"'Stop having fun, guys!'" Nico lobbed back, her tone affectionately mocking. "'You're having fun the wrong way!'" She tossed her head as though she were going to walk away. "Consider the invitation rescinded; we'll ask Mikey instead."

She stuck her head back in. "I'd offer to play with you, but it doesn't sound like there's a lot of call for tubas; and I never managed to convince my parents to let me have a base."