Chapter Text
It started with Lia and a smoothie.
“Who ate the last banana?” Lia demanded, standing in the kitchen, holding an empty fruit bowl like a weapon.
Michael leaned casually against the counter, his coffee in hand, observing her with a knowing smirk. “I don’t know, Lia. Maybe it was Dean. He’s been looking suspicious lately.”
Dean, who had just walked in, raised an eyebrow. “Why am I always the suspect?”
“Because you have that brooding look,” Michael said. “The ‘I might’ve eaten the banana but also might be plotting something darker’ vibe.”
Dean sighed. “That’s ridiculous.”
Lia wasn’t letting it go. “Bananas are important. They’re essential for my protein smoothies, and someone stole it.”
“Did you ever think,” Michael started, swirling his coffee, “that maybe the banana left because it couldn’t handle your intensity?”
Before Lia could retaliate, Sloane piped up from the dining table, where she was surrounded by graphs and notebooks. “Statistically speaking, there’s an 82 percent chance that Michael is lying right now.”
Michael grinned at her. “I’m offended, Sloane. You think I’d lie to her?”
“Easily,” Dean said, crossing his arms.
“You know,” Lia said sweetly, stepping closer to Michael, “it’s funny how you’re the only one not denying anything.”
Michael leaned down slightly, meeting her eyes. “Is that your lie detector speaking, Lia? Or your imagination?”
Lia’s smile faltered for just a second, but she covered it up effortlessly, flipping her hair. “I’ll find out eventually.”
Dean cleared his throat. “Do I even want to know what’s happening?”
“No,” Sloane answered matter-of-factly. “But bananas are high in potassium, which is crucial for—”
“Not now, Sloane,” Dean said, shaking his head.
Later that day, Michael decided to test Sloane’s skills.
“Hey, genius,” he called as Sloane sat cross-legged on the couch, scribbling in her notebook. “Think you’re smart enough to pull off a magic trick?”
Sloane tilted her head, considering the question. “Magic is just illusions combined with probability. What kind of trick?”
Michael tossed her a deck of cards. “Impress me.”
Dean, Lia, and Cassie gathered around to watch, curious about where this was going.
“Pick a card,” Sloane instructed, holding the deck out to Michael.
Michael obliged, pulling a card from the middle. “All right, now what?”
Sloane shuffled the deck with surprising ease, her face focused. “Put it back.”
He did, and she shuffled again, muttering something under her breath.
“What’s she saying?” Cassie whispered to Dean.
“Calculating probabilities,” Dean replied.
After a moment, Sloane flipped over the top card. It wasn’t Michael’s.
“Well, that’s anticlimactic,” Lia said, crossing her arms.
“Wait,” Sloane said, looking directly at Michael. “Check your back pocket.”
Michael froze. Slowly, he reached into his pocket—and pulled out his card.
“What the hell?” he said, staring at it.
“How did you—” Lia started, her eyes narrowing.
“Math,” Sloane said simply, going back to her notebook as if nothing had happened.
Dean shook his head. “I don’t even want to know.”
Cassie laughed softly, but Michael just stared at Sloane, trying to hide the hint of pride in his expression.
“Looks like she got you,” Lia teased.
Michael smirked. “For now.”