MINI BIKE
-reese wilkerson and Lana bennet
It had been a few days since Lana and Claire Bennet had dinner with the Wilkersons, and even longer since Claire and Lana's dad, James, had officially divorced.
The house had slowly but surely been filled with a mix of old and new furniture. It was her home now, whether she liked it or not.
And she didn't.
All the friends she'd had before the move were now just memories. The moments from her old house, her old street, her old school were already starting to blur, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Her whole life had been flipped upside down in less than a month.
The silence in the house felt louder than it ever had before, which was strange. Sure, her dad had always been away on business trips, and her mom was usually out with friends.
She should've been used to the quiet.
But this time, it was permanent. The only way she'd hear her dad's voice now was through a phone call—if he decided to call.
So here she was, lying back against an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. At least now it looked a little more like hers. Posters were taped unevenly across the walls, soft lights looped around the corners, and a small framed photo sat on her bedside table.
Claire and James stood on either side of her in the picture, all three of them smiling in a way that didn't quite match reality anymore.
A gentle knock came at the door, soft and familiar. It could only be her mom.
"Come in!" Lana called, rolling onto her side to face it, a small smile forming.
Claire stepped inside, her eyes scanning the newly decorated room before settling on her daughter.
"Hey, hon. Lois is taking me to the supermarket so we can finally get some things in the fridge. Do you want anything?"
As she spoke, her gaze landed on the pile of clothes on the floor. Without missing a beat, she picked one up, folded it neatly, and placed it into the third drawer of Lana's dresser.
Lana rolled her eyes slightly. She was going to get to that. Eventually.
She hesitated, then smirked. "Maybe some Reese's?"
Claire grimaced instantly. "Lana, you know I hate those things. The smell is just—ugh."
A knock interrupted her.
"That must be Lois. Don't forget to feed Ralphie, and I won't be long!" Claire said quickly, already halfway out the door, the echo of the front door following after.
Then came scratching at the door.
"Ralphie."
She rolled off the bed, nearly hitting the floor, and reached for the handle just as the golden retriever pushed the door open himself. He bounded in, jumped onto her bed, gave a quick whine, then flopped down dramatically.
"I agree, Ralphie," Lana said, climbing back up beside him. "I mean, it's just Reese's. I know you can't eat them, but if you could, you'd never stop—"
Suddenly, Ralphie's head shot up. He started barking. Loud, nonstop barking aimed out the window.
An engine noise filled the air outside, rising and falling, louder, quieter, louder again—
CRASH.
Both Lana and Ralphie froze, ears pricked.
Lana blinked, then shrugged.
She went back to tidying her room.
Some time passed. Her mom was still out, and Ralphie had settled into a soft, steady snore on the bed.
Silence filled the house again.
TAP.
Lana turned, scanning the walls, then went back to picking up clothes.
TAP.
She spun around faster this time, heart picking up. The curtains swayed gently in the breeze.
She exhaled, about to turn away, maybe put some music on, remind herself to tell Claire about the noise—
Two faces suddenly appeared in the window.
Malcolm.
And Dewey.
Lana squinted at them.
What was it with those boys and her window?
Malcolm was mouthing something rapidly, clearly urgent. Dewey just stood there, smiling like this was completely normal.
"Can I help you?" Lana raised an eyebrow, pulling the curtain aside.
"We need your help," Malcolm said. "Like, right now."
"Right now!" Dewey echoed.
Before Lana could fully process what was happening, Dewey had grabbed her arm through the window and started pulling. It didn't do much—he was, what, six?,but still...
With a sigh, Lana climbed out, letting herself be dragged along anyway.
What's she doing here?" Reese asked, his eyebrow lifting as he clutched his knee, trying very hard to look like he wasn't in pain.
Lana looked between them, equally confused.
"Um... yeah, I'm not too sure either. Why am I here?"
Malcolm ran a hand through his hair, already stressed. "Because we need help, and you were... available."
"You yanked me out of my window."
"Exactly."
Reese squinted at her. "She's gonna tell Mom."
"I'm not gonna—" Lana started, then paused. "just show me what's wrong"
"No one is telling Mom anything!" Malcolm snapped, panic creeping in. "If she finds out Reese got hurt on the mini bike, she's going to kill us. Then him. Then us again for letting him ride it."
"no, wait. I didn't let him," Malcolm added quickly. "He just... did."
Reese pointed at Malcolm. "You said it was a good idea!"
"I said it was a predictable idea!"
"just show me what happened!"
Lana interjected, her voice rising.
"fine" Reeses growled. Flipping the blanket off of his right leg, revealing a deformed knee, the area where the bone should've been in the middle, now poking off to the left.
Lana's head tilted, disgust painting her face . "oh my god, that's disgusting- i"
"HI MOM"
Dewey and Malcolm's voice boomed over what Lana was previously saying.
Her heart dropped. Gently, but quickly tugging the blanket back over reese's leg, Coughing to hide his wince. Before turning to face Lois.
"Lana?" The older woman's voice questioned.
"Hi Mrs Wilkerson! i hope you don't mind me here, i just thought it would be nice to hangout!"
Lana innocently smiled, her dimples being displayed.
"well i hope you don't mind me i just have to have a conversation with the boys about the mini bike? they might have talked to you about it" Lois leaned against the doorway, hands crossing over one another
"OH, i've heard" Lana states, holding her laugh in before flicking Reeses knee behind her back, causing him to lightly slap her hands.
Lois continued, following the Malcolm, Dewey, and Reeses eyeline.
"Look, boys. I was thinking about it and you're old enough to deserve an explanation." she sighs. "I was-"
"You don't always know what's best for us!" Reese suddenly blurted, sitting up a little too fast before immediately regretting it. "You don't know if we had gotten hurt! There's such a thing as trust, and I really think we've earned it!"
Lana's eyebrows shot up.
That was bold.
"Reese, I'm not saying that—" Lois started.
"I don't want to sit here and listen to it any longer."
Malcolm leaned over, muttering, "Yes, you do."
Reese paused. "...Oh. Right."
Lana had to physically press her lips together to stop herself from laughing.
Lois exhaled, clearly trying to reset. "Look, I tell you what. How about I take you to the skateboard park tonight? How does that sound?"
Malcolm shook his head quickly. "I'm actually pretty tired."
"Me too," Reese added stiffly. "And I really think I should get started on next week's homework."
Lana turned her head slowly toward them.
Homework?
That was almost impressive.
Lois narrowed her eyes. "What's going on? You guys are—"
"Lois! Lois!!"
The voice echoed from the kitchen.
Lana flinched slightly. "Who is that?"
Lois closed her eyes briefly. "Oh, for God's sake... what is it now?" She turned and walked out. "What's the matter, Craig?"
The second Lois disappeared, Lana didn't move to leave.
She just stayed exactly where she was, leaning lightly against the wall like she'd always been part of the room.
Malcolm glanced at her quickly, like he expected her to bolt at any second.
She didn't.
Malcolm pointed at Reese. "Focus."
Reese clutched the blanket tighter over his leg. "I think I'm dying."
"pffft okay. calm down drama queen," Lana shot back.
, before quietening her voice. "to be honest that is not normal."
From the kitchen, Craig's voice drifted in, loudly confused about pickles.
"i thought your dad sounded different?" Lana questioned.
A beat.
Then, faintly—
"That's our neighbour craig, We burned his house down."
Lana froze.
"Oh ok..." She clapped her hands awkwardly.
Malcolm shook his head quickly. "Irrelevant. Completely irrelevant."
Reese groaned. "I can feel my heartbeat in my knee."
This caused Malcolm to panic "Oh man, we really need to get you to the hospital." Turning towards the bedroom door.
"We can't. Mom will kill us if she finds out about the bike." Reese quickly sat up. Hands reaching out.
"This isn't about the bike. We're screwed for the next 5 years on anything we like to do. There's got to be some way we can get you to the hospital before she finds out. Then we can come up with a cover story" Malcolm quickly retorted.
"Can you handle that? I think I have to bite into my pillow for the next 5 minutes." Reese cried. Eyebrows furrowing
in the middle.
Lana turned to face Reese, a mocking pout resting on her face
Reese hated that she actually looked adorable
"There's got to be some way we can do this" Malcolm muttered, before opening the door to see Craig standing outside.
"Have you seen Jellybean's sweater? Oh hi sweetie you must be Lana. I'm craig, Be careful with these boys they-"
"burnt your house down?"Lana questioned, politely waving back to the man.
"yeah how did you know?! i-" Craig was cut off by Malcolm shoving him out the door.
"Ok reese just lay there, not too hard! Malcolm really tried to make this fool proof for you" lana stated, looking downward at the boy laying on the ground near the car, patting his shoulders. "don't mess it up."
"yeah Reese, don't mess it up" Dewey repeated, patting Reese on the exact same spot, before following after Lana who stood a little further down the driveway.
it all happened so quick, Reeses fake screams echoed down the driveway and Craig's guilty cries answered them.
Craig froze in the driver's seat, then practically fell out of the car.
"Oh my god! What did I do? What did I do?!"
Malcolm pointed instantly. "You ran over his leg."
Craig looked like he might pass out. "I didn't— I swear I didn't see—"
From the porch, Lois appeared.
"What happened?" she called, already walking down the steps. Then her eyes landed on Reese. "Oh my God, Reese!"
Lana went very still.
Dewey whispered, impressed, "It's working."
Reese kept up the screaming, but his eyes flicked toward Lana for half a second — like even he couldn't believe this was real anymore.
Lana just stood there, arms loosely crossed, watching the chaos unfold.
"...Yeah," she muttered under her breath. "This is definitely working."
And Craig, still spiraling, just kept repeating:
"What did I do? What did I do?"
The plan had worked perfectly. The four were now sat on the Wilkersons couch watching tv, Malcolm on one end, Reese and Lana in the middle and Dewey on the end. Usually Lana and Reese would not be in such close contact, their thighs touching, and hands awkwardly next to one another's. but Dewey begged to sit next to the girl.
In walked, Lois, a worried expression plastered onto her face.
"Hey, Reese. How's your leg?"
Reese leaned back against the cushions. "Not bad. Pain goes away when you black out."
Lana glanced at him, whispering slightly. "oh i'm sure"
"It works," Reese muttered, nodding quickly.
Lois handed out drinks, a smile on her face . "You guys want a drink?"
The Four quickly nodding.
Lana held herself back, she hadn't wanted to intrude and reach out for one, that would be weird? what if it wasn't acctually for he-
"here" Reese offered, passing the the small can of coke into Lana's hand unexpectedly.
Lois paused for half a second, looking between them, then continued as if she had decided not to question it.
"One more thing," she added casually. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice a busted up mini bike half buried in the sandbox?"
The room went still.
Malcolm froze.
Reese slowly turned his head.
Dewey whispered, "Uh oh."
Lana coughed. holding in a laugh, before being gently elbowed in her side by the forested tipped boy next to her.
Before she could complain, there was a noise from the doorway, Craig appeared with a suitcase in his hands, looking deeply defeated.
"Jellybean and I are leaving now," he said. "Once again I'm very sorry. I can't even look you people in the eye."
the door swung shut, silence again filling the room.
"you know what!" Lana got up, "i think it's best i go home too, my moms probably wondering where i am" quickly trying to escape from the awkward family confession that was bound to happen.
"thank you so much for having me lois! bye guys!" She waved quickly, mouthing a quick sorry to malcolm before shutting the door behind her.
"Where have you been young lady!" Claire questioned, laying back against the soft cushions of their couch. A vogue magazine in hand.
"i was just hanging out with Malcolm, Reese and Dewey, i thought Lois might've told you?" Lana questioned, kicking off her shoes and patting Ralphie on the head.
"oh she did young lady, i hope you weren't involved in Reeses accident" Claire stated, eyebrows raising, Brown eyes following the body moving past her.
"oh please, i'm innocent!"
She stepped forward with a grin, arms lifting slightly in a mock display of innocence. "I'm basically a victim of circumstance. A bystander. A civilian."
Claire didn't move, just watched her carefully. "Mm-hm."
Lana held the pose a beat longer, then dropped it with a small laugh. "Okay, fine, I was there. But I didn't cause anything."
Claire exhaled through her nose, already tired in that very specific parental way. "That's not exactly reassuring."
"It should be," Lana said lightly, walking past her into the house. "It means I showed restraint."
Claire followed her into the room, still skeptical. "Restraint is not usually the word I associate with you lately."
Lana flopped onto the couch like she owned it. "And honestly, That's growth."
Claire paused, looking at her daughter for a moment. The house was quieter than the Wilkerson one had been, less chaotic but still carrying that strange post-upheaval stillness.
"ok well i'm making tea, and your reese's are on the side, i hope your hungry!" Claire said getting up before walking towards the kitchen.
Lana smiled, looking at her mum in the distance, before getting up, walking over and hugging her, which was then joined by ralphie jumping up at the two.
A/N
LOL guys i didn't even realise i said reese's as in like the sweets 🥹
ig it's just a coincidence x
also this is kinda rushed and short because i already have the next episode (carnival) written but thought they should have another bit together beforehand x