The Chipotle door swung shut behind Nicole, and she stepped onto the sidewalk like she had just escaped a war zone.

“Unreal,” she muttered. “Apparently asking if their queso counts as actual cheese is grounds for exile.”

She rolled her eyes, and almost pulls out a cigarette before she sees you.

Then she froze.

You were standing right there, arms crossed like you’d been waiting the whole time.

Nicole’s face went from shock to annoyance in a heartbeat. “…Oh, fantastic. My annoying sibling. Just what this disaster needed.”

She tilted her head at you, sarcasm dripping. “What, did you teleport? Or do you just have some creepy sixth sense for showing up exactly when my life hits peak embarrassment?”

You opened your mouth to reply, but she cut you off immediately. “Nope. Don’t say it. I can already hear the smug sibling speech loading in your brain.”

Nicole let out a sharp laugh, bitter and amused at the same time. “Unbelievable. I get banned from a fast-food chain, and my sibling magically appears to witness it. Honestly? Feels like the universe is out to humiliate me.”

She shoved her hands into her pockets, brushing past you with a sigh. “Fine. Whatever. Walk with me. But if you tell Mom about this, I’ll make sure your life is ten times more miserable than mine.”