Elaine had barely stepped outside her building when she spotted Casen waving both arms out of the window of the car parked along the curb.
"And there she is!" He called, grinning. "The mysterious Miss Wolf in her natural habitat." He reached back, holding out a coffee cup like a peace offering.
Elaine exhaled slowly, blinking through her sunglasses as she slowly took the cup. "You're lucky I like coffee."
"I told him you'd say that," Rylan said as she slid into the backseat. "We're kidnapping you for a day of fun."
"Kidnapping?" She repeated, raising a brow. "That's what we're calling hanging out now?"
"Technically, yeah." Casen grinned, craning his body around the seat. "You agreed, though, so we're within our rights."
Elaine blinked at them both as the car began moving. "If I end up in an alley somewhere, I'm haunting the both of you."
"Perfect," Casen beamed. "We can feature your ghostly vocals in our next album."
"Mhm." Rylan chuckled, trying to keep a serious expression. "Very atmospheric."
"Shut up," Elaine laughed, shaking her head.
Casen whipped back around, vibrating with energy while he turned the radio up to listen to whatever Trap playlist he had connected from his phone. Rylan focused on the road while Elaine focused on waking up fully.
When they finally arrived at the mall, it was bustling with life. Kids ran around the large outdoor fountain, squealing, while their parents tried to catch them. Casen got sidetracked by a pop-up sunglasses vendor outside and strutted into the mall like he owned the place with Elaine and Rylan trailing behind him, snickering.
"How did you manage to shop before we even got inside?" Elaine laughed.
"I had to, okay?" Casen whined, "I needed them."
"Man, you bought sunglasses in every color," Rylan snorted.
Elaine blinked, "I've never even seen you wear sunglasses."
"But I could," Casen insisted, pulling out a pair with neon green frames. "Image is everything!"
"He's planning his next public embarrassment look." Rylan leaned toward Elaine, lowering his voice, but not entirely.
"I'm an artist," Casen retorted.
"You're a hazard," Elaine teased.
They wandered around until Rylan and Casen dragged her into a trendy streetwear store with walls of graphic tees. Casen grinned, running to a rack full of shiny jackets. Shifting through them before pausing, "Oh my god, feel this one!" He beamed, pulling it off the rack. "It's like petting a disco ball."
Rylan snorted, picking up a shirt with a snake on it. "This is sick… But they only have it in extra small," he paused, then looked at Casen with a grin, "Hey, Cas, that's you."
Casen whipped around, staring at him. "Are you saying I'm tiny?"
"I'm saying you're… bendable."
Elaine tried to stifle her laugh, flipping through a section of sweaters as she looked up. "Why are you two like this?"
"Genetics," Rylan snickered.
"Poor decision-making," Casen added, glancing at Rylan, who was still laughing under his breath while he folded the shirt back up.
They trailed out of the store, but they didn't get far before Casen stopped in his tracks, then backed up to peer through a store window. "Ooh, okay, yes. This one."
Elained blinked, raising a brow. "Why?"
"Because," Casen grinned. "I need to see you in something ridiculous."
"You'll know it when he hands it to you," Rylan chuckled, guiding her into the store by her shoulders.
Elaine paused to look around the store; it was like a color bomb had exploded. Neon, vibrant colors lined every rack and wall. Casen had a pile of clothes over his arm, grinning happily.
Elaine eyed the growing stack. "If any of that is sequined, I'm leaving."
"No promises," Rylan said, patting her shoulder.
Casen paused, then turned abruptly, holding up a neon orange jacket. "Try this!" He beamed.
Elaine's jaw dropped faintly, staring between Casen and the jacket. "You're kidding."
"It's so you," Casen insisted.
"It's neon."
"Exactly!"
Rylan took the jacket, examining it before turning to Elaine. "It says… Uh… 'I'm approachable, but also might hurt your feelings.'"
Elaine slowly blinked, looking between the two. "If I walk out looking like a traffic cone-"
"We'll applaud," Casen grinned.
Elaine sighed, took the jacket, then walked into a changing stall with it and a few other outfits Casen handed her.
"Should've given her the pink one," Casen muttered.
"She'd combust," Rylan replied, leaning on a rack of clothes.
"That's fashion, though."
Elaine sighed, stepping out in a black, color-splashed t-shirt and the bright orange monstrosity, staring at them blankly. They blinked, and she raised two peace signs and struck a pose.
Both of them doubled over laughing, Rylan nearly took down the clothing rack as he fell, while Casen crouched down, holding his stomach while he laughed.
"I'm seeing sports," Rylan wheezed.
Casen slapped the carpet, still laughing. "It's so BRIGHT…. Elaine, you're a beacon."
"I feel like a road safety mascot."
"It suits you," Rylan wheezed, slowly rolling to sit up.
"No," she shook her head, retreating to change back into her clothes, "Absolutely not."
As they left, Elaine apologized to the store associates, herding both men, who were still recovering from laughter, out of the store. They got a few stores down before an older lady timidly approached them.
"Excuse me," she said shakily, "Are you two from… Premise of Design?"
Rylan immediately shoved his laughter down, his gaze softening. "We are."
Casen blinked, smiling softly. "Yes, ma'am. That's us."
"My grandkids just adore your band," she smiled, "Could I get a picture of you boys? And, of course, you too, sweetheart?"
Casen and Rylan smiled warmly, nodding before Elaine smiled, "Yeah."
The two both flanked her, smiling while Elaine leaned back just a bit to throw peace signs up behind their heads with a grin.
"Oh, that's darling!" The woman smiled, snapping the photo and looking at it with a soft expression. "My granddaughters are going to scream."
"Tell them we said hi," Casen said brightly.
"And thank you for listening," Rylan added.
The woman left with a bright smile, and Elaine shook her head, smiling. "You two are sweet."
"Yeah, yeah," Rylan chuckled, looping an arm around her shoulders, "To the arcade!"
Casen bounded ahead, jumping at the entrance before they could even catch up. Rylan released Elaine, putting his hands in his pockets while he leaned against a game to watch Casen try to get a stuffed dog out of a claw machine. Elaine tried to help, only for it to never get the item.
"Okay, this thing is rigged," Casen pouted, looking around before tugging Elaine's wrist, "Let's do that one!" He beamed, dragging her across the arcade to a rhythm game.
"I'll catch up," Rylan chuckled, snapping a few photos of the two.
Casen nodded to him before entering a dance competition with Elaine. Elaine managed to beat him, and he slumped over the railing, staring at the high score she set. "What was THAT?"
Elaine chuckled, leaning on the railing. "Coordination?"
"Witchcraft," Rylan chuckled, finally returning from whatever he had been doing. "Having fun?"
"She-" Casen stared between the two, "She beat me at dancing."
"It was following arrows," Rylan snickered.
Casen shook his head, dragging Elaine toward an air hockey game where Elaine lost miserably. She somehow scored on herself twice.
"I'm never speaking of this again," she said.
"Good," Casen grinned. "For your legacy."
Rylan checked the time before herding them out of the arcade to the food court. Settling at a table with pizza.
Casen stretched, then stuck half a slice into his mouth while Rylan took a sip of his cola, "Hm… Never Have I Ever?"
Elaine blinked, about to take a bite of a slice. "Oh no."
Casen quickly swallowed his bit of food, nodding. "Oh yes!"
Rylan chuckled, "Alright. I'll go first." He hummed, tilting his head, "Never have I ever… Made up a story to escape an awkward social situation."
"Bro," Casen stared at him, groaning as he lifted his hand.
Elaine chuckled lightly, lifting her hand.
"You too?" Casen grinned.
"Too many times," Elaine snorted.
Casen tapped his finger on the table, "Heh… Never have I ever… Gotten stuck in a conversation I didn't know how to exit."
Rylan stared at him, offended, then raised his hand with a groan. Elaine chuckled at his expression, shaking her head. "That was aimed," he muttered.
"It was well aimed," Elaine chuckled. "Okay. Never have I ever… Tried to hide something in my room by throwing a blanket over it."
Rylan snickered, and Casen slowly raised his hand. "To be fair… I panicked because Luca told me I wasn't allowed to buy any more massive stuffed animals."
"He didn't even notice," Rylan added, then chuckled, "Back to me… Let's see… Never have I ever broken something and quietly put it back like nothing happened."
Elaine blinked, and Casen stared at him with a look of offense. Rylan reached over and raised Casen's hand with a grin. "Hey! There is no evidence!"
"Man, Luca watched you do it and told us at rehearsal."
"Shhhh… He was hallucinating."
"Yeah, sure."
Casen grumbled then leaned back, "Uh… Never have I ever gotten irrationally attached to something cheap."
Elaine paused, then slowly raised her hand.
"What is it?" Rylan inquired, grinning.
"My four-dollar coffee mug."
"Fitting," Casen grinned.
"Hm…" Elaine tilted her head. "Never have I ever had a crush on a co-worker."
Rylan paused, holding his drink. "....Can I skip?"
"Uh… ditto?"
Elaine blinked, her brows furrowing, "Wait-"
"Nope!" Rylan stood up abruptly, "Look at the time, it's time to go."
What is happening? Elaine looked between them before slowly getting up to follow them.
The sky outside was already changing color as they made their way to Rylan's car with a takeout bag. "We're making a small detour before we take you home."
So, we're pretending that didn't happen. Elaine blinked, eyeing them both. "Where to?"
"To Mix It Up," he replied, unlocking the doors to slide inside. "We're taking Luca some dinner."
Casen nodded, pulling his seatbelt over his shoulder. "Yeah, if we don't, he'll forget food exists again."
"He only remembers it when other people are involved," Rylan added.
Elaine snorted, shaking her head. "Mood."