Title: Halloween Party
Author: Angel LeeAnn
Rating: PG
Spoiler: Spooked
Summary: Both Marcos and Dan had been invited. Only Marcos showed up; but what if it were the other way around?
Disclaimer: These characters do NOT belong to me.
THE STORY:
Dan Lennox stepped out of the insurance firm and took in a sharp breath, appreciating the crisp air. He had waited until his coworker and friend, Sophia Mason, left before trailing out himself. Other than the custodians – who all knew him by name – he had been the last to leave. Glancing at his watch, he noted glumly that it was still too early to slip into bed. Yet, what else could he do?
He unlocked his car and slid in, slamming the door shut more harshly than necessary. Unknown to others, he was beginning to detest his lonely lifestyle. He had no one to kiss him good morning; or greet him after a long day mulling over tedious case files. Weeks could go by without thinking about it, but when the thoughts crept in they came in like vicious wolves.
Dan started his car and drove off. Weaving in and out of lanes, he eventually found himself parking in front of a modest home. Shutting off the ignition, he wondered how he ended up there. He hesitated a few minutes before summoning up his courage and climbing out of the vehicle. As he strolled up the walkway, he could hear the sounds of music and laughter filtering from the house.
Dan knocked on the door. He smiled as warmly as he could at the little girl who answered. "Hey, Hannah. Am I still invited?"
Hannah beamed up at him and took his hand. "Of course!" She led him through a swarm of hungry, dancing teenagers. "Aunt Zoe," she called out as they approached the kitchen. "He showed up."
Striding into the kitchen, he caught his breath at the sight of his exuberant partner rolling around on skates, her hair thrown up, and make-up overly done, and dressed in a skimpy outfit. "Hey, Zoe, got room for one more?"
She smiled brightly and rolled over to him. "Always! But I thought you said you had a date with an old friend," she lightly accused, jabbing her pointer finger into his chest.
"I didn't lie. I saw her. I cheered her up. And now I'm here." He glanced at Hannah and then leaned in closer to Zoe. "To tell the truth, I wasn't planning on coming at all, but I just…wound up here."
"I have that effect on people," she teased. Zoe whirled around and grabbed a bowl of pretzels and one of chips. "Hey, you mind grabbing the dip? Got to keep these monsters fed or I may find my house toilet-papered in the morning."
He nodded, feeling a bit out-of-place. "Uh, sure." He walked awkwardly to the fridge and got out a tub of dip. Following her into the living, his eyes wondered down the length of her backside and he chuckled. In a way, the attire fit her personality. He set the container down next to the food then looked nervously around. I shouldn't have gotten out of the car.
"Why don't we go outside," Zoe offered. "It's quieter."
He nodded. "Ok."
Like an obedient child, he followed her back through the house and out onto the back patio. She gestured for them to sit on the picnic table. "I'm glad you showed up. Hannah was beginning to think that neither you nor Marcos would accept her invitation. Poor kid would've been crushed."
"And you?" Immediately after the question slipped out, Dan winced. It wasn't a question he wanted answered.
Zoe was reflective a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I would've been. I don't want to sound to presumptuous – God knows I have had moments of jumping to conclusions and rambling my mouth off. But I like to think of us as friends."
"Friends," he repeated somewhat dryly.
Zoe giggled. "What? Is there a problem with that?"
Yes, he thought. I want to be more. "No," he forced cheerfully. "I was agreeing with you. We're friends." And I'm ok with that…for now.
"Good. Now who's this friend you had to see?"
THE END (I guess.)