Hello everyone! I hope you enjoy this little chapter.

Thanks to Sandy-belle for all her patience in helping me edit the chapter :D And to you guys for reading.

Walk Me Home

Chapter 13 - The Day Before Halloween

Set The day before House of Terror 2 (or the day before Halloween 2015)

"Do you know what theme they settled on?" Lucas asked Maya as they walked to the costume rental place after school on the day before Halloween.

Due to the fact that Maya had been working after school on a piece Ms. Kossal wanted her to submit to a city-wide competition, and that Lucas had had extra basketball practice all week, they hadn't gone with Farkle and Riley when they selected the costumes.

"No. Riley wouldn't tell me." Maya answered as Lucas held the door of the store open for her. "I hope it's nothing too elaborate like last year's steampunk."

"Hey, I liked steampunk."

"I liked it too, but it wasn't the most comfortable of looks. And Riley's cage-skirt thing kept getting caught everywhere."

"I remember we had to pull her from the subway's doors." Lucas laughed as they approached the counter.

"May I help you?" a middle-aged man with a nametag that read "Larry" asked.

"Our friends put two costumes on hold for us. Friar and Hart."

Wordlessly, Larry went to the backroom and passed them two bags. "You can try them on first if you like. Changing rooms that way." He pointed to back of the store.

"We might as well," Maya said, grabbing her bag and going to the changing room marked with a pink door and Lucas followed her to the next stall over, marked with a blue door.

After a few minutes Lucas called out "Maya... what are we supposed to be again?" as he came out.

"I don't know. This is just a sparkly dress." She said, coming out as well.

Lucas stared at her for a moment. "What, does it look bad?" Maya asked, turning to look at herself in the mirror and sending the sequined skirt flying.

"N-No, it's a good color for you. But I don't get the theme yet."

"Well there's a wig and some other stuff in the bag, but I didn't want to bother."

"I have a hat." Lucas said, putting it on. It matched the white three-piece suit he was wearing. "How does it look?"

"Dapper." Maya said with a smile. He looked like one of those guys in the movies her grandma liked, like the Great Gatsby (original version with Robert Redford). "Except for the mess you made with the tie."

"I don't have much experience with them." Lucas said, turning to the mirror to try to fix it.

"You're making it worse. Come on." Maya said, turning him to face her. "I think a simple Four in Hand knot will work."

Lucas stood still while Maya began tugging at the knot he had made, undoing it. "Where'd you learn to tie ties?" He asked.

"Mmm, after my dad left we moved in with my grandparents. My grandfather used to wear one every day, and every morning I would rush to his room and sit on his dresser while he did them. He'd tell me about the knots and tell me stories about what they were called. Stuff like that."

"That's sweet."

"It was. After a while, he began to let me tie them. Before he died, he told my grandmother that he wanted them to bury him with his second best tie, so I could have his favorite. It's blue; he always wore it on my birthday because he said it matched my eyes." Maya explained sadly; she took a deep breath and finished the knot. "Sorry, didn't mean to get morbid." She added, looking up at him to find him looking down at her.

"I don't think it was morbid at all." He said gravely. "It's nice you have such good memories of him."

Maya just smiled, patted the tie into place and said. "All done."

Lucas smiled and looked at the mirror to see the neatest knot he'd ever seen. "You know I'm never going to be able to do this, right?"

Maya rolled her eyes. "I'll make another knot that you only have to slide up, like a silly half-Windsor or something. Maybe an Oriental knot. Anyone can tie an Oriental." She said, tugging at the necktie and undoing her handy work.

"Not me, believe me. I'm better with actual knots, boy scout style." He said, holding still for her again.

"Well, you wouldn't be a good Ranger Rick if you weren't." She finished and turned him to face the mirror again "How about that?"

Maya was smiling in the mirror, waiting for his reaction. Lucas held her gaze for a moment before declaring "Perfect."