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“Hey Sterling, you want a panini? I'm trying out a new sauce on this one.” Dr. Champagne called to him as he passed the kitchen.
“Oh, I would love to, but I'm visiting Jake and Anna at school soon. I am hungry though…” Sterling considered the offer for a minute before finishing,
“I’d love one when I get back, but I need to grab something real quick, so could you get me a granola bar or something please?”
“Sure thing Silver,” Benny said getting up. As he walked toward a cabinet he had a horrible idea. A wonderful idea. Benny had a horrible, wonderful idea. What if he slipped a little something into Sterling's snack? Sterling had been working pretty hard lately and could probably use a break. Besides, it would be nice to see the kids again. Since Benny wasn't their registered guardian with the school he technically wasn't supposed to see them unless Sterling or Alexis took him, and if Sterling was out of commission for some reason then maybe Benny could come along.
“I just remembered, I gotta go get something,” Benny called over his shoulder as he ran to his room. The only thing he had to lace Sterling’s food with was a little something left over from his grandpa Ritchie. He grabbed it and headed back to the kitchen.
“Did you get what you needed friend Benjamin?” Vasillia asked as he walked back in.
“Yep!” Benny replied.
“What was so important you had to run off right then?” Champagne asked, clearly somewhat annoyed.
“It's not that it's super important, I just needed to get it before I head back to my dimension and I didn't wanna forget again.” Benny lied. He walked back over to the cabinet and grabbed a granola bar. He opened it and took a bite before sprinkling a little bit of his hidden concoction on it. Perfect timing.
“Alright, I've got the stuff I need, have fun guys!” Sterling called walking back past the kitchen. Benny walked over to him,
“Here you go!” He handed Sterling his food.
“Did you take a bite of it? Don't you have food?” Sterling blinked up at him confused.
“Delivery fee,” Benny explained.
“Oh,” Sterling chuckled before taking a bite. Benny walked back into the kitchen, waiting for it to take effect. The door to the building opened and it sounded like multiple people entered. Probably Alexis and crew getting back from a mission. Sterling excitedly ran over to them.
“HiAlexishiKate!!!” He shouted as he ran towards them and enveloped them in a hug.
“Hi Sterling, are you ok?” Kate asked. Alexis stepped forward and felt his forehead,
“He doesn't feel warm,” she said, concerned.
“Nono, I'm not sick, I feel great!” Sterling nearly yelled in his excitement. The Panini Trio made their way to the foyer to see what was going on.
“That's weird, he wasn't acting that way before,” Champagne said walking up to the group.
“What was he acting like before?” Kate demanded.
“He was acting excited still but only to his usual extent, this is new.” Vasillia gestured to Sterling who was bouncing on the balls of his feet. Astra stepped forward next. She looked at Sterling, looked at The Panini Trio, looked Stirling in the eyes, and finally looked at the granola bar. She snached it out of his hand and took a bite. Alexis turned to her annoyed,
“Astra is now really the time for…” she tailed off as she saw the very confused and somewhat entertained look on Astra's face.
“This is cocaine.” She declared through a still full mouth. Then she looked directly at Benny. This marked one of the very very few times that Benny ever regretted telling a story. The others all turned and looked at him too.
“Benny you did not.” Champagne insisted.
“Ah, c'mon guys,” Benny tried to calm them down, but wasn't exactly sure how.
“Wait … why are we mad at Benny?” Sterling asked, looking back and forth between everyone.
“Ok, Sterling, Buddy,” Astra said, putting a hand on his head.
“Yeah?” Sterling immediately perked up and looked at her.
“Katie here is gonna take you out to the lake and you're gonna have tons of fun! Ok?” Astra looked expectantly at Kate who seemed to calm down.
“Ok!” Sterling started bouncing again.
“Great, I'm gonna see if Heath or Kayla are around to join you guys too.”
“Are you coming?” Sterling looked up at her with puppy dog eyes.
“I don't know yet, but I'll bring you a panini if I do.” She promised.
“Ok!” Sterling said, satisfied. He skipped towards the door. Astra turned to Kate,
“Try to make sure he has a good trip?” Kate just nodded and followed Sterling. Astra turned back to Alexis,
“You need to go.” Alexis sent Benny one more scathing glare.
“Yeah, you're right,” she begrudgingly admitted.
“Are you taking someone else instead of Sterling?” Astra asked her. Before Alexis could answer Vasillia piped up,
“I would like to see cousin Naseko.” Alexis nodded,
“Sounds good, let's go.” She walked over and picked up what Sterling had dropped in his excitement to see them. She nodded to Vasillia again, and they set their watches and went. Astra turned back to Benny and Champagne,
“Well, I guess I should go find people to join our impromptu lake day. You're not invited,” she said to Benny. She turned to his partner,
“You can come though, I did promise Sterling a panini.” Champ looked at Benny. His look was the worst; he wasn't even mad, he just looked disappointed.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea Astra, I'll go get my stuff.” With that, Champagne was gone. Benny was starting to feel real bad. That hadn't gone well by any stretch of the imagination.
“Gimme.” He heard Astra say. He looked up at her, she was holding out her hand.
“What a high five?” Benny joked.
“The drugs Benny,” she flexed her fingers, saying the same thing with her hand as she's just said with her words.
“Yeah, cause you'd be more responsible with them?”
“Ha. I don't waste perfectly good drugs on people who won't appreciate them.” She insisted, flexing her fingers again.
“Uh-uh,” Benny said petulantly, crossing his arms. Astra sighed,
“I don't have time for this.” Her nose turned green and she sniffed in Benny's general direction. She grabbed the drugs out of his pocket before he could figure out what she was doing. She held them up to the light,
“Hmmm, not bad. Now I do need to go. Bye.” Astra waved over her shoulder as she walked off. Benny was left alone, but a guy as positive as him found a silver lining.
“Well it's a good thing none of this was cannon.”