after escaping, we all walk around town a little bit. we walk along the brighton pier and get recognized by fans many times. crowds start forming as more and more people recognize us.

"once this crowd dies down, we're booking it to the van," wilbur whispers to all of us. "we're never gonna make it to the next thing planned if this continues." everyone nods.

the crowd dies down and we all run to the van. it was only a few blocks away from where we were, so we got there after a few minutes of running. wilbur starts the van and we drive to lunch.

on the drive over, i get a mention on twitter. i raise an eyebrow and open twitter.

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

TommyInnit @tommyinnit: Take a look at my girlfriend

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valerie :) @valeriedavis: when did you take these? :')

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TommyInnit @tommyinnit: When you weren't paying attention

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valerie :) @valeriedavis: oh lordy

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TommyInnit @tommyinnit: You look pretty it's fine

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

tommy, sitting in shotgun, looks at me through the front view mirror. i look back up at him and smile, mouthing the words "thank you." he winks back.

i definitely start blushing.

"we're here!" wilbur shouts. everyone looks up to try and see where we are, but all it looks like is a creepy shack.

"what is that?" niki asks.

"a haunted house!" wilbur says proudly. the reaction from the van is very mixed. some people are elated and some are terrified. george even shrieks out of fear.

"calm down guys! it'll be fun. just like halloween in february."

everyone looks at wilbur skeptically.

"yeah. getting chased by people with chainsaws sounds like loads of fun!" nick says sarcastically.

"doesn't it?" wilbur smiles and motions for us to get out of the van.

we all reluctantly get out of the van, except tommy, clay, and alex. they all quickly jump out of the car and anxiously await to go inside the haunted house.

"first an escape room, now a haunted house, is today just a horror night?" karl asks timidly.

"sure, if that's what you want to call it," wilbur replies. karl nods and laughs nervously.

we head inside the haunted house, wilbur, alex, and clay leading us. they seem excited to take charge.

niki and toby have their head down and eyes closed the entire time, both of them latching onto one of wilbur's arms. tommy and i stay close together, but both of our eyes are open.

"are you scared?" tommy asks. i nod.

"very," i say.

"finally you're scared of something!" i scoff.

"come on. i love adrenaline-type things, like escape rooms and roller coasters, but this is different."

"i'll protect you," tommy says in a sarcastic tone.

"you'd throw me to the chainsaw guys if that meant saving your own skin." tommy looks at me with wide eyes and i laugh.

"never in a million years would i dream of doing that!" i smile.

the first jump scare comes when a man bursts through the wall. we all jump, but alex starts screaming in terror.

"WHAT THE HELL, WHAT THE HELL," he repeats.

"alex, maybe you should go to the back with all the scaredy cats," clay teases.

"never."

as time goes on, i start to have more fun in the house. i still stick by tommy, but i no longer feel like i'm about to cry every time there's a jump scare.

we all eventually make it out of the haunted house.

"how was that?" wilbur asks enthusiastically.

"TERRIBLE," george yells.

"AMAZING!" toby says.

"toby, your eyes were closed the entire time..." wilbur says.

"which is why it was so great. i didn't see anything and didn't get scared once!"

suddenly, someone's stomach growls extremely loudly.

"who just..?" niki starts.

"that was me," karl admits sheepishly. everyone laughs.

"if you were hungry you could've told us!" wilbur says. "come on guys, it's past noon, let's go to lunch." everyone nods and we get in the car.

we're all talking in the car, when i suddenly get a text. i open my phone to see:

1 new message: lindsay green♥

my heart starts beating extremely quickly. it's like, four in the morning for her, what could she possibly want?

i nervously open the text.

hi val, i know i said we should give each other space but i owe you an apology. it's currently like, four in the morning, and i couldn't sleep because i knew i hurt your feelings. i'm so sorry for what i said. i wish i could take it back. i was honestly just jealous bc it seemed like you forgot about me. i get it if you're mad, you don't have to respond to this now. or ever if you don't want to, cuz i know you're mad at me. just know that i'm sorry :(

i roll my eyes. she knows i hate it when people say "you don't have to respond because i know you're mad."

i turn my phone off. maybe i'll respond later.

"lunch time!" wilbur shouts the second i turn my phone off. my eyes grow wide when i see where we are.

"we're at-" i start.

"SUBWAY!" tommy shouts.