**Chapter 12: A Web of Deceit**

As Sophia's eyes sparkled with interest, Asher felt a sense of unease wash over him. He had been caught off guard by Ethan's quick thinking, but he knew that this fabrication wouldn't hold up for long. Ethan, on the other hand, seemed to be reveling in the moment, launching into a detailed explanation of their supposed band plans. "We're thinking of calling it 'Electric Storm'," Ethan said, his voice dripping with enthusiasm. "We're going to play a mix of rock and pop, with a hint of electronic dance music." Sophia's eyes lit up. "That sounds amazing! I'd love to hear some of your music. Do you have any demos?" Asher's heart sank as he realized that they were in deeper water than he had anticipated. He glanced at Ethan, who was smiling innocently, but Asher could see the panic rising in his eyes. "I, uh, we don't have any demos yet," Asher stammered. "We're still working on our sound." Sophia nodded understandingly. "Well, I'd love to hear more about your music. Why don't you two come over to my house tomorrow and we can discuss it further?" Asher's eyes met Ethan's, and he could see the alarm rising in his friend's eyes. They had just been caught in their own web of deceit, and now they were being pulled deeper into the trap. The rest of the evening was a blur as they tried to navigate the party without raising any more suspicions. But as they made their way back to Asher's house, the silence between them was thick with tension. "Well, that was a disaster," Asher said, shaking his head. Ethan grinned. "Not bad, not bad at all. We made it out alive, didn't we?" Asher raised an eyebrow. "But at what cost? We're now committed to starting a fake band, and we have to go to Sophia's house tomorrow to discuss it further." Ethan chuckled. "Hey, it's not like we had a choice. Besides, it's not like I'm not enjoying this. It's been a while since we've had some real fun." Asher sighed, rubbing his temples. He knew that Ethan was right, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that they were playing with fire. The next day, they arrived at Sophia's house, their hearts heavy with anticipation. Sophia greeted them warmly, and led them to her living room. "So, tell me more about Electric Storm," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Asher and Ethan exchanged a nervous glance, before launching into a rehearsed speech about their supposed band plans. But as they spoke, Asher couldn't shake off the feeling that Sophia was onto them. She seemed to be listening intently, her eyes never leaving theirs. And then, just as they were wrapping up their conversation, Sophia's expression changed. Her eyes narrowed, and her voice took on a steely tone. "I think it's time we had a little chat, don't you?" she said, her eyes boring into Asher's. Asher's heart sank as he realized that he was in trouble. He glanced at Ethan, who was looking like a deer caught in the headlights. They had just stepped into a whole new level of complexity, and Asher had no idea how they were going to get out of this mess.