"Pull to the side here," I say as Maverick's headlights roll up on HillCrest house.

"Are you sure we shouldn't call the police?" Bundty asks again.

"They won't be able to help us," I say, as the car jolts to a stop.

"That's the dumbest thing I think you've ever said," Jaxson says to Bundty. "Hey officer, come to this house and help this black kid, Asian kid, and the town's crazy ginger fight off this unarmed man we might have killed with a frying pan."

"How about the Ghost Busters? Seems like a legit thing they'd be able to help with," Maverick suggests a little too seriously.

"Shut up, Maverick," Jaxson says and then pulls out his phone. "I'm going to login to Mom's find my iPhone thing to track its exact location. It's like playing hot or cold."

"Great idea. I've used it a bunch of times when I've lost my phone. It's always lead me right to it," Jin says, trying to turn moral around. "But do you know her password?" Jin asks.

Jaxson and I look at each other and laugh. "Maeve is kind of like Hundrek. She's predictable. She orders the same coffee every morning, has bought the same brand of underwear for the last fifteen years, AND she uses the same password for everything. So, yeah, we know her password." I'd never made that connection before now, but maybe Maeve and Hundrek would be good together since they're both so predictable...

"And I'm in," Jaxson says, confirming my cockiness. "Let's go."

With that, we all open the doors and slide out, following Jaxson into the darkness.

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all," Maverick says as Bundty clings to his arm.

Jin reaches for my hand as we follow behind Jaxson, but instead, he grabs the nightlight I have gripped between my arm and my side.

"What's that?" Jin asks.

"Oh, my night light."

"Okay, are you going to tell me why you have it?"

"Because I think it's important," I say, mumbling my words.

"Can you repeat that?" I can hear his smile through Jin's words.

"I think it's important," I say, barely louder.

"One more time."

"I think it's important, okay?!"

"Told you," Jin says. "But what triggered this new hypothesis?"

"Earlier when it was just Malcolm and me, he was panicking because he thought he lost his stone and so I figured it had to be important. I wasn't just going to leave it with him in case he woke up. So, I took it with me."

"You are talking about the red stone he's been using to hypnotize everyone?"

"Exactly. But the thing is that to me. It's green."

"Seriously, just like the stars from your nightlight?"

"Yeah. I showed Jaxson the stone, and he said it was as red as my ginger ass hair. I realized this whole green versus red thing can NOT be a coincidence. This stupid stone and my nightlight somehow must be connected or mean something. Right?"

Jaxson stops dead in his tracks as we all bump into one another.

"Why does no one else have their phone lights on?!" Bundty demands, annoyed as she pushes Jin off her.

All at once, everyone takes out their phones to light up Jaxson, who's looking down at his phone confused.

"What?" I say, his face instantly worrying me.

He lifts his head to look around. I look around too, trying to see what he is. We're in the backyard, and all I can see is dark grass lit up by everyone's phones.

"It should be over there," Jaxson says, pointing a couple of feet to the right at the base of the treehouse.

Everyone snaps their phones around, pointing their lights at the ground. But nothing is there.

"I don't understand," Jaxson says.

"I do," I say, running over to grab Jaxson's phone, pointing it upward. "There, dum-dum!"

Jaxson's eyes follow the light straight up to the treehouse.

"MOM!" Jaxson yells, booking out in full sprint towards the ladder.

Everyone moves their flashlights to follow his climb up into the treehouse. My nerves run wild as I wait, listening.

"She's here!" Jaxson yells from the top.

Without hesitation and without waiting for another word, I shove ahead of everyone and run to the ladder. Setting down my nightlight, I climb as fast as I can. I reach the top to see Jaxson bent over Maeve, who is sitting, staring blankly.

"She's hypnotized," Jin's voice says from behind me. I turn to see him standing at the treehouse entrance as Maverick and Cece clammer up the stairs behind him.

"Mom!" Jaxson says, shaking Maeve to try and get her to wake up.

"That won't work. I shook Cece like crazy, and she still didn't wake up," Maverick says.

"He's right," Jin says, pacing around the crowded treehouse in thought.

"Vel, what the hell are we gonna do?!" Jaxson says, becoming upset.

"Calm down! And stop shaking her!" I say, grabbing Jaxsons hands, putting them to his sides. "Jin, any ideas?"

"I'm thinking," he says frantically. Then after a short pause, he says, "I have a hypothesis!"

"Is he serious right now?" Jaxson says, giving me a dirty look. "A hypothesis..."

"We need a hose."

"I got two," Maverick says, sliding his arms around Bundty and me.

"I'm gonna kill you," Jaxson says, jumping up to swing at Maverick, but before he can, Jin grabs Jaxson and flings him back.

Holy crap. I always thought Jaxson was strong, but Jin just literally sent him flying backward.

"We don't have time for this!" Jin yells. "A hose! Do we have one or not?"

"It's your house now, you tell me!" Jaxson yells, standing to brush himself off.

"Maverick, there should be one on the side of the house, can you get it up here?" I say.

"I guess," Maverick says.

"Come on," Bundty says, "I'll help your dumbass look. You wanted it running?"

"Yes! Thank you, Cece," Jin answers for me with a smile.

I'd know for a while now that Jin's smile is surprisingly charming in a dorky way. But from the way Bundty just smiled back before following Maverick down the ladder, I'm worried that Bundty has noticed Jin's adorableness too. Am I seriously worrying about this right now? What's wrong with me?! Focus!

"What's your plan?" Jaxson demands, leaning back down to Maeve, drumming on her cheeks.

"Pour water in her face," Jin says with a shrug.

A small giggle manages its way out of me.

"Seriously, Vel?" Jaxson says.

"Humor is how I cope with all the bullshittery happening..."

"Why do you think pouring water on her will help?" Jaxson asks.

"Well, because it's like a reflex, right? If you are sleeping and someone spills water on you, you'll wake up."

"I'm not as smart as you or anything, but I'm pretty sure that's just a thing in the movies," Jaxson says, sarcasm oozing from his voice.

"Do you have any better ideas?" Jin replies as Jaxson stands to meet Jin face to face, obviously still upset at being thrown across the treehouse.

"Guys, can we all just take a moment to calm the hell down," I say. I can't even with all this male testosterone going on in here.

Speaking of testosterone, Maverick's jughead voice calls, "HERE!"

Soon, something cold is hitting my feet as water squirts up towards my face.

"What the hell!" I yell as Jin runs over to grab the hose snaking around in the air.

"Sorry!" Maverick calls as Bundty laughs.

I wipe my eyes just in time to see Jin aiming the hose straight at Maeve's face. It doesn't take long because, within seconds, I recognize a very familiar sound—a very pissed off Maeve. 

*As always, thanks for reading. Please take a second to vote :)