Author's Note: Okay, so I'm a few months late for Halloween (or early depending on how you see it), but I really wanted to get this little story out there. I started in early October and put it on the backburner for a while, revisiting it this year. Just a fun and fluffy story with a few laughs, hopefully. Enjoy. Thank you again to my beta Jodie for reading prior… and liking the direction it's heading thus far.
Autumn sunlight gleamed through the pane glass windows of the McKinley High Teacher's Lounge. There was a nip in the air outside, the cool breeze catching falling leaves mid-flight, tossing and spinning them to their earth-bound resting place. Inside, however, the thermostat regulated the temperature to a pleasant 77 degrees Fahrenheit. It wasn't too hot; it wasn't too cold. It was just right. Anyone would think a blond woman and three bears were at the controls.
Will Schuester didn't mind. Either way, he was used to the cold weather. And what better way to spend the time than snuggling up to his girlfriend and co-worker, Emma Pillsbury. That was the best thing about the cold – finding news ways to warm the body. Not to mention the heart rate. He walked down the hallway to the teacher's lounge, watching the students put up decorations for Halloween. Orange and black crepe paper turned into streamers lined the entryways and criss-crossed the ceiling, posters of ghosts and goblins adorned the walls, even carved pumpkins sat between the groups of lockers, their wild faces scarily grinning at passers-by.
Outside of Christmas, Halloween was Will's favourite celebration of the year. As a child, his mother would dress him up as whichever pop culture character of the year. One year it was Michael Jackson, the next, Mr T. It was the anticipation, then excitement of what candy would be handed out and how much could be eaten before getting a severe tummy ache. The pumpkin-shaped plastic container to hold all the treats was a staple accessory to his costume until he was 15 when it was no longer cool to go trick-or-treating.
Will looked down at his Superman lunchbox in his grown-up hand, smiling to himself. Not much had changed, really. He was still a big kid at heart. The magic hadn't worn off through the years as it did for some. And this Halloween was going to be especially enjoyable. Coach Beiste was holding a party on the weekend. Even better, it was a costume party and he and Emma were going. They had kept their relationship fairly low-key at school; a quick kiss here, a small embrace there. This would be the first time they could be a real couple in front of the faculty, in the presence of adults, sans students. Thinking of Emma and the year ahead gave him shivers; they had only been going out for about five months but it had been the best five months of his life. It was like they had always been together.
He spotted Emma sitting at their usual table. She was in her own faraway place, her eyes focused on the scenery outside, head resting on her hand. Will crept up behind her, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Emma jumped, the sweet display of affection waking her from her thoughts. It was a nice awakening though.
"Hey sweetie, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," said Will as he sat down, resting his arm on the back of her chair. Emma smiled at him, and they kissed again, this time full on the lips. She was able to taste remnants of the meringue honey cake that they made earlier in the week. Will must have snacked on a piece between classes this morning. Simply scrumptious.
She pecked him on the lips one more time and spoke quietly. "That's okay, I was just thinking…"
"About what?"
"Oh, nothing in particular. Things, you know, in general."
"About me?"
"You're always in my thoughts," she tweaked his nose.
Will popped open his tin lunch box and reached straight for the choc-chip cookies in the Ziploc bag. Emma took out her salad sandwich and bit into the soft grain bread. Nothing would ever taste as nice as Will's kisses, but this would have to tide her over until tonight.
"Yo! Emma, Will!" A voice called out among the din. The duo turned around and saw the McKinley High football coach enter the Teacher's Lounge.
"So, you guys ready for my Halloween bash this weekend?" Shannon Beiste asked as she clambered to one of the spare seats where Will and Emma were sitting. Shannon took out a half cooked chicken from her cooler bag and began to pick away at the white meat, licking her fingers, savouring each mouthful.
"Only half this time?" Will asked, teasing.
"Yep, trying to cut back. Mama's getting a little hefty at the waistline," she replied patting her stomach. The trio shared a laugh. They had become inseparable over the past year, and the daily ritual of lunchtimes kept their friendship strong.
"We're really looking forward to your party, Shannon. Count us in," Will said, answering her question.
"It'll be my first Halloween party," Emma remarked.
"Great! Almost the entire faculty will be there, and it wouldn't be the same without my best buddies. Who are you two dressing up as?"
Emma and Will looked at each other. "Well, um, I'm going to go as Superman and Em is, well, actually, I'm not sure. Emma?"
"Oh, I, ah, haven't decided yet. But, what about you Shannon?"
"I'm going as Hulk."
"Wow, you're going to paint yourself green?"
"No, no, not the Hulk. Hulk, as in Hulk Hogan."
"Well, that's certainly an interesting choice," Emma said.
"He was my hero in high school. Men with bandannas and a well-built physique are my type of guy. At one stage he actually had 24 inch biceps. I'm a Hulkamanic!" Shannon took a bite of the chicken leg, grinning. "I'm super pumped! Going all out this year – gonna be a scream fest! Oh and I can't forget – pumpkins for my little 'punkins'." Shannon handed both Will and Emma mini carved pumpkins.
"Oh, they are so cute Shannon, thank you," Emma exclaimed. "Will, aren't they adorable?"
Before Will could answer, a very loud, very high-pitched "Yoo-hoo, William!" interrupted their conversation.
Will turned to where the voice came from and saw Brenda Castle, the astronomy teacher and badminton coach. She waved frantically at Will, slightly unsteady on her feet. Raising one of his eyebrows, he gave a dubious wave back. Brenda walked with a wobble towards their table, plonking herself down next to Will.
"Show, Suester," her voice stumbled over the alliteration, "You going to Beistie Boy's soiree?"
He cleared his throat. "Uh…yeah. Why?"
"I was hoping we could pick up where we left off last year." She leaned closer to his ear, whispering, "I still have those pills."
"Gee, Brenda, as exciting as that sounds, I'm actually going with Emma. We're dating now, have been for a few months."
Emma smiled and gave a sharp wave of her hand.
"Pfft! The woman that publicly denounced you as a slut? Ha!" She cried out.
Emma wasn't sure where to look. Her eyes darted about the lounge, finally deciding staring at the inside of her lunchbox was the perfect place. That was still getting around?
"We sorted all that out; it was just a misunderstanding." He took Emma's hand and kissed it.
"Wait… weren't you almost married to that Ken Tanaka guy that Beiste replaced? And didn't you marry a dentist in Vegas? And now you're dating a guy you called a slut?"
Emma opened and closed her mouth, but no sound came out.
"Who's the slut now?" Brenda guffawed extra loud.
"Alright, that's enough. I think you better leave," Beiste stepped in.
"Fine. If you can't take the heat…" Brenda got up from her seat. "Oh Will, I'll see you on Saturday. I've got some moves that are going to bah-low your mind." She squeezed his shoulder. "Mmm, nice."
Beiste looked at Emma and then at Will. "Watch out for that one. She wants you."
"I can handle her. Em, you okay?" he asked.
"She just…laid it all out there, didn't she?"
"Don't listen to her, honey; you and I both know she's just trying to stir up trouble." He put his arm around her, kissing her temple.
"What on earth happened before I arrived?" Shannon asked curiously.
"You, or?" Emma asked Will. He nodded for her to continue. "Um, well, Sue seemed to think I wasn't being assertive enough, so she coached me to get back at Will for his, uh, infidelities."
Will butted in. "We were taking a breather from a little spark that had started between us and Emma assumed –"
"After Sue told me…" Emma was quick to point out.
He continued. "– that I had slept with April Rhodes, a girl I went to school with who was back in town to help out with Glee club. And that I made out with Shelby, Vocal Adrenaline coach… Rachel's mum."
"Wait, whoa, wait." Shannon put her hand up, signalling to stop. She turned to Emma. "You were taking advice from Sue?"
"Yeah."
"Sue Sylvester?"
"Yeah."
"Please tell me you got hit in the head by a football or a something that day?"
She shook her head. "N-no."
"Man, Sue's great, but always has a hidden agenda that goes awry. And Will, I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt our Emma. I could see from the day I started that the two of you had a special relationship."
Emma smiled shyly at Will.
Will felt the need to counter Beiste's assumption. "Yes, well, I did kiss Shelby but that's it. It just…happened."
Shannon was astounded. "It's like a replay of Days of Our Lives."
The bell jangled, signalling the warning that classes would resume in five minutes. Shannon spoke as she packed up what was left of her chicken lunch. "Look, all's I can say is, from what I just witnessed, that woman means business. Emma, I'd be by Will's side all night if I were you."
"You really think she'd try something?" Emma had a worried look on her face.
"I wouldn't put it past her," Shannon observed. "I'll see you two later, got football training." She patted Will on the back and strode out the door.
"Will?" She grabbed onto his vest.
"Em, honey, she's all talk. And a little crazy. Everything will be okay. Come on, let's go to class." Emma took Will's hand and they walked out of the lounge towards Emma's office. He kissed her goodbye, whispering a tender "I love you," in her ear. She felt his warm breath on her neck; her body juddered from the intimacy of his voice.
"I love you too," she replied. Three quick kisses on the lips, a few wolf whistles from the students and he was gone. Emma blushed uncontrollably. It was the first time he had kissed her in front of the students.
She sighed happily as she watched him walk away. He was wearing her favourite vest and those denim jeans that showed off his gorgeous backside. Perfect backside. Squeezable backside. Emma chuckled to herself and stepped into her office. It was going to be hard trying to concentrate on work when all she could think of was Will. And Brenda Castle.
Instead of checking her email for the latest SAT information, Emma scoured the Internet, searching for a Halloween costume for the weekend. Finally finding an online costume store that offered next day delivery, she viewed about 20 outfits, and then narrowed it down to two. Emma had an idea. Without hesitation, she ordered both. If anyone was going to blow Will's mind, it was going to be Emma Pillsbury.