He screams when I tickle his side, but it works as his grip loosens. “Nate, we don’t have time for this.”
“Really, boys. You’re grown men for crying out loud.” We both freeze as our mum’s stern voice shouts through the car.
I scramble out of the car and stand up, brushing myself off I point at Archie. “He started it. He wouldn’t show me what’sinside his bag.” No sooner than the words leave my lips, I realise how childish they sound, but there’s no way I’m backing down.
Archie’s mouth drops open. “My fault? You accosted me.”
My mum folds her arms and raises a brow.
We both shut up, and I climb in the car while our dad chuckles away. Luckily, the traffic has cleared, so now we can make some headway.
The static of the walkie-talkie sounds through the car, then a beep. “This is Hawk, come in Eagle and Toucan. Over.”
Radio silence.
Archie repeats himself.
There's static and a beep before Emmy’s voice floats through the tiny radio. “Yes, Archie. We’re here. Directly behind you, in fact.”
Arch huffs. “This is Hawk. Can you confirm your code name? Don’t forget to say over when you’re done. Over.” To us, he says. “Honestly, can’t get the staff.”
The walkie-talkie comes to life again, and Emmy giggles. “Sorry, Hawk. Eagle here, over.”
Archie clicks the button again. “This Hawk. Toucan, are you in range? Over.”
Static and a beep before Ethan’s voice booms. “You’re a dumb shit. Over.”
Mum gasps. “Give me that walkie-talkie, Archie.” He passes it to her, and she clicks the button on the side. “Ethan Frances Peterson, you apologise to your brother right now and stop swearing. Over.”
The walkie-talkie beeps once more. “Sorry, mum. Sorry Archie. Over.” Ethan grumbles in response.
**********
We’re twenty minutes away from Hayleigh's parents' house. Archie rustles the bag in the back seat, but because he’s sitting directly behind me, I can’t see what it is he’s doing.
I look into the rearview mirror. “Arch, what are you doing?” Suspicion seeps into my voice.
“Huh?” He ducks down.
‘Bluetooth connected’The car’s voice fills the air.
I chance a quick look at the radio, wondering if it’s somehow picked up my phone.
‘Playing ACDC, Thunderstruck.’
The familiar notes of the guitar blast through the car.
“What the hell?” I look in the rearview mirror right as the drums start banging and the crowd sings ‘thunder’.
Archie sits up, smudging black lines on his cheeks and forehead as he bops along to the beat.
I turn the volume down slightly. “Uhm, Arch, what are you doing?”
Our mum turns in her seat and bursts out laughing before sobering up. “Archie, is that my eyeliner?”
His head nods through the mirror. “Yeah, grabbed it out of your bag. We have to be prepared. Here.” He passes the eyeliner to my mum.
I have to hold back my laugh because he seems wholly serious. “Archie, why on earth do you need face paint? We aren’t going to war.”
