Surprise!

Madison leaned forward from the backseat, peering between the front seats of Donna’s car. “Okay, it should be this one—on the right, with the yellow curtains.”

Donna glanced in the rearview mirror. “You’re sure?”

“Totally sure,” Madison said, pulling her phone back and flashing Aynsley a grin. “Remember Saanvi? The girl Indira tutored in algebra last year? She still had Indira’s info saved. One text later, and boom. Surprise time.”

Aynsley leaned against the door, idly checking her lipstick in the side mirror. “She’s going to freak.”

Madison felt a tingle of excitement spark in her chest. It wasn’t just the thrill of the unannounced visit—it was the fact that this meant something. They weren’t just messing around. Indira was one of them now. She belonged. And it was time she really felt that.

“We’ll be quick,” Madison promised Donna, reaching for the door handle. “Five minutes tops.”

“I’ll keep the engine running,” Donna said with a dry smile. “Just don’t cause a scene.”

“Oh please,” Aynsley said, already climbing out. “When have we ever caused a scene?”

Madison laughed. “Literally every day.”

The apartment complex was older but clean. The kind of place that felt lived in, like a favorite hoodie. They climbed a short flight of stairs and stood before a faded red door. Madison knocked, heart skipping like she was about to break someone out of prison.

A few seconds later, the door creaked open.

Indira’s mother stood there, startled. She wore a simple cotton kurta, her hair pulled back, a wooden spoon in one hand like she’d just come from stirring something. Her eyes widened instantly—two beautiful girls on her doorstep, dressed like they belonged in a magazine.

“Hello?” she said cautiously, glancing between them.

“Hi!” Madison chirped. “Is Indira home?”

“We’re friends from school,” Aynsley added, smiling. “We were hoping to take her out. Shopping.”

Indira’s mother blinked. “You are… friends from school?”

Madison nodded, stepping forward a little. “We go to South Point with her. I’m Madison. This is Aynsley.”

“She’s been helping me with math,” Aynsley said innocently, which was a lie, but it sounded sweet and believable.

From somewhere inside, footsteps padded fast across the floor. Indira appeared behind her mother, wearing leggings and an oversized T-shirt, barefoot. Her eyes locked onto theirs, jaw dropping like someone had just rewired the universe.

“Hi,” Madison said with a little wave. “Surprise.”

Indira just stood there, stunned.

“Are they really your friends?” her mother asked gently.

Indira blinked. Then nodded slowly. “Yeah. We’re friends.”

“Good friends,” Aynsley added, stepping inside just enough to throw her arms around Indira. She gave her a squeeze, and Indira froze for a beat before tentatively hugging her back.

“Wow,” Madison said, grinning at Indira’s mom. “It smells amazing in here. What are you making?”

“Just dal,” the woman said, flustered but clearly pleased.

“It smells like heaven,” Madison said sincerely. “You must be an amazing cook.”

Indira’s mother’s face softened completely, a quiet kind of pride blooming in her eyes. She looked at her daughter again and smiled. “Have fun, beta.”

Madison and Aynsley each grabbed one of Indira’s arms and pulled her toward the door.

“I haven’t even put on shoes!” Indira protested.

“Who cares? You’re coming,” Aynsley said.

“We’ll wait downstairs,” Madison offered as they started back toward the car. “But hurry up, sister. We’ve got work to do.”

They piled into the back seat just as Indira jogged out the door, pulling on sneakers and tying her hair into a ponytail.

“Why the surprise?” she asked once she’d clicked her seatbelt.

“Because we’ve decided to treat our new sister right,” Madison said with a wink. “And you’re going to look amazing tomorrow.”

“To the mall!” Aynsley yelled.

Donna shook her head with a laugh and started the car. “God help me.”

They drove off into the spring sunshine, the city opening up in front of them like a story just beginning.

Author's note:

Hi! It is I... Mr Nice Guy! Just checking in to let you know that not only is this the 100th chapter of Mansplain, this is the 900th chapter I've written on CHYOA!
Also, looked through the stories I've done, and of the stories that I've started, Mansplain now has the most likes!

Thank-you so much for enjoying this story! This one has been a challenge to write so far, but it has also been very rewarding. I'm looking forward to getting this story over the finish line, but for now, let's have fun riding along with Joey and his friends. There's so much more ahead!