Minutes earlier, Jace was seated in the lounge, scrolling through his phone when a guy rushed in
"Jace!" the guy shouted, out of breath, "Your sister and her friends are in trouble! Some guys are messing with them!"
Jace's head snapped up, his expression hardened in an instant,
"Where?"
"116."
"What are they doing there?"
As soon as he asked that he was up and out of the lounge in seconds, his strides fast and purposeful. He reached the karaoke room and stormed inside without hesitation.
"Taya, who's the fucker messing with you?"
Inside, Taya was holding Dream, who looked barely conscious, while Wave hovered beside them, steadying both girls.
"What the hell happened?" Jace demanded as he scanned the room.
Taya glanced up, "Chad Fletcher happened."
"Chad Fletcher?" he then added, "The mayor's son?"
"Yeah, he got Dream drunk with some vodka." Taya took a deep breath, "Can you help me get me milk. I need her to sober up." pointing at Dream.
Jace asked one boy in his clique to get the milk before he walked out of the room and disappeared. The boy returned a few minutes later with a glass of milk in hand. Taya gently took it from him and helped Dream take a few sips.
Dream grimaced but obediently drank, her face scrunching up in distaste.
"Gross," Dream murmured, her voice slurred.
"That's not the time, Dream!" Taya said with a wary look but still concerned.
Wave hovered close, "She's not sobered enough yet! How did she even get drunk within that short time?"
"Dream is a walking trouble!" Taya said, "We need to leave!"
Taya helped Dream to her feet, supporting most of her weight as they made their way to exit Harmony. Wave followed closely behind.
As they stepped outside, they saw Dream's driver, Martin, standing by the car, scanning the area with his hawk eyes.
Wave immediately noticed him and turned to Dream.
"Can you walk, Dream? If Taya continues to hold you this way, Martin will get suspicious," Wave asked quietly, trying to keep things normal.
Dream gave her a determined look, "I can walk, I'm just a little tipsy."
With a small nod, Taya helped Dream take a few unsteady steps. As they went on, "Just link your arms with us, Ms. O'Leary!" Wave said earning laughs from Taya and Dream.
They reached the jeep and they helped Dream into the back seat before climbing into the front seat herself. Wave sat next to Dream.
As they drove off, Taya glanced at Wave, "We'll take you to your place since it's already late and for tomorrow, we need to know your location."
"Wow! I thought you'd cancel the plans!" Wave said.
"Why? we have to work at the convenience store aye!" Dream said her voice slightly over the usual.
"It's okay." Wave said and then she leaned and whispered to Dream, "Don't talk, you're going to sell yourself."
Wave gave directions to where she lived. They drove for some minutes and arrived. As she was about to alight, she saw Taya taking a picture of the neighborhood with her phone before she wrote something down on her phone, probably a note of the location.
"Thanks for dropping me. Goodnight girls." Wave said.
Taya alighted too and got in the back seat to accompany Dream. "Goodnight, Wave." she said, "Now let's get Dream home."
The car turned around and left.
The next day.
Wave stood by the door of the convenience store, still staring in disbelief as Martin unloaded the suitcase and several gift bags. Dream, however, the perpetrator, didn't seem the least bit fazed by Wave's reaction.
"Dream, what is all this?" Wave asked her voice incredulous.
Dream flashed a bright, unapologetic smile, "Just the essentials! You know, for a sleepover. Oh, and I got you a few gifts too!"
Wave blinked, her gaze flicking between the oversized suitcase and the bags, "Dream, this looks like you're staying for a week, not one night!"
Dream waved her off, "Don't be so dramatic, Wave.'' she huffed, flipping her hair dramatically, "Excuse me for being prepared! What if we need backup outfit? Or matching pajamas? Or snacks? You can't have a boring sleepover, Wavy." She whispered, "I even stole my dad's wine."
With a resigned sigh, Wave led Dream upstairs to the rooftop room. As Martin placed the suitcase and the gifts in the corner before he left.
Dream plopped onto the edge of the bed, eyeing the room, "This place is so cute and cozy. If I had a rooftop room, I'd never leave!'
"Yeah, I like it. But if you start bringing your entire wardrobe over, I might need to start charging rent."
Dream gasped, placing a hand over her chest, "Rent? Wave, you wouldn't dare! After all the thought I put into these gifts!" she sat up.
Wave watched Dream unpack one of the gift bags, still trying to process everything, "When did you even do all this shopping?" she asked gesturing at the bags as she sat on the heated mat on the floor.
Dream looked up with a grin, "Oh I did it while we were on the way here."
"On the way here?" Wave repeated, blinking in disbelief, "You stopped to shop on your way? How does that even make sense?"
Dream shrugged, pulling out a set of colorful skincare products, "It was a last-minute decision. My mom said I couldn't show up empty-handed, even if it's just a sleepover. She told me it's rude and I have to bring gift as a thank you for hosting."
"So, this is your mom's doing?"
Dream nodded, "Yeah... it's me first ever sleepover, you know? She wanted me to make a good impression. She even helped me pick out some of this stuff before I left."
"Your first sleepover?"
Dream nodded enthusiastically, "Yep! I've never done this before, so it has to be perfect. I mean you and Taya are here, what could go wrong?"
Wave chuckled, shaking her head, "Ms. O'Leary, you're something else. You didn't have to go all out, you know. I would've been just fine with just you showing up."
Dream smiled, opening a moisturizer, "Try this. It makes your skin glow Wave. It's the new brand Eclipse released," she smeared some on Wave's cheek and rubbed it gently, "It's nice right?"
"It's smooth on my skin, " Wave glanced at her, feeling her heart warm at the sincerity in Dream's voice, "Well, thanks for thinking of me. But next time, maybe... pack lighter!''
Dream laughed, nudging Wave's shoulder, "Deal. Now let's go over what I brought before Taya gets here. I have some amazing ideas for tonight!"
Wave sighed.
Dream clapped her hand excitedly and began rummaging through one of the bags, "Okay, so first up-we've got skincare! Look at this!" She held up a set of face mask, each one brightly colored and decorated with cute patterns.
Wave leaned closer, examining them.
"Why do these all have animal prints on them?"
Dream grinned, "Because they're fun! Who wouldn't want to look like a panda while moisturizing? You and Taya are trying one on!"
Pulling out more items from her suitcase, "Next, I brought nail polish. We're doing a mini spa session. Look at these colors-aren't they gorgeous?"
Wave glanced at the small bottles, "These actually look nice. But again, how long were you shopping? You've got a whole salon in your bottomless suitcase."
Dream waved her off, ignoring the question as she continued, "And snacks! Lots of snacks. Chips, candy, chocolate- you name it," She pulled out a large bag of assorted treats, placing it on the small table.
Wave was tongue tied.
"Have I gone so overboard?"
Wave expression softened, "A little but it's okay. Your mom sounds really sweet."
Dream grinned, "She is. She even helped me pick this out," She pulled out a small, neatly wrapped box and handed to Wave, "It's for you."
Wave blinked, staring at the gift, "Dream, we have the friendship charms from yesterday."
"It's different," Dream said, "I bought one for Taya too. Go on open it!"
With hesitant fingers, Wave unwrapped the box to find a simple yet elegant keychain with a star charm. Her lips parted in surprise.
"Do you like it?" Dream asked, her voice uncertain for the first time.
Wave looked up, a genuine smile on her face,
"I love it. Thanks, Ms. O'Leary."