As the group finally trudged back home, arms loaded with bags of snacks and healthy items alike, Briar and Isla led the way, still giggling about their little power play over the boys. Oliver and Parker, looking thoroughly exhausted from their snack-carrying ordeal, shuffled behind them with slumped shoulders.

"Next time we're not letting them anywhere near the snack aisle," Isla whispered, nudging Briar.

Briar laughed, "Oh yeah, they're banned for life."

Once inside, the group dropped their bags on the kitchen counter with a collective sigh of relief. Briar and Isla started organizing everything, while Oliver and Parker plopped themselves onto the couch, too tired to even care about the snacks they'd fought so hard for.

As Briar reached into one of the bags to unpack the drinks, a sudden *ding-dong* echoed through the house. Everyone froze.

"Who could that be?" Isla whispered in a stage-whisper, her eyes wide.

The boys perked up on the couch, but no one moved at first. Instead, they all looked at each other in confusion.

"Should we answer it?" Parker asked, almost too loudly.

"*Shhh!*" Briar hushed him, still whispering but with urgency. "What if it's someone we don't want to deal with right now?"

"Like Madison?" Isla hissed back, eyes narrowing.

Everyone shared a panicked look. They all knew Madison had a knack for showing up at the worst times.

The doorbell rang again, this time more insistently.

"Do we open it?" Oliver whispered, leaning in toward Briar as if the doorbell could somehow hear them.

Briar held up her hand, signaling for everyone to stay still. "Let's just wait a second. Maybe whoever it is will go away."

But then the knocking started, slow at first, then picking up rhythm like a drumbeat. Briar's nerves shot up as she tiptoed toward the front door, gesturing wildly for everyone to keep quiet. Isla clapped a hand over Parker's mouth when he started to laugh nervously.

The group hovered by the entrance, each of them trading panicked looks. "Whoever it is... sounds impatient," Oliver muttered.

Finally, Briar took a deep breath, reached for the doorknob, and swung the door open—only to find Austin leaning casually against the frame, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"*Austin?*" Briar blurted out, her voice full of disbelief. The rest of the group exhaled in collective relief, their shoulders slumping as the tension in the room immediately lifted.

"What's with the secrecy?" Austin asked, raising an eyebrow. He was balancing against the doorframe with one foot crossed over the other, looking thoroughly amused. "I could hear you guys whispering like a bunch of conspirators from the driveway."

"We thought you were Madison!" Isla burst out, still shaking off the adrenaline rush.

Austin's smirk widened as he pushed off the doorframe and stepped inside. "Madison? Seriously? You thought I was *Madison*?"

Briar shook her head, her cheeks flushing. "Well, we didn't know who it was, and you were banging on the door like a madman!"

Austin chuckled, tossing his jacket onto the nearby chair. "Didn't mean to scare you guys. But hey, I brought some stuff for the snack party." He held up a small bag filled with drinks and candy.

Parker, still recovering from the false alarm, let out a groan. "Dude, you almost gave us a heart attack. Could've just texted."

Austin shrugged with a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Where's the fun in that?"

Briar rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible."

𓇼𖦹

As the tension in the room evaporated and everyone started settling into their usual banter, Austin helped the girls unpack the remaining snacks. Parker and Oliver, no longer exhausted, had perked up again at the sight of more junk food arriving.

"Thanks for the snacks," Oliver said, reaching for the candy in Austin's bag. "But why'd you have to make us think you were some kind of snack-stealing intruder?"

"Yeah, not cool, man," Parker added, pointing accusingly at Austin as he unwrapped a chocolate bar.

Austin, leaning back against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed, grinned. "Just keeping you on your toes, boys. Gotta keep things interesting."

Briar, still chuckling, shook her head. "Well, now that we've all survived the heart-pounding doorbell fiasco, how about we actually eat these snacks before they disappear?"

As they settled back into the living room with their array of junk food and healthy items—still left untouched—Austin plopped himself next to Briar, nudging her with his elbow.

"You thought I was Madison, huh?" he teased, leaning closer.

Briar shot him a playful glare. "Don't flatter yourself, Martinez. It was just a momentary lapse of judgment."

Austin chuckled, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction. "Good to know I keep you on your toes."

Isla, watching the two of them from across the room, raised an eyebrow and whispered to Parker, "They bicker more than siblings, don't they?"

Parker shrugged, stuffing his face with cheesy puffs. "Nah. They're more like an old married couple."

Oliver snorted from his spot on the couch. "That's what we've been saying for *months*."

Unfazed, Austin leaned back, his arm casually draping over the back of the couch. "Well, now that I'm here, let's see if you can keep up with me in the snack-eating contest, Briar."

Briar crossed her arms, smirking. "You're on, Martinez. But don't cry when I leave you in the dust."

The group erupted into laughter, the earlier panic completely forgotten as they tore into the snacks, teasing, bantering, and bickering like always.

Outside, the sun had set, but inside, the warm glow of laughter and camaraderie filled the room, the perfect cap to a day that had taken quite a few unexpected turns.

𓇼𖦹

As the night rolled on, the gang kept their relaxed vibe in full swing. The living room was now cluttered with half-empty snack bags, drinks scattered around, and pillows strewn across the floor from when the boys had started tossing them at each other. It was exactly the kind of chaotic but fun night Briar had hoped for. 

Everyone was lounging around—Parker and Oliver were still glued to the video game, Isla had moved to the floor with a blanket wrapped around her, and Austin was perched next to Briar on the couch, lazily throwing popcorn into his mouth, occasionally offering her some. Of course, with each offer, it came with some teasing, but Briar was always ready to fire back.Just as the group settled into what they thought was going to be a chill movie night, the doorbell rang *again*. 

Everyone froze. 

This time, the silence was less panicked, but there was still an undercurrent of  "who could possibly be at the door now?" Everyone turned their heads toward the front door. "Okay," Isla said, narrowing her eyes.

 "If that's Madison for real this time, I'm running for the back door." 
Austin sat up straighter, his eyes twinkling with a new challenge. "Maybe it's a pizza delivery I didn't order. Who's up for round two?"

"Should we open it?" Oliver asked, still holding his game controller but now eyeing the door suspiciously.

Parker, munching on some chips, leaned back and said, "Only one way to find out. You wanna get it, Briar?" Briar rolled her eyes, swatting at him with a pillow. "Nice try. I'm not falling for that again." 

"Come on, what are the odds it's another jump scare?" Austin teased, nudging her. "I mean, unless you're still scared from last time." Briar stood up, glaring at Austin.  

"You're coming with me this time, or I swear I'll lock you out there with whoever's at the door."With an exaggerated sigh, Austin stood and followed her toward the door. "Fine, fine. Consider me your knight in shining armor."

Briar smirked. "More like a knight in a hoodie and sneakers." Austin chuckled as they approached the door. The rest of the group leaned forward in anticipation, watching the scene unfold like a live-action drama.

Briar and Austin exchanged a glance as they both reached for the doorknob. This time, Briar swung the door open with a little less hesitation, only to find... no one. 

"Wait, what?" Briar said, stepping onto the porch and looking around. There was no one on the porch, no cars pulling out of the driveway. Just empty space.

"That's... weird," she murmured, furrowing her brow.  Austin, who had stayed back for a second, poked his head out and looked around.  

"Maybe the mystery guest is invisible. Or—" Before he could finish, a small, wrapped package fell from the porch roof, landing right at Briar's feet. 

𓇼𖦹

Startled, Briar jumped back, and Austin laughed at her reaction, but his own curiosity was piqued. He bent down and picked up the small parcel. It was wrapped in brown paper, with no label or name. 

"Uh, did we just get a mystery delivery?" Austin asked, eyeing the package suspiciously.The rest of the group was already out of their seats and hovering by the door now.  

Oliver peered over Austin's shoulder. "Maybe it's from... the *snack fairy*?" Briar gave him a look. "The snack fairy?" Parker leaned in, "If that's the snack fairy's idea of a gift, I'm disappointed."

Austin shook the package gently, holding it up to his ear as if expecting it to make a sound. "It's light... almost feels like... paper?"

Isla, standing in the doorway now, crossed her arms. "Why does this feel like the beginning of a horror movie?" 

Before the suspense could build any further, Briar snatched the package from Austin's hands and unwrapped it in one quick motion. 

Inside was... a single piece of paper. Written in large, loopy handwriting were the words:"*You're not off the hook yet. Game's still on. – M.*"

Everyone crowded around Briar, reading the note. "M?" Parker asked, raising an eyebrow. "Madison?" Austin's face scrunched up in confusion. 

"Wait... does this mean she knows about tonight? Or...?" Briar stared at the note, feeling a sudden pit form in her stomach. 

"I don't know. But it looks like we're not done dealing with her." Austin stepped beside Briar, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Well, whatever it is, we'll handle it. She can't crash every party we have."

"Maybe we should have a plan for next time," Isla suggested, biting her lip.Oliver groaned. "Do we really have to keep making plans to outwit this girl? This is turning into a full-time job."
Briar let out a sigh, then shook her head with a smile. "No. For now, let's just enjoy the snacks we actually bought and not let her ruin tonight."

Austin smirked at her. "Spoken like a true leader." The gang filed back into the house, leaving the mysterious package behind on the porch as they returned to the snack-filled living room. 

Despite the interruption, the atmosphere soon returned to the lighthearted banter from earlier. As they sat down to finish their snacks and watch a movie, Briar felt Austin's hand brush against hers, and when she looked up, he was smiling at her.

"Glad I didn't miss this," he said softly, leaning in closer as the rest of the group talked animatedly around them.

Briar smiled back, giving his hand a small squeeze. "Me too."The mysterious note could wait. Tonight was about them and their friends.