Reckless || Corbyn Besson ✓

/ FOURTEEN /

❝ S P O O P Y ❞

"Mr. Quackington, I think you have a Cheez-its problem," Addilyn huffs, dangling the box that had been full an hour ago in front of the animal's face. He quacks indignantly, waving a wing in dismay. "Jack has officially corrupted you!"

Before Addilyn's impromptu trip to Minnesota, the duckling wouldn't even look at Cheez-its, disliking them just as his owner does.

"Let's go," the girl sighs, scooping him into her palm. "I promised Corbyn I'd help decorate and you can steal Jack's supply."

Mr. Quackington nods in agreement, ruffling his fuzzy wings. Leaving the apartment, Addilyn head towards the elevator, her small companion quacking animatedly.

"Absolutely not," the girl laughs, shaking her head. "You've already went to Starbucks twice this week."

****

"ADDI!" Corbyn exclaims, tugging the girl into a tight embrace. "You haven't texted in thirty two minutes, I thought you died!"

Mr. Quackington huffs, nipping at the blond's ankle before waddling towards the kitchen, looking for more Cheez-its.

"I am very much alive," Addilyn confirms with a chuckle, glancing around the house. "It looks like you guys got the decorations up just fine without me."

"That's because our job is to decorate the outside of the house," he informs her, leading her back out the door she entered.

He points to the middle of the yard, where a ladder and an assorted pile of decorations is stacked, the majority of it appearing to be orange lights and cobwebs.

"I call dibs on using the ladder," Addilyn squeals, running towards it and attempting to drag it closer to the house.

"You can't call dibs on a ladder," Corbyn protests, rushing over to help her.

"Oh yeah?" She sticks her tongue out. "I just did. Now, how do you want the decorations set up?"

"It's up to you," the boy shrugs his shoulders, glancing at the pile helplessly. "The only directions Aurora gave me was to make it look 'spoopy'."

"Okay," Addilyn claps her hands together with authority, climbing to the top rung of the ladder. "Bring me all of the strands of lights. We're going to drape them around the windows."

Corbyn snaps into a mock salute, following her directions. Handing one strand over, he holds his free hand out to steady her, worry creasing his features.

"Be careful," he pleads as she stretches precariously to hang the lights. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"Careful is my middle name," she rolls her eyes, stretching even further. Hanging the lights successfully, she smirks triumphantly.

"Okay, I'm done with that one. Catch me!" She squeals, leaning back.

Corbyn's eyes widen and he immediately drops the decorations in his hands, jumping forward to catch the girl. She lands in his arms with an oomph, bringing the boy to crumple to the ground as well.

"Addilyn?" Corbyn groans, sitting up on the pavement as the girl continues to lay sprawled out. "Are you okay?"

The girl smiles lazily, turning her head to face him. "That was fun. Can I do it again?"

"Absolutely not," Corbyn states bewilderedly, pulling her to her feet. "Come on, we need duct tape if you want those lights to stay."

"Fine," Addilyn sighs, climbing onto his back. "INDOORS, MY NOBLE CORBS!"

Corbyn chuckles, readjusting her before re-entering the house, finding the others in the living room.

"Where's the duct tape?" He questions, glancing at Jonah and Aurora, the second of which who looks beyond sick and has a mound of candy in her lap.

"We ran out," Jonah informs him, giving his girlfriend a pointed look as she stuffs a Tootsie roll into her mouth. "And you shouldn't be eating that much sugar while you're sick."

"It helps with my headaches," Aurora lies, throwing another one in her mouth defiantly.

"CARMEN, HELP!" Daniel screeches, hopping towards the girl standing on the ladder.

Carmen glances down, her attention no longer on the crooked banner. "What is it?"

"Aurora taped his hands and feet together with duct tape again," Zach sighs, helping her down.

"It's okay because it's festive!" Aurora defends herself, gesturing towards his taped ankles as she sniffles. "See? Just look at those cute little pumpkins."

"How did she manage to hold you down?" Jack asks, handing a skull to Callie. "I mean, this is the third time in the last hour. I don't see how she could get that on you against your will."

"I sat on him," she states simply, shrugging as she opens another package of candy. "And taped his mouth so no one could hear him. Have you guys ever thought about getting soundproof walls so I could get away with murder?"

"How has she not gotten arrested?" Daniel questions incredulously. "She's a lunatic."

"Honestly, I'm not even sure," Jonah chuckles. "The police would bring her back though, I'm sure of that."

"Nah," Addilyn laughs. "They'd just keep her in solitary confinement."

"Hmm?" Aurora raises an eyebrow, stuffing a full KitKat into her mouth. "Are you all talking about me?"

"Can someone help?" Daniel groans.

Carmen sits by Daniel's feet, prying at the tape with a pair of scissors. "How many layers did you wrap around his ankles? Geez, I don't think I can cut through this."

"Twenty-seven," the girl smiles, chocolate smearing her lips. "It would've been twenty-eight, but I ran out of tape. Oh! Look, there's Dobby!"

The small pug looks up at her in question, tearing his gaze away from where he was watching Mr. Quackington waddle in and out of a box of Cheez-its and perking his ears up at the sound of his name.

"I thought Mr. Quackington hated Cheez-its," Corbyn mutters, glancing at the duckling confusedly.

"I did too, but Jack corrupted him while we were gone."

"Hey, sweetie. Do me a favor and chase Daniel, okay?" Aurora encourages the pup. "Go bite him and I'll get Jonah to bake you some cinnamon rolls!"

The puppy immediately surges forward, barreling towards a scared Daniel. Dobby barks loudly, growling once he is a foot away.

"NO!" Daniel yells, breaking into a run. But, the boy had forgotten the bounds on his ankles and wrists, and fell flat on the floor.

Addilyn winces as a loud thump resounds throughout the house as Daniel crashes onto his face.

"Your dog is vicious," Daniel informs Carmen. "And it utterly terrifies me."

"Don't you think you should apologize?" Jonah chastises, failing to hide his grin.

"You're right," Aurora sighs through a cough, falling back onto the floor dramatically to lay next to the fallen boy. "I'm sorry I ran out of duct tape."