Zi rounded the corner, trying not to laugh too loudly. The prank she’d pulled at the café — swapping sugar with salt — had worked perfectly… too perfectly. The staff were now marching out, calling her name in frustration.
She skidded to a stop when she nearly collided with a girl standing on the sidewalk.
“Oh! Sorry!” Zi said quickly, forcing a casual smile. “Uh… hey, I was just… testing my sprinting skills. Totally normal.”
Elowyn blinked, confused. “Sprint… skills?”
“Yeah,” Zi said, shrugging and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You can vouch for me, right? I didn’t do anything wrong at all.”
Elowyn hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Uh… okay.”
Zi grinned, relieved. “Perfect. Okay, quick intro: my full name’s Zia Morr, but friends call me Zi. You can too, if you want.”
Elowyn blinked, then smiled faintly. “Deal… Zi.”
“Nice,” Zi said. “And you are?”
“Elowyn.”
“Awesome. Elowyn, you’re officially my partner in crime,” Zi said, smirking just enough to make it playful. “Don’t worry, it’s an honorary title. Mostly just to keep me out of trouble. And maybe to help me not get caught right now.”
Elowyn chuckled softly, realizing she’d been pulled into something impulsive but not dangerous.
Zi glanced over her shoulder. “Okay, partner… let’s get out of here before they find me.” She started moving down a quieter street and gestured for Elowyn to follow. “Keep close. And don’t laugh too much, or they’ll hear.”
As they walked briskly, Zi kept glancing around, her expression alternating between cautious and amused. “You know… this is probably the weirdest first meeting I’ve ever had. But somehow, I think we’ll survive it… maybe.”
Elowyn smiled. “I think I can manage… as long as you promise not to get us caught.”
Zi winked. “No promises. But we’ll at least make it interesting.”
They ducked through a side alley, cautiously stepping over uneven pavement and discarded crates. The city felt quieter here, less like a chase and more like a small adventure. Zi slowed slightly, letting Elowyn catch up.
“See?” Zi said, nudging her lightly. “Not so bad, right? And you’re doing great for a first-timer. Rookie partners are usually… panicky.”
Elowyn laughed softly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Zi smiled, her eyes lighting up with mischief. “It is. Welcome to my world of minor chaos. You survived your first mission, and that officially makes you… my partner in crime. Don’t tell anyone, though. It sounds cooler if it’s a secret.”
Elowyn laughed again, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. Somehow, in the middle of Zi’s slightly reckless escape, she felt a spark of friendship forming — quiet, tentative, and very real.
Zi glanced at her with a subtle grin. “Next stop: figuring out how to get me home without running into more trouble. Sound fun?”
Elowyn shook her head but smiled. “I guess I’m stuck with you, aren’t I?”
“Exactly,” Zi said, tugging her gently forward. “Stick close, Rookie. It’s going to be… interesting.”
Zi glanced around the empty street, lowering her voice slightly. “Oh! By the way… I just moved here. New city, new school, the whole deal.”
Elowyn’s eyes widened slightly. “Really? Which school?”
Zi shrugged casually. “Crestwood High. You know it?”
Elowyn blinked. “…Yeah. I go there.”
Zi’s grin widened. “No way! So we’re basically destined to be chaos partners… at school and on the streets. Rookie, this is perfect. Double the fun, double the trouble.”
Elowyn laughed softly, shaking her head. “I didn’t know you went to Crestwood too. That’s… kind of funny.”
Zi nudged her gently. “Funny? I think it’s fate… or maybe just coincidence. Either way, we’re going to be a good team. And promise me you’ll keep today’s… chaos between us.”
Elowyn smiled. “Deal. Your secret’s safe.”
Zi winked. “Good. Because I have a feeling this is only the beginning. Stick close, Rookie — school, streets, chaos… we’ll tackle it all.”
ns216.73.216.158da2
and then Add to home screen.