A/N: Hello again everyone. Welcome back to Ravenswood!

Before we get started, I would like to thank everyone that read last chapter! I would also like to give a huge thank you to winterschild11, Anno1701, Guest, jessv96, and RainbowDiamonds for reviewing!

I hope you all enjoy!

Halloween morning, I woke to James kissing my neck.

We had spent all night having sex and he still wanted more. His appetite for me was insatiable, as was mine for him. I cracked a smile, slipping an arm around his bare back. It took me a handful of seconds to realize what felt off about it.

His skin wasn't cold. It was warm.

Alarmed, I sat up and held his face in my hands. He didn't look nearly as pale and the dark circles under his eyes were nearly imperceptible.

"James? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he answered, nuzzling my shoulder before giving it a little nip. "Today is All Hallows Eve. The veil between your world and the spirit one is thinner, remember?"

Oh, I definitely remembered, but I didn't think it would make him appear more human along with it.

"For this one day, I can live as you do," he continued, lifting his head to meet my stare. "I can eat and drink and actually taste it. I can travel anywhere. It's as if I'm alive again."

"Whether you have a pulse or not, you're alive to me, James." I pressed my forehead to his. "I accept you as you are."

"I'm beginning to believe you," he said with a sigh. "I feel foolish for keeping you at arm's length for so many weeks. We could've been naked in bed much sooner."

A raspy laugh left my throat.

"Are you working today?" James asked, making no moves to get up. He fit perfectly against my chest. "You only have five or so chapters left in your book, right?"

"The book can wait." I kissed his forehead. "Today's the one day you can leave the property, and I don't plan to waste it."

"What do you intend for us?"

The excitement in his voice jostled the butterflies in my stomach. I would do absolutely anything to make him happy.

"I think we should get dressed and have breakfast in town," I said, tracing circles on his smooth back. "Then, we can go anywhere you want. We can visit stores, go to the park. Whatever you want is yours."

"Could we go to the cinema?" he shyly asked.

I recalled him saying before how he was sad he and I couldn't go out on a real date. The cinema was one of the things he'd mentioned. A nice dinner had been the other.

"Of course," I answered as my heart swelled. Something else swelled too, but I'd ignore it for now. There'd be plenty of time for sex when we got back home. "Let's shower and get ready."

Showering together was a bad idea, only because right when we were under the water, my arms wrapped around his waist and I kissed his neck. He emitted a moan and tilted his head back, accepting my touch.

"Do we have time to…?"

I answered him by kicking his legs apart, bracing one hand on the shower wall, and slipping a hand around his hip as I entered him. Still stretched from the night before, his body held only a little resistance.

"Yes, Kendall." James rested his head on the side of mine as I pounded into him. The cold I'd come to expect when inside him was nowhere to be found. Only warmth and a pleasure so intense it nearly sent me to my knees.

Neither of us lasted long.

I reached around and took hold of his cock as he began to shudder around me. James whimpered and went slack in my arms as his orgasm rocked his body.

I held his weight, thrusting once, twice, three more times before jumping off that cliff with him. After, I kissed his neck, his shoulder, anywhere I could, as I regained my strength. I washed his body, taking my time as I scrubbed his more sensitive areas. The shower was intimate in all ways, emotionally and physically, and by the time we got out and dried off, I knew without a doubt I could never go back to how things were not even a week ago.

James and I belonged together. Other people might not understand it, but fuck them. Their opinions didn't matter.

Although it was Halloween and James' clothes could be taken for an old-timey costume, we agreed it'd be best if he didn't stand out. We were about the same size, so I let him sort through my clothes and find what he liked.

I smiled at his selection. Jeans and a hoodie with skater shoes. I'd had the shoes for years, and even though I never wore them anymore, they were nostalgic for me and I hadn't had the heart to give them away.

"How do I look?" James asked, holding out his arms to show off the green hoodie and skinny jeans.

"Very handsome, like a typical nineteen year old," I teased, unable to stop smiling.

I threaded my fingers through his dark hair, adding a bit of gel to style it, before fixing mine. Once we were ready, we walked downstairs and I grabbed my keys off the counter. I exited the manor and halted when I noticed James hadn't followed.

I turned back to see him standing in the doorway, looking unsure. Nervous.

"It's okay," I said, holding out my hand.

"What if people recognize me?"

"They won't. I don't mean this in a bad way, but all the people who knew you are dead. I'd be genuinely shocked if anyone recognized you, and even if they do, we'll just lie and say it's a coincidence."

"Very well." Though hesitantly, he slid his hand into mine and walked outside.

"Have you left the manor on other Halloweens?" I asked as we got into my car. I had to admit it was odd seeing James in the passenger's seat.

"Only at night," he answered, pulling out the seatbelt and studying it with curious fascination. He clicked it then glanced around the car. "Automobiles sure have changed since my time."

"Wait until you see the movie theater," I said with a smile, putting the car in reverse.

On the drive, I watched him from the corner of my eye. He was so alert, wanting to look at everything we passed. He also told me more stories from when he was alive.

"See that building there?" he asked, motioning to a newly built bank. "That used to be a store. The owner, a man named Jim, would give me and Alex hard candies for free. We thought he was just being nice, but when I got older, I knew it was because of my father. The Diamond name was like a chip on my shoulder everyone saw. I couldn't escape it. Still can't, I suppose." He sighed and grew solemn. "I'll always be James Diamond, the boy who went missing all those years ago."

"Will you ever tell me what really happened to you?"

"Yes." James' gaze shifted to mine. "Someday. I want you to know the truth. I also fear it."

"Why?"

A sad smile touched his lips, and he said nothing further.

After I parked downtown, we exited the car and moved along the sidewalk at a slow pace.

The October air held a chill as a breeze swept around us. Another cold front was coming through later tonight. Though on the chilly side, it was a beautiful fall morning. The leaves had changed by this point, and many had fallen, decorating the grass and walkways in gusts of orange and yellow as the wind blew them around.

I reached for James' hand.

He jerked away.

I stopped walking. "What's wrong?"

"We can't be seen holding hands in public, Kendall," He said, appearing just as terrified as he sounded. "We have to be careful. No one can know or we'll both be thrown into a jail cell."

Oh, James…

My chest cracked open at the fear in his eyes. I had told him things were better nowadays, but being told something and actually seeing it-believing it-was different.

Maybe it was a coincidence, or maybe fate, but at that exact moment, the door to the coffee shop opened and two men walked out, holding hands. The taller man kissed the shorter one on his cheek and they smiled at each other before continuing down the sidewalk.

James gaped. "Kendall...those men...they're...and no one is stopping them…" Tears surfaced in his hazel eyes and one slipped free when he turned to look at me. "It's really true?"

I nodded and wiped away one of his tears.

He had seen Jett and Eric kiss each other, but that had been in the privacy of our home. Seeing men be so open about their sexuality in public was a shock to him.

"The cafe is down the street," I said, letting my arm fall back to my side.

A crease marred the middle of James' forehead as we walked, and his distant gaze said his mind was elsewhere. I couldn't even begin to imagine what he was feeling or thinking.

He snapped out of it when we entered the cafe. He smiled as he looked around. The hostess greeted us and led us to a table near the window. A minute after being seated, the waitress came over to take our drink orders. And she seemed mighty interested in James, smiling and tucking her hair behind her ear.

"She totally likes you," I said once she walked away.

"Don't be absurd," James responded, though his cheeks held a faint blush. "Besides, I'm not available."

"Not available, huh?" I teased. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"Oh, you might know him." James scanned the menu. "He is a novelist who tells stories of horror and death, and he sometimes looks as though he belongs in one of his books because of the untidy state of his hair and his tendency to wear the same clothes for days on end."

I blinked. "Are you poking fun at me? And here I thought you were a gentleman."

His eyes remained downcast as he read over the menu, but a grin curved his lips.

"So sorry to interrupt your meal, but can I get a quick selfie with you?" a girl asked, standing beside me. "I'm a huge fan."

"Uh, of course." I stood from the table.

She took the photo, complimented me some more, then went on her way.

"Does that happen all the time?" James asked, cocking his head. "You're a celebrity, Kendall."

"It happens more here than it did in New York," I answered. "Everyone's so busy in the city, and it's crowded. I once saw a man walk down the street in nothing but a speedo and no one even turned their head. Here in Ivy Grove, I find it occurring more and more."

The waitress brought our coffees and took our food orders. James chose the breakfast platter of pancakes, eggs, sausage links, and fresh fruit, and I ordered the same.

"Do you miss the city?" James asked, stirring sugar and cream into his cup.

I'd never seen him eat or drink before, so I watched, amazed, as he lifted the coffee to his lips and took a drink. He closed his eyes and softly sighed.

I got hard and shifted in my seat. "No, I don't miss it. Moving here led me to you."

"And to Dak," he said, smiling. "You said he's the best friend you've ever had."

"He is," I responded, shocked that he'd mentioned Dak but also pleased by it, especially since he no longer felt competition between them.

Since the book signing, I had gone over to Dak's a few times. I was happy to discover he no longer had a crush on me. Well, he did, but he was starting to move past it. We were finally settling into an easy friendship again without all the tension and awkwardness. He still couldn't stop talking about the mystery man from the party. The poor guy was smitten.

"Does he have any exciting plans for tonight?" James asked.

"He asked if I wanted to go to a party this evening with some of his friends, but I told him I had other plans."

James smiled and drank more coffee. He finished his before I was even halfway through mine. When the waitress came by to refill his cup, she stayed a little longer than necessary.

"Just let me know if there's anything else I can get you," she said.

I chuckled into my coffee as she walked away, and he shot me a glare.

"It's not funny, Kendall."

"Oh, it really is."

He snarled his upper lip, which only made me laugh harder.

If I thought it was sexy as hell watching James drink coffee, watching him eat far surpassed it. The sounds he made as he bit into a sausage link nearly had me dragging him to the bathroom and fucking him in one of the stalls. I was so hard under the table it was a miracle my cock didn't burst through the wood.

After breakfast, we left the cafe and strolled past the other shops. James wanted to go into most of them, and I humored him. We walked through craft stores, an old music shop that sold records, and antique shops.

In one of the antique shops, James stopped beside a Victorian high back chair and stared at it. He smoothed his hand along the top before tracing the outer edge toward the arm.

"Do you like it?" I asked.

He nodded. "It would be a lovely reading chair, don't you think?"

"Yeah. It would."

He looked away, continuing down the aisle. While he was engrossed in a collection of old toys, I approached the man behind the counter.

"How much for the chair?"

"Two-fifty," he answered, pushing his glasses further up his nose.

"Awesome. Do you take cards?"

"Yes, sir."

I purchased the chair and arranged for the man to have it delivered tomorrow. He agreed and thanked me before going back to his crossword puzzle. I found James playing with a wooden train, and when he caught me looking at him, he released it and went pink in the face.

The day with him was one of the best I'd ever had. His pleasure over the small things, like watching a kid play fetch with his dog in the park or seeing the Halloween decorations, warmed my heart. He also loved sitting and watching cars drive by.

"Where are we going now?" he asked with a smile so big it took my breath away.

God, he was so happy. And for a moment, I forgot he was dead. In his hoodie and skinny jeans and wearing the brightest smile I'd ever seen on his face, he looked like an ordinary guy. But it wasn't just his appearance; it was his behavior.

James, who was normally so proper and gentlemanlike, was bouncing in place and grinning from ear to ear, excitedly pointing at everyday things like they were the greatest thing in the world.

"You'll see," I answered, placing a hand at the small of his back and guiding him across the street.

In front of the shop, I opened the door for him. An instant whiff of baked goods hit my nose, and even though I was still a little full from breakfast, I knew I'd be stuffing my face again soon. James went inside and stopped in his tracks.

"A dessert shop?" he asked.

"Well, you did say you liked chocolate," I said. "Order whatever you want."

He ordered peanut butter and chocolate fudge, chocolate truffles, and a large piece of cake. I had doubts about whether he could eat it all, but he did. We sat at a round table as he finished off the double-fudge cake, moaning as he licked chocolate off his fingers. When he was done, he eyed my pie.

I scooted it toward him. "Help yourself."

"Thank you." He smiled as he dug in.

"I'm surprised you don't have a belly ache after that," I said as we left the shop.

"Alex used to say the same." James chuckled before a frown downturned his mouth. "I'm sorry I keep mentioning him, Kendall. It's not fair to you now that we're an item."

An item. He was too cute for words.

"Don't be sorry," I said, moving closer to him but keeping somewhat of a distance as to not make him uncomfortable. "Alex was your first love. That's something you never forget."

"What about your first love?" James asked, putting his hands in the hoodie pocket.

"Honestly?" I shook my head. "I've never been in love."

Until you.

But I didn't say it, not sure how he'd react.

"Never? What about Jett?"

"I loved him, but I wasn't in love with him. At least not like anything like what you had with Alex, that's for sure."

"What Alex and I had was special. Innocent in so many ways. Shattering in others."

"Do you miss him?"

James nodded sadly. "I do. A great deal. But, as someone once told me, the heart is big enough to love more than one person."

It wasn't quite an admission of love, yet it made my heart beat faster anyway.

"It's strange," I said, pursing my lips.

"What is?"

I sat on a bench and he took the spot beside me, our thighs touching.

"It's strange that I've read your journal and know so much about your life," I explained, shivering a bit as the breeze strengthened. "You wrote a lot about Alex, and it feels like your love story with him belongs to someone else. Not you, the James sitting beside me right now."

"I'm not the same James anymore, Kendall." His gaze was fixated on the street in front of us.

"How so?"

"Sometimes I feel like the real me is slipping away. So many years I've been in the manor, watching the world pass me by. Strangers came and went. For a time, I forgot who I was. Time is cruel that way. I lashed out at everyone I could, chased people away. Out of fear. Out of anger. When I came back to myself, I realized I was turning into my father. It frightened me."

I couldn't grasp the years of loneliness James had suffered. I imagined it'd be like being stuck in solitary confinement for years and years with no one to talk to, no one to remind you who you were. The mental toll that would take on somebody was unfathomable. The pieces of your life, your belongings, and the pictures on the walls, all would be removed and replaced by other people's things. Bit by bit, you'd be erased.

No wonder he'd been so angry.

"If you ever forget yourself again, I'll remind you," I said, placing my hand on his leg before quickly taking it off.

"I won't forget." James' gaze locked onto mine. "You keep me grounded, Kendall Knight. You add color to my black and white world."

He did the same for me.

XxX

After a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant, James and I headed toward the movie theater.

The sun was mostly set by now but not quite, casting a dark golden glow over Ivy Grove. On the sidewalk, we passed people in costume; devils, witches, and zombies. Halloween was on a Thursday, so kids had school the next day, but they were still out trick-or-treating. And the adults without kids were out drinking.

James' brows shot up when two girls wearing kitty costumes walked by.

The costume was a black leotard with a dip down the center to show their cleavage, fishnet stockings, high heels, and cat ears. He'd mentioned how he left the house on past Halloweens at night, so I knew he'd seen girls dressed like that before, but I was sure it still shocked someone like him who came from such a modest time.

"I should put you in a kitten costume," I said, waggling my eyebrows.

He snorted. "I would have no choice but to kill you, Kendall."

"You're right. You'd make a better puppy."

The musical tone of his laugh was the sweetest sound I'd heard all day.

Reaching the movie theatre, his whole face lit up. Cinemas in his day were completely different than the ones now. One, there was sound to the films, more than just orchestra type music. And two, the atmosphere. An arcade was on one side of the room, the bells and whistles from the games sounding in the background. Teenagers huddled together against one machine, putting in dollar bills to get coins.

"What would you like to watch?" I asked.

"I read about one in the paper," he said, regarding the selection of movies and their showtimes. "It was called IT."

"That's about a killer clown, just so you know."

"What's the matter, Kendall?" James smiled. "You can write it but not watch it?"

"You know what?" I pulled out my wallet and stepped toward the ticket booth. "Two for IT: Chapter Two, please."

After I paid, we moved over to the concession stand. James commented on the selection of snacks, and he beamed when he saw the hotdogs. I whispered to him, "If you get scared in the movie, you can always hold my hand."

James blushed and turned his head away from me. His gaze darted between the people around us.

It hurt, but I forced a smile. He wasn't the first guy I'd dated who wasn't out. However, in James' case, it wasn't because he was ashamed of me or what we did. He was just scared.

I ordered a large bucket of popcorn, a hotdog, and two sodas at the concession stand before we headed down the hall toward the theatre. I didn't like people behind me, so I walked to the very top and sat on the back row. It would also give us more privacy, just in case James changed his mind and wanted to get a bit cozier.

"There are so many seats," he said, sweeping a gaze down the aisle.

"Yep." I held the bucket toward him. "Here. Eat some popcorn."

With an eager smile, he grabbed a handful and ate one piece before shoving the rest in his mouth. I handed him a napkin because of the butter, and he thanked me, wiping the grease from his hands. When he ate his hotdog, emitting soft moans, it took every ounce of willpower not to slide between his legs and devour his mouth.

More people gradually filled the seats in front of us. The movie had been out for over a month, so it wasn't too busy. Only half the theatre was full and people were pretty spread out. A couple three rows down from us were heavily making out, and a group on the same row but several seats away too selfies.

It reminded me of why I rarely got out of the house. People annoyed me.

When it was time for the movie to start and the house lights dimmed, throwing the theatre into darkness, James shifted closer to me. As the beginning scene played, I paid little attention to it. I was too focused on James' sharp intake of breath and how he jumped. The horror on his face as it showed IT for the first time cracked me up.

"Kendall, this is horrible," James said, mortified as a kid was eaten on screen.

"Do you want to leave?"

He shook his head, not taking his eyes off the movie.

Oh, great. This damn movie's gonna traumatize him.

Once, during an intense scene, James grabbed my hand. I shifted toward him and let him bury his face against my shoulder. The moment passed almost as soon as it began. He sat back up and released my hand, offering me a shaky smile.

After the movie, we threw away our trash and walked into the lobby. There were scattered conversations about the movie, some saying it was scary as hell while others said they liked the first one better.

"What did you think?" I asked, turning to him.

"I've decided that I no longer like clowns."

"Join the club." I laughed and headed for the door.

When we left the movie theatre, shivers erupted over my skin at the coldness in the air. I felt sorry for the girls we'd seen earlier who were wearing practically nothing. I was in jeans and a sweatshirt and was still shaking.

"Anywhere else you'd like to go?" I asked, checking the time. It was a few minutes until ten. We still had two hours before he had to be back at the manor. A total Cinderella situation.

"Home," he answered, linking his fingers with mine. "I want to go home."

Shocked, I looked at our joined hands. People surrounded us, some leaving the theatre while others went inside for the late shows. And yet, he was openly showing affection.

"Is this okay?" he asked as his smile began to falter.

"It's perfect," I said, holding him tighter.

Right as we turned to go down the sidewalk, my insides froze. They just stopped working; my heart, my lungs, my ability to think.

"Kendall?"

The woman in the black gown stood fifteen or so feet away, her mourning veil drifting upward in the breeze. The same woman I'd seen at Redwood Manor. People walked around her, none of them even giving her a second glance. Almost as if they didn't see her there.

"Do you see her?" I croaked. Surely he did.

He had to.

James followed my gaze. "I see many people, but no one in particular. What's wrong?"

The barrier between the worlds was thin tonight. James was allowed to leave the property...so that meant all ghosts could leave their dwellings. Including her.

Why did no one else see her?

"Oh my God!" A girl shouted, pointing at the woman. "That's a scary fucking costume."

"Who?" her friend asked.

"The lady in the black dress, bitch. Are you blind?"

"You're cut off, Jennifer. You've had way too much to drink."

"I'm not drunk!"

They continued on their way as I stood in stunned silence. Or hell, maybe it was shock. Someone else saw the woman. It wasn't just me. However, it appeared as if only certain people could see her.

Why?

"Let's get to the car," I said, pulling James along with me as I cut across the street. Avoiding walking past the woman. I chanced a look at her, though, once we were on the opposite side of the road, and nausea bubbled in my stomach.

Done! So, Kames are enjoying Halloween together and the 'woman in black' made another appearance.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the chapter, as well as if you happened to have a favorite part/moment!

Again, I hope you all enjoyed and that you all are staying safe! The next chapter will pick up where this one left off, so you'll get to see how the rest of the night plays out. That'll more than likely be up later this week, early next week at the latest.

Until then!

-Epically Obsessed