October 31, 2014
Janet's House
7:41 P.M.
"I don't get it," Wanda complained as she, Keesha, Ralphie, DA, Carlos, and Tim made their way across the lawn to a familiar mansion. "Why are we here again? One Halloween with Janet is bad enough; two years running is just cruel."
"I don't think Janet's that bad," Tim argued. "She can actually be… Sweet. You know, once you get to know her."
Wanda rolled her eyes. "Hands, who here besides Tim thinks Janet is capable of being sweet?" When no hands went up, Wanda shot Tim a victorious smirk. "Which brings me back to, 'why are we here again?'"
October 31, 2014
Arnold's Basement
6:56 P.M.
Wanda cocked her head at the television screen. "What the hell is this?"
"Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge," Phoebe replied, eyes transfixed to the TV.
"And why are we watching it?"
"Because Arnold and I already finished the first one."
Wanda glanced between Arnold and Phoebe, a look of disgust on her face. "Correction—why are we watching TV on Halloween, the most party-tastic night of the year besides New Year's Eve and, of course, Groundhog Day?"
"Halloweentown is a classic."
"And you agreed to this?" Wanda asked Arnold, narrowing her eyes at the boy.
Arnold shrugged. "We're too old to trick-or-treat, so why not? And who celebrates Groundhog Day?"
"For your information, the people of Punxsutawney live it up every February 2nd, but that's not the point. You couldn't think of anything better to do on Halloween night then watch some crappy movies from the late nineties? We should be tearing up the town!"
"But if I stay, I get kisses." Phoebe leaned over to her boyfriend and gave him a peck on the cheek before cozying up close to him.
"Gross." Wanda stood up from her chair and made a beeline for the stairs. "Anyone who wants to do something that's not totally lame, come with me!" Immediately, all of the friends besides Arnold and Phoebe stood up and headed out the door, an action that went unnoticed by the remaining two. Cuddled up together on the sofa, Arnold and Phoebe were in a world of their own.
October 31, 2014
Janet's House
7:42 P.M.
"And how is this any less lame than what Arnold and Phoebe are doing?"
Keesha pushed her way past Wanda. "It was either this or take William trick-or-treating, remember?"
"Besides," Mikey offered, taking a hold of Wanda's hand, "At least we get to spend some time together."
"That's true…" Wanda mused, a smile tugging at her lips.
Carlos cleared his throat, wanting nothing more than to interrupt the moment. Despite having given his consent to the couple to date, seeing Wanda and Mikey together still made Carlos uneasy. Unfortunately, the pair remained oblivious to Carlos's discomfort and continued holding hands as they made their way up the driveway.
Keesha reached the grand entrance first, and easily let herself and the gang into the luxurious home. Inside, the house remained unchanged from the previous year; even most of the guests remained the same. After a quick wave to Janet, Keesha and the gang migrated into the living room.
"I could live here," Wanda commented, taking a seat on the plush couch.
Carlos shook his head. "Not me; I still have nightmares about that Assassins game."
"Are you kidding? That was awesome!" With a sigh, Wanda glanced around the comparably tamer party. "Think we could convince Janet to do that again?"
"Definitely not," DA commented. "We made a complete mess of this house last year. I doubt Janet's parents would appreciate a repeat."
A silence fell over the group. Wanda groaned. "So, what do we do now?"
"Sit here and talk, I guess," Tim suggested. "We could always mingle…" Everyone grimaced at the suggestion. "Or not…"
Awkwardly, the gang admired the décor, unsure of what to say.
October 31, 2014
Arnold's Basement
7:59 P.M.
"Alright, the movie's over," Arnold announced, sitting up in his seat. "Now we can go out and…" Looking around, it finally dawned on Arnold that he and Phoebe had been abandoned. "…When did everyone leave?"
"Beats me," Phoebe replied, stretching. "Although come to think of it, the second half of the movie did seem quieter…"
An idea then crossed Arnold mind. "You know," he remarked coolly, "We're all alone now."
"That's true… Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Arnold and Phoebe exchanged a knowing look.
October 31, 2014
Arnold's Front Door
8:22 P.M.
"That'll be $10.99," the pizza delivery boy said, handing a large pizza to the couple. Arnold quickly handed the boy the money, plus enough for a tip. The muttered a quiet 'thanks' before turning and walking back to his car.
Phoebe bounced with excitement at the smell that wafted out of the box. "This is great! We never get to order pizza!"
Eagerly, the two teens returned to the basement with their prize, grateful for the absence of their quarrelsome friends.
October 31, 2014
Janet's House
8:46 P.M.
Wanda leaned back on the sofa in boredom. "Fine, I take it back—maybe watching Hallow-whatever isn't the lamest thing on the planet. This party is!"
"I guess it would be hard to top Assassins," Ralphie mused. "That was legendary."
Janet approached the group, seeming frazzled. "Okay, so it's not the best party on the planet-" Wanda scoffed at the comment, garnering a glare from Janet. "But can everyone please shut up about how cool last year was?" Tim placed an arm around Janet's shoulders, and the girl calmed down somewhat. "I'm sorry, but people will not let that dumb game go!"
"How about we go somewhere more private and talk about it?" Tim suggested, making Janet grin.
"No, no, no!" Wanda cried, diving in between Tim and Janet. "Tim does not get to have sex while I'm stuck at this lame-ass party!"
Janet shot Tim an angry look. "You told them about us?"
"You mean about how you two have been doing it all year?" Carlos clarified, annoying Janet farther. "Yup, he mentioned it once or twice."
Tim put up his hands defensively. "I didn't think you'd mind!"
Keesha chuckled at Janet's clear frustration. "Chill out, Janet. If it's any consolation, nobody really cares."
"Except Arnold," DA corrected. "He still thinks the idea of you and Tim together is weird."
Janet smacked Tim in the back of the head, but appeared otherwise pacified. "Where is my cousin anyway?"
October 31, 2014
Arnold's Basement
8:48 P.M.
"Wait, I don't get it," Arnold interjected. "Who was that?"
Phoebe smirked at her boyfriend's apparent investment in the movie. "That was principal Flannigan, remember?"
"But- What does he have to do with the Order of-"
"The Knights of the Iron Dagger," Phoebe reminded, ever patient. "He's the last of the Knights."
Arnold squinted in confusion. "So he's the bad guy?"
"Kind of…" Phoebe sighed. "Just keep watching, okay?"
"I'll try," Arnold conceded. "I just didn't expect these movies to be so intense."
Phoebe shrugged. "I told you—they're classics."
Arnold nodded along, still focused on trying to work out the movie. "No kidding…"
October 31, 2014
Janet's House
8:48 P.M.
"Nowhere cool," Wanda assured confidently. "Believe me, nowhere cool."
Janet seemed skeptical at first, but soon realized that her cousin was definitely not the type to cause a scene; Wanda was probably right. "Fair enough…"
"Look, Janet." Wanda kneeled on the sofa, trying to reach eye level with the redhead. "No offence, but this party is shit. Like, the shittiest party in the history of parties. Shittier than—uh… Ralphie, help me."
"Shittier than a constipated man's toilet after receiving a new prescription laxative?"
"Right."
Janet scrunched up her face. "Was the simile really necessary? And how is this not offensive?"
"You Perlsteins always miss the point," Wanda complained. "What I'm saying is, have you considered making this party not suck?"
"And how do you suggest I do that?"
Wanda's eyes grew bright. "Let me help!"
DA and Keesha groaned, knowing better than to grant their friend any sort of power. "Don't let her help."
"Please? I'm good at helping!"
"She's terrible at helping," Tim argued. "She only cares about her own amusement."
Wanda pushed Tim off of the sofa arm he leaned against. "Ignore them," Wanda insisted, laying her hand on Janet's face. "I want to help."
"Fine, you can help," Janet agreed, slapping Wanda's hand away. "Just don't touch me—I don't know where you've been."
"That's the spirit!" Wanda enthused leaping up from the sofa and, in the process, pushing Tim onto the floor for the second time. "Let's make this party awesome!"
October 31, 2014
Janet's House
8:53 P.M.
"The rules are simple," Wanda explained to the circle of party guests now seated on the floor. "You spin the bottle, and you kiss whoever the bottle points to. Got it?" The group nodded unsurely, no one particularly interested in the party game. "Great! DA, spin first!"
"Okay…" DA spun the bottle, and a few moments later, it landed on Anthony, the wrestler.
Wanda grinned maniacally. "Great! Now kiss!"
"But… I don't want to kiss him."
"And she still scares me!" Anthony added, shivering. "Kill me once, shame on you. Kill me twice-"
DA rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to kill you, Anthony! We're not even playing Assassins anymore!"
Wanda rubbed her temples, trying to block out the bickering. "Fine, don't kiss. Anthony, take your spin." Following orders, Anthony spun the bottle. The bottle landed pointing towards Wanda. "Kiss me!"
"But you scare me, too."
"Ugh!" Peeved, Wanda stood from the circle. "Just… Forget it!"
October 31, 2014
Janet's House
9:01 P.M.
Wanda returned to the circle after a few minutes, having regained her calm. "Alright, I realize where I went wrong: nobody was drunk enough to play Spin the Bottle. However, this next game can be played completely sober! May I present to you, the greatest party game of all time…" Wanda hummed her own theme music before announcing, "Never Have I Ever!"
Keesha shook her head scornfully. "That's the greatest party game ever? Never Have I Ever?"
"Mm-hmm!" Wanda nodded enthusiastically. "All you have to do is put up your hands, and every time someone names something that you've done, you put a finger down! It's easy, and fun!"
"Fun?"
"Yup! Now everyone, put up your hands and let's play!"
October 31, 2014
Janet's House
9:09 P.M.
"Why do I keep losing?!" Wanda cried out after being eliminated for the third game in a row.
"Because you're a disgusting human being," DA pointed out, still holding up 8 of her fingers. "Who has actually drunk toilet water?"
Wanda crossed her arms. "We're in a drought, DA. I was just looking out for the environment."
"That's bull," Carlos laughed. "You did it because Ralphie bet you a dollar that you wouldn't!"
Keesha gagged at the thought. "You drank toilet water for a dollar?"
"And I never even paid her!" Ralphie exclaimed, before pausing. "Wait, maybe I shouldn't have said that…" Wanda held her open hand out to Ralphie, who sadly handed over a crisp dollar bill.
October 31, 2014
Janet's House
9:17 P.M.
Wanda stood before the circle of party guests once more. "I admit, Never Have I Ever was a bad choice. But never fear! I, Wanda Li, have come up with the actual greatest party game ever! Forget Never Have I Ever, that's nothing compared to… Charades!"
Tim raised a brow at Wanda. "Charades? Really?"
Wanda's shoulder's fell. "I know, Charade's sucks. I'm running out of inspiration, guys!"
"Wait! I've got it!" Janet leapt up from her seat and rushed to a cabinet on the far side of the room. Carefully, she opened it up and removed from the shelf a large bottle of tequila. "First, everyone has to take a shot of this."
As the drink started circulating the room, Keesha cocked her head. "Won't your parents notice all of the missing tequila?"
"Doubtful," Janet assured. "They don't keep track of this cabinet—all the cheap stuff is out here."
"Works for me!" Wanda shouted, taking a swig of the bottle.
Once everyone had had a drink, Janet revealed her plan. "We're going to play… 7 Minutes in Heaven!"
Wanda's eyes grew wide. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that? It's the greatest party game of all time!"
"What's 7 Minutes in Heaven?" DA wondered aloud.
Wanda clicked her tongue while Janet explained. "Basically, we send two people into this closet for 7 minutes and they can do whatever they want."
"Like… Kissing and stuff?"
Janet chuckled at the comment. "Yeah… And stuff."
"Who's going first?" Wanda cried, ready to start the game. Booze and kissing really were some of her favorite things in life.
October 31, 2014
Arnold's Basement
9:24 P.M.
"That was… A surprisingly good film." Arnold confessed as the credits for Halloweentown High scrolled.
Phoebe grinned. "I told you so! And now…" Phoebe picked up the remote and fiddled with it for a few seconds. When she finished, the title Return to Halloweentown appeared on the screen.
Arnold groaned and collapsed onto the sofa. "There's another one?"
"This is the last one," Phoebe assured. "We have to watch it—it has the best song. Trust me."
"Phoebe, I think I'm dying," Arnold argued. "I'm in a pizza and candy coma!"
"Just one more film?" Phoebe whimpered.
Arnold moaned. "You know I can't say no to that face…"
Phoebe smiled and pulled Arnold into a tight hug. "Thanks, Arn!"
"The things I do…" Arnold murmured, sitting up slowly to watch the film.
October 31, 2014
Janet's Closet
9:30 P.M.
Girl,
There's something 'bout me that you ought to know.
I've never felt the need to lose control.
Always held on back and played it slow.
But not this time.
Baby, don't be gentle,
I can handle anything.
Tim and Janet wasted no time upon entering the closet. The second the door shut, the couple began kissing. The breathing grew heavy, and soon clothes were flying off. There was no time for conversation, but little needed to be said.
As 7 minutes rounded to a close, Tim and Janet threw their clothes back on and smoothed out the wrinkles, hoping their rendezvous wouldn't be too apparent to the party guests. In the last five seconds, Janet and Tim smiled at one another, and Janet pulled the boy in for a deep kiss. Such as it was for Tim and Janet—the passion was strong, but the romance was never forgotten.
October 31, 2014
Janet's Closet
9:38 P.M.
Baby,
Take me on a journey.
I've been thinking lately,
I could use a little time alone with you.
Crazy,
Let's do something, maybe.
Please don't take your time,
You got me,
Right where you want me.
When Wanda and Mikey were shut in the small space, the two were unusually quiet. Being a relatively new couple, the two hadn't done much more than kiss, and even that was in a much more private location. Mikey took a deep breath. "So… What now?"
"We could make out."
Mikey was caught off guard by the comment, though he realized that he should have expected as much from his girlfriend. "I mean… If you want to. I don't want you to feel pressured by the party or anything…"
"Believe me, I always want to make out."
"Well then… Let's…"
The two began to kiss, and the discomfort faded from Mikey. Maybe with Wanda, he could stop overthinking and just act; that's what Wanda seemed to do. As the two made out in the dimly lit closet, Mikey couldn't help but think that he was the luckiest boy on the planet.
October 31, 2014
Arnold's Basement
9:46 P.M.
Girl,
I'm gonna let you have your way with me.
But when you move like that,
It's hard to breathe.
I never thought that it could be like this,
But I was wrong.
Baby, don't be gentle,
I can handle anything.
Phoebe and Arnold lay sprawled out on the sofa, all thoughts of Halloweentown temporarily gone from their minds. The two had been watching the film diligently, but soon the closeness had clouded their thoughts and, realizing their privacy, the two had begun kissing. It wasn't long before they fell onto the sofa cushions and their kissing intensified. How they were happy that their friends had gone out for the evening.
October 31, 2014
Janet's Closet
9:54 P.M.
Baby,
Take me on a journey.
I've been thinking lately,
I could use a little time alone with you.
Crazy,
Let's do something, maybe.
Please don't take your time,
You got me,
Right where you want me.
"Why do birds fly south for the winter?" Carlos waited a second, giving Dorothy Ann a chance to answer. "Because it's too far to walk!"
DA groaned. It wasn't two seconds after the closet door closed, and Carlos was already off with his bad jokes. She had been unhappy enough about being pulled into this stupid game; the last thing she needed was to listen to seven full minutes of puns. "Must you always tell jokes?"
Carlos shrugged. "It's either that or think about the fact that my brother was just in here making out with Wanda. Jokes seemed like more fun."
"Can't we just talk like regular people?"
"I don't know, can we?" DA punched Carlos in the arm, clearly unamused. "Ow! Fine, what do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know…" DA contemplated for a minute, trying to distract her mind from how awkward this situation was. "How are you doing?"
Carlos looked down at DA in confusion, unsure what she was getting at. "Um… Fine, I guess."
"I meant about the whole Wanda and Mikey situation."
"Oh…" That made sense. DA could always tell when something was bothering Carlos. "I'm okay… I mean, it's weird that Mikey's old enough to date at all."
DA nodded with understanding. "I get it. Apparently, Evan got asked out for the first time yesterday…"
"No kidding…" Carlos was surprised that DA hadn't said anything sooner. Then again, she wasn't the type to wear her heart on her sleeves. "By who?"
"Some jock on the swim team," DA replied, tone somewhat bitter. "I mean, it's just some middle school romance, nothing serious. And it's not like she's dating one of my best friends…"
"It's still weird, though," Carlos conceded, leaning against the back of the closet. "When did our siblings grow up?"
DA chuckled and mirrored Carlos's pose. "Same time we did, I suppose."
Suddenly, Carlos grew tense. "Do you ever think it's weird that we don't date?" DA turned to Carlos, eyes wide. Carlos quickly realized his error. "Not you and me… I mean, do you ever think it's weird that we don't date other people?"
"Oh…" DA's shoulders fell. "Not really. We're only in high school—we have all the time in the world to worry about dating. Why?"
"My family is always asking me if I'm seeing anyone, or if I'm interested in someone, and… I just feel like I should be dating by now, that's all."
"Believe me, a guy like you has nothing to worry about."
Carlos was intrigued by the comment. "What do you mean?"
DA's face grew slightly red. "You know… You're smart, athletic, funny—well, sometimes funny." Carlos gave DA a playful shove at the last comment. "You'll have no problem getting dates."
"I guess I just want to have a date with the right person…" Carlos muttered, inching closer to the blonde, an action that the girl immediately took notice of.
"The right person…" DA repeated. "Did you have anyone in mind?" she asked coyly, hoping Carlos was saying what she thought he was saying. Sure enough, the boy moved in closer. DA grinned and leaned in. The two were about to kiss when the doorknob began to jangle.
Carlos and DA quickly jumped apart as the door swung open. Janet stood grinning on the other side. "Time's up, dorks! Get out!"
DA, unappreciative of the comment and the interruption, skulked out of the closet, Carlos in tow. Janet turned around to the remaining duo. "Alright, get inside," she ordered.
"This is a waste of time," Keesha scoffed as Wanda forced her inside the closet.
"You never know," Wanda countered in a sing-song tone. "The closet has powers."
Ralphie followed Keesha into the closet, and the door slammed shut. He gave Keesha a reassuring grin, hoping the girl could see him in the shady room. "Don't worry, this'll be fun."
"Fun? Fun how?" Keesha challenged, not happy about the match up. "What do you suggest we do, sit here and play Questions for seven minutes?"
"If you want…" Ralphie offered, hoping to quell the girl's anger.
Keesha crossed her arms, but remained silent. Ralphie sighed. "Why are you so upset?"
"Because this is a stupid game!" Keesha replied grumpily. "What, am I supposed to fall madly in love with you because we're trapped in a stranger's closet together?"
"It's just a party game," Ralphie reassured. "Nothing has to happen. We can just talk. Or play Questions!"
"No thanks," Keesha declined harshly.
Ralphie seemed almost hurt by the comment. "Are you mad at me?"
Finally, Keesha relaxed a little. "No… I just don't want to be locked in here with you."
"Why not? I'm a fun guy!"
Keesha was hesitant to respond. "It's just… Do you remember the Valentine's Day dance, freshman year?"
"Uh… Yeah…" Ralphie bluffed. To be honest, not much stood out to him about that day.
Keesha resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "You picked Wanda over me, remember? And when I asked you about it, you said-"
"That if I were to date you, it'd be for real!" Ralphie recalled excitedly. "Oh, yeah! What about it?"
"If we were to get caught up in the game, and something were to happen…" Keesha fumbled over her words for a second. "I guess what I'm saying is, if we were to kiss, I'd want it to be for real, too."
Ralphie was taken aback by the confession. "You… Like me?"
"Of course I like you! We're friends, aren't we?"
"But… What if we were to be more than friends?"
Keesha seemed almost scared about the suggestion. "…For real?" Her voice quivered as she spoke.
"For real."
Keesha, never one to rush into anything, considered what Ralphie was offering. The truth was, she'd always had a soft spot for the boy, ever since third grade. She'd put her feelings on hold over the past year, what with the group's pact to not date each other, but she'd remembered how much she cared for Ralphie after nursing his hangover on the second day of school. If Ralphie felt the same way… "Okay."
"Okay?"
"Let's be more than friends."
A smile crossed Ralphie's face, now understanding. Keesha returned the grin, and the two stepped close to each other. Ralphie placed his hand on Keesha's face and pulled the girl into a deep, long-awaited kiss.
After a few minutes, the door swung open, but Keesha and Ralphie remained oblivious to their new audience. Wanda threw up her arms victoriously. "Magic closet!"
Can't explain it,
How you swept me off my feet, unexpectedly.
In slow motion,
My imagination's running, trying to keep my body still,
I can hardly stand the thrill.
Baby, don't be gentle,
I can handle anything.
October 31, 2014
Arnold's Basement
10:51 P.M.
The final Halloweentown movie came to a close, not that Phoebe or Arnold noticed. The pair had fallen asleep long ago, Phoebe nuzzled against her boyfriend's chest, and Arnold's arm wrapped protectively around Phoebe. The two didn't even wake to the buzzing of Arnold's phone receiving a mass number of texts from their friends, filling in the details of Janet's party. Not that it mattered—they'd be caught up tomorrow. For now, all that mattered was togetherness and sleep.
October 31, 2014
Janet's House
10:59 P.M.
The party carried on for a while after the game ended, but DA found herself unable to enjoy any of it. Her thoughts all revolved around what had happened—or, rather, nearly happened—in the closet with Carlos. Once she was sure that no one was paying attention to her, she slipped out of the living room and hurried out the front door, wanting nothing more than to go back home and think.
Unfortunately for her, one person did see her slip out. She was halfway across the front lawn when an all-too-familiar voice came calling after her. "DA, hold up!"
DA took a deep breath before turning to face the speaker. "Carlos, hey!"
"Hey!" Carlos jogged across the grass to her. "Where are you going?"
"Oh, it's getting late…" DA murmured weakly. "I figured I should be heading home."
"Well, can we talk for a minute?"
DA's heart skipped a beat. This was it, the moment she'd been waiting for. "Sure, what's up?" she asked, fully aware of what Carlos wanted to discuss.
"What happened in the closet…" DA held her breath. "It was a mistake…"
DA's expression was frozen in confusion. "What are you-"
"We were both freaking out about our siblings and growing up; kissing wouldn't have helped anything. Actually, it would have just made everything more confusing. So I'm glad we got interrupted."
"Me, too…" DA replied softly. "I mean, you're probably right…"
Carlos relaxed at the response. "Great. So, can we just pretend nothing happened?"
"Of course." DA looked down at her phone. "Well, I should get going."
"Right. See you tomorrow?"
DA shot Carlos a half-hearted grin and turned away, beginning the lonely walk home. It crushed DA to think that Carlos regretted their almost-kiss, but deep down she knew he was right. Maybe one day they would get their moment… The timing just wasn't right.
Meanwhile, Carlos watched DA's retreating form. Every fiber in him wanted to run after the girl, grab her, and see that kiss through, but he knew that he shouldn't. As much as he liked DA (and he really, really liked DA), he knew that rushing into a relationship with her was risky, and the last thing he wanted was to risk their friendship. Being just friends sucked, but losing DA entirely would be the worst thing imaginable. Besides, DA seemed fine blowing off the kiss… Maybe she wasn't interested in him after all. Maybe his crush was just that—some one-sided feelings that never amounted to anything.
With a heavy heart, Carlos returned to Janet's house and reentered the celebration, hoping his friends wouldn't notice the turmoil he was in.
Baby,
Take me on a journey.
I've been thinking lately,
I could use a little time alone with you.
Crazy,
Let's do something, maybe.
Please don't take your time,
You got me,
Right where you want me.