Riley Ross-Chapter 64: The Baby Crew’s Secrets

"So... why are you wearing makeup, seriously?"

"G-guys... if he’s not comfortable sharing, let’s not force him."

The Baby Crew was no longer on the obnoxiously large sofa and was now instead outside on the Ross family’s obnoxiously large balcony. Any trace of the sun was completely gone, but New York’s horizon was still extremely bright and alive.

Some would even say New York’s day was just getting started, and the very same could be said of the Baby Crew’s rendezvous outside the Academy—their conversations were a lot muted now, and Steph’s death was completely forgotten.

Right now, the girls of the Baby Crew were looking at Gary’s back as he stood at the edge of the balcony, his tall silhouette somewhat reflecting the city lights.

"Stop trying be so fucking mysterious and just tell us."

"G-guys... we’ve only known him two days, we don’t need to pressure him."

"Nah, it ain’t nothin’, Pauline. You know what they say—friends you make at Mega Academy? Them yo ride-or-dies fo’ life. Ain’t no point in hidin’ shit."

Bella stood up, the chair behind her rocking as she approached Gary, standing beside him, and letting the lights of New York also cradle her. The tweaks of curled, baby hairs that were poking out of her braided hair, spreading the light and making it seem like the air around her head was distorting.

She glanced at Gary first, looking up at his face before turning around to the other members of the Baby Crew who were sitting together in the large concave part of the balcony with a fire pit in the center.

"And seeing all of you here right now, I purely believe that," she thumped her chest two times with her fists before pointing at them. She then took in a long, and very deep sigh and closed her eyes.

She gulped and was about to open her mouth, but then looked down instead. But as the sound of New York started to drown them after her pause, she finally looked up again.

"So I’ma tell y’all somethin’. My secret," she said as she looked each of the members of the Baby Crew in the eyes, "Ain’t told nobody this before... and honestly? I ain’t even sure myself. But... I think I might be gay. Like... a whole-ass lesbian."

She looked away again, waiting for anyone to react to her words. But even after several seconds had passed, everyone remained quiet and didn’t say anything at all—it was only when she looked at them again did Hannah said something.

"...I knew from day 1, Bell."

"U-umm... I knew too," Bella raised her hand.

"W-what?!" Bella’s eyes widened, "How?!"

"Girl..." Hannah narrowed her eyes at her, "...You were literally ogling Hera, and you weren’t humble about it at all. And when we were at the park, you kept staring at a girl and kept making excuses just to see her."

"T—"

"You also called my mom a MILF," Hannah sighed, "I’ve never heard another girl say that word, like ever. And also the fact that you’re wearing boots, skinny denim jeans, and a normal cotton shirt."

"This..." Bella quickly looked down to check herself before looking at Hannah and the other girls’ attire. Victoria was wearing a stylish polo shirt, a short skirt, and sports shoes—all white, and the only blue was her collar. Hannah was wearing a pink crop-top jacket with oversized sleeves, jeggings, and sports shoes. Tomoe, who was at the back, was wearing an oversized black turtle neck sweater that reached above her knee, jeggings, and a cute pair of boots.

As for Pauline—

"Wait, hold up!" Bella jumped up and pointed at Pauline with both hands. "She rockin’ the exact same fit as me! You serious right now?!"

"No, she’s not," Hannah raised a jacket that was beside her, "She had a jacket on."

"Wh—is it..." Bella blinked a couple of times as she returned to her chair, falling onto it and letting it sway her a couple of times before looking at Victoria, "...Did you know?"

"Sorry," Victoria winced and shrugged.

"That..." Bella’s eyes widened. And after a few moments, she pointed at Riley, who was standing in front of a barbecue grill for some reason, "Yo, you knew too? You been sittin’ on this tea, huh?!"

"No," Riley did not even look back as he answered, "You are all the same to me, Bella."

"Huh..." Bella sighed as she looked at the dark sky, "Damn... well that do still count as a secret, so..."

She then quickly leaned forward and eyed everyone there, "Aight, who next? I ain’t tryna be the only one spillin’ my soul out here."

"G-guys... we haven’t known each other for that long," Pauline once again raised her hand, "Why are we—"

"Okay, here’s how we gon’ do it," Bella did not let Pauline finish her words, "Whoever drops their secret picks the next one—and I pick you, Pauline."

"W-what?!" Pauline’s eyes widened as she looked around, only for her to see Hannah shrugging at her.

"Hey, I didn’t make the rules," Hannah said as she raised both her palms, "She chose you, so... you have to do it."

"What...?" Pauline gulped, "But..."

"Yo, no pressure or nothin’," Bella sighed she joined the others by the firepit, grabbing a large pillow to hug. "Guess I shared my secret for nothin’."

"Y-you’re literally pressuring me!" Paulin slightly raised her voice. She lightly bit her lip and looked at everyone.

"Hey, it’s... okay," Victoria smiled at her, "You don’t need to say anything if you don’t want to say anything."

And ironically enough, it was Victoria’s words that made Pauline close her eyes and winced, sucking in a deep breath before saying,

"F-fine! There... there are times when I accidentally use my abilities and read people’s minds even if I don’t want to!" She declared, "But... but I promise, I keep everything to myself. And... and most of the time, I forget them anyway."

"Shit..." Bella softly chuckled as she looked at everyone else.

Hannah stared at her for a few moments, her mouth slightly open.

"Well, fuck..." she said, "That must fucking suck for you, huh? I’m guessing it’s not pretty?"

"No!" Pauline let out a loud sigh of relief as she heard Hannah’s words, "It’s just... people have the most random and oddest thoughts. It’s... It’s not really as cool as it seems because most people just think of... random things."

"When... you read my brother’s mind back then," Hannah narrowed her eyes at her, "You... didn’t see anything?"

"No," Pauline shook her head as she glanced at Riley, who also glanced back at them as soon as Hannah asked that.

"I... for some reason..." Pauline still looked at Riley’s direction as she said, "...I can’t really read his mind."

"Interesting," Riley suddenly joined in on the conversation, approaching the others as he sat on the floor just outside the pit, "Can you try to read my mind now, Ms. Pauline?"

"Okay, let’s not do that." Hannah quickly grabbed Pauline’s shoulder, "The last you did it, I thought you were going to die."

"I... read something about that," Victoria let out a small hum as she checked her phone. "I heard telekinetics are hard to read in the first place? They have some sort of... block or something?"

"Hmn," Pauline nodded, "I’ve read about that too. And also... Hannah?" frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

"Yes?"

"You’re next?" Pauline once again winced and slightly leaned away, a smile creeping on her face as she pointed at her, "You need to share a secret?"

"Well, you guys already know our secret," Hannah shrugged, "My dad’s one of the richest men on the planet."

"Ayo, that’s some B.S. You know that lil’ fact’s prob’ly floatin’ somewhere on Google if we dig hard enough, girl. That ain’t no secret."

"Okay, okay!" Hannah raised her hands in surrender and stood up. She adjusted her clothes at first before letting out another sigh and saying,

"Remember when... Spectacular Mustache Man said I was born with my powers? I... actually almost died?"

"What...?"

"Yeah," Hannah shrugged, "Mom and Dad don’t really like talking about it whenever I ask, but I searched it up—and I almost burned half the hospital."

"Oh for real? You deadass?"

"O-oh my god, are you okay?"

"Well, I’m alive. And that was literally like fifteen years ago," Hannah forced out a chuckle, "But the good thing is no one died. I guess... my powers were still weak back then? I think V can relate?"

"A little," Victoria nodded, "But my circumstances are... a little different?"

"Oh, tell that to us later," Hannah smiled and pointed at her, "But for now..."

Hannah’s smile turned into a smirk as she turned to look at Gary, who was still staring at the horizon of New York.

"Gary. Your turn," Hannah said as she sat back down. And as Gary finally turned around, she quickly motioned for him to stand at the center of the pit.

Gary was a little hesitant at first, but in the end, he stepped down and stood next to the fire pit and said,

"My... name’s not really Gary," he sighed as he clutched his chest,

"It’s... Gracey."

"Ayo!"

The sourc𝗲 of this content is fre(e)novelkiss