Buck opened his eyes to an oddly bright version of his bedroom. Sunlight seemed to pour through his windows with more intensity than normal. His gaze shifted towards the clock, the time reading 10:53 A.M. Buck's heart began to race at his realization. He had slept in, and was running late for school. God dammit, I must have been exhausted, he thought to himself as he leapt out of bed. He took off his pajamas and tossed them on the bed, then put on a t-shirt and sweatpants. Then, he dashed to a drawer to grab some socks, which he quickly slipped on along with the pair of tennis shoes next to the door. Buck then slammed the door to his room open, making sure to grab his backpack in the process, and quickly descended down the stairs. He decided making breakfast wasn't worth it, and opted to grab a granola bar from the cupboard instead. As he opened the wrapper and began to eat it, he rushed towards the front door, making sure to grab his car keys on the way. Buck then opened the door, walked to his car, got in, started the car, and drove to his school. After finishing the short drive, he parked his car on a street nearby and began sprinting towards his school. He checked the time on his phone. 11:06 A.M. He should be in art class. Buck ran through the front lawn, into the main building of the school, and towards his class, disregarding rules against running in the hallways. He slowed down once he made it to the classroom and nervously opened the door.

He felt as if everyone in the classroom was staring at him. For a brief moment before he entered, they were working on their assignments, but as soon as the door shut, they looked up. Everyone was wearing odd costumes and make-up, reminding Buck that today was Halloween. He completely forgot about the holiday in his rush to get to school, and stood out in his normal clothing. He felt like he was in a bad dream. Inara, who had been helping a student, turned around.

"You're tardy, Buck." Buck stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.
"Make your way to your seat. I'll be with you shortly." He nodded and listened to her, the other classmates returning to what they were doing prior to his interruption. His table group gazed at him suspiciously as he sat down. After a short silence, Sha Lin piped up.

"So, where were you?" he asked. "You're not usually late."

"I overslept. I was totally exhausted from that game last night and I forgot to set an alarm." Sha Lin nodded.

"Understandable," added Cassie, looking up. "If I were you, well, you wouldn't see me for days after a game." Sha Lin let out a chuckle. Cassie shifted her gaze to Sha Lin, giggled, and went back to sketching on a piece of paper. Inara made her way over to the table.

"This is your first tardy this year, Buck, so there are no consequences this time. However, you will be penalized for subsequent tardies. Understood?" she asked, her tone more authoritative than normal.

"Yes. It won't happen again." She nodded, then smiled, returning to her normally laid-back self.

"Today is a free drawing day, with a focus on Halloween. Draw anything related to Halloween and turn it in at the end of class for credit."

"Sounds like fun, I'll get to it," Buck replied, taking out a pencil and grabbing the extra piece of paper in the middle of the table. Inara walked away, and Buck began sketching. He had made some progress on a drawing of a Jack-O-Lantern when Sha Lin spoke once again.

"So, are you guys going to Khan's Halloween party tonight? I heard everyone's going to be there!" he asked excitedly.

"I'm going with Koga," she answered, beaming.

"Sounds great. You guys going to wear costumes?" Buck took note of Ying's costume, which seemed to be a mermaid. She wore a small pink top with many frills, a pearl necklace, and a messy bun tied together with a silky blue scrunchie with seashells glued onto it.

"Yeah, I'm going to add some things to my costume so it's a bit better." She paused, then spoke again, "K-Koga's got a pirate outfit to wear along with mine."

"So you're matching?" asked Cassie, raising an eyebrow. Ying's pale skin turned pink around her cheeks.
"Yeah, he thought it would be a good idea." She chuckled nervously and looked away from Cassie. Buck never thought of Koga as the type of guy to want to match costumes with a girl, but he didn't question it.

"That's nice. I'll make sure to say hi to you guys there," replied Cassie, smiling.

"You're going too?" Sha Lin chimed in.
"Yeah, you should come! It's going to be a lot of fun." Sha Lin nodded.

"What about you Buck? Are you going?" he asked.
"I'm not really sure, I might." Buck hadn't told anyone that he was going, but planned to go anyways. He always had a great time at Khan's parties before. However, after considering the recent tensions with Khan's friend group, he wasn't so sure if it would be such a great party.

"Do you not have a costume?" Buck cursed to himself.

"No, I don't."

"You'll have plenty of time to come up with one. We get out of school early, I think."
"Yeah, we do," Ying added.

"Okay, I was right. Don't worry, then, Buck."

"Yeah, I'll come up with something." Buck returned to working on his sketch. Shortly after he finished, the bell for lunch rang. He turned in his work and made his way out of the classroom, reuniting with his group in the hallway to walk to the lunchroom together. The four went through the doors and to their table, Buck sitting down next to Koga once they arrived. Buck searched the table for Jenos to no avail. Where is he?

"Hey man, how you doing?" Koga asked. Buck shifted his gaze to the silver-haired rascal.

"I'm doing alright, but I was really late to school. Got here in the middle of last class," Buck answered. Koga scoffed.
"Geez, how much did you sleep?"

"I woke up at like 11."

"You must have been exhausted."

"Yeah, I was." Koga nodded.

"Well hopefully you have enough energy to come to that party tonight," Koga commented, "It's going to be so awesome." Buck rolled his eyes. Again with this party?

"I've already heard about it. You're going with Ying, right?" Buck asked innocently. Koga's face suddenly turned dark. He glanced towards Ying, who was sitting across the table and chatting with some other girls.

"Y-yeah." Buck smirked, putting two and two together in his head. Koga's behavior seemed to mirror the flustered behavior Buck noticed from Ying earlier.

"Something going on between you two?" Buck asked. Koga socked Buck's arm under the table.

"Shut it," he spat in a low voice, "Nothing's going on."

"You don't need to get so defensive."

"We can talk later, okay?" Buck nodded, turning to Fernando next to him, who had just arrived at the table.

"Hey Fernando."

"Hola, amigo, ¿qué tal?"

"Nothing much. Let me guess what's up with you, though. You're going to that party, right?" Fernando grinned.

"How did you know?"

"I've been hearing about it all day. Besides, it's at Khan's place, and I know you two are close." Fernando chuckled awkwardly.

"His parties are pretty cool, though, you can give him that," Fernando commented.

"Yeah, they are."

"Besides, someone always brings booze!" Fernando added excitedly. Suddenly, Koga looked up.

"Wait, really?" he asked.

"Sí."

"Sick, I'll keep that in mind."

"Don't get too hammered," Buck warned the two, prompting them to laugh.

"Are you a lightweight, Buck?" Koga teased. Buck paused, slightly anxious. He had never had alcohol in his life. They're going to make fun of me...

"I don't drink." Fernando gasped.

"You don't? You're missing out!" Buck rolled his eyes.

"Whatever dude, I'd prefer to not puke, piss myself, and pass out. I already go through that crap after football games." The two chuckled.

"Fair point," Koga answered, "but you should try to live a little tonight. You are coming, right?" Buck paused.
"I don't know. I don't have a costume or anything," Buck answered.

"Oh. Well, maybe you could find something at the store beforehand? Or just throw something together? That's what I'm doing," Fernando suggested. Buck nodded.

"I'll keep that in mind." Suddenly, the bell signalling the end of lunch rang. Buck got up, and along with Buck and Fernando, walked out to the hallway and began making his way towards the locker room. He half-listened to Koga and Fernando chat as he walked, still preoccupied with the party. He was still unsure of whether it was worth the effort to go. Buck felt the pressure from his friends to go, and felt like he might have some fun, but didn't know if it was worth the risk of getting involved in some new drama with Lian's group. I wish I could just have fun some other way… what if Lian tries something?

He was snapped out of his trance when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Buck stopped, turned around, and faced Jenos.

"H-hey, Jenos. What's up?"

"Hello Buck. I am sorry I couldn't talk today at lunch, I was busy with something," Jenos started. Buck turned around, his friends waiting for him. He signalled that he needed some time, and they nodded, resuming their walk to the locker room.

"It's alright, is there something you needed to tell me?" Buck asked, turning around and moving towards the side of the hallway. Jenos followed.

"Yes, actually. I'm taking advantage of the early day, I'm going to make my way up to the mountains and go camping. Do you want to come with me?" Camping? Buck hadn't gone camping since he was a boy, and never with Jenos. The thought excited him.

"I'd love to." Jenos smiled.
"Alright, it's going to be me, you, and my cousin. We're leaving this afternoon. Can I pick you up at your house at 3:00?" Buck pondered. If he left with Jenos, he wouldn't be able to go to the party. I didn't really want to go anyways.

"Uh, yeah, sure. I'll pack my bags." Jenos raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? Did you have something else planned?" Buck realized he needed to get to the locker room.

"No, nothing, I'll be ready at 3, see you Jenos!" he replied quickly, turning away from Jenos and rushing to the locker room. Luckily, he was already almost to the locker room when Jenos had stopped him, so his friends were still there chatting when he arrived. Buck changed while others slowly trickled out of the locker room and into the gym. Fernando and Khan left, leaving only Koga and Buck. Koga leaned against a locker near Buck as he put away his school clothes. Buck decided to break the silence.

"So, Ying," he said, suddenly. Koga cleared his throat.

"What about her?" he asked, clearly struggling to keep his composure.

"What's going on with you two?" Buck continued in a teasing tone.

"N-nothing," Koga stuttered.

"Okay, so people with nothing going on between them get really nervous and flustered when someone mentions the other. Totally," Buck commented sarcastically. Koga rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I'll spill the beans, since you seem to care so damn much. I have a crush on her. A-" He paused to wipe beads of sweat off of his forehead. "A really big one." Buck nodded.

"Do you know if she likes you back?"

"I don't know, maybe. We're going to the party together tonight, something might happen." Buck was slightly surprised at this side of Koga, as well as excited for him. He recalled how Ying acted when Cassie teased her this morning.

"I'd bet money on it. Good luck man."

"Thanks," Koga replied, smiling. Buck realized he had never seen a genuine smile from Koga until now. When he smiled, it was usually just because of a bad joke or someone else's misfortune. Buck hoped Ying felt the same way about his friend.

"We should get to class," Koga said. Buck nodded, and having finished changing into his gym clothes, headed out of the locker room with Koga.

/

"Trick or treat!" shouted a group of kids in costumes at the door. Khan smiled, picking candies out of the bowl to give to the children. Each one thanked him, then walked to the sidewalk and continued down the street. Khan closed the door and placed the candy bowl on a table. He always liked trick-or-treating as a kid. Khan also missed watching scary movies and having sleepovers with his friends. His wholesome memories of Halloween disappeared as he gazed at the crowd of partying teenagers awaiting him. Music played through the speakers, and everyone was cheering and yelling. He had spent a considerable amount of time decorating, only for it to be quickly undone by the mess that had taken hold of the room. He tried to push his way through the crowd to the less populated kitchen, but was stopped by his girlfriend.

"There you are! Where the hell did you go?" she started.

"I'm sorry Lian, I had to do something." Lian rolled her eyes.

"I need you to stay with me. Otherwise, nobody will understand our costume." Lian had insisted on wearing a couple's costume with Khan. She put on a long black dress and wore her hair down with red lipstick to dress as Morticia Addams. She made Khan wear a striped suit and slick his hair back to be her husband, Gomez.
"Okay, I won't leave you again."

"Are you going to dance with me now?" she asked.

"Sure." He grabbed her hands, and the two of them started dancing in a relatively calm manner. Khan tried his best to look like he was having a good time despite the chaos. His eyes wandered to the people around him. At least everyone else looks like they're having fun, he thought to himself. One girl in particular seemed to be having a blast. She wore a rather revealing cat costume and danced in a sexual manner. He couldn't tell who she was in the chaos, but she seemed familiar. He knew he didn't invite her directly, either. Khan was surprised when she moved to a man wearing a werewolf costume and started dancing with him. Viktor?

"Hey! Pay attention to me, not that slut!" Lian snapped. Khan looked back to her.

"I'm sorry, I-" Lian turned her head to watch the scene.

"Wait, what the fuck? Is that…?" Lian pondered, yanking her hands out of Khan's. She stomped over to the two dancing, so filled with anger that steam seemed to pour out of her ears. He saw her point and heard her raise her voice, and decided it was a good time to escape to the kitchen. On the way there, he almost slipped in something wet. He looked down to see a soupy light brown liquid with orange chunks in it. Vomit? Khan's feeling that something was wrong increased as he quickly restored his balance and walked to the kitchen. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw a few empty six-packs of beers on the kitchen counter, as well as an empty bottle.

"Who brought beers?" he questioned loudly. Khan didn't like when people brought alcohol to his parties, both because he was scared of getting in trouble with his parents and because it made the party more chaotic. Some people must already be drunk, that would explain the vomit, he thought to himself as he threw away the cardboard holders. When he turned around, another familiar face had presented itself at his counter.

"Hey Khan," greeted Fernando. He wore what seemed to be a fireman's jacket and pants. His face was flushed red and he hiccuped loudly.
"Hi Fernando," replied Khan suspiciously, "You having fun?"
"Are you kidding me? I'm having a great time!" he answered, his words slurred. Khan raised an eyebrow.

"Fernando, are you drunk?" He chuckled as he moved his hand up from under the table and finished the beer he was holding.

"Not drunk, ese, just having fun!" Khan moved next to Fernando and grabbed his other arm from under the tabletop. Just as he had suspected, he held another empty beer.

"Fernando, you've had too much to drink."

"Relájate, amigo, come with me, let's go dance," he insisted in a wavering voice. Fernando got up from his chair and began walking towards the living room. Suddenly, he slipped on the same vomit Khan had. Khan hurried over to his friend and helped him get up.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm go-" Fernando stumbled and almost tripped again, but Khan caught him.

"You're too drunk. Come on, let me take you somewhere safe," Khan insisted. Fernando tried to protest, but couldn't seem to form a complete sentence with the loud music and chaos around him. Khan put his arm around his friend's midsection and moved upstairs with him. He slowly made his way to his room and opened the door, still holding onto his friend. Khan flipped the light switch, illuminating the dark room. Fernando stumbled and sat down onto his bed, then looked at him.

"It's hot in here," he said.

"I can open a window, if you'd like."

"No. Not that kind of hot. It's just… you're kind of hot." Khan gulped as he made eye contact with his friend. The Spaniard smirked at him in an almost lustful manner. What the hell?