Something that wasn't technically asked for but I don't think you'll be disappointed in.

***********************************

Elle: We're here.

The message sent Kennedy scrambling off her bed and tugging on her shoes. Snatching her bag off the hook by her door, she left her room.

"Headed out?" her mother said, sitting on the family couch.

"Yup."

"What's on the agenda tonight?" Carter asked.

"The usual, world domination and dessert."

"Sounds fun. Remember leadership isn't as fun as it seems."

"Got it, make Haven the leader and be her trusted military commander."

"That's my girl. Have fun."

Outside the apartment door, Kennedy found Harrison sitting on the hallway floor. She didn't even blink an eye at his strange choice of resting areas. After all, she knew him and knew exactly why he was there. Harrison hurried to his feet as Kennedy passed by.

"Let me come with you," he said keeping pace with her.

"No, it's a girls' night. You are not a girl."

"Which is why I think I'd make a great addition. I could offer the male viewpoint on issues."

"Please, we all have enough of the male view, we have these nights to get away from the male view. So no, you're not coming."

Kennedy thought her assertive refusal would keep him in the hallway but he joined her in the elevator.

"But what if you talk about me and you realize that I'm awful and you don't want to be with me anymore?"

"That's what you're worried about? If that was the case, talking about you or not would not save this relationship."

"Please let me come."

"I love you but no."

"You're just saying you love me to assure me but since I know this is you attempting to reassure me it is no longer reassuring, you've negated your own reassurance."

Kennedy laughed at him as he gave her his best puppy dog eyes. The elevator doors opened and they stepped out, Kennedy waving to the doorman as they passed through to the street. At the curb, waited a cherry red vintage Mustang.

"Back seat!" Zoya called out to Kennedy.

Haven smiled warmly at Kennedy as she exited the passenger seat to allow Kennedy to duck into the back with Elle. When Haven closed the door, Harrison bent forward, gazing into the car packed with Kennedy and her three cousins.

"Zoya, you should let me come," Harrison said.

Zoya laughed. "Sure, if you don't mind us spending the entire evening putting down the male species and creating ways in which the world would be a better place if females ruled."

Harrison put his fist in the air. "I firmly believe in female power. I'll happily be a lackey in this new female regime."

Elle looked at Kennedy with raised eyebrows and a quirk smiled. "I can see why you kept this one. He's a lot better than that other guy you had before."

"I know. Though we're working on boundaries."

Harrison lowered his fist. "Fine. I get it. My male-ness is unappreciated here. I will take me and my gender out of your sight." He backed away but darted forward. "I love you, have fun!"

He smiled and skipped backward before turning and heading into the apartment building.

"That was nauseatingly cute," Zoya said.

Kennedy exchanged a look with Elle and her cousin nodded. It hadn't been a joke, it was a male-bashing night.

"I know she's technically not our cousin but do we want to invite Sophia to tonight's outing?" Kennedy asked.

The moment she finished her sentence, she questioned herself. If it was a male-bashing night, it wasn't likely a night Sophia would enjoy. But she'd still said it because there was a part of Kennedy that always wanted to protect Sophia and include her.

"Sure," Haven said.

Kennedy put her phone on speaker and the car fell silent as it rang.

"Hello," Sophia answered.

"Hey, girl," Kennedy said.

Sophia said nothing and Kennedy had to admire the way she used silence like other people used vague sounds to keep people talking.

"I wanted to see if you'd like to join the girls' night?" Kennedy said.

"What would that entail?" Sophia asked.

Kennedy shared looks with her cousins, silently asking them what they planned to do.

"Some shopping, dinner, dessert, a lot of talk about the male species," Zoya said.

A pause followed Zoya's list and the cousins all waited.

"I appreciate your offer but that sounds overstimulating and as I have little knowledge of the male species worth inputting I believe I would not enjoy the evening. And I think that would affect all of you. Thank you though."

"Okay. Another time then," Elle said.

"Possibly. I hope you have an interesting night," Sophia said then hung up.

"I love that girl," Zoya said, checking the street before pulling into traffic. "I mean, she says exactly what she's thinking but she's so sincere in her honesty that it's not like you can get offended. She's being honest. I love that."

"You're one of the few people who see her honesty that way," Kennedy said, sinking back in her seat.

Growing up with Sophia, Kennedy had never thought about how she acted, it was always just the way she was. But once Kennedy was around Sophia while around others in high school who didn't understand her, she saw the gap between them. She saw the times, where even though Sophia spoke plainly, there was a miscommunication or misunderstanding.

"I get it," Elle said. "If I didn't know she was a sweet person, I'd find her extremely intimidating."

"Intimidating?" Kennedy said, trying to imagine how her blonde cheerleader of a cousin would in any situation ever find the fourteen-year-old Sophia intimidating.

"That's understandable," Haven said, her voice a balance between softness and authority. "Anyone who isn't certain of who they are would be intimidated by Sophia. She's never not known who she is and so she speaks her mind with complete assurance. High schoolers rarely know who they are and so that assurance is unsettling."

Kennedy had to smile at her cousin's analytical view of high schoolers as if she hadn't been one only a year ago. But what else was to be expected from Uncle Clint and Aunt Eva's daughter?

"Makes sense, high schoolers are a bunch of headless chickens," Zoya said with a superior toss of her thick black hair.

"Zoya, you do realize that all of you were high schoolers only last year, right?" Kennedy said.

Zoya waved her hand dismissively. "Last year. That's light years ago. We are college women. You are still a high school girl."

"Yes. This high school girl is only eight months younger than you," Kennedy said.

"Be happy you're still a high school girl," Elle said. "College is exhausting."

"And the men, or boys should I say, are worse than high school. At least in high school, you can delude yourself that they will mature. In college, you lose all delusion that they will."

"Are we now in the male bashing segment of our girls' night?" Haven asked seriously.

Zoya shrugged. "I figured it can be an ongoing discussion that we drop and pick up as we choose."

"That sounds very us," Kennedy said, making everyone smile. "Where are we headed exactly?"

"Shopping," Zoya said. "I've decided to remake my entire image."

"Any reason?"

"Not sure yet."

The reason was revealed when Zoya emerged from a changing room dressed in clothes that were three times the size of her frame. Kennedy exchanged looks with Elle and Haven, silently asking for an explanation, in case they knew something she didn't.

But her curiosity was answered by Zoya.

"What do you think?" she said. "I call it male repellant."

"What's going on, Zo?" Haven asked.

With her clasped hands resting in her lap and her face calm and attentive, she looked like the spitting image of her mother.

Zoya placed her hands on her hips. "I can't decide that I want to reject the entire male species."

"You can," Elle said easily. "But usually you have reasons despite what your sporadic personality suggests."

"I do not have a sporadic personality, I have a mysterious personality."

"Synonymous," Kennedy said.

Zoya looked around the trio and Kennedy knew she saw all their concern and love in the way she dropped her arms. Zoya might come off as the feisty one that would attack without thought but her defenses hid a tender heart. Elle patted the cushioned stool next to her. With a sigh, Zoya plopped onto the stool on her stomach, resting her chin on the edge, looking a little like a puppy.

"I think I'm going to murder my entire class," Zoya said.

None of the girls reacted to this statement. Zoya raised her head. "No response to that?"

"It's you, Zo," Kennedy said. "This is a normal statement. We're waiting for the reason behind it."

"It's because, even though the field of computer science is expanding to include more women, it's not expanding fast enough and I'm one of the early pioneers dealing with the men who think it's their territory."

"Just flex that your mom started and owns Zinc Tech," Kennedy said. "It's a claim that should mark your right to be there."

"Oh, no that would only make them think I got into the program because of my mom's name. It would work against me. There feels like no way to fight them. If I beat them at what they're good at, they hate me. If I fail to beat them, they mock me. There's no way to win. I'm surrounded by idiots who couldn't get a date with me and yet they feel they have the right to belittle me for being female. And then there are the ones that hit on me. I'm thinking of quitting."

"Okay quit," Elle said.

"No," Zoya said. "This is where you're up in arms that I would even think of quitting, you give me the pep talk I need to face another week. I take your words and hold them close to my heart for always."

"Have you ever done that before?" Elle asked.

"No, but this time could be different."

Kennedy laughed and Zoya grinned, even despite the conflict she faced.

"What do you want?" Haven said.

"I think that's a stupid question since the answer is obvious, for the male population to stop being a bunch of misogynistic a-"

"Arrogant jerks, yes. But I mean what do you really want?" Haven asked.

Zoya pouted a little in thought but Kennedy knew she already had the answer, she simply needed the courage to say it out loud. It was the contradiction that was Zoya, she said whatever she wanted to and yet it was simple truths that were hard for her to say.

"I want to be treated like a peer," Zoya said, gazing around at the trio. "I want to be friends with the only people who love what I love. I don't understand why that is so hard to ask for."

Kennedy hurt for Zoya, in her life she'd always dragged Harrison into liking what she was interested in. He could argue and fight her, but very rarely did.

"We get that," Elle said, sympathetically. "But it's because you have the audacity of being smart and pretty. They don't know how to handle it."

"Oh so this is my fault," Zoya said, indignant.

"Technically your parents," Kennedy pointed out.

"Elle has a point," Haven said.

"That this is my fault?" Zoya said, no longer slumping over the cushioned stool but sitting on it.

"No, not your fault but you're the type of beautiful girl most of them would never approach on their best days, so in that sense you're intimidating. Then you're smart on top of that, so they don't even have the capability of showing off their intellect when you can match it."

"That is such a logical explanation that plays on my two best features that I'm finding it hard to be annoyed by it."

Haven smiled, an action that always transformed her usually placid face into something warm and comforting. Kennedy knew it was impossible not to feel loved by Haven when she smiled. That's why she thought of Haven's smile as a secret weapon, if she was ever in any argument all she had to do was whip it out and her opponent would be destroyed by its kindness and sincerity.

"Is there anything we can do?" Elle asked.

"We mean besides helping you murder your entire class, disposing of the bodies, and being each other's alibis," Kennedy said.

Zoya sighed dramatically. "Too much work. Food should be equally as helpful."

"Food it is then," Haven said. "Let's go. Unless you play to actually overhaul your entire wardrobe into this new Male Repellant style?"

"I've changed my mind about it. I will be brilliant, beautiful, and intimidating. They will all simply have to deal with it."

Once standing, Elle hugged Zoya. Despite the blonde cheerleader exterior, Elle was the kindest of them all, the first to offer affection and encouragement, while Kennedy knew her instant go-to responses were sarcasm and humor, Haven logic and advice. Elle was the balancing factor in the group, bringing in the softer side they all needed.

With Elle initiating the hug, Kennedy and Haven joined in, helping cocoon Zoya. Though most people would only see Zoya's brashness, the three saw her vulnerability. Zoya rested her head against Elle's.

"Thanks," she said, quietly.

"Murder is still an option," Elle whispered, making all the girls laugh.

"Yes, but carbs are easier and less likely to have life-altering results if caught."

"True," Elle said. "I'm still sorry that they don't simply get their heads out of their computer codes and be your friend."

Zoya only nodded since there was no other way to respond. It was the way of life. It didn't mean it was a good way but some rivers had to be redirected one thin stream at a time.

In the restaurant, Zoya had put away her struggle and bounced back to her usual self, something Kennedy knew was her way of dealing with things. Later on, she'd face whatever emotions she still had. Mostly likely call Haven when she faced them. Though complete opposites in personalities, the two of them were the closest out of the group. It helped that they'd gone to the same school all their lives, which now included college.

The waiter appeared and smiled at the table. He looked about their age with a kind, friendly face, and well-cut hair.

"Hello, I'll be your server for tonight. My name is Anthony. How are you ladies doing tonight?" he asked.

"Great," Zoya said, leaning on the table. "We're discussing murder and whether the male species should be eliminated."

"Good to know. I'll make sure to remove the steak knives from your place settings and clock out early. Before that, can I get you anything to drink?"

Zoya looked stunned and Kennedy held in her laughter.

"Sparkling waters all around," Haven said. "And if we could get a basket of breadsticks, that would be great."

"Non-lethal breadsticks or lethal?" Anthony asked, his pencil hovering over his notebook. He looked to Zoya.

She smiled. "I'm pretty sure all of us could be lethal no matter the object given."

"Regular breadsticks it is," Anthony said, making a note. "I'll be right back with your sparkling waters and breadsticks right after I've changed into full body armor."

He walked away and Zoya watched him go, bending forward even more to see as he slipped into the back of the restaurant.

"No, Zoya," Kennedy said. "We know that look."

"What! Did you not hear his response, that's a man who isn't phased by anything."

"You were just cursing all men like five minutes ago?" Elle teased.

"I cursed the stupid ones in my class. He is neither stupid nor in my class, therefore I have not cursed him."

"You are hopeless," Kennedy said.

"Am I to be blamed for this?"

"Most people would say yes," Haven said.

"I'm not," Zoya said. "Here's why. Our parents. Amazing couples. As if that's not enough there's Elle and Felix. What is that? No one is supposed to have a boyfriend since junior year you know will be your husband one day."

"You're blaming me for having a boyfriend I trust," Elle asked.

"It's more than that. He's your stunt partner. I mean you literally trust this man to throw you into the air and catch you. Your strong relationship sickens me."

"Ah. I can see why I am to blame," Elle said.

Before the conversation could go further, Anthony returned, setting down the waters and putting the basket of breadsticks in the center of the table.

"Where's the body armor?" Zoya asked.

"I decided you all looked capable enough to take me down without it that it would be pointless to have to wear it around the restaurant." He smiled teasingly at Zoya. "Do you need time to decide what you want?"

He was either a very friendly server or he was attracted to Zoya. Kennedy had no doubt it was there latter. After all, Zoya had the beautiful and brilliant thing going for her.

Zoya resting her chin on her fist. "I haven't yet decided. How old are you?"

"Twenty," Anthony said.

"College?"

"Yes."

"What are you studying?"

"Medicine. I want to be a medical technician."

Zoya nodded appreciatively. Anthony shifted like he was making to leave but didn't leave.

"What are you studying?" he asked.

"Computer science," Zoya said, in a tone that could only be called challenging.

Anthony smiled. "A field that needs more women."

"You think so?" Zoya said.

"I do. My sister is studying computer science in Tennessee and says it's hard being the only female."

Haven exchanged looks with Elle and Kennedy, all of them silently communicating that the piece of the puzzle had fit into place. Anthony had a sister, which made him comfortable around women and she was in the same position as Zoya, giving him understanding.

"It is what is leading me down the path of murder," Zoya said.

Anthony grinned, something Kennedy decided he did without thought. A good sign.

"Let me know if you need someone to dig holes," he said. He backed up. "I'll let you decide what you want and be back in a few minutes."

"I don't think it will take that long," Zoya said, returning his smile.

When Anthony left, Kennedy rested her arms on the table. "I feel like our Girls' Night is really interrupting your flirting with Anthony."

"Never," Zoya said. "Girls come first." Kennedy shot her a skeptical look. "His number will simply come second."

It did as they left the restaurant and a smile that reaffirmed that he was just as taken with Zoya as she was with him.

Kennedy was dropped off with multiple promises that she'd never be left out of the loop of how it progressed with Anthony. As she rode the elevator up, she thought of Zoya, her classmates, Anthony, and it left her with only one thought. She knocked on the Evans' apartment door.

A second later, Harrison opened.

"Are you here to break up with me having realized talking to your cousins that I'm not worth your time?"

Kennedy didn't answer, instead she cupped his face and kissed him, taking her time. When she pulled back, Harrison looked dazed.

"Uh... not what I expected after Girls' Night filled with male bashing," he said.

Kennedy stared at him, soaking in the face she knew so well.

"Kenny?" Harrison said.

"Thank you," she said.

"For?"

"For knowing me. For accepting me. For understanding me. Tonight made me realize that I got one of the good ones."

**********************************************************************

...

Yeah, go ahead and say it, I know you will anyways. 🗯💬💭

Here's the thing, did I enjoy writing this? Yes, yes I did.

Do I kinda hate writing these chapters knowing the repercussions of it and the want to know more?

Yes, yes I kinda do.

Okay, I'm like half joking because in the end I'll write whatever I want to write and let you be okay with it even though what I usually end up writing it exactly what you want to and asked for...

Funny how my love for you looks a lot like having no will power against you.

Something I love about the cousins is that even though their fathers married every different women the commonalty between them all is that they are all strong women who imprinted that mindset into their daughters.

Yeah, it was fun. I don't even know why I got the idea for this. But I hope you enjoyed it!

Vote, comment, follow if you feel like doing so.

Also this is what the cousins look like.

Zoya

Haven

Elle

Shout out comments from Love is a Number

💜💜💜

Also the cousins as kittens!