After slaving away cleaning the kitchen and living room, Penny and Rachel were finally free from the terror that was Luna’s wrath.
Thankfully due to Leo informing everyone that they were going to head to Greg’s place, they had an excuse to run away from her even faster.
After all they needed to have a shower and get dressed. Penny also mentioned makeup but Rachel had dissuaded her after inforning her that Gregs ’place’ was a gym.
The look of disappointment and slight disgust that followed was priceless.
With there being only 2 full bathrooms and 8 individuals, getting ready and using the shower was utter chaos.
The girls ended up bickering about using all the hot water, hogging the mirror and how some of them were taking ’forever’.
Adam and Leo however, were in and out after 10 minutes despite the fact by the time they had their turn, there was no hot water left.
"What took you guys so long? We’re waiting on you slowpokes!" Rachel remarked as Leo came out of his room, drying his damp hair and ears with a towel.
He shot her back a raised eyebrow to silently ask ’Are you being serious right now?’
Aria, already dressed and relaxed by the kitchen with a smoothie in hand, stepped in before Rachel could escalate the teasing. "We were just figuring out rides. Luna and Penny are driving."
Adam, perched on the edge of the couch like a man awaiting judgment day, immediately raised his hand. "Dibs on Luna’s car. I don’t care if I have to ride in the trunk, I’m not getting in with Penny."
Rachel blinked, then grinned. "Seriously? How bad could it be?"
Adam turned to her slowly. "Let me put it this way. If I had to choose between riding with Penny or getting a colonoscopy from a raccoon, I’d ask if the raccoon had experience."
"Wow," Penny called from the hallway, clearly not offended in the slightest. "You make it sound like I’m the Grim Reaper with a license."
"You are," Adam replied. "Except the Grim Reaper would at least use his turn signal."
Penny strutted into view a second later, looking unbothered and smug, twirling her car keys like they were a trophy. "Please. You’re just jealous I make driving look cool."
"You make driving look criminal," Adam muttered.
Aria cut in again before things could escalate. "Crystal and I are riding with Luna. Lily’s already in the passenger seat, and Luna’s driving of course, so with Adam, that makes five. Car’s full."
Leo blinked. "Wait... so that means—"
"You’re with me," Penny said sweetly, pointing her keys at him like a weapon. "And Rachel."
Rachel looked absolutely delighted. "This just keeps getting better."
Adam stared at them with solemn pity. "Both of you. Gone too soon."
Leo ran a hand down his face. "Why do I feel like I didn’t agree to this?"
"You didn’t," Aria said gently. "It’s just how the math worked out."
"Besides, I feel like she won’t make you cry while you’re in traffic," Adam added. "You’ve got that emotional durability."
"And a strong neck," Penny chimed in. "That helps. The seats hug tight when we corner."
Leo stared at her. "Why are you saying that like it’s a good thing?"
"Because it is," Rachel said, slinging a bag over her shoulder. "Now come on. I want to see what this beast can do."
Adam raised his hands as if to bless them. "May your airbags deploy faster than your regrets."
Leo pulled on his hoodie and muttered under his breath. "Should’ve stayed in the damn shower."
With everything settled, the group began heading out, Luna’s car filling with calm efficiency while Penny’s waited with impatient revs and questionable intent.
After about 15 minutes after leaving the house, Luna’s car eased smoothly into the gym parking lot, the group stepping out in a calm and casual manner. Luna glanced around, expecting Penny’s flashy red sports car to be parked nearby but it was nowhere in sight.
Lily tilted her head, looking around. "Where do you think Penny went? I don’t understand how she could drive so much faster than Luna and still arrive after us."
Adam smirked, raising a single finger as if holding back a long-anticipated punchline. "Just wait for it."
The parking lot remained quiet for a moment before the sudden, ear-piercing roar of a high-performance engine tore through the air. Tires screeched sharply as Penny’s sports car hurtled wildly around the corner. The car wove erratically, swerving through the lot like it was competing in some illegal street race rather than parking at a gym.
Luna’s group watched with a mix of shock and disbelief as Penny’s car fishtailed dangerously close to Luna’s parked vehicle before screeching to a stop with a spine-jarring skid.
Penny rolled down her window, grinning mischievously. "Made it! See? Fast and stylish."
Leo flung his door open and practically vaulted out of the car, his face drained of color, eyes wide with shock. He stumbled slightly on the pavement, clearly still rattled.
Rachel followed hesitantly, her steps slow and uneven. Her usual bright expression was gone, replaced by a hollow stare that spoke volumes about how terrified she’d been.
Adam crossed his arms, watching them with smug satisfaction. "Told you. I’d rather ride in the trunk of Luna’s car than survive a trip with Penny."
Luna shook her head in disbelief. "Honestly, I don’t know how she managed to arrive after us when she was driving twice as fast."
Rachel finally looked up and gave Adam a weak smile. "You weren’t kidding."
Leo nodded, still catching his breath. "Next time, I’m hitching a ride with Luna, no questions asked."
Adam scoffed, shaking his head. "I’m not taking your spot, Leo. You can have it."
Leo gave him a deadpan look. "If it ever comes down to that, you and I are throwing hands. Fair and square."
Rachel’s eyes lit up. "Wait, I want in on that fight too."
Penny rolled her eyes, scoffing. "You’re all exaggerating. My driving isn’t that bad."
No one even bothered to defend her. The silence spoke volumes.