Yay for AU, Halloween stories! This should've been up sooner, but...I'm lazy. I'm home sick from school today, and I got bored. I finally decided to quit being lazy and to get this idea out of my head! I'm surprised there aren't as many Halloween stories here... Myeh. Here be-eth mine! I disclaim everyone in this story. (Howeva, if I could own Paul London for one night, hoo lawd! There's no telling what I'd do with his soft, shiny, silky hair.) Enjoy!
October is a month of mystery. The days get shorter, night comes quicker and the air becomes cooler. Halloween comes once year, and when October hits, the holiday is just around the corner, especially for a town like Auburn, Maine. Halloween is the one day of the year when spirits from the past are able to make themselves known, or so they say it's the only day.
In a cozy, two-bedroom house located a few blocks past the downtown square, lives Lilian Garcia. At 33 years old, she has yet to marry and usually tends to stay away from relationships completely. She's perfectly content staying at home on Friday nights with her Doberman, Reina. Lilian owns the local coffee shop, Cornerstone Café.
One of her best friends, Mickie James, works at the café as well. Mickie lives with her boyfriend of several years, Ken Doane. They're joined at the hip and it pains them when they can't be together or communicate. The town recognizes the relationship and rumors have started that there is a betting pool at Town Hall on when Ken will propose.
Lisa Varon is the third of this close-knitted triangle of best friendship. She owns a bookstore that's catty-cornered from Lilian's coffeehouse. Lisa is engaged to Chris Mordetsky. The couple isn't as sugary and sweet as Ken and Mickie; they have their fights and problems just like the majority of people.
Originally, the three girls would get together on a Saturday evening for a girl's night. But then Mickie found Ken and they became inseparable. Lisa began bringing Chris as well, leaving Lilian without anyone. Mickie and Lisa got together, deciding their close friend needed someone in her life. They went to Ken and Chris who gladly introduced Paul London into the equation.
Paul went to high school with Ken and met Chris while playing on a sponsored Rugby team. Anyone that asks either Paul or Lilian would get the same answer, "We're only friends." And for the most part, it's true. They flirt, just like most people do when members of the opposite sex are around, but nothing relationship wise has come from it, and they're both okay with that.
Now that October has arrived in the quiet town, festivities are beginning. The students at school start to get restless. Everything changes. Decorations are put up downtown, making the square a colorful block of oranges, reds and yellows. Nearly every house, every shop and every building is somehow decorated to get ready for Halloween. Even the trees want to take part with their ever changing leaves.
Cornerstone Café is one shop that vibrantly celebrates Halloween. Though the shop may look and feel like it's full of Halloween fun, it doesn't mean everyone inside believes. Coming from a Hispanic background, being half Puerto Rican and half Spanish, it should be a given that Lilian would go absolutely crazy for the holiday. Her native countries may not celebrate Día de los Muertos, but Halloween is a rich part of the Hispanic culture.
Two days before Halloween, Lilian arrived at her café, Reina following obediently. The dog had been coming to the shop since the day Lilian got her. The Doberman even had her own little corner behind the main counter.
"It's just you and me today, Reinita," Lilian told her pet, unlocking the front door. Mickie had asked for this day off a month in advance being that it was her and Ken's third anniversary.
The red and tan dog brushed past her owner, behind the counter and to her normal spot. Lilian had a tendency to drop crumbs of pastries, and Reina kept a close watch.
Lilian shook her head and flipped on the overhead lights. "It's a wonder you aren't over 200 pounds now, you big hog."
After the machines had warmed up and the chairs pulled down from the tables, Lilian opened up the store. The flow was steady as people came to get their morning cups of coffee or cappuccinos. She knew a lot of them by name, and just about all of their faces. But she didn't know his.
"Good morning, what can I get for you?" she asked, smiling as usual but her eyes scanned the man in front of her.
He was tall, way taller than she was. He was muscular too; she could practically see the seams of his polo stretching against the hard tendons underneath. But his face was soft compared to the rest of his features, almost boyish in appearance.
"I'd like a cup of cortado, with a little bit of milk."
Lilian stared at him. He drinks Spanish coffee? she asked herself. "Cortado?" she repeated.
He nodded, smiling. "Yes, please. Unless you don't serve it here, which is understandable."
"No, no I have it. Not many people ask me for it though." She gave him a crooked smile and went to fix him a cup. "Are you new here? I don't think I've ever seen you before."
"Yes, I just moved here last week. I live a couple miles away from the public library. I'm a new teacher at the high school, one of the counselors recommended your coffee shop." He smiled as she walked back to him with a cup in her hand. "I'm Glen Jacobs."
She handed him the cup. "It's very nice to meet you, I'm Lilian Garcia. I own this place." She laughed carelessly, and shook her head when he offered her money. "Don't worry about it, consider it a welcoming gift."
"Thank you." Someone behind him unceremoniously cleared their throat. "I better get going. Thanks for the coffee."
"Sure, no problem."
For the rest of the morning, she finished getting various coffees and pastries for customers who she would make small talk with. Lilian closed the shop everyday at 11 in the morning and reopened at 8 in the evening, closing for good whenever there wasn't anyone left.
After she closed for the day, Lisa came over on her lunch break. She slipped Reina a treat like usual and sat down at one of the tables.
"What're you up to, chica?"
Lilian came around the counter, carrying two plates that had a sandwich and soup on them. "Not a lot, just trying to keep this place in order."
"Is it that bad without Mickie?" Lisa asked, picking up her spoon and scooping up some of the soup.
"No, not really," Lilian answered. "It goes by a little slower, but it's not like I'm swamped." She laughed softly and took a bite from the sandwich.
"Are we still on for tonight?"
"Oh damn!" Lilian put down her sandwich and jumped up to retrieve her purse. "I completely forgot to call Paul and tell him." She came back to the table, sitting down with her cell phone in hand.
Lisa rolled her eyes playfully. "I'm sure he'll forgive you."
Lilian stuck her tongue out at her friend and waited for the voicemail to pick up. "Hey Paul, it's Lil, uh, I kind of forgot to tell you, but we're all going out tonight to go see a movie and then hang out at Mickie and Ken's house for a bit. Call me when you get this and I'll let you know times and stuff. Bye." She hung up her phone and put it on the table, groaning. "I can't believe I forgot."
"Lil, it's not like you forgot to tell him he's going to die in 24 hours."
"I know, so what are we seeing tonight?"
"Mickie rented The Omen," Lisa answered, finishing her soup and starting on the sandwich.
"Oh, no theaters?"
"Nah, nothing good is playing. At least that's what Chris says, so who knows."
"Sounds good to me. Reina can come right?" At the sound of her name, the dog picked her head up, ears forward.
Lisa chuckled. "Yes, your damn dog can come, just like every other time she comes. I think Paul feels lonely. You should show him half as much affection as you show that dog and he'd be in heaven."
"Oh please, we're just friends!"
They finished lunch and sat back in their chairs. Lisa didn't have to return back to the bookstore for another half an hour.
"Hey, have you heard anything about a new teacher being hired at the high school?"
Lisa shook her head. "I don't think so. But you know me, I don't read the newspaper or stay involved. Why?"
"One of the new teachers, I guess, he came in today. He got a cortado. It was weird."
Lisa arched a raven colored eyebrow. "What's weird about that? You sell coffee; don't you think people should get coffee here?"
"Well, yes, but not that kind!"
"Oh no, here we go again. Are you going through another selfish phase? You have to share," she joked.
"I'm being serious, Lisa. The only other person, besides me, that has ever ordered that was Paul when I told him about my dad."
"Look," Lisa started, gathering up the dishes, "It's a Spanish coffee, so what? You said the guy was new, maybe he's from Spain. Or maybe he's one of those nerds that reads constantly and read about that coffee and decided to try it. Did you by chance tell him where my store is at?"
"Give it up," Lilian joked, standing with the dishes in hand. "I'm not going to advertise your store to all my customers. Next thing you know, you'll get a café in there and steal all my loyal customers!"
Later that night, the coffee shop was going slow, so Lilian decided to close early. She and Reina arrived at Mickie and Ken's house shortly after 9. Everyone was already there and they were about to start the movie. Lilian sat next to Paul on the two-seated couch, Reina lying under her on the floor.
When the movie mercifully ended, Lilian stood up, not at all surprised to see Mickie buried in Ken's shoulder. "It wasn't even that scary."
"Was too!" the brunette said, pouting. "Now I'm going to have nightmares. Who the hell picked this?"
"You did," they all said at once.
Lisa and Chris picked up the empty glasses and bowls with popcorn kernels remaining. "I'll admit, Mick, that movie did freak me out," Lisa said from the kitchen.
"See, I'm not the only one," Mickie said, sticking out her tongue.
Ken wrapped his arms around her protectively. "Don't worry, I won't let anything get you. Especially a 6 year old boy," he added jokingly.
Chris came back in the living room, holding Lisa's hand. "Well, we're going to go. Thank you for having us. Mickie, I hope you aren't too scared. Remember, it was just a movie." He smiled kindly and grabbed their coats, handing Lisa hers.
"Don't listen to him," Lisa said. "You'll be fine." She hugged her friends goodbye and then pulled her coat on, leaving out the front door with Chris.
"What do you want us to help you with?" Paul offered.
"Not a thing," Ken answered, getting to his feet. "Why don't you and Lilian," –he got a nasty look thrown his way- "go and do whatever?"
"I'd love to," Lilian started, "But I would really love to go to bed. Today was exhausting."
"Sorry," Mickie said shyly.
Lilian giggled and hugged her. "No, it's fine. You can take days off anytime you want." Sensing her friend was about to say something smart, she added, "Within reason." She smiled and reached for her coat, calling for Reina. "I'll see you two later, and I'll see you," she looked at Mickie, "Bright and early."
Lilian pulled into her driveway shortly thereafter. She put the key to her house inside the lock, turning it. Looking down at her dog, she noticed that the hair on her back had risen and she was growling softly. "What's your problem?"
Shrugging, she pushed the door open and flipped on the light. A slight scream escaped her mouth. Her house had been completely ransacked. Pictures had been torn from the walls and smashed to the floor. She walked a bit further into the house, peaking into the living room. The backdoor had been kicked in. Lilian ran for the phone in the kitchen, dialing 911 as fast as her fingers could.