"October 30th," Stephanie read on the calendar in her head. She packed her binder and two library books she needed to return that day in her backpack.
She opened her closet and took one last look at her Halloween costume before leaving for school. This year she and her best friend Faith would be dressing up as their favorite Disney princesses and they had had a sleepover one day and stayed up all night making their costumes themselves.
Stephanie had long brown hair, dark brown eyes and tan skin, so she would be dressing up as Princess Belle. She remembered every single time she poked her finger with the needle from sewing and every time glitter would get in her eyes and every time Faith would complain about the same issues. But in the end, Stephanie was very proud of how her dress came out.
As soon as Stephanie got to school, she walked to the library, returned her books and then met up with Faith in their classroom.
When Stephanie walked into their class, Faith was already sitting in her desk reading a book about a hamster who was secret agent. Faith looked up from her book, a wide smile appeared on her face.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Faith asked. "Definitely," Stephanie replied with confidence. "With our amazing costumes, all the adults will give us the most candy,"
Stephanie and Faith heard a sudden burst of laughter behind them and turned around. It was a boy named T.J. that Stephanie had never talked to, but Faith was friends with him. He had just walked into classroom and heard their whole conversation.
"What's so funny T.J.?" Faith asked, one eyebrow raised. T.J. laughed a bit longer before replying.
"It's just that, you girls said that you two would get the most candy because of your costumes," T.J.'s face became serious. "Having cool costumes doesn't get you the most candy, strategy does,"
Stephanie sat up straight then spoke. "What kind of strategy?" she asked. T.J. touched his pointer finger and thumb together and moved them in a zipper motion across his closed lips. "I can't speak of it. It is a secret between me and three other boys," T.J. walked over to his desk and sat down in his chair. Stephanie and Faith quickly stood up and ran over to him.
"How can we get the most candy?" Stephanie pleaded. T.J. shook his head. "I'd rather not blab our secret to everyone, but if you really want to know, then I suggest you go ask the man with all the plans," Stephanie and Faith looked at each other and nodded. "Who's the man with the plan?" Stephanie asked.
T.J. looked to his left, then to his right, then over his shoulder. He motioned his hand towards himself telling Stephanie and Faith to come closer. He leaned in towards them and whispered, "He's the reflection of Faith,"
Stephanie and Faith both stood up straight, both with one eyebrow raised. "You mean James?" Faith asked.
T.J. jumped up in his seat and shushed them, the other four students in the classroom looked up at him with confused faces.
"We never had this conversation," he said while quietly putting his hood over his eyes and sunk down into his seat.
Faith grabbed Stephanie's wrist and began leading her out of the classroom. "Where are we going?" Stephanie asked nervously. "To the classroom of my reflection," Faith replied.
Faith turned back to T.J. who still had his hood over his head and was still sunk in his seat. "I hope he knows that we're not identical twins," Faith said.