A/N: Here it is, the Halloween chapter! I meant to post this months ago but the story wasn't ready for it. This one isn't quite as- profound? deep?- as the others but they're teenagers, they aren't deep all the time.

NaNoWriMo was eye opening this year. I think I learned a lot about my writing and such and I think I'm finally ready to start finishing stuff. That makes me nervous...

Anyways.
I have to tell you that you guys are the awesomest and sweetest and motivating-est and a bunch of other '-est' reviewers ever. I swear, you guys are so inspiring and encouraging and I really appreciate it. I promise that I will do my best to write more consistantly and not let time get away from me anymore. You guys are the best!

Let me know what you think!
Happy Reading. (And New Year!)


Favorite Worst Nightmare

With a small breath held in her chest, Annie put down her mechanical- and slightly chewed- pencil, her anxious eyes going over the last equation for the final time. The breath fled her mouth as she realized it was right. Her eyes flickered to a serenely reading Auggie then back to her paper. It was unbelievable, after three days with this boy and he had her successfully completing her homework before dawn, stress free. She suppressed a squeal and performed a silent victory dance, able to move more freely now that the weight was lifted from her chest, and nearly falling off her stool.

Her lips parted to announce to her hero that she had slain the algebraic beast, but her words stuck in her throat. Spry fingers danced across the pages of his book, his face reflecting every sensation that passed through his mind. Annie couldn't help but watch him, thinking that maybe if she looked long enough she could break through his crumbling manmade surface and see the human that hid inside. Maybe it was all the time they had spent together in these past few days, maybe he was growing more relaxed around her, or maybe it was nothing at all, but she was sure that she could hear the music beneath his lighthearted words, the secret language that he spoke in hopes that someone would truly understand.

A rose pink blush sprouted in her cheeks as she realized that his fingers were still on the pages of his book, his eyes trained just to her left, a smirk curling the corners of his mouth. Quickly she turned her eyes away, how rude of her to stare at someone who couldn't even stare back. It sure as hell felt like he was staring though, his curious gaze burning her.

"Annie Walker, you're staring at me," it isn't a question, "Does this mean that the beast has been slain?"

"It has," she said with a ridiculous smile, "But how'd you know I was staring?"

There went that mouth again, but he'd said he liked her questions.

"Ah, a magician never reveals his secrets," there was a funny glint in his eyes and she could hear that melancholy music beneath his cheery words. "A good one, at any rate."

She humored him with a chuckle as he stood from his barstool and stretched his arms above his head. It was impossible for her not to notice the way the hem of his shirt lifted from his skin, taunting her with that contoured V that slides down past the rim of his jeans to a place where boys hold magical powers over girls. She doubted that even Corrine had any power there.

"You want a drink," his voice plunged through her thoughts and pulled her up from drowning in dangerous waters.

"Please," she managed, her throat seemed suddenly parched, her face hot.

His brow furrowed for a moment and she knew that he'd heard the strangeness in her voice, he let it go and went to the fridge. It amazed her how comfortable he was at home, walking around with confident strides as though everything were right. There were moments when she forgot entirely and she could see the light that flared in his eyes when he realized just as much- could you look at this problem, have you seen this, watched that- it made him happy.

"What would you like? Water, soda, milk…" he trailed off, his arm sliding further into the fridge. "Oh! Capri Sun?"

He spun on his heel, holding two metallically packaged drinks, a lop-sided smile on his suddenly boyish face. A little kid that Annie couldn't resist.

"What are we, in kindergarten?" she giggled.

"Ah, come on," he teased, sliding her drink towards her from the other side of the island, leaning on his elbows against the countertop. "Capri Suns are ageless. I'll be drinking these when I'm ninety."

With interest, Annie watched as Auggie held his finger over the aluminum covered hole, guiding his straw through it by feel. Every little thing was fascinating to her, how he was adapted to a world that was so based on sight. So dependant. He made the impossible seem easy. Something sparked in her memory, the scar stretched across his back. That itch to know returned.

"Auggie?"

"Hmm?"

She sucked on her straw while she weighed her words. Feeling almost giddy as the drink coated her tongue with enough sugar to put a horse into a diabetic coma. It was like alcohol for kids.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, Annie, I will absolutely give you my number," he grinned impishly.

"Oh, I-"

"I'm just kidding," he laughed, "Go ahead. Ask me anything."

"I was just wondering- I mean I noticed the other day- Well, how did you get that scar- on your back?"

She tumbled over the words head first, unsure of how to bring up such a subject. He took a large gulp of his drink and leaned back against the counter behind him. His grin had disappeared though he didn't look at all upset.

"I was in a car accident with my brother Matt when I was fifteen," he answered, "Messed up some nerves in my back."

"Oh," she breathed, "Does it still hurt?"

"Eh, it's pretty much gone now, I still have some pain but they've got drugs for everything."

Auggie let his voice trail off, a somewhat uneasy smile stretched on his lips as he shifted from foot to foot. There was a tension crackling through the room, rearing its mighty head to intimate Selick's rhino in that strange movie with the peach. Annie could feel the question forming a lump in her throat and by the uncomfortable look on his face, Auggie could feel it too. But she couldn't stop it. It flicked off the tip of her tongue before she had time to choke it down.

"Is that how you-" she couldn't finish the question. Saying the word out loud seemed wrong and painful.

"Oh. No- uh- I got sick and the surgery I had-" his head dropped to the floor as though he was suddenly very interested in his feet. "There was a tumor they found during a scan after the accident- they went in and got it out and forgot to turn the lights back on."

He gave a small humorless laugh just before the room fell into a stunning silence.

"Auggie- I'm sorry- I shouldn't have asked-"

"What- no-" he interrupted quickly, looking up to face her. Both parties blushing like baboon's bums.

The awkward stuttering being batted between the two made Annie want to run for the hills but at the same time it glued her to her seat. Her fingers flew to her mouth and she chewed at the protein of her nails. Her mother would be appalled but Annie was beyond caring. For the first time- at least since she asked her sixth grade teacher what an orgasm was- she regretted her curiosity, wishing that she could just swallow the words back into her stomach.

"No one's ever- I mean- I've never had to talk about how it happened," he murmured, "Everyone who knows me already knows and everyone else- well, they don't have the balls to ask."

She nodded her head mutely. Unsure.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, tossing his hands up. "I was supposed to ask you something."

"Oh? Ask away," the words rushed from her mouth, anxious to change the subject.

"Halloween's on Saturday and Corrine always has this thing at her house," he rambled, "Every year we go trick-or-treating and after we go to her house, watch scary movies until an absurd hour, eat junk food. It's not a big thing, just the closest of us, but she wants you to come. Will you?"

A strangely wonderful feeling crept inside Annie's stomach. Just the closest, he'd said. She was a part of that, the closest, for the first time. It was hard to decide though, which was making her heart race more, the fact that she was finally apart of something intimate or the hopeful look in Auggie's eyes.

"Oh," she smiled, "I would love to."

"Great," he grinned, his smile back in it's rightful place, "Jamie and I will walk to your house and we can go from there to Corrine's."

"Sweet," she was excited, she could feel it in ever bone in her body, the electricity of belonging, "Do I need a costume?"

"Nah," he smiled a fiendish, knowing grin and Annie wondered what she'd gotten in to, "Just bring something comfortable for the movies. Corrine's got the rest."

Those last words were enough to make Annie horrified and thrilled at the same time, like the moment before jumping from a plane, but it didn't matter. Corrine was the mother spider and, for whatever reason, she was weaving Annie into a web of beautifully dysfunctional teenagers and her venom gave her such a high that she felt that she would never come down. But the greatest thing? She didn't want to.

xXx

The smile hadn't left Annie's lips as she walked through the kitchen door, the day had been one to celebrate and she would do just that with a heaping spoonful of soul soothing Cherry Garcia from the two men in her life. Ben and Jerry. Dropping her things beside the door, she made a beeline for the freezer, reveling in the sweet air that cooled her cheeks as she opened the door.

"Someone looks happy," her mother's voice said from behind.

Annie spun- Cherry Garcia in hand- to see her mother sitting at the kitchen table. She had completely overlooked the woman in her rush to creamy bliss. The woman smiled knowingly at her daughter and gave Annie that gaze that enticed her to sit with her and spill her soul. And so she did.

"I'm very happy mom," Annie sighed as she sat across from her mother at the small round table. "I got an A on my history paper, my homework is finished, and I have been invited to spend Halloween with- get this- friends."

Her mother pretended to pout, her blue eyes wide and puppy-like.

"You mean you're not going to be our Igor this year? Who's Dr. Frankenstein and the monster without Igor?"

"Oh mom," Annie rolled her eyes, "I'm sure you and your monster will survive without me."

"I'm sure we will," she smiled again, wrinkling the corners of her eyes, "I'm glad you've got plans, Annie, I really am. You seem to be getting along well here?"

There was more to that question and Annie knew her mother could see the change in her these past few days. Catherine Walker was nothing if not observant.

"Yes, I am. This new group of friends is really- different from the other schools," she replied thoughtfully, "They're so much more- real."

"Hmm. So, who is this friend who's been helping you study," she questioned casually, her eyes shining with flawlessly feigned innocence.

"His name is August and he is just a boy blessed with enough patience to guide me through algebra," she answered coyly, though inwardly she was questioning her choice of words. Just a boy, yea sure, and she was the Queen of England.

"That's very sweet of him, taking the time for you," her mother smirked. God, she was as bad as Danielle. "Will he be celebrating Halloween with you?"

"Yes, mother, if you must know," Annie sighed dramatically.

"When can I meet him," she asked excitedly, like a child asking for a lollipop.

"Calm down, mom, he's not my boyfriend," Annie rolled her eyes and went to retire her ice-cream to the freezer, "I've only known him for a week or so."

"You mean he hasn't asked you out yet," there was surprise in the woman's voice.

"Mom!"

"What, I'm just asking. Has he kissed you?"

"Mother! Your imagination is hyperactive!"

"Well Annie, if you would give me more to go on, I wouldn't have to use my imagination, now would I?" the woman argued, standing from her chair as her daughter made for the stairs.

"He's just a friend, mom," Annie groaned.

"Oh, don't lie to me Anne Catherine Walker," her mother teased. "You like him, I can see that smile on your face."

"Goodnight, mother," she moaned, though she couldn't stop the smile that curled her lips.

"I'll make spaghetti when he comes to dinner," Catherine called as her daughter closed the door to her room, shouting one final goodnight.

It was unbelievable, the change in her youngest child. She could see the curve of her figure deepening, the shape of her mouth soft and contoured, her face thinning and forming into something so beautiful that she could feel her heart stutter with pride. But most of all, Catherine could see her daughter's wounded heart reshaping into a resilient and strong soul. A woman's soul.

With a soft smile, she turned out the kitchen lights and made her way to the living room where her husband slept slack-jawed in his chair. Gently she kissed his head and he stirred awake.

"Humph." he grumbled, rubbing a hand across his eyes and looking up to his wife. "Is everything alright?"

He observed her face, the one he had fallen so madly for in his youth and still fell for every time their eyes met. Her cheeks were slightly damp, the blue lights of the television glinting off her skin and giving her away. Taking his hand in hers, she nodded.

"Everything's fine," she hushed, "Everything's wonderful."

xXx

The next couple of days were as a dream to Annie, days of walking through New Trier's halls arm-in-arm with her new best friend, his trust in her deepening farther than she trusted herself, the lunches surrounded by people who didn't question but accepted her as is and the after school banter between guys making half-sincere jokes about who would date her first. But as it was, there was something missing from the days leading to All Hallows Eve and that was Corrine's attention.

The girl was off in a world all her own, perking up only when necessary and retreating quickly back to her thoughts. Annie couldn't help but wonder if she'd done something wrong, stepped over the boundaries without realizing, but Corrine treated her no differently than before and regarded everyone with the same disinterest. No one else seemed to notice.

But that night, as Annie walked with Auggie and Jamie through Corrine's front door, the old Corrine was there to greet them.

"Jesus, where you guys been?" she asked with a fire in her eyes.

"We're two minutes late," Jamie muttered.

"Two minutes," Corrine exclaimed with bravado, "The nerve of you! And on a National Holiday!"

Auggie laughed and shook his head as Annie wondered at the bipolar girl. She was a scientific anomaly that couldn't be classified.

"The others are already here," she announced, leading them through the house, "We must get you clothed so that we may leave precisely at seven before the pixies steal all the good candy."

With wide eyes, Annie looked around the house, noticing a stark lacking of- well- warmth. The walls were sterile whites and startling blacks with blue hues thrown about to look stylish but there was nothing to suggest that a family lived there. Or anyone, for that matter. It lacked every bit of energy that pulsed from Corrine's skin and Annie felt a chill run down her spine.

They walked through the entryway and into a living room that looked much the same as the rest of the house, cold. On the couch, looking relaxed, sat Stu and Conrad who both chorused 'Annie!' as they walked into the room. Auggie's grip on her elbow tightened.

"I'm feeling the love," Jamie murmured just loud enough for Annie to hear. She chuckled.

"There is no time for chit-chat," Corrine declared in a mysterious voice, something about the dim lighting of the house and Corrine's dramatics made Annie thrum with anticipation and- was that fear? "I've already got your costumes prepared, waste no time in getting ready and I don't want to hear any complaining. You know what you signed up for."

A wicked smile curled on Corrine's lips as she handed paper bags to everyone and Annie gulped, having no idea what she had 'signed up for'. She wanted to punch Auggie for being so vague before.

After changing, Annie walked out of the bathroom with the intent to kill. Corrine had a sense of humor alright and tonight she would pay for it. But as Annie stepped back into the living room, she felt less inclined to complain. Standing before her was the most odd looking group of trick-or-treaters she had ever seen.

Stu looked adorable in the most nerdy attire she'd ever seen outside of chess club. He looked up at her and blushed immediately. Sitting on the couch was Conrad and Jamie, both dressed in black suits and ties with dress shoes and sunglasses, the CIA would be proud. And Corrine herself, sitting in an uncomfortable looking chair, was dressed in a bedraggled and flowing blue-grey dress, her face highlighted with shimmering powder, her lips a startling blue. The fading ghost of a girl.

"Ooh la la," Conrad grin as he looked over Annie, "You're by far the hottest Barbie doll I have ever seen."

"I thought so too," Corrine smiled devilishly, giving Annie a wink.

A frown creased Annie's forehead as she caught a glimpse of herself in the hall mirror, from the matching pink head band and low-cut shirt to the bubblegum pumps, she looked like a Mattel poster girl and she was far from happy about it.

"Really Corrine, a Barbie doll," she seethed.

"Oh come on, Annie, you look great," Conrad smiled obnoxiously from the couch, "I'd buy you off a shelf."

Jamie elbowed him hard in the side and Annie could have kissed him for it.

"I'm going to freeze," she whined, gesturing down to the pink miniskirt.

"Oh no you're not," Corrine replied breezily, brushing past Annie to a small closet. "Because I have this."

She pulled out a calf-length ivory fur coat that looked like something out of Vogue. Annie's eyes widened as she brushed her fingers over the beautiful coat.

"Oh, I can't wear that, what if I get something on it," Annie said in a hushed voice. Corrine regarded her seriously.

"It's alright, Annie," she smiled, "It's mine, and I'm never going to wear it in public. My mother thought that I would wear it to some gala we went to in New York but I disappointed her once again. I want you to wear it, it'll keep you warm."

With that she walked off, her bare feet carrying her with ease and grace and Annie was convinced that Corrine was in character, wearing a costume she knew all too well. Someone bumped into her from behind, sending her reeling forward in heels that she was nowhere near used to.

"Sorry," Auggie said automatically. She wondered how often that word escaped his mouth.

"Don't worry about it, it's just these heels-" she turned to see him, dressed in BDUs, brimmed hat and all. "Well hey there, soldier."

There was something about him in that costume that made Annie's heart do back flips behind her ribs. He smiled crookedly and she forgot entirely about how uncomfortable she was in heels.

"Alright my lovelies," Corrine exclaimed, "Into the night, we ride!"

xXx

The night felt magical as they walked through mobs of faeries and vampires, queens and ghosts. Even Annie started enjoying her role as Halloween Barbie. Corrine was a total loon, dancing and swirling ahead of them, sneaking up on groups of girls and making them scream as she shrieked behind them. At one point she even had Jamie and Conrad sneak up on an unsuspecting Jai Wilcox and take him into 'custody'. They all shared high fives for that one.

Once they'd exhausted the winding candy route, their bags heavy with sweets and plastic spiders, they made their way back to Corrine's house, weaving precariously through hoards of goblins, ghouls and witches.

"That was the best Halloween yet," Stu smiled as he threw his obnoxiously large nerd glasses on the couch, "The look on Jai's face was priceless."

"Ah," Corrine said in eerie serenity, appearing from a dark room to the left of the sitting area, "But the night is young yet, my friends."

Somehow in the five minutes they'd been home, Corrine had managed to change into sweats and white t-shirt, her bra still MIA, Annie noticed. In one hand a movie, the other a fifth of Vodka. Annie could feel her stomach tighten at the title. Paranormal Activity. A little voice in the back of her head urged her to go home, but she wouldn't.

Once everyone was comfortable in sweats and thick socks, they all piled onto Corrine's couch, burying themselves beneath pillows and blankets ready to lose their minds with fear. Annie, however, was not so ready and secured herself between Auggie and Conrad, gripping Auggie's hand so tight that she was sure she was hurting him. This is why she didn't do scary movies. Corrine passed around the Vodka and Annie took a long swig. Corrine smiled.

The wide screen television flared to life, the lights flickered out and already Annie could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

"Hey," Auggie said softly, "Don't freak out, I'm sure it won't be that bad."

Famous last words.

An hour into the movie and Auggie could feel the tension sizzling through the room. Everyone seemed too stunned to say anything, the only words spoken were curses that flew when a particularly loud scream raised the hair on their necks or a door slammed suddenly, even Jamie let a few fly. Jamie was never scared. But Auggie just sighed. This whole business why quite boring to him, it was one of those 'you have to see it to believe it' kind of movies and he had no use for those anymore. But there was one thing about this movie that he loved.

For the past sixty minutes, Annie had been pulling herself closer and closer to him, her small hands held securely around his arm, her face burying into his shoulder every once in awhile. He couldn't help but enjoy it. It made his heart stutter.

"Hey," Stu said suddenly, shakily, "Where's Corrine?"

"She's gone," Conrad whispered and paused the movie.

She had been laying across the floor in front of the couch, but now she was nowhere to be found. They all exchanged horrified looks, each one ready to bolt for the door. Auggie rolled his eyes. This was just like Corrine, she loved to thrill people because she was too out of it to be thrilled herself.

"You guys, come on," he said reasonably, "She's just screwing with you-"

A hair raising scream echoed through the house, clawing away the color from everyone's face.

"What the fuck was that," Jamie whispered harshly, standing from his seat to peer into the deep shadows past the kitchen entryway.

Annie was shaking beside him and he was sure that she might start hyperventilating soon.

"Corrine," he called through the house, standing with Jamie, "Cut it out, this isn't funny."

They all waited for an answer but they were met with silence.

"Man," Conrad said bravely, "Let's just go get her, I can't deal with this."

Footsteps thundered upstairs, a door slammed and another scream bellowed through the halls, emptying their lungs of oxygen, filling them with fear.

"Guys," Annie practically cried, "Let's just turn on the lights."

"R-right," Stu stuttered, "Yea, let's do that."

Stu ran to the light switch but as he reached for it a hand snaked around the corner and gripped his wrist. There was a collective scream throughout the room and a riotous laugh reverberated around the high ceiling.

"You guys are such babies!" Corrine laughed loudly, stepping around the corner and flicking the light switch. "Oh, and by the way, thanks for coming to my rescue guys!"

"Holy shit, Corrine, that was not funny," Conrad frowned, arms crossed against his broad chest.

"Oh come on, it's Halloween, not April Fools Day," she said smugly, "I wanted to hear you scream."

"We all screamed like little girls," Stu chuckled nervously. "And I think I peed myself."

Everyone looked at one another and broke into laughter, mocking their own ridiculousness. Well, almost everyone. The front door shut suddenly and everyone turned towards it.

"Annie," Auggie sighed, headed for the door, "Nice Corrine."

"What?"

But he was already gone.

xXx

The shaking in her hands wouldn't seem to go away, even as she sat outside of the house and took in fresh air. The fear was still too close to her, crawling in the deepest layers of her skin. She couldn't get the screaming out of her mind, the terror in those high-pitched notes as they all stood helplessly in the living room. Annie had been sure that something had happened to Corrine, something unspeakable. It made her so angry that everyone could laugh it off and joke around after something like that when she was still wide-eyed and breathless, angry with herself.

She didn't look up when she heard the door open and close, staring instead at the crescent moon, trying to shut down the remnants of fear still poisoning her blood. The things that had happened in that house tonight were things she couldn't have dreamed up in her worst nightmares and she knew that it would be a long while before she would sleep peacefully again.

She hated Corrine.

"Annie," Auggie's voice said quietly, "You alright?"

"Yea, I'm fine," she answered, her voice unsteady. "I've never done horror films well."

The laugh she gave was weak but as Auggie took a seat beside her on the first step, she felt so many worlds better. His strong arm wrapped around her shoulders and she leaned into him.

"Don't worry about it, even I was a little freaked out," he soothed, "Hell, I didn't even know guys could scream like that. I thought I'd stepped into a sorority house."

Annie laughed for real and turned to look at him, he seemed perfectly relaxed, his hand rubbing circles in her back. Auggie definitely knew how to use those magical powers.

"I looked pretty weak in there, didn't I," she asked, her cheeks flushing slightly. She didn't want the other's to think she was a baby, that she was sensitive. "It's just that it bothered me and-"

Her words were cut off by the feel of Auggie's hand on her neck, just below her jaw, his beautiful face moving in slow motion towards her own. A warm mouth pressed into her own, soft but firm as the skin of a fresh pear. Immediately, she melted into the kiss, her eyes fluttering closed, her heart beating frantically in her chest. Her arms crawled around his neck and his hands cupped her jaw, pulling one another closer. She was so near to him now that she could feel his thudding heart beating wildly against her own. This, this was magic.

Slowly he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. She kept her eyes closed, reveling in his warmth, his touch, his presence. Everything else melted away, there was no fear, on this timid magnetism that grew between them.

"Your weakness is beautiful to me, Annie Walker," he whispered, his breath warm on her flesh.

God. Tonight may have been her worst nightmare, but it was absolutely her favorite worst nightmare.