At night, with the cool evening breeze enveloping them, Astrid found herself walking closely beside Alex, her arms wrapped around her as they entered the sub station.

Earlier that evening, she had reluctantly agreed to join Alex and the Russo family for a movie outing. Alex had practically begged her to come along, not wanting to be alone.

Astrid had assumed they were going to watch a movie meant for their age group, something more mature, maybe a comedy or an action flick.

But she had been sorely mistaken.

Instead, they had ended up at a theater showing a children's movie - one that Max had eagerly picked out.

Astrid had tried to hide her disappointment, but the moment the movie started, she knew this wasn't the kind of movie she had expected. Max, Jerry and Theresa had been laughing at every silly moment, while Astrid and Alex felt like outsiders in this world of lighthearted jokes and animated characters, which felt more suited for a family movie night than a night out with friends.

As they walked into the Sub Station, Astrid and Alex trailed behind Jerry, Theresa and Max, who couldn't stop talking about the movie they had just seen.

"Oh, that was a great movie. Come on, guys, one more time-" Jerry urged as he, Theresa and Max began singing the song.

"Icevarks, we think you're nice varks
So sing it twice morks
Icevarks
That's bunk"

"Oh! Now, that is what I call entertainment." Jerry beamed as everyone made their way over to the counter. Max and Theresa sat on the stools while Jerry stood proudly behind the counter, a wide grin on his face. "That had to be one of the best movies ever made about hockey-playing aardvarks."

Astrid let out a quiet, amused snort. She leaned down towards Alex, who was standing beside her, and whispered with a smirk. "That movie was a clear indication that they're running out of ideas."

"It's too bad Justin wasn't here. He would have loved Russo family fun night." Jerry continued.

"You know, I never thought I'd admit this, but I'm actually jealous of Justin right now." Alex admitted cautiously, surprising herself.

Theresa turned to look at her daughter, her mouth parting in shock. "What?! I thought you loved family fun night!"

"I used to, but I'm fourteen now. I think I'm getting a little too old for talking animals movies." Alex explained to her mother. She paused and gave Astrid a sideways glance, a little smile tugging at her lips "That's why I brought Astrid along so I wouldn't be as bored."

"Oh, I get it." Jerry said, his tone shifting to something more reflective. He stepped away from the counter and moved toward Alex. "It's a confusing time. On one hand, you're not a little girl anymore, and yet, at the same time, you're not yet a woman. So... awkward." He quickly turned to his wife. "Theresa!"

Theresa rolled her eyes, standing up from the stool. "I think what your father is trying to say is that no matter how old you get, honey, you're never too old to spend some time with your family."

Jerry nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. Just look at your mother."

There was a moment of awkward silence as everyone processed Jerry's words.

Astrid, however, couldn't help herself. Her raised eyebrow said it all. "Did you just call Theresa old?"

Jerry's face instantly fell, a wave of realization washing over him as the awkwardness of his words hit him like a ton of bricks. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out at first, and he quickly turned to Theresa, who was glaring at him with an icy stare. His eyes widened as he tried to salvage the situation.

"What? No! What just happened? It-" He stammered, his voice cracking slightly under the pressure. His usual confidence was nowhere to be found. The room fell into a heavy silence, with everyone watching the scene unfold. He awkwardly shifted his gaze to Max, who was still sitting on his stool. "Who wants to sing another song?"

Max shook his head. "I'm not getting involved."

Jerry shoulders slumped. He had clearly lost any hope of diverting attention away from his blunder. Before he could try to recover, Theresa had crossed her arms over her chest and stood up, her eyes narrowing.

"Jerry, may I have a word with you in the kitchen?" Theresa demanded, her voice firm and steady.

"Yes." Jerry sighed in defeat, realizing there was no escaping his fate. He shot a exasperated look at Alex as he followed his wife into the kitchen

Astrid couldn't help but chuckle as her and Alex sat down on the stools at the counter beside Max in the closed restaurant.

"Well..." Alex trailed off, breaking the silence with a smirk. "That was... a thing."

Astrid shook her head, still grinning. "Yeah. I think your Dad's going to be in the doghouse for a while after this one."

"Hey, I'm home!" Justin announced as he swaggered into the Sub Station, his usual confident grin plastered across his face. He flashed a cocky smirk at his siblings and Astrid, clearly relishing the attention he was about to get. "Did you guys miss me?"

"Nope."

"Not really."

"What?"

"I don't know if you guys heard, but I was out all night with a bunch of my new friends from school." Justin boasted, sitting down at one of the tables. He swung a chair around and straddled it backward, leaning into the backrest like he was the king of the world.

"I know. You told us, like, ten times before you left." Alex said dryly.

Justin nodded, his expression growing smug. "Yeah. They're from an upper-level math class, kind of an older crowd, so we totally lost track of time. Sorry I'm late."

Alex furrowed her eyebrows. "You're not late. This is exactly when you said you'd be home."

"Is it?" Justin's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, standing up from his chair with a cocky smirk and strolled towards them. "Well, I didn't keep track of time because I don't have to. You know, it seems to me like someone's a little jealous that I'm old enough for some freedom."

Alex scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please. I'm not jealous of you."

"You told Dad you were jealous." Max chimed in. Justin's eyes widened in surprise as he turned to his sister.

"No, I didn't."

"But you just told Mum and Dad you were jealous of-"

Before Max could finish his sentence, Astrid reached over and slapped him lightly on the head. "Thank you, Max."

Max blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard by Astrid's sudden intervention. He rubbed the back of his head, looking at her with confusion.

"Look, I couldn't care less about this nerd herd you're running around with these days." Alex told her older brother.

"Face it, Alex. You're mad because I'm more mature than you." Justin responded with a smirk.

Alex stared at him blankly, her eyebrow raised in disbelief. "Mature? You're the only one in this family who still takes a bath."

"You try floating an aircraft carrier in the shower...." Justin defended himself, confident grin faltered, his expression turning to disbelief.

Astrid tilted her head in confusion. "What?"

"... for an experiment." Justin quickly added, trying to save face and explain himself with a half-hearted shrug.

••••

The next day, The Russo Lair was as lively as ever, filled with the hum of magical energy and the eager anticipation of a new lesson.

Justin, Alex, Max and Astrid were all seated around the couches and armchairs, ready for the next round of magical training. Jerry and Morgan, Astrid's father, were ready to guide them through an important skill every young wizard had to master.

"One of the most important skills for a young wizard to master is the art of spell improvisation, or Make-'Em-Ups." Jerry told the four teenagers, his voice enthusiastic as always

"Now, this is the ability to create a brand-new spell off the top of one's head in the moment of urgent need." Morgan added, his tone more serious but still encouraging.

Astrid, always focused and quick to learn, immediately reached for her workbook and began jotting down notes. She knew that improvisation wasn't just about inventing random spells - it was about learning to think creatively and act quickly under pressure.

"For example- Max, what do you urgently need right now?" Jerry asked.

"Bagpipes." Max blurted out. Everyone in the room paused, blinking in confusion. "I wasn't listening."

"Alex, let's give it a try." Jerry decided, standing beside his daughter, who was lounging comfortably in the red armchair. "Now, let's say you haven't eaten for days and you're in desperate need of a sandwich. What do you do?"

"I walk over to our sandwich shop and have Mum make me a sandwich." Alex responded nonchalantly.

The room fell silent for a beat before Astrid, who had been sitting with her notebook in her lap, chuckled softly.

"Okay, yes. But Mum's not here." Jerry told her.

"Where's Mum?" Justin wondered, his tone slowly slipping into a more paranoid register.

Jerry sighed. "It's not important where she is. Um... she's gone. She left the country."

"She left the country? Why? Is she okay?" Justin asked worriedly.

"Yes. She's fine." Jerry said quickly, though his voice betrayed a hint of frustration.

"Well, if she's fine, I don't see why she couldn't make me a sandwich." Alex pointed out, causing everyone to nod in agreement.

Jerry, however, sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping in resignation. His face took on an almost defeated expression as he looked down.

"Here. I've already written one down for you." Morgan said, sounding much more at ease as he stepped in to shift the focus back to the lesson. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to Max. "Read that and concentrate."

Max took the paper with curiosity, unfolding it. He squinted, then read aloud, unsure of what was about to happen. "Satisfy my empty belly, make me a peanut butter and jelly."

As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a sudden flash of light. The room gasped in shock as Max's body began to shrink and twist, transforming rapidly into a full-sized peanut butter and jelly sandwich, complete with two slices of bread, peanut butter and a generous spread of jelly.

The sandwich landed with a soft thud on the couch, right between Justin and Astrid, who both stared at it in stunned silence. Justin's eyes widened in disbelief, while Astrid blinked, her mouth slightly open.

"You see what I just did there? I just illustrated the dangers of spell improv." Morgan said with a smirk, crossing his arms as he observed the scene unfold.

Justin leaned forward and eyed the peanut butter and jelly sandwich lying on the couch. He then  reached down, grabbed the sandwich with both hands and made a move as if to take a bite.

Jerry let out numerous indistinct sounds. Justin froze, his face inches from the sandwich, blinking in confusion. He slowly pulled back, a look of realization dawning on him.

"You have to choose your words very carefully, because in the Wizard World, they take you literally." Jerry added. Justin, without further hesitation, began to peel apart the bread slices. "So when Max said 'make me a peanut butter and jelly', they made him a peanut butter and jelly."

Justin then tossed the peanut butter and jelly sandwich down beside him. It landed with a soft thud on the couch, and as it did, Jerry let out a gasp of horror.

"Okay, let me try!" Astrid insisted with an excited smile. Her eyes sparkled with a sense of determination as she focused on the sandwich beside her. "Although I like such tasty snacks, I'd rather have my friend Max."

The words barely left her lips before a flash of light surrounded the sandwich. Everyone paused, watching in anticipation. In an instant, Max was no longer a sandwich. Instead, he was back in his human form, lying on the couch - albeit upside down, his feet dangling over the backrest of the cushions.

Max let out a deep sigh of relief as he rolled himself back into a more comfortable sitting position and leaned towards Justin. "Phew! Hey, thanks for not eating me."

"Astrid, you're a natural." Morgan complimented.

Astrid smiled in response, feeling a warm sense of accomplishment. It was always nice to receive praise, especially from someone as experienced as her father.

Justin got up from the couch and walked over to his dad. "Hey, Dad. You think we could wrap this up? I'm kind of in a hurry."

"Oh, really?" Jerry questioned, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "That's not like you, Justin. You usually like to really marinate in the magic."

"I know, but some of my math friends are stopping by the Sub Station." Justin explained.

"For some stimulating conversation about multiplying factorial equations." Alex commented, a sly smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

Astrid furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and glanced at Alex. "How do you know about factorial equations?"

Alex froze for a moment, her face falling as she blinked in surprise. She hadn't actually studied factorial equations herself - how could she have known about them?

"I don't know." She admitted, her voice trailing off. But then her eyes widened in realization and a look of shock crossed her face. "Oh, my goodness. Justin's contagious!"

Alex stood up from the armchair. With a dramatic sigh, she pushed her hair behind her ear and followed her brother out of the Russo family Lair. Astrid, sitting quietly for a moment before she snapped her notebook shut and hurried out of the Lair, catching up with Alex and Justin.

••••

Astrid followed Justin and Alex out of the refrigerator, through the kitchen and into the main restaurant. The air was filled with the familiar sounds of the sub shop - buzzing customers and the soft hum of casual conversation.

The three of them made their way in front of the counter, where Justin immediately waved at a group of teenagers sitting in a booth at the far end of the room.

"Guys!" Justin called out, his voice booming with enthusiasm. The group of teenagers turned toward him, and in unison, they waved back, acknowledging Justin's arrival.

Astrid stood next to Alex, watching the scene unfold with quiet curiosity. The group of teens wasn't what she expected. They weren't the typical 'nerdy' crowd she had imagined: no braces, no oversize glasses, no awkward social energy.

Instead, they all looked pretty normal - some were even kind of cool-looking. They didn't exactly fit the 'math geek' stereotype.

"That's them? Where all the math geeks?" Alex asked, incredulous.

"Alex, we prefer the term 'arithmetic buffs'." Justin corrected her, his tone matter-of-fact. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some very important things to talk to them about. Things you wouldn't understand." He directed that last bit toward Alex, giving her a playful yet condescending look before walking towards the booth where his friends were waiting. "And the big ball of yarn says, 'string theory'!"

Everyone at the table burst out laughing at Justin's joke about string theory, their laughter echoing around the restaurant. Alex and Astrid shared a brief, confused glance, both unsure of what had just happened.

Alex and Astrid made their way over to the booth where Justin and his friends were sitting. As they neared, a tall boy with dark hair and a bright smile stood up to greet them.

Astrid's eyes widened when she recognized him. It was Zack Rosenblatt. He was one of the few people she knew from school and although they didn't exactly hang out, she knew he was pretty smart. But she hadn't expected to see him with Justin's new group of friends.

"Wait, Zack Rosenblatt?" Astrid blurted, surprised to see him there.

Zack looked at her, a grin spreading across his face as he nodded. "Astrid, right? Wow, small world! Didn't expect to see you here."

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help noticing, but did you just laugh at something Justin Russo said?" Alex wondered, still processing the fact that someone had actually found Justin's over-the-top humor amusing.

"Yeah, I did. I always laugh at what Justin says. He's hilarious!" Zack responded with a smile.

Alex furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, still trying to wrap her mind around it. "Really? And would you describe yourself as a very boring person?"

"No." Zack scoffed slightly, clearly amused by the question "As a matter of fact, I was voted 'least boring' in the school yearbook for three years in a row."

"Wouldn't that be 'most exciting'?"

"Oh, no. That's Sean Cunnigham. He's very exciting."

Alex's face lit up with laughter. "Hey, you're kind of funny. I'll vote for you next year!" She said, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. With that, she turned her attention back to the table and headed over to a blonde teenager that had sat next to Zack, tapping her gently to get her attention. "Excuse me. Hi. I'm Alex and this is Astrid."

The blonde girl stood up from the booth, walking toward Alex and Astrid with a friendly smile. "I'm Susan."

"Please tell me you're talking about something incredibly lame right now." Alex begged.

"Actually, we were just making plans to see 'Night of the Halloween Sorority Party Disaster II'." Susan clarified before walking over to the counter to grab a container of food.

Alex and Astrid exchanged shocked glances. That was the movie. The one with their favorite actress of all time.

"You mean the new Ruby Donahue movie?" Astrid asked.

"Yeah." Susan said with a wide smile, turning to face her and Alex. "It's the first horror movie she's ever done."

Astrid gasped. "We love Ruby Donahue."

"Me, too! She's a role model of mine. I plan to follow exactly in her footsteps. I'm going to grow up on a ranch in Montana, start my own charity for something sad, and then, creating my own price-conscious beret line." Susan said excitedly.

The three girls shared a moment of excitement, each of them feeling a little more connected by their shared admiration for Ruby.

"Have you heard her new cd of sensitive but mildly angry rock songs?" Alex wondered, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.

Her mind was already racing toward their shared obsession: Ruby Donahue, the woman who somehow managed to be both tough and vulnerable, an artist whose every word resonated.

"Okay, Alex and Astrid." Justin spoke as he appeared behind them, his hand awkwardly resting on their shoulders. His smile didn't quite match the cheerful tone of his voice. "My friends and I have some very important things to discuss over here." With a swift motion, he grabbed Susan's arm and pulled her along with him. "Hey, Susan, have you ever really considered concept of infinity?"

"I was just thinking about that-" Susan began.

"I can lend you the new Ruby Donahue cd." Alex interjected, her voice eager.

Susan turned to face Alex, her smile wide and appreciative. "Thanks! Justin, I really like your sister and her friend."

"Haha." Justin let out a short, uncomfortable laugh, clearly not as thrilled by the mention of his sister as the rest of them were.

"I like you, too, and that other 'least boring' guy." Alex continued, her hand gesturing over to the counter where Zack was standing. He noticed the attention and waved, a casual, friendly motion that somehow made Alex feel even more certain about her wild idea.

"Zack Rosenblatt." Astrid told her best friend, leaning in with a knowing smile.

"Yeah, Zack. We should all hang out and call each other the Zack Pack." Alex insisted enthusiastically, the words tumbling out of her mouth before she could stop them.

The thought of forming some sort of gang - even if it was just a fun nickname - felt like the perfect way to channel the vibe of their growing friendship.

"Hey, guys, why don't we hang out over here?" Justin questioned with clenched teeth as he stepped forward, his hand pressing gently against Alex and Astrid's shoulders, nudging them toward the counter.

"Why? We're talking to Susan." Alex said with a smile, gesturing to the blonde girl.

Justin stood in front of Alex and Astrid, planting himself like a human barricade, his face determined and tense, as though he were about to defend the last slice of pizza.

"You two are never going to be a member of the Zack Pack." He said. His words came out with a sharp edge as though he were making an official announcement.

Astrid raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Don't act like that's a real thing."

"Yeah, I just made that up." Alex chimed in, her tone almost bored as she stared blankly at her brother.

"You're my little sister." Justin said, like that explained everything. Then, without pausing, he shifted his focus to Astrid. "And you're my little sister's best friend. You two are not supposed to be getting along with my friends."

Alex exchanged an incredulous glance with Astrid. They both rolled their eyes simultaneously, realizing just how ridiculous this whole situation was.

"I know, but we like them. They're way more normal than I expected." Alex admitted, her expression full of surprise, a little shock still lingering on her face. "I'm as confused by all this as you are."

Astrid couldn't help but let out a short laugh. "Right? I was expecting a bunch of... well, typical nerd stereotypes, but they're... kind of just normal dudes."

"Just stay away from us, okay? I mean it." Justin declared firmly.

"Come on, Justin. You ready to go?" Susan's voice broke through the tension. She was standing up from the booth, a grin spreading across her face as she gestured toward the door. The rest of the group was already on their feet, ready to leave.

"Yeah." Justin responded before his gaze shifted to the kitchen. He spotted his parents walking out, their aprons tied around their waists as they walked out of the kitchen. "Oh, hey, Mum? My friends and I are going out for a little while." He shot a glare in Alex's direction. "None of us have legally enforceable curfews anymore, so it's anyone's guess when we'll be back because I don't have to keep track of time."

"You'll be back before ten o'clock." Theresa told her son, her voice calm and unconcerned. It was a statement, not a question.

"I do like to watch the local news. They have a new weather girl. Oh! She's-" Justin caught himself mid-sentence, realizing who he was talking to. His mother. "Awkward."

With that, Justin turned around, following his friends out the door, trying to shake off the awkwardness.

Once Justin and his group had left, the Sub Station fell back into a normal, quiet rhythm. Alex and Astrid sat down at one of the booths, the tension from earlier slowly dissipating. Alex slumped in her seat with a sigh, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face.

"There he goes. They grow up so fast." Theresa said solemnly, watching her oldest son walk out of the Sub Station with his friends. Her eyes softened as she observed him leaving, a mix of pride and melancholy settling on her face

"Oh, honey." Jerry muttered, his voice low as he walked up to his wife. He placed a gentle hand on her back, sensing the weight of the moment. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah." Theresa said, but her tone spoke volumes. She wasn't entirely sure, and she didn't need to say much more for Jerry to know that the shift in her heart was real. "He'll be off for technical school before we know it!"

"And Alex will be on leave from the Air Force." Jerry added with a thoughtful tone, as though he was already imagining the path ahead for their daughter as well.

At the mention of the Air Force, Alex's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?"

"It's just the discipline you need. Please, just read the pamphlets." Jerry insisted.

Alex stared at the papers, still in disbelief. Her mind was spinning, trying to wrap around the idea that her parents seriously thought she might go into the military.

••••

The next day at school, Alex and Astrid walked side by side through the crowded hallway, navigating the sea of students as they headed toward their lockers. The hum of chatter and the shuffle of footsteps filled the air.

"Okay, so you and I are going to persuade Justin's friends to take us to the movies." Alex said to Astrid, adjusting the strap of her backpack as they walked.

Astrid shot her a knowing look, raising an eyebrow. "Persuade or manipulate?"

Alex shrugged, a mischievous grin on her face. "Does it matter?"

"Okay, let's do it." Astrid said with a smirk.

Their plan was simple: convince Justin's friends to let them tag along to the movie they were eager to see.

It wasn't just about hanging out; it was about showing that they could fit into this circle, despite Justin's constant attempts to keep them at arm's length. They were determined to make it happen, even if they had to use a little creative persuasion.

As they turned the corner to head toward the next hallway, they unexpectedly ran into Susan and Zack, who were standing by their lockers. The two were engrossed in a conversation, laughing about something that Alex and Astrid didn't quite catch at first.

Alex seized the moment, purposefully bumping into Susan with a small gasp. "Oh! Susan, hi. Did you hear about that new Ruby Donahue beret store that just opened in Brooklyn?"

"Yeah. Me and Zack were just talking about it." Susan replied, tightening her grip on her books.

Zack grinned, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah. They have a 'gear for guys' section."

"Cause, um, we were thinking about going there later." Astrid said, playing along smoothly.

"Actually, we were thinking about doing anything cause we don't have any plans." Alex chimed in, gesturing to herself and Astrid. "What about you? What are you guys up to?"

Susan, seeming totally unaware of their plan, thought for a moment before responding. "Well, a bunch of us are going to see 'Night of the Halloween Sorority Party Disaster II'. You two want to come with?"

"Who, us? Really? No. We couldn't." Alex responded, fake denying although she secretly was excited that they had been offered.

Susan's smile faltered slightly at the fake rejection. "Oh. That's too bad."

"Alright, we'll be there." Astrid quickly declared with Alex nodding in agreement.

Susan's face brightened, her earlier disappointment fading. She closed her locker and with Zack by her side, they started walking into the main hallway.

As they turned to leave, Alex and Astrid exchanged a victorious high-five, the moment of triumph shared between them.

Feeling pleased with their success, they fell into step behind Susan and Zack, their footsteps echoing down the hall. But before they could get too comfortable, a familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs.

Justin.

He was sprinting down the main staircase, textbooks in his hands, a wide smile on his face as he approached the bottom.

"Hey, guys, how about the math homework? Talk about your exponential decay. Am I right?" He called out, lifting his homework. Susan and Zack both laughed. As they chuckled, Justin's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing when he looked over Susan and Zack's shoulders. "What are you two doing here?"

Alex shrugged casually, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Nothing. Me and Astrid were just on our way to class when we bumped into our friends Susan and Zack."

"Our friends?" Justin repeated, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Alex and Astrid are gonna come to the movies with us tonight. Isn't that great news?" Susan asked enthusiastically with a wide smile.

"Yeah..." Justin trailed off, his words barely audible. His face twisted slightly. "That's great news. That's a totally unexpected surprise."

"See you three tonight?" Zack asked. Justin, Alex and Astrid all nodded, though it was clear that Justin wasn't exactly thrilled about the plan. Zack then turned to Susan. "Hey, do they make those berets in guys?"

Once the two of them walked away, leaving Alex and Astrid standing with Justin, who looked like he'd just been hit with a ton of bricks. As the hallway noise faded, Justin slowly turned to face his sister and her best friend, his expression a mix of shock, disbelief and frustration.

"Aww. Don't we have some really nice friends?" Alex teased, stepping forward to poke fun at her brother's obvious frustration.

Before Justin could respond, Alex wrapped her arm around Astrid's shoulder in a playful, sisterly manner. The two of them started walking down the hallway, leaving Justin standing there, frozen for a moment, still digesting the situation.

"Aah!" Justin suddenly exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. He crumpled his homework in his hand and threw it up in the air.

••••

That night, the movie theater lobby buzzed with the soft chatter of moviegoers, popcorn scents filling the air as Astrid stood near the entrance, tapping her foot absently.

Astrid smiled when she saw Alex and Max approach, Alex holding tickets to 'Night of the Halloween Sorority Party Disaster II'. Max was trailing behind, his hands tucked into his pockets. They looked like any other group of friends heading out for a casual night.

In truth, this was all part of the ruse. Alex had to bring her younger brother to keep up the facade of them going for pizza and skeeball for their parents.

"What are we doing here?" Max questioned.

"Well, Astrid and I are going to get into a movie with Justin's friends, and you're going to go see 'Icevarks' again." Alex explained.

"But I already saw 'Icevarks'." Max pointed out.

Astrid glanced around the lobby, her sharp eyes scanning the room with practiced ease. It was a typical busy afternoon with families and groups scattered about.

But it wasn't long before her gaze fell on a small cluster of kids around Max's age huddled together, all talking excitedly as they waited for something, likely the start of a movie. Their chatter was peppered with giggles and one of them was holding a colorful gift bag, a clear sign that a birthday party was underway.

"Well, go crash that birthday party. I'll bet they're giving away the paddle with the ball attached." Astrid said, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"I do like those." Max admitted.

As Max darted off toward the kids, across the lobby, Susan and Zack were standing near the concession stand.

"Hey, guys, wait up! We made it." Alex called out as she and Astrid weaved through the crowd, their steps light and quick as they navigated the busy lobby.

Susan and Zack, ahead of them and already halfway to the entrance of the movie theater, turned at the sound of Alex's voice.

Susan waved excitedly, her smile wide and welcoming. "Alex, Astrid, you're just in time! Come on."

When Alex and Astrid finally reached them, they all began walking toward the theater entrance together. But just as they were about to step inside, the usher, a middle-aged man with an impassive expression who wore a jacket three sizes too big, quickly stepped in front of them, blocking their way.

"Well, hold on, youngsters." He said, his voice firm but not unkind.

"Oh, it's okay. We're with them." Astrid explained smoothly, gesturing to Susan and Zack.

"Are you two old enough to see this movie?" The usher asked, his tone skeptical as he scrutinized their faces.

Alex scoffed and tossed her hair back with a dramatic flourish. "Oh, you flatter me." She said with a small chuckle. She then dug into her purse and pulled out two small cards and handed them to the usher. "Here."

Astrid's eyes widened slightly as she glanced at the cards Alex had just produced. Her heart skipped a beat - not because they were convincing, but because they were made from construction paper. The edges weren't even straight and the text was scribbled on in a hasty, black marker.

For a split second, Astrid was impressed by the sheer audacity of Alex's move, but that was quickly followed by a wave of disbelief. This is a terrible idea, she thought. The IDs were laughably bad.

"You realize this says you two are forty-seven and thirty-six years old, right? And it's made out of construction paper." The usher pointed out.

"Can you just look the other way?" Alex wondered, her voice now tinged with playful hope.

"No. That would go against the usher code."

"Would a jacket that fits go against the usher code, too?"

"Yes."

At that moment, Susan appeared at the entrance to the theater, a small frown tugging at her lips. "Sorry, guys. If it makes you feel any better I'll take notes and give them to you afterwards, like I do for Justin."

Astrid raised her eyebrows. "Like you do for Justin?"

"Yeah." Susan replied, pointing towards the game section in the lobby before walking back into the theater, leaving Alex and Astrid standing there for a moment, processing the information.

The two teenage girls exchanged a brief look, both silently coming to the same conclusion. With a nod, they turned toward the game section where, sure enough, Justin was engrossed in one of the arcade games, his focus completely absorbed by the flashing lights and the rapidly moving buttons.

They reached Justin, who was blissfully unaware of their approach, his fingers deftly manipulating the game controls.

"Oh, high score! That's what I'm talking about!" Justin exclaimed, practically bouncing on his feet in excitement as the game flashed in celebration of his victory. But as he spun around to face Alex and Astrid, his face instantly fell. The grin on his face faltered as he took in their presence. "Alex? Astrid?"

"What are you doing? You're not in the movie." Alex asked.

"No. I'm not old enough, and I don't plan on breaking the law now. Part of being a mature adult is knowing when to follow the rules." Justin explained with his arms crossed.

"Well, part of being me is ignoring the rules and doing whatever I want." Alex said with a smirk.

Astrid turned to her best friend with a knowing look in her eyes. "I'm sensing you have a devious and poorly though-out plan to get into the Ruby Donahue movie."

"I'm going to ask you to leave me out of it." Justin added, his voice taking on a firm, almost pleading edge.

Alex shot him a bright, almost overly enthusiastic grin. "Gladly."

Without hesitation, Alex linked her arm with Astrid's and, with a forceful tug, dragged her down the hall, leaving Justin behind with nothing more than a startled expression.

As they turned the corner into a secluded hallway, Astrid shot Alex a pointed look. "You're gonna do a spell, aren't you?"

"Yep." Alex said with a satisfied nod, her voice laced with determination. She took a deep breath, her eyes closing briefly as she focused. "We're old enough to hang with actress-model-spokeswoman Ruby Donahue, so get us into 'Night of the Halloween Sorority Party Disaster II'."

In the blink of an eye, Alex and Astrid found themselves standing in the middle of a bustling college sorority party.

The sterile, quiet hallway with its buzzing lights was gone. Now, they were surrounded by walls adorned with Halloween decorations - skeletons, pumpkins and cobwebs. A booming rock song filled the air and the pulse of bass seemed to reverberate through the floor beneath their feet.

Girls in oversized pajamas were everywhere, some clutching pillows like shields, others perched on couches, gossiping and laughing. There were half-empty drink cups scattered on tables, and the faint smell of popcorn and candy hung in the air, mixing with the scent of something more... chaotic.

"Where are we?" Astrid questioned in confusion as she looked around the room.

Before Alex could respond, a blonde girl standing next to them turned around with a bright, enthusiastic smile. "You're at the Zeta Theta Beta sorority house, silly! Home to the prettiest and most popular girls on campus."

Astrid and Alex exchanged a look, both trying to process the fact that they had somehow ended up in the middle of this sorority house.

As if on cue, a flash of brunette hair caught their attention. It was none other than Ruby Donahue herself rushing past them, her iconic locks swirling behind her in a dramatic flourish as she dashed across the room to a group of friends.

"Is that Ruby Donahue over there?" Alex asked excitedly, unable to hide her glee at the sight of the famous actress-model-spokeswoman. She pointed across the room, her eyes locked onto Ruby, who was effortlessly gliding through the crowd.

"No, silly. That's Bambi, the sensitive one." The blonde girl said before her expression shifted to something more serious. "Just stay in character and scream when it's your turn."

Astrid's eyes widened as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She glanced around, taking in the chaotic scene before her - the swirling mix of pajama-clad girls and the rock music blasting from hidden speakers.

"We're... we're in the movie, aren't we?" Astrid asked, her voice a mix of awe and shock. Her heart started pounding in disbelief.

This wasn't just some party. They hadn't stumbled into a random Halloween bash. No, this was something much weirder - a movie, a disaster movie to be exact.

Astrid looked at the camera that was pointed at them, following their every move and saw them. They were blurry at first, just shadows, but as her gaze sharpened, they became clearer. Rows upon rows of people, all staring directly at her. She gasped, her heart racing as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. The faces - those weren't just reflections. They were watching them.

"You're just in time. We're about to have a super fun Halloween pillow fight. in our pyjamas!" The blonde girl said excitedly.

Alex furrowed her eyebrows. "Aren't you a little old to be in a sorority?"

"Aren't you a little young?" The blonde retorted.

Alex paused for a moment. "Fair enough."

The two teenagers looked at each other, shrugged, and without a second thought, grabbed pillows from the pile in the middle of the room. The sorority girls, already in high spirits, cheered them on as they joined the fun.

Laughter filled the room as feathers scattered into the air, gently falling like snowflakes. Pillows met with soft thuds, a flurry of feathers that floated everywhere - on the floor, in the air and even in everyone's hair.

For a moment, it felt like the carefree fun you'd expect at a sleepover - silly, loud, and completely out of control. Astrid, despite her initial hesitation, grinned as she swung her pillow, watching feathers explode in every direction. Even the usually poised Alex seemed to be enjoying herself, her laughter filling the room.

Then all of a sudden, the surrounding music from the movie around them abruptly stopped, silencing the room with an unexpected sharpness. It wasn't just the music, though. The entire atmosphere shifted - like someone had flipped a switch.

A ringtone pierced the sudden quiet.

It wasn't the cheerful, playful ringtone you'd expect at a party - it was an eerie, repetitive sound, enough to make anyone uneasy. The room fell silent immediately, with every sorority girl freezing in place, their eyes wide and filled with confusion. Some of them glanced around anxiously, seemingly waiting for someone else to step forward.

Except for Alex and Astrid.

The two teenagers remained unfazed. While the others stood tense, holding their pillows loosely, Alex and Astrid shared a brief glance, their eyes narrowing with curiosity rather than fear.

"What's the matter? It's just the phone." Alex said. The atmosphere shifted again—this time, more sharply than before. A deep, low rumble of suspenseful music filled the room, vibrating through the walls, thickening the air with a creeping sense of dread. She grabbed Astrid's arm, jerking her towards the group of girls, who were now huddled together near the couch. "Why did the music get all scary?"

"Typical horror movie logic." Astrid muttered, trying to sound nonchalant, though her own anxiety was creeping in, clenching at her chest.

Chaos erupted suddenly. The room was filled with frantic footsteps and terrified screams as the sorority girls dashed in every direction, losing their composure.

Pillows flew through the air, feathers scattering like snowflakes and the carefree atmosphere was replaced by sheer panic. The girls shouted, stumbling over each other as they scrambled to find an escape, as if they could outrun whatever had made the music so sinister.

Alex and Astrid also felt a surge of panic engulf them, but their instincts immediately took over. They quickly dove behind the couch, hoping to find a bit of safety amidst the chaos. Their hearts raced as they huddled behind the couch, attempting to comprehend the mayhem that was unfolding.

Then, just as Alex was peering cautiously over the top of the couch, her eyes widened.

"Hey! You're Ruby Donahue." She said, her voice full of disbelief.

Astrid squinted, confused by the name, but Alex's recognition was enough to make her follow her gaze. Sure enough, crouched behind the couch next to them, trying to hide, was none other than Ruby Donahue. Her eyes were wide with terror, her expression a mix of disbelief and confusion, just like the rest of them.

Ruby's head snapped around, eyes darting toward Alex. "Who are you?"

Astrid, who had been following the conversation, poked her head up beside Alex. "I'm Astrid." She introduced, trying to sound friendly. "And this is Alex."

"Are you two the evil sorority sisters who've come back from the grave to punish us for our cute, but reckless destruction of perfectly good pillows?" Ruby blurted out, her words coming in a rapid-fire stream.

Astrid furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What? No. We're just kids."

"We don't even know what we're doing in this scary movie." Alex added with a slight frown.

"Me, neither. This was all my agent's idea." Ruby admitted, her voice surprisingly calm, considering the insanity unfolding around them.

Then all of a sudden, the room was hit by a sudden, bone-chilling wave of music. The intense, high-pitched notes seemed to pierce the air, sending a shiver down their spines. The music, once again, felt more like a force, something outside of their control.

"Oh, there's that music again." Alex whimpered, her voice trembling. She looked at Astrid, her face pale and they instinctively crawled closer to Ruby behind the couch. "Where's it coming from?"

"Uh-oh. This is the part where I run screaming into the steam-filled showers. Which have been left running for no reason at all, so..." Ruby said as she shrugged slightly.

"Well, okay. Well, it was nice meeting you." Alex said casually, flashing Ruby a small, reassuring smile, trying to hold on to some semblance of normalcy in the madness.

Ruby smiled back at her. "You, too!"

Before they could say anything else, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of frantic footsteps. The sorority girls, looking absolutely wild with fear, charged past them, running in all directions. But it was what was chasing them that made Astrid's stomach churn.

The villain.

It wasn't some towering, menacing figure or some supernatural beast. No, it was a small person dressed in a black coat, clutching a hairdryer like it was a weapon. The absurdity of it was enough to make Astrid raise her eyebrows in unimpressed disbelief.

Ruby, on the other hand, let out a shriek of terror, her eyes going wide with recognition. Without a second thought, she bolted towards the villain, her legs carrying her at a frightening pace as she charged toward the little figure, like some misguided heroine from a slasher flick.

"Whoa." Astrid called, lunging forward and grabbed Ruby by the arm, halting her mid-stride before she could get any closer. "Screaming and running towards a masked villain is probably the worst way to stay away from the masked villain.

"Right." Ruby agreed before letting out another high-pitched scream that echoed through the room, sharp and piercing. She bolted in the other direction, her footsteps pounding against the floor.

"In a groovy movie!" Justin's voice suddenly rang out. Astrid and Alex whipped around, both of their faces lighting up with a mix of relief and confusion as they saw him standing beside them. "A little 1970s, but it worked."

"Justin!" Alex exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief and relief at the same time. Without thinking, she rushed forward and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "What are you doing here?"

"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm saving the day." Justin responded with a smirk.

The familiar, unnerving rise of suspenseful music began to creep through the air again, its eerie tones reverberating through the room like a warning. Their shrill screams and frantic movements were almost as if they were part of a choreographed routine—just another scene playing out in the twisted movie they were trapped in.

"Really? Again?" Astrid muttered under her breath, her voice thick with nervous tension as she glanced at the ceiling. The sound of the high-pitched music filled her ears, sending a ripple of unease through her. "This is getting old fast."

Justin's eyes followed the sorority girls, narrowing in curiosity. "Oh, why are they?"

Justin, not aware of the danger still lurking behind him, started to follow the girls, likely trying to make sense of their panicked movements. But just as he stepped forward, the villain reappeared, his tiny form coming back into view, holding that damn hairdryer like it was some kind of weapon.

Justin turned around and without warning, let out a loud, dramatic scream before swiftly pivoting on his heel and sprinting in the opposite direction with remarkable speed. His arms flailed widely as he ran away.

Alex and Astrid exchanged a glance. They both sat down behind the couch with a sigh.

"Our hero." Astrid sighed sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

••••

In the next scene of the movie, the tension was palpable as Justin, Alex and Astrid sprinted down a dark, abandoned hallway on the college campus. The dim lighting barely illuminated their frantic faces, casting long, eerie shadows against the walls.

The sound of their pounding footsteps echoed through the hallway, but it was the unmistakable whoosh of the villain's hairdryer that seemed to chase them down, growing louder with every second.

Astrid grunted in annoyance as she tried to yank open another door they passed. It didn't budge. Like every other door, it was sealed.

They kept running, hearts pounding, adrenaline surging through their bodies. Each hallway corner they turned felt like they were only getting deeper into the maze.

Then suddenly, Justin stumbled, his feet catching on something invisible and he collapsed onto the floor with a grunt. He hit the ground hard, his body sprawling out on the carpet floor.

"Justin! Stand up!" Alex urged, her voice panicked.

"Forget about me, Alex! Save yourself!" Justin exclaimed dramatically, his hand reaching out towards her in a motion that was equal parts urgent and overly theatrical. His eyes widened as if he truly believed the end was near.

Astrid let out a deep sigh, her face scrunching up in annoyance as she shot Justin a deadpan look. "Seriously, Justin, just stand up."

Justin, still lying flat on the carpet, blinked at her for a moment. There was a pause, as though he was taking in the absurdity of his situation.

"Okay." He said casually. Without further ado, he pushed himself up from the floor, completely unaffected by his dramatic fall just seconds ago, and stood as if nothing had happened.

The three teenagers ran breathlessly down the darkened hallway. At the far end, they saw a door - their last hope for escape. But as they reached it, the heavy metal handle refused to budge. It was locked.

Astrid, still breathing heavily, turned back to the hallway. Her eyes widened in horror. The villain was closing in, its tiny form moving slowly but surely toward them, and in its hand, the hairdryer was raised ominously in the air. It looked more like a weapon than anything else—absurd, yes, but dangerous in its own bizarre way

"Oh, Justin! Do something!" Alex begged, panicking as she stood behind her brother and best friend.

"Why me?" Justin questioned, his voice sharp with anxiety.

"Because you're the older brother."

"What am I supposed to do?"

As the villain moved steadily closer, raising its ridiculous weapon, the group could feel the tension in the air grow thicker. The sound of the hairdryer whirring was now the only thing they could hear, and the villain's every step was like a countdown.

It felt like it was only a matter of seconds before it was upon them.

Astrid's heart raced, but then, without thinking, she closed her eyes for a moment. A deep breath in. A deep breath out. She had to think—she couldn't let fear dictate their fate. If no one else was going to take charge, she had to.

"We've had enough of all these fears. So hurry up and get us out of here." She casted.

And then, without warning, everything around them shifted.

The next moment, the world around them transformed. The dark hallway, the locked door, the approaching villain - all of it disappeared.

They were no longer in the sorority house. Instead, Astrid, Alex and Justin stood in the middle of a dimly lit basement. One harsh light flickered from above, casting long, ominous shadows across the walls. The air was thick with the musty scent of old wood and dust, and the silence pressed in on them like a physical weight

"What happened?" Alex wondered aloud, her voice sharp with confusion and unease.

"We're in a basement." Justin said, his voice sounding flat as though he was stating the obvious, even though he was just as bewildered as the others.

"Yeah. In the basement of the sorority house in the movie." Alex pointed out, her voice a mix of frustration and realization.

Astrid sighed. "Our dads weren't kidding. When you improv a spell, you gotta say exactly what you mean."

Just as they tried to process their new reality, the unsettling, eerie crescendo of suspenseful music began to swell around them. The sound was nearly deafening, sending chills through their spines. The whirring of the villain's hairdryer cut through the tension like a knife.

Astrid's stomach dropped as she looked around frantically. The basement, though dark and unfamiliar, still felt like part of the nightmare they were stuck in. Then, her eyes flicked toward the far end of the basement, where an ominous corridor led deeper into the shadows. The villain was there - standing in the distance, still holding its absurd weapon.

Alex's eyes widened in terror as she saw it too. "He's still coming! Hurry!"

"Don't yell at me! I'm trying to think." Justin snapped back as he glanced back and forth between the approaching villain and the narrow space they found themselves in. "I'm scared of what might happen next. So take us to the Mondoplex."

The three of them closed their eyes and held their breath, anxiously waiting for the spell to work. The silence in the air was heavy, but they knew they had to trust the magic, even though none of them were entirely sure it would work.

When they finally opened their eyes, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The dark, eerie basement was gone. Instead, they stood in the brightly lit, bustling lobby of the Mondoplex, surrounded by the faint scent of popcorn and the glow of neon lights.

The faint hum of a movie playing somewhere beyond the doors filled the air and the sense of danger that had hung over them like a storm cloud seemed to have evaporated.

They were back.

"Are we back?" Astrid wondered, taking in their surroundings. The lobby looked the same as it always had - plush carpeting, gleaming glass doors, and movie posters lining the walls.

"Yeah. It's a theatre lobby. I think we're safe." Alex reassured, smiling in relief. Her shoulders relaxed, and she let out a quiet laugh as she glanced at her brother with an apologetic expression. "Sorry I got you into this... literally."

"It's alright. It was kind of fun being in a sorority girl movie." Justin admitted, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Astrid sighed. "Yeah, well, it wasn't what I expected at all."

"Well, maybe you two were just trying to grow up fast." Justin suggested.

Alex nodded, a small smile breaking through her unease. "I guess we were. Sorry, and thanks for helping us out. We won't hang out with your friends anymore."

Justin gave her a playful but serious look, his brow furrowing slightly. "You won't tell anyone I screamed like a girl?"

Alex smirked and patted him on the shoulder. "I probably will, but that's what little sisters do."

Astrid chuckled at the exchange, but then her eyes widened as she glanced over Justin's shoulder. "Oh, no! Guys, look!"

Alex and Justin turned around, their faces instantly falling as they saw Jerry and Theresa glaring at them from across the lobby. The two of them were storming towards the teenagers with a look of determination, their footsteps firm and purposeful.

"She's coming right for us!" Alex exclaimed, her eyes widening in panic. She recognized the fiery look in her mother's eyes and the way Jerry's hands were clenched into fists. This wasn't going to be good.

"Split up!" Justin shouted immediately

"They can't get both of us! Go!" Alex yelled as she shoved her brother in the direction of Theresa, just as their parents began to charge forward. She grabbed Astrid's arm and pulled her along, the two teenage girls making a beeline for the opposite side of the lobby.

_______________
PUBLISHED: 17.12.24

A/N: I hoped you liked this chapter!

Votes and comments are very much appreciated!