I watched from were I sat on top of my desk in History as Dad tried to pry Farkle away from his desk. "No no no no no!" Farkle panicked as Dad tried pulling him "Let go, Farkle. It's only gym class." He told the boy "They throw things at me!" Farkle exclaimed "Who?" Dad questioned "Maya!" Farkle shouted just as the sound of thunder crashing surrounded us "I'm the pitcher." My best friend defended herself "They make me stand there in front of everybody!" Farkle complained "He's the batter." I informed my father as Riley, Maya and I made our way out of the classroom "There's a guy behind me in a mask!" Farkle continued desperately "That'd be the catcher, sir." Lucas added helpfully on his way out with Logan "And then somebody screams." Farkle concluded as we all stood outside waiting for our friend "That's the umpire." Dad assumed "No... That's me." Farkle corrected "I'm still not gonna write you a note for gym class, Farkle. It's softball. What could possibly go wrong in softball?" I heard dad exclaim just as thunder crashed again.

**********

I watched from my spot at second base as Maya done a practice pitch and the force knocked the catcher back into the wall. "Batter up!" Coach Gleason instructed handing Farkle the bat "It's raining outside. Why are we playing softball inside? We should be playing dodgeball. No, wait! What am I talking about? We should be square dancing. Yeah! We should be swinging our partner!" Farkle tried to persuade our teacher who was having none of it "You should be swinging your bat, Farkle. Get in there! What are you afraid of?" He asked my friend. I watched as Farkle leaned in to whisper something to him "You're afraid of getting hit by the ball?" Coach Gleason repeated loudly causing Farkle to lean in to whisper again. He pulled back grimacing as he looked around our peers "You're afraid of public humiliation?" our teacher repeated loudly once again. I frowned as people in our class laughed "Quit your bellyaching. She throws straight as a rope." Coach Gleason assured the boy. We all watched as Maya pitched once again with the force to knock the catcher into the wall just as thunder crashed outside. "Check, check, check her out. Check our little pitcher out!" Riley cheered causing me to grin at her and she beamed back "Riles?" Maya hinted causing my twin to nod "All right. Third base. I'm ready." She assured positioning herself lower. Riley suddenly stood up straight and turned to Logan "What hand does this thing go on?" She asked him gesturing to her glove "You know what hand it goes..." I trailed off as Logan went over to help Riley put on the glove "Oh..." Maya sang with a smirk realising that's what she had planned "Thanks." Riley said toward the boy "Yeah, okay." He responded before turning to walk back to his spot. I leaned into Lucas who stood behind me as we chuckled as Riley slapped Logan's behind with her glove "Yeah, I did that." Riley stated proudly as he turned to look at her. "Why do I have to be up?" Farkle questioned our teacher desperately "Why does anybody have to be up, Farkle? Why does anybody have to be anything? Why do I have to be a gym teacher? I could be a ballerina!" Coach Gleason retorted "Doo, doo, doo! Doo, doo, doo!" He sang throwing his hand up "Don't work, do it? Know why? 'Cause I'm a gym teacher and you're up!" He added firmly. Farkle stood in front of Maya defeated. As Maya positioned herself to pitch Farkle manoeuvred himself to face away from her intimidating gaze and posed, holding his bat in the air. Maya frowned before continuing her pitch. "Wait, can he do that?" She questioned after it hit the edge of his bat "He's in the batter's box. Ball one!" Coach Gleason called. Farkle screamed before Maya could throw the ball swinging the bat to shield his face, he fell to his knees as Maya pitched. "Ball two!" Coach Gleason called "He's rattling our pitcher, Coach." Logan exclaimed "He's doing it on purpose. He's an evil, genius mastermind." Lucas added "Yeah?" our teacher questioned looking down at Farkle "I don't think he is." He admitted. Farkle stands back up waiting for the third pitch. As Maya swings her arm back the lights suddenly turn off. "Aww, too bad. Darn. Heck. See you in science, suckas. And let me tell you something, Maya, you ain't all that. I would've hit the next one right out of the pa-" Farkles smug rambling was cut off as the lights switched back on "You look pretty." Farkle squeaked looking at Maya's evil smile "Move." She instructed "I'm good right here." He told her "You wanna spend the rest of your life scared?" Coach Gleason questioned "I was planning on it, sir." Farkle admitted "Get in the box, Farkle." our teacher instructed. Farkle made his way back over and prepared for another pitch as. "Is there anything we can do?" I asked Lucas looking up to him frowning softly as I felt bad for my friend. Lucas looked at me for a moment before nodding "I got it Little Bird." He told me before turning to get Logan's attention. The two shared a silent conversation before they both nodded as Maya tossed the ball up and down tauntingly. "Time out." Lucas called before he and Logan made their way over to Maya "All right, you're done, Maya." Lucas told her "What?" Maya questioned confused "I'm taking you out." Logan added "You're not my type." she told him. The Friar boys sighed, "I'm taking you out of the game." Logan explained "What?!" She questioned incredulously "Maya, Maya, say goodbye-a!" I cheered and Riley shot me the grin this time "Raven!" Maya hissed "Yeah?" I asked tilting my head to the side still smiling "What do you think you're doing?" Maya asked turning her attention back to Lucas and Logan "You haven't thrown a strike." Lucas started "I think Farkle's in your head, kid." Logan added "But he's all "Wah! Wah! Flah!" She protested "I know how to pitch to him, Maya. I know what to do." Lucas told her "Take shortstop." Logan instructed. Maya reluctantly handed over the ball before taking her new position "Okay, Lucas, nice and slow, okay?" Farkle pleaded "Yeah. How's this for slow?" Lucas questioned before pitching at full power. I watched as Farkle dramatically fell to the ground after the ball hit his shoulder "Hey." Lucas and Logan greeted walking over to Farkle "You did that on purpose." Farkle accused Lucas "Yeah, he did." Logan admitted "Why would you do that?" Farkle questioned "I did it for you, Farkle." Lucas told him "You threw that as hard as you could?" Farkle asked curiously "Pretty much." Lucas answered "How do you feel?" Logan questioned "I'm... fine." Farkle realised before chuckling "Doesn't even hurt, really." He added as I smiled "Right." Both Friars said knowingly "Huh. Thanks a lot." Farkle said catching on "Anytime." They said "Trick or treat Tonight?" Lucas asked him "Absolutely." Farkle answered as they each took one of Farkle's hands to pull him up "You got hit. Get to take your base, Farkle." Coach Gleason told him "Don't want it, coach." Farkle retorted before pointing at Maya "You. Bring it." He challenged. Maya got into position after getting the ball from Logan. "Farkle, Farkle, gonna sparkle!" Riley and I cheered grinning at each other as Maya and Farkle stared each other down preparing for the pitch. Maya pitched her best throw, I watched as the ball soared towards Farkle. I didn't even think before I threw my arms around Lucas and he returned the favour as we both cheered as Farkle successfully hit the ball.

**********

I smiled as I watched from where my place at the lockers with Riley and Maya as Lucas and Logan carried Farkle down the hallway on their shoulders as other students cheered behind them "Whoo! Thank you, Farkle Nation!" Farkle exclaimed as they walked by. "So, Halloween sleepover at our house to do candy trades?" Riley asked our friend as we looked at her expectantly "Yeah, except... why don't we do it at our house?" Maya asked Riley with a smirk. We watched as a look of terror washed over Riley's face and she backed up into the locker door. The door to the left of her head opened and a Halloween mask shot out. Riley screamed as she ran and cowered behind us. "Doo, doo, doo!" Coach Gleason shouted running down the hall in a tutu. Riley screamed again as she turned to see a shadow in the doorway of the history classroom as the lights flickered off.
She sighed in relief when the light returned to reveal our dad "Yeah, why don't you sleep at Maya's this year?" He questioned coming to stand in the hall with us. Riley scoffed "Because we've already agreed to have it in our room every single year forever." She informed him gesturing between us "Why are you so afraid to sleep over at my house?" Maya asked her "I'm not." She lied "You've never made it through a whole night there." Maya retorted knowingly "Tell her that's not true, Dad." Riley requested turning to our father "I can't, Honey. I'm the one that has to get up in the middle of the night and get you when you secretly call me." He told her "Tell her that's not true, Raven." Riley requested turning to me "I can't, Riles. I'm the one that has to get up in the middle of the night to get your phone for you so that you don't have to leave the bed while it's dark and then go home when dad comes to get us." I told her "I wake up every morning and you're not there. Only a note from Raven saying sorry." Maya recalled "It makes me feel bad." she added "I'm so sorry Peaches." I told her frowning and she gave me a smile as she gabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze "I would never make you feel bad." Riley assured her "Then I want you to stay one night... " Maya started as she and dad took a step closer to Riley and I "All night..." She added as they took another step "Tonight." She finished. "Doo, doo, doo!" Coach Gleason sang dashing from our history classroom in his tutu. Dad handed Riley our overnight bags he had brought "Riley, get over this fear." He told her "Because you want me to grow out of this?" She questioned "Because I want to sleep." He admitted "Me too." I chirped holding my hand up, that dad slapped with his own, giving me a high five "Could you at least drive us there?" She asked our dad "To Maya's House of Horrors?" He questioned terrified as the lights flickered off and on as thunder crashed again. "Funny, Dad." Riley dead panned before noticing he was gone "Dad?" I questioned "Let's go." Maya smiling as she pulled us after her.

**********

I watched amused as Maya made her way over to arise,eh who has huddled up on the floor in front of a chest if drawers "All right. How's it going so far?" She questioned stopping beside her "It's good. I'm good. A little bit noisy." Riley answered standing up and waking near the window "Different part of town." I told her turning standing beside her. Riley sighed before looking out the window "What's that? What's that? What's that?" She questioned frantically pointing at a cat "That's Ginger." Maya informed her picking him up "Hi, Ginger. I'm Riley." She introduced as Maya held him up to her face. Ginger hissed at Riley. "I don't know how to tell you this, but your new cat's possessed." Riley informed Maya frowning scared "It's a ferret." Maya dead panned "I don't know how to tell you this, but your new cat's a ferret." I exclaimed before Maya handed him over to Riley "Here you are, Ginger." Riley said setting Ginger on the pillow Maya had put out for her "I wouldn't do that." Maya told her "Does he let you know when he needs to pee?" I asked "That's why she wouldn't do that." She answered "Oh, I get it now." Riley said as we watched Ginger pee on the pillow. "Okay, bye-bye, Ginger." Maya said picking him up and putting him in his own bed. I smiled as Riley switched hers and Maya's pillow when she wasn't looking. "Okay, Riley, I'm gonna turn off the lights now." I told her about to flick the switch "No! I don't like it completely dark. I like it just a little bit light." She told me "No problem. Watch." Maya instructed gesturing for me to hit the switch. Once I done so, we watched as a bunny silhouette appeared above the bed "Aww, baby bunny." Riley and I cooed before the silhouette switched to a bigger bunny "Baby bunny growing." I frowned as the silhouette switched again to a large bunny face Maya!" Riley panicked holding on to me "Come here." Maya told us gesturing to come beside her at "They opened a new bunny mart across the street." Maya informed us as we both joined her and we looked outside "Oh." Riley and I said in realisation "All you're seeing is the shadows of the neon sign where the little bunny gets bigger and bigger." Maya added making bunny movements with her fingers "Oh." Riley repeated "Can we go to sleep now?" Maya questioned "Yeah. It's just shadows." Riley relented as we got into bed and Maya switched her pillow back with Riley's. "Shadows can't hurt me. Your house is nice and I am safe." She continued as she climbed in after us. I lay down cuddled in between Maya and Riley "I'ma be okay. I'ma be okay, I'ma be okay." Riley sang quietly "Something else is here, something else is here. Goodbye, Riley, Goodbye, Riley. Goodbye, Riley, it's gonna eat me now." She continued to sing before suddenly screaming "Maya!" She yelled causing us to jolt from the shock. I sat up to see Gammy Hart standing behind the headboard looking down on us "No, it's me, Gammy. Come on, give me a hug." She told my scared twin "Hi, Gammy Hart. How have you been?" I asked sitting up to give her a hug "Well, I'm still kicking, Birdy. The old Grim Reaper has gotta move a lot faster to catch up with me." She told me laughing as she started to leave "Yeah. Not Today, Sammy." She exclaimed pointing at the wall beside us. She laughed as she closed the door behind her in the way out. "Maybe if I didn't see the shadows, I could actually go to sleep." Riley told us sheepishly "Fine. Anything to get you to sleep." Maya gave in climbing out of bed and going over to the window and pinning up acmake shift curtain "You know, Maya, if it would be easier for you, I could always call my father and-" she cut herself off as she held her phone up to her ear "Save me, Daddy. She has scary bunnies." She hissed frantically as I made my way over and took her phone "No. You're gonna make it through the night, you're gonna stay at Mayas house with me." I told her grabbing her hands "I don't understand, because I really like it during the day." She admitted squeezing my hands in hers "So as long as this curtain is up..." Maya trailed off coming to stand beside me as we looked at my sister "I'm gonna be okay. I promise." Riley assured "Good." We said as Maya gave her a thumbs up before crawling back into bed. I gave Rikey a reassuring smile and squeezed her hands again before getting in beside Maya "Just shadows. Shadows are just shadows. They can't hurt me. No problem at all." Riley chanted to herself before joining us. I glanced over at the window to see two shadows. My eyes widened as I let out a scream "Okay." Riley said before the three of us screamed. We climbed out of bed as Maya reached and pulled away the curtain and I flicked on the lights. "Boo!" The three creatures shouted causing the three of us to let out a scream once again "Ladies." A familiar voice flirted from underneath one if the masks "Farkle!" We all shouted annoyed. They removed their masks to reveal Farkle, Lucas and Logan "Trick or treat." The Friar boys greeted "Why are you screaming? You scared us." Farkle asked "What are you guys doing here?" I questioned "We were passing by on our way home. We thought we'd say hi." Lucas answered smiling at me and I couldn't help but return it "In the middle of the night?" Riley asked in disbelief "It's a quarter after 7:00." Logandefended with a frown. Riley sighed before looking at Maya "Then why'd you have us go to sleep Maya?" She asked "Trying to put Raven and I out of our misery." Maya admitted throwing her hands up in defeat "What are you scared of Riley? It's great out here." Logan said gesturing behind him "There's nothing to be scared of." Farkle added. The bedroom door opened to reveal Gammy Hart "I hear boys. You got boys in here?" She questioned coming over to join us "They're outside." Maya told her amused "Oh. Oh, hiya, boys!" She greeted with a laugh "Scary old lady." Farkle flirted with a head nod "Farkle. Oh." Gammy Hart gushed holding a hand to her heart as she made her way out of the room. "Come on, Lucas, Logan. Wanna learn how to attract older ladies?" Farkle questioned his partners in crime "No." Lucas and Logan dead panned before the three turned to leave "Bye boys." I called with a wave, followed by Riley's "Bye, guys." and Maya's "See you." Before we walked away from the window. Riley sighed "You know what?" She questioned "What?" Maya and I asked in sync "You don't actually need to cover the window." She told Maya "Why not?" Maya questioned "I was actually scared of Farkle until he took his mask off. And when he did, it was just Farkle." Riley admitted "Yeah. Farkle's not scary at all." I told her "No, and neither is this neighborhood. Once you take its mask off." Riley added as we made our way back to the window and leaned out to look "It's actually kind of pretty." I commented "Yeah, I never noticed that before." Maya added. Riley and I shared a look "Yeah. We like your house, Peaches." I told her as Riley nodded in agreement "Thank you, guys. That makes me happy." She told us causing us to chuckle "Good." Riley replied. "So you wanna go to sleep now?" Maya questioned us "In a little bit." I answered You mind if we stay up awhile?" She asked us "Why? Are you still a little bit scared?" Maya asked "Not anymore. I just wanna see what happens next." Riley told us and we all shared a smile before turning to admire the world outside.