Author's Note: I in no way shape or form own Monster Family (AKA Happy Family). This is purely fan fiction and I only claim ownership over my OC Lizzie.
Opening the curtains of my apartment put a smile on my face. The leaves were finally falling off the tree branches, and it was starting to look more like fall. With fall comes so does Halloween a day filled with: tricks, treats, costumes, ghouls, ghosts, creepy things that go bump in the night, and especially parties. And the biggest reason for the smile on my face: tomorrow is going to be Halloween. My favorite time of the year.
Today was gonna be an amazing day. I could feel it in my bones. I woke up with enough energy to make a picture perfect breakfast: a lovely breakfast sandwich and fruit covered oatmeal. When I opened my go to social media, I saw my costume reveal post was still getting more likes. Even my coffee machine worked faster than usual. Also, let's not forget, my favorite book store was having a sale today.
Finding Emma's BookStore was a god send. Not only for me, but for the owner as well. I actually found the store by accident. I was walking back home from my shared art studio when suddenly, I started to stumble down some stairs. It was strange, because I never noticed the hidden little bookstore. Since it was located between my workplace and home, I became a regular customer.
As soon as I was done with breakfast, I grabbed my things and went out the door. The weather was cool, it was the right temperature for what I was wearing: a navy blue cropped sweater, thick high-waisted white jeans, pink gloves, and light brown winter boots. I clutched a hand to my messenger bag as I made my way to the bookstore, walking fast and dodging every person that was glued to their phone. After a while I spotted Emma infront of me.
Emma is the owner of Emma's BookStore, which is a given considering the name. She's a natural redhead, unlike me, with green eyes and a medium build. She's about an inch, or two, taller than me. She's not only a bookstore owner, but a mother as well.
She was not having a good day at all. Emma was on her phone and didn't notice where she was walking. She elbowed a man holding a selfie stick, ran and head butted into a woman, and a bird flew over her head and defecated on her coffee. Soon after she stepped on freshly spat gum, her shoe was practically glued to it. Until she finally ripped her shoe, and gum, off the sidewalk. Her misfortune didn't end there, her gum shoe quickly went into a discarded bucket. Causing her to fall into garbage.
I quickly ran to her, my front foot kicking her phone that slipped from her hand.
"Emma, are you ok?" I reached my hand out for her.
She looked up at me with embarrassment. "Oh I'm fine, it's just not my day." I grabbed her hand and helped her up. She groaned in frustration when the bucket wouldn't come off her shoe.
"Here, let me help." I kneeled down and grabbed the bucket. "Steady yourself on the fence and I'll pull."
As soon as she grabbed the baby blue, metal fence in front of her shop, I pulled the bucket right off her shoe.
She sighed in relief. "Thank you, you're a lifesaver."
"All I did was get a bucket off your shoe."
"And save my phone from the storm drain." She walked to where her phone skidded. "Only a few scratches here and there." She examined her phone and unlocked it. "Still works too."
"Happy to be a service." I mocked a bow.
Emma laughed. "Are you here for the book sale?"
I nodded. "Sure am, a couple of my friends will be over this afternoon. So expect a full house, or should say bookstore."
My favorite bookkeeper's smile widen with joy. "Oh I can't believe it, and to believe my day started out strange."
"Yeah, getting your foot stuck in a bucket isn't usual."
She waved her hand. "That was nothing compared to the phone call I had."
"Oh?" My eyebrow cocked in interest.
"Come on in, I'll tell you in the store."
We walked down the stairs and into the store, Emma flipped the closed sign to open. Inside Cheyenne, Emma's friend and employee, greeted us while doing aerial acrobatics. Which still surprises me that she can do aerial acrobatics, considering she's an old girl. And extremely tall to boot.
"Hello, it's so good to see two friends early in the morning." Cheyenne slowly came down and stretched.
"Hello to you too, Cheyenne." Emma threw her spoiled coffee in the trash. "You would not believe the morning I had. In fact I was going to tell Lizzie here that I had a call with Dracula."
I snorted a laugh and looked at Emma. "Are you serious, the prince of darkness?" I said the last part sarcastically.
"That's what he called himself too!" She excitedly exclaimed.
Cheyenne moved behind the counter. "Oh, and what did this prince of darkness have to say?"
Emma looked down with pity in her eyes. "He sounded lonely, like he needed a friend."
Cheyenne and I hummed in acknowledgment. "Well if it's a guy pretending to be a vampire, there's plenty of online role players he can talk to." I suggested.
"I'll suggest that next time I accidentally call him. Oh," she gasped, "I completely forgot. I called him thinking I was calling a costume shop." She slumped against the closest bookshelf. "I still haven't been able to find vampire teeth for my costume. Though I doubt it matters, I couldn't find a party to go to with my family."
Cheyenne, who was sipping tea, put her cup down and opened a drawer from the counter. "Look what i found." She pulled out plastic fangs and placed them on the table.
Emma squealed in delight. "Where did you find them?"
"Charity shop." Emma grimaced in disgust. "They had one careful owner."
"It's great that I have teeth now, but I still don't have a party to go to."
"I heard a couple of hotels are throwing parties tonight." I said while picking up the books I came here for.
"So did I." Cheyenne pulled out a party invitation.
Emma took the invitation "Monster costume party, family free entry." She read out loud. "And it's for tonight. Cheyenne this is perfect. I can't wait to show my family, they'll love it."
"Which one is it, maybe I'll see you there." I walked over and placed my books on the counter.
"It looks like the Plaza Hotel." Emma said.
"Shoot, I'm going to the one next to it." I gave Cheyenne my card to pay for the books.
"Looks like we're all going to different parties, I'm headed to the one in the park." Cheyenne gave my card back.
"Oh, maybe tomorrow I'll throw my own Halloween party and invite you both." Emma jittered in excitement.
Cheyenne and I smiled.
"That'll be great."
"What a wonderful idea."
"Well," I placed my books in my bag, "I have to get going. Art waits for no one, I'll see you both tomorrow."
The three of us said our goodbyes and I made my way to the art studio.
