𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐒𝐈𝐗 (𝐀𝐔)

FIVE

Amber and Tara were in the kitchen, helping with dinner. Tara glanced over and caught Amber's gaze, prompting a smirk to form on her lips. After a while, Tara playfully confronted Amber.

"Why are you staring?" Tara asked, a mischievous smirk playing on her face.

Amber, raising her hands in defense, quickly responded, "I'm not staring. I'm just... admiring your pretty face."

Tara's eyebrow raised in playful skepticism. "Oh, so now I have a pretty face?" she teased, taking a step closer to Amber.

Amber's grin widened as her hands lowered. "You've always had a pretty face," she replied, their flirtatious banter filling the air.

Tara hummed, closing the distance between her and Amber until their lips were tantalizingly close. However, their moment was abruptly interrupted as Breann barged into the kitchen, pushing the girls apart and grabbing her water bottle.

"Ew, gross! We're in the kitchen, ladies," Breann interjected, feigning a look of disgust. She then turned to Amber, giving her cheek a playful pat before walking away. "Get a room, girls," she teased, her words laced with playful humor.

Tara let out an exasperated sigh, her eyes rolling in annoyance. She couldn't help but feel the pang of jealousy whenever Breann and Amber had any kind of interaction. It was as if Breann held some unspoken affection for Amber. And that comment from Mindy only added fuel to the fire, making Tara's blood boil with frustration.

Meanwhile, Breann turned to Quinn, who was seated on the couch, and politely asked, "Hey, do you mind if I use your shower?"

Quinn, without hesitation, responded, "Sure, go ahead. It's all yours."

After a while, the group gathered in the kitchen, consisting of Anika, Tara, Amber, Chad, Sam, and Mindy. Mindy took a stance against the kitchen counters, expressing her strong opinion.

"We really don't have to stay here," Mindy insisted, her voice filled with concern.

Sam, determined, responded, "Well too bad. I insist safety in numbers" as she reached for a bottle of wine, signaling a sense of resolve in her decision.

Chad beamed with excitement. "This would be so much fun, a little sleepover with the core six," he exclaimed.

Tara's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What did you just call us?" she questioned.

Chad repeated, "Core six."

Anika joined in, her curiosity piqued. "Did you just come up with a nickname for us?" she asked.

Chad nodded enthusiastically. "Yep, I sure did! We've been through so much together, and I thought it would be a cool nickname," he explained.

Tara couldn't help but offer her opinion. "That's debatable," she remarked.

Amber chimed in, nodding in agreement. "Extremely debatable," she added, with a playful smirk.

"You can't just give your own friend group a name, dingus," Mindy teased, grinning mischievously.

Sam chuckled, briefly looking down before meeting Chad's gaze. "Well, guess what, dingus? I just did," he declared, his tone playful. Chad's arm shot up in the air, prompting everyone to exchange high fives. "Core six, up top!" he exclaimed, celebrating the newly minted nickname.

"Down low?" Chad looks at Tara.

She giggles and shake her head, "Get that thing away from me"

Quinn's voice echoed from the living room, causing the core six to freeze in their tracks. "Guys, what the hell?!" Quinn exclaimed.