The next day, Farrah watched her best friend bounce into the classroom, his aura surrounded by invisible butterflies only she could see. Shae sat down next to Farrah, ruffling her hair. While he dug his notebook out of his bag, humming, Farrah exchanged a glance with Adelah.

"What's up?" Farrah asked him. Shae looked up at her words. The corners of his lips quirked upwards in a knowing smile.

"Nothing much." Shae watched the light fade from Farrah's eyes; he had Farrah right where he wanted her. "Except, I hung out with Kylian yesterday." Her eyes widened.

"You did?!" Farrah exclaimed in a hushed whisper. As Adelah leaned closer to hear the two, Farrah punched Shae in the arm. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? I kept calling and texting you, you brat!" Shae rubbed his arm.

"Yeah, sorry. I turned off my phone, so I wouldn't be distracted from the puppies."

"Puppies? Aww, I want to go," Farrah told him with her lower lip puffed out. Shae folded his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair.

"Maybe I'll take you. Adelah, too," he smirked, "Kylian told me he works there almost every school day."

Farrah slammed her hand down on the table and said, "We are going! Today. We'll go today!" She turned to Adelah. "Ask Charli if you guys can go." Adelah nodded.

Digging out her phone from her pocket, Adelah typed, 'Want to go on a field trip?'

'Farrah's idea again?' Adelah looked at Farrah with a raised eye.

"Let me guess, she asked if it was my idea," Farrah huffed, trying to peek at the phone screen. Adelah turned away.

'Yeah,' she typed back.

Shae chuckled, "Well, aren't you always dragging us along?"

"Hmph, I just make your life more enjoyable."

"Sure, sure." A small, subtle smile graced Adelah at the two's banter. They provided the perfect entertainment for when Charli hauled Adelah from her warm bed.

God, I miss my bed, Adelah thought to herself as her phone buzzed.

Charli texted back, 'Where to this time?'

'A pet store I think'

'Ok, sure. We can see the kitties :D ' Adelah's body warmed. Cats were her favorite animal; they seemed to get her on a personal level. Charli knew that.

Adelah typed back, 'And the rabbits for you' I'll make sure to return the favor this time.

'Deal! I'll see you after your class ends <3' Adelah stared at the message until she could read it back to herself without the need of her phone.

'Ok'

"What's got you so happy? Charli making your favorite for dinner?"

At Farrah's words, Adelah looked up from her phone and said, "No, it's nothing." Adelah slid her phone into the pocket of her sweat pants. She steered her gaze towards the white board. I want to keep it between us, to myself, until I know what this is.

"Right, if you say so."

"Fare, leave her alone," Shae chimed in. He didn't want Farrah to say something to make Adelah uncomfortable.

"Oh, I know! Is the next issue out?" Farrah questioned, digging her own phone out in a hurry. She tapped at the screen, muttering, "Did I miss it?"

"No, it comes out next week. I already checked."

Farrah looked up from her phone in suspicion. "What made you smile, then? Did Charli say something?"

"No, I was just thinking about later, about how I can play with the cats."

"Oh, yeah. I'm excited to see those stars."

"Please, don't," Shae groaned.

"Oh, come on! Hamsters are tiny and cute, and they mate like crazy. They're nothing like those rabbits."

"Why don't you like rabbits? They're active, too," Adelah questioned. Farrah whipped around and stared at her in shock, as if she couldn't believe Adelah would ask such a thing.

"Oh no," Adelah heard escape Shae's lips. Farrah put on a look of hurt.

"After all the years you've known me... I can't believe you, Adelah." Shae rolled his eyes. "Those pests are filthy! They do whatever they want wherever they want, and don't apologize."

Shae peered over at Adelah, ignoring and looking through Farrah's presence as he said, "She hates that their gentle." His ears reddened with his next words. "Fare likes it a little more... rough." The light turned on in the dark cavern of Adelah's mind.

"Ah! I should've known." She turned to Farrah. "Sorry, Farrah. I should've understood that that was why." Farrah shook her head.

"No, it was my fault. We've known each other since high school, but I don't think we've ever gone to the pet store together. There's no way you could've known."

Shae laughed, "Yeah, because you both had better things to do. Adelah: watching TV and reading. And, Farrah: watching your shows." Shae shivered at the thought, trying his best to keep his innocent mind from being corrupted by her evil ways.

"I read them, too," Farrah told him.

"Shh! I don't want to know."

Adelah tried to hold back her trembling body as she watched the two. Always good for a laugh, she thought. Her pants shook, but for a different reason. Adelah took out her phone, seeing a new message.

It read, 'Can Rain come?'

Adelah glanced at Farrah as she teased Shae. His ears matched the tomato soup on sale in the cafeteria. His eyes darted anywhere and everywhere but at Farrah.

'I guess, but won't Farrah be uncomfortable?'

'Maybe, but he says he has a plan to make her like him.'

~

Charli sat at a computer, staring at the text before her as her teacher lectured on quadratic formulas.

Adelah's final words read, 'He better not hurt her again.' Charli knew it was a threat, but would Adelah act on it? Never once has she done so. The mere act of thinking about it left her tired.

Charli's chest tightened. I've never seen her like this. Will I see more?

"What'd she say?" Rain whispered from beside her, leaning closer. Charli stared at him before putting her phone away.

"She threatened you."

"Wha--Adelah did?" Rain gasped, "But, she's Adelah. She's supposed to agree and watch whatever I do silently."

"Yeah, so you better watch yourself. She's serious."