Exalibar waved a hand to dispel the dust and smoke kicked up by Sean's blast. "You know, you fire types never take the sensible option. Like, ever. It's always violence with you guys."
"This doesn't concern you, Exalibar," Sean snarled. "This is between me and your brother."
"Oh, come on, man," Sky shot back. "You are the one in the wrong here. Just leave. Nobody wants to deal with you either way."
Another fireball whizzed past, aimed directly at Sky's head. He avoided it with a sharp turn, the projectile extinguishing harmlessly before it hit the wall behind him.
"I will not be disrespected to my face, Mr. Maxford!"
Chloe leaned closer to Exalibar, her voice low. "Don't you think we should leave? He doesn't seem to be in his right mind."
"Yeah, we should probably get going…" Exalibar agreed. "Sky. Jane."
Sky let out a tense breath. "Yeah, it's probably for the best that we avoid conflict tonight." He turned back to Sean, his tone shifting to one of forced diplomacy. "Sean, hey, listen man. I'm sorry if you felt disrespected. I was just looking out for my girl, you feel me? I hope we're cool."
Sean merely scoffed. "I will remember this, Maxford." He turned on his heel and stalked back into the gala.
The two couples quickly made their way to the waiting car. As the doors closed, Sky turned to his brother.
"He's coming after us, isn't he?"
Exalibar didn't hesitate. "Oh, definitely. I just hope we can get the girls home before that."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than another vehicle rammed hard into their side.
"DAMN IT! He's sooner than expected!" Sky yelled, gripping the handrail as the car shuddered.
Jane panicked, her hands clutching Sky's arm. "This is all my fault! I shouldn't have even talked to him…."
"It's okay, babe, don't worry about it, okay?" Sky reassured her as their driver swerved to avoid a fireball hurled at the tires. "We'll get home, then deal with this guy." He then glanced at the other two, baffled. "Also, how are the two of you so composed??"
Chloe, who had been holding Exalibar's hand since they entered the car, gave him a flat look. "Ummm, did you forget I'm in the military track at the academy?"
Exalibar shrugged, utterly calm. "And I don't really think I'm in any danger. The driver is a skilled veteran."
Sky rolled his heterochromatic eyes. "Of course. Driver, take us home."
"What about me?" Chloe asked.
"And me?" Jane echoed.
"Exalibar over here will call your father and explain what's going on," Sky said, as if it were the simplest solution in the world.
"AND YOU THINK HE WILL LET IT SLIDE? I'M ALREADY PAST CURFEW!" Chloe yelled, just as another impact jolted the car.
"It's better to be late than to be the late, Chloe," Sky retorted.
"Grown ass woman worrying about her curfew…" Jane muttered under her breath as the car suddenly accelerated, pressing them all back into their seats.
"Oh, shut up! You got us into this!"
Exalibar leaned forward. "Driver, how long till we get home?"
"Five minutes," the driver replied, his voice impossibly composed.
Slamming the gas pedal, the veteran expertly maneuvered through traffic, weaving between cars to create distance from their pursuers. After a few tense moments, he'd successfully evaded them, pulling into the quiet, affluent streets of the boys' neighbourhood.
Sky turned to the driver. "Please get the girls home; they'll direct you." He then turned to his date. "Jane, goodnight." He kissed her quickly before looking at Chloe with a laugh. "Chloe, good luck with the old man."
"Oh, haha, very funny," she deadpanned.
"Wait, what are you planning?" Jane asked, her eyes wide.
"To distract them," Sky said, his expression turning grimly determined. "Exalibar, LET'S GO."
In a synchronized move, the brothers climbed out of the car's sunroof while it was still moving.
"It's every week with these stunts," Sky grumbled, finding his footing on the roof.
Exalibar nodded, crouching beside him. "Every damn week."
As the car sped away to safety, the brothers jumped onto the road, landing in a ready stance. They stood their ground, waiting as their assailants' vehicle finally screeched around the corner, speeding right into the worst trap they could have set.