Chapter 11: Alicia Skellington

When I arrive home, my mother hugs me tightly and scolds me for being out late before sending me up to my room. "And no supper for you!" my father hollers up the stairs. I roll my eyes and slam the door before pulling my stash of snack beetles out from under the bed. Munching on a crunchy beetle, I reach to grab my phone, but feel a cold bottle instead.

I pull out a glass vial full of roiling, oozing pink mist, corked with a small red topper. No label. It must be the love potion I promised to take from the cupids. Did they slip it into my pocket somehow…?

Small footsteps tap up the stairs, and I stuff the vial into my backpack as the door pops open. My mother emerges with a small brown tray. "Hello, dear. Your father went to do some planning with the mayor, so I brought you dinner. Although I see you're snacking already."

I blush and slide my can of beetles back under the bed. "Sorry, I figured I'd need to eat something." She smiles. "Not a problem, my little spider. Here, it's just a mouse sandwich, but it's better than nothing. I had to throw away the fruits. They were unrotting."

Nodding, I take the tray from her. "Thanks, Mother. You're the best." I begin nibbling my sandwich, and she sits down on my bed. I never realized before just how tall she was. Why am I so much shorter than my parents? Maybe I just got unlucky genes or something.

"I talked to your father. He's willing to wait to marry you until you finish the school year. The wedding will be on June 9th, a few days after you take exams."

My heart flips and my stomach drops. I don't leave for France until the 10th. That gives the Mayor one night to…to…

I clench my sandwich so hard the meat pops out, and my mother gasps at the newly-made mess on the floor. "Oh dear, see what's happened! I'll get a towel to clean that up." She leaves, but I barely notice. Staring out the window, the world spins and turns odd colors before I clasp my hands to my head and bury myself in my floorboards. They wrap around me – strange, they shouldn't be moving. They aren't moving. I just rolled over. At the end of the year, it will be the Mayor's floor I'm staring at. The world is ending. My world is ending.

No. It's not ending. It just means I'm going to have to disappear…before I even fly to France. I need a plan. A new plan. I need to vanish forever as soon as the school year ends.

What am I going to tell Miles?

MILES!

I jerk wildly on the floor and somehow retrieve my phone, texting him the details about Mike and Sarah. Any ideas for Halloween? I've had a few.

He doesn't text back. He's probably eating dinner or something. I wonder when his mom is getting married. Given her floaty nature, who knows? She'll probably arrive barefoot and have Mr. Engleman put her shoes on her instead of exchanging rings.

I climb onto my bed and spread out my homework. I don't have much due tomorrow, but I need to get ahead a little if I want to be ready for Halloween. If I get work done now I can work on my costume while I'm stuck in the house all weekend.

Mother returns with a damp cloth and wipes up the sandwich filling I spilled, chatting easily while she cleans. I don't say much, and I don't absorb what she says either, but I'm glad she seems happy. Let her be happy. She got the wedding delayed until June, at least, so let her think I'm going along with it. The whole escape will be easier if I pretend to behave.

"…and of course I'll hand-sew your wedding dress, that way we can make it perfect…maybe in a few months you could rummage through the trash bins at the florist and see what's good? Oh, and your honeymoon, well you'll have to stay here of course, the only time the Mayor could ever travel would be November…"

I glance up sharply. "The Mayor can travel? Like…anywhere?" Mother shakes her head. "Oh, no, he can't leave America. Actually, he can't go very far from Halloweentown, since he's so crucial in the holiday planning. They teach that in scare school, didn't you ever pay attention?" She sighs. "Some days I worry you're going to turn out like your father."

She finally leaves with a smile and a wave, and I shut the door behind her.

The Mayor can't come after me. Once I'm gone, nobody can come after me. I whirl around the room with glee.

"Once I'm out, I'll be free,

I can live life just for me.

A wife, you say?

Uh-uh, no way!

I'm going to be free!

Goodbye, Mother. Goodbye, Dad.

Goodbye to the life I had.

Come this summer,

For them a bummer,

But I'll be free!

Silly Mayor, we won't wed!

We will share neither home nor bed.

I'll be away, far away

Every month and every day.

But I'll be free!"

I think of Miles – his sad expression when he realized I would never come back. The way he pulled me into his arms…

"And for you, my dearest friend,

I swear it's not the end.

I will reach you someday

And we will find a way

To love…

I love you, don't you know…

I hope you love me so…

But whether yes or no,

I'll be free!"

I gaze out the window, highly pleased with my positive attitude, and crash back onto the bed.

My phone finally buzzes; Miles texted me back.

Idk. Maybe pretend to be Sarah and guilt-trip him? Make him think she's coming back to murder him for what he did. Even if it was an accident.

I grin and message back. That's what I thought too. I'll get going on my costume if you can find some lighting and a good way to terrify him at your house. Oh, and I'm grounded this weekend.

Aw, for real?

Yep.

Dang. I totally had a plan.

Except you didn't.

Nope. I had absolutely no plan. But I might be going tux shopping. Nah I'll wait for you to be ungrounded. I'm not buying any tux my mother likes without a second opinion.

Np. I've got your back, buddy.

Thanks A. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Oh, Miles. You're squeezing my heart a lot tighter than you need to. Knock it off and love me already.

The memory of sitting in his lap comes rushing back, his arms wrapped tightly around my torso. "Miles, what are you—"Shut up." It felt so right to be pressed against him, to just sit and be quiet with him. I can't marry the Mayor. I'll die first.

Does he love me? It seems like it. I'm usually sure of everything, and now here I am being unsure. I hate it. If he likes me he needs to send a freaking sign or officially friendzone me or something. I hate this middle ground…and yet here I am, not trying to leave it. I'm terrified. I don't get it. I never get scared.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!

Realizing I've left Miles hanging, I snatch my phone back up.

The wedding date is set. June 9th, the day before we leave.

How do you know when my mom is getting married…?

NOT HER'S, MINE, YOU IDIOT.

Oh. That's not good.

No, it's really not.

We'll figure something out. You're smart and I'm stubborn. I will kick that little mayor in the balls if that's what it takes to get you out of there.

Thanks, I'm sure my parents will appreciate that.

Whatever. I'm just trying to help.

Miles. Go do your homework.

No.

Okay, then I will. See you tomorrow.

I snap the phone shut and toss it away so I don't get distracted, and push all thoughts from my head. Oh boy. Fractions.