STEALING A GOOSE WAS definitely not one of leonora's brightest moments, for elliot, armani and she were quietly seated on a very uncomfortable sofa in the police department. 

"first time at a police station, kinda nervous," armani joked, throwing his fingers into peace signs. elliot lifted an eyebrow as if to say 'really?' making the dansworth boy stop right away.

leonora shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her lips as she seemed to be deep in thought. "you both shouldn't be here," she began, keeping her gaze on the hard floor. "it was my idea, i should be the only one in trouble."

"leo, it's fine," armani smiled, kindly rubbing circles on the girl's knee. leonora leaned back, bringing her right hand to her mouth and biting her cuticles. 

"stop it, valentine," elliot fussed, firmly holding her hand away from her mouth. 

"go home," leonora whispered, glancing around the room for cameras. the two boys stared at her in confusion. 

"what?"

"you two go home," she whispered again. "it's my fault, i'll take whatever charges. you don't deserve to be dragged into this."

"oh so first you wanted us to steal the goose because you girls were shit-scared and now you're saying it's all your fault?" elliot snapped, bringing his eyes to meet leonora's.

"elliot, it's fine—" armani began.

"no, mani, it's not okay. it's selfish," he cut in, glaring at leonora and releasing her hand which seemed to be squirming in his grip. 

leonora lightly massaged her wrist, keeping her head held low and hoping the mayz boy wouldn't talk again. 

.•° ✿ °•.

"would it be bad if i said i 
was a little terrified of elliot
right now? because i am."
— armani

 °•. ✿ .•°

"elliot just listen for once and go!"

"oh my gosh," elliot chuckled lowly, running a hand down his face. "you're not getting it, are you leonora?" he scowled.

"well, obviously not?" leonora spoke, though it came out more like a question. 

"you trusted us enough to get the goose out, so you need to trust us again to get you out," he explained in a monotonous voice, which slightly worried the other two teens. 

"it's not that i don't trust you—"

"then what is it?" the brunette interrupted again, his eyes narrowing. 

"i just don't want you guys taking the blame for me, okay!?" she finally broke, leaning back as she realized how close she got to elliots face in her small outburst.

elliot's eyes widened, along with armani's. leonora mentally cursed herself for yelling. she stood up off the couch and walked out of the doors, where the officer had asked them to meet her after discussing amongst themselves.

"would you look at that," armani joked. "hey, your kids are going to have serious anger issues," he giggled, slapping a hand over his mouth as he read elliots facial expression. 

the two walked through the doors, seeing leonora seated in front of the officer's desk, talking away as if her life depended on it. 

.•° ✿ °•.

"we need more female
officers! that woman was
so understanding and i may
have told her she was
hot. oops!"
— leonora

°•. ✿ .•°

"officer it was my fault! it was my idea to steal the goose," elliot quickly jumped into the conversation. leonora turned to the boy, a sly smile on her face.

"too late, mayz. she heard me confess and she also heard everything we said in the room," the valentine girl shrugged. 

elliot crossed his arms over his chest at the girl's stubbornness. armani puckered his lips at the awkward tension between the pair. 

"what are the charges?" leonora asked, breaking the silence and turning back to the woman. the blonde officer scribbled down on her clipboard, a small smile on her face.

"they aren't pressing charges," she told the group. leonora widened her eyes. 

"you're serious? i mean, are you sure we're talking about the same people?!"

"i'm sure, sweetheart. now off you three go and stay out of trouble, comprendo?" she jokes but sternly raises a finger around the three. 

"yes, ma'am! thank you," armani breathed a sigh of relief, pulling leonora out of the chair and dragging her out. 

"i feel so energized i could do anything!" leonora squealed, jumping up and down. 

"last one back to cutall has to do clean my cat's litter box!" leonora called, sprinting down the street. armani sighed, running as well, leaving a confused elliot behind. 

"i am not cleaning a litterbox," he muttered to himself before breaking into a sprint to catch up.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

             "I AM NEVER RUNNING again!" armani huffed, leaning down to catch his breath as they all stopped outside leonora's house. 

the rest of the group had been waiting for them outside. athena chuckled at armani's stance while helping him stand up properly. 

"so, what happened?" isabelle anxiously asked, walking over to stand beside leonora. 

"they didn't press charges, we're fine," leonora smiled at the group who began to silently celebrate. 

isabelle wanted nothing more than to yell hallelujah but resisted, not wanting to wake the rest of the street. 

"that's great guys!" paloma smiled, high-fiving the three. adelaides phone glow illuminated her face as she checked the time.

"anyone up for a two am walk?" asked AJ who was peering over the gingers shoulder. the group nodded while leonora answered mid-yawn. 

"yes."

the group walked around the street, cracking jokes and racing each other. elliot seemed to be avoiding leonora this time. 

"hello," leonora grinned as she bumped into elliot's shoulder. elliot rolled his eyes and kept walking. 

leonora frowned, jogging to keep up with him. the rest of the group was further up ahead in the middle of a wheelbarrow race, suggested by isabelle. 

"mayz," leonora sighed. "elliot?"

the girl groaned as elliot didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to her. finally, leonora jogged and stopped right in front of elliot, causing the boy to come to a halt. 

"gosh, leonora!"

"sorry."

leonora stood before him, looking up to ask what his deal was. 

"my deal is you, now leave me alone," elliot grumbled, moving away from leonora and walking once again. 

"why is your deal me?— ohh!" leonora laughed, as she finally understood why he was upset. "you know you can't be mad forever," she smiled, linking her arm with his. elliot sighed, knowing she wasn't going to leave her alone. 

"you're really annoying, has anybody told you that?"

"i think the word you're looking for is persuasive," leonora winked, pulling him along as she skipped across the pavement. 

NOTES:

→ i'm in french class rn so,
bonjour! 

→ i'm so sorry for being super
inactive, i've been stressing about
returning to school. i go back tomorrow
so if i'm not as active, that's why.

→ i hope you all liked the chapter,
sorry it wasn't as long but i'm hoping 
it was still good. 

→ je vous aime tous! (i love you all),
and have a great day, my loves <33