I said.
“You’re the best, Max!” Theo cried, hugging me. I let out a small noise of surprise. I didn’t have time to enjoy the contact because he pulled away a moment later.
“So what’s the crazy plan?” I asked.
Theo hummed. “Well… Maybe we should all be here for it.”
Before I could ask what he meant, he slowly opened the door and poked his head into the hallway. With a quick motioning gesture, four more people joined us in the room: Benji, Caleb, and their daughters. They crowded inside, and I noticed that they, too, were sneaking around like they were trying not to be caught.
“Good morning, Maxwell!” Benji said with a smile.
“Morning,” I replied, wondering what I’d just signed myself up for. “Uh, what’s this all about?”
“I guess Theo told you about the house arrest thing,” Caleb mentioned. “So we thought of a plan to prove to Adriel that Theo’s safe to be around you.”
Theo cleared his throat and added, “And, er, all humans.”
“And all humans.” Caleb nodded.
“It’s a crazy plan,” Benji admitted, “but it might work with your help.”
I sighed. “I already agreed to it, so let’s hear it.”
The brothers exchanged glances, then looked to Theo. I guessed they wanted him to be the one to tell me his so-called crazy plan. I raised a brow.
“So… We’re gonna pretend that Luna and Lark have chicken pox,” Theo finally said.
I blinked, then looked to the girls. They looked as healthy as ever.
