Daryl came over almost everyday after school to read with Kat. They always meet under the big tree in the open field. Even when it was starting to get chilly outside, they came to the tree. Daryl was lucky that lately his father hadn't been coming home and Merle thought Kat was cool making it easier for him to stay with Kat longer. Even though his friends were starting to make fun of him for hanging out with Kat, he still came. He liked her better anyways.

As they were climbing down from the tree one crisp October afternoon, Kat turned to Daryl.

"Daryl, do you want to come to my birthday party?" Kat asked.

"Sure! When is it?"

"Halloween!" She smiled. Kat like the fact the she was born on the creepiest day of the year.

"Your birthday is really on Halloween? That's so cool!" Daryl smiled.

"It's gonna be a spooky party! Maybe you can dress up?

"Okay sure. I can go as a zombie and eat your brains!" Daryl said. He began to make groaning noises and started to act like a zombie. Kat screamed and ran away from him. Daryl chased after her but couldn't keep up with her. Daryl never knew how fast Kat was. He had to stop and take a breathe.

"Kat, wait up!" Daryl yelled but Kat was to far to hear him. He rolled his eyes and started to run after her again.


A week later, Daryl tried to find something to make his zombie costume but he had no luck. He didn't want to show up without a costume but he had no choice. As he was walking passed the stables, he saw Kat come out of the house and running towards him.

"Daryl! You made it." Kat smiled. Daryl smiled back at her.

"Happy birthday." Daryl said. He looked down at her and her costume. "What are you suppose to be?"

"I'm a cow girl!" Kat said. "Daryl where's your costume?" Daryl felt a little embarrassed at that moment.

"I couldn't find anything to wear for my zombie costume." He said. Kat suddenly had an idea and she grabbed Daryl's wrist, pulling him towards the house.

"Come on! I think I can get you that costume." She said. They ran to the house, pass the family, and up the stairs.

"Kat, we're gonna start soon!" Norma yelled up at her.

"Okay!" Kat said. She and Daryl went into her room. She looked in her closet for a shirt, got her paint supplies from her toy chest, and then went to Hayley's room for the Halloween face paint. She went back into her room and started working.

"Her put this on." She said as she threw the white shirt to Daryl. As he was putting it on, Kat got her paints and the face paint ready.

"Okay now what?" Daryl asked. Kat took her paint brush and red paint and splattered it on to the white shirt.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Daryl said. Kat giggled and looked at her handy work then splattered more paint on to the shirt.

"Doesn't it look like blood?" She asked. Daryl looked down and nodded.

"Put some more!" He said. Kat dipped her brush and threw some more on it.

"That should be go enough. Here let's put on the face paint." Kat took another brush and dipped it in the black face paint. She went to Daryl and put it all around his eyes. The went to the red face paint and tried her best to make it seem like he was bleeding from his face. Kat put the brush down and looked at him.

"Huh, something is missing." Kat said. Kat then went a ruffled his hair.

"Done!" Kat smiled at her master piece. Daryl went over to the mirror and was impressed by what she had done.

"Cool. I looked like the zombies on T.V." Daryl said. Kat grabbed his hand this time and lead him downstairs.

"Oh my! Daryl you look nice." Norma said. Daryl blushed and went to sit down on the couch next to Harper and Hayley. Who were dressed up as a angel and a vampiress.

"Alright birthday girl, the sooner we blow out these candles the sooner you kids can go trick-or-treating in town." Shaun said. Kat got behind the coffee table and faced everyone. Shaun light the number seven candle and they all began singing 'Happy Birthday' to Kat. Kat looked at her family and smiled. This was her family now. Then she looked at Daryl. She was happy that she made a new friend and hope that they will be friends forever. When they were done she blew out the candle and everyone cheered.

"Now lets get a group picture!" Norma said getting her camera ready.

"Aw, Norma lets get these kids going on the trick-or-treating." Shaun said. Norma rolled her eyes.

"If you don't want to take a picture just say so."

"Thank you now-" Shaun was interrupted by Norma shoving the camera towards him.

"Here take a picture with me and the kids." Norma said. Shaun sighed since he couldn't say no to his wife. Norma gathered the girls to stand next to Kat behind the cake. Daryl felt awkward standing there watching the family take a picture together. Norma looked at him and smiled.

"Daryl! Get over here, boy." She said as she waved him over. Daryl smiled and squeezed in next to Kat.

"Alright! Everyone say 'cheese'." Shaun said.

"CHEESE!"


Shaun drove the kids into town to trick-or-treat for a while. After a couple of homes and stores, they ran into Merle and his friends.

"What are ya' doing, Daryl? I thought you were gonna come with us to the cemetery?" Todd said. Daryl shrugged.

"It's Kat's birthday and she invited me." The group snickered at him. Daryl looked around in confusion.

"What? What's so funny?" Daryl asked. Meryl came forward and pulled Daryl aside.

"What are they laughing at, Merle?" He asked again.

"At you... and Kat. They saying that she has a crush on you!" Merle said. Daryl looked up at his brother.

"N-no she doesn't! We're just friends." Daryl said.

"Yeah, I know but the thing is, brother, they think otherwise." Daryl looked over at the group talking to each other while looking over at Daryl.

"Just come with us to the cemetery and put this behind ya'." Merle said. Daryl thought for a second and nodded.

"Cool! Come on guys. We're going to the cemetery." Merle said. The small group cheered and headed in the direction of the cemetery. Daryl stood behind a bit and went over to Kat.

"I-I'm sorry. My friends... they really want me to go..." Kat felt a pang of sadness but proceeded to give him a smile.

"Go ahead, Daryl! Have fun." Kat said.

"Are you sure?" He asked. Kat nodded and started to push him towards his friends.

"Go! Before you get left behind." Kat giggled. Daryl smiled at her and ran after his friends. Kat sighed and turned to Hayley and Harper.

"Harper, why aren't you going?" Hayley asked. Harper looked at her sisters and then in the direction of her friends.

"Eh, I didn't wanna hang out with a bunch of nerds." Harper said and then walked off towards Shaun. The truth was beginning to prefer her little sisters and her parents more then her group of friends. But she wasn't going to admit that to them or herself.