"…So, now I'm torn. I mean, I know Adena said it wasn't awkward. But I still don't think she'd be happy about it. There's, like, a whole rule about dating your best friend's ex. You don't do it. But I think maybe she'd understand…" Tanis paused, looking at the boy in front of her. "What do you think?"

"I think," Squib said slowly, "you should leave. Don't you usually talk about this kind of stuff with Nate?"

"Yeah, but I figured I'd give him a break this time. Besides, he's off with-," Tanis broke off.

"Off with who?"

"…His dad. Bates wanted some bonding time. You know. Bates and Nate," Tanis giggled.

"Okay, first of all, I know you're lying. Second, Nate and Bates don't even rhyme," Squib told her.

"They almost do!" Tanis defended.

"Whatever," Squib shrugged, "why don't you…ask Cameron to the Halloween party?"

"There's a Halloween party?"

"Yes," Squib informed her, "this Friday. You know, Halloween?"

"That…would make sense. Thanks, Squib!" Tanis gave him a friendly almost-hug and ran out of the room.

Across the school, Nate (who was not, in fact, bonding with his father) sat with his girlfriend, in her room for once, making plans for the weekend.

"So," he spoke, lying on her bed, "are we gonna go to this Halloween party? I mean…it's a Halloween party."

"There's a Halloween party?"

"Apparently. My dad mentioned it."

"Oh. Well, I suppose, if all our friends are going…"

Nate chuckled, "Okay, let me rephrase that. Do I have to go to the lame Halloween party?"

"Yes," Cody said firmly.

"Do I have to dress up?"

"Well…"

"Cody," he said in a warning tone, "please don't."

"Fine. You don't have to. But I'll be forced to ignore any persons not dressed appropriately."

"You're evil."

"Hey, guys," Tanis burst into the room breathlessly, "have you seen Cam?"

"No," Cody told her, "and why would he be in here?"

"I…don't know," Tanis admitted. "But I can't find him anywhere!"

"Did you try the courts?" Nate asked.

"Yes."

"The backcourt?"

"Yes."

"The Open?"

"Yes."

"The cafeteria?"

"Yes."

"His dorm?"

"…Crap!" Tanis exclaimed, already running out the door, "see you guys later," she called.

"Hey, man," Squib said as he entered his dorm. Cameron nodded and raised a hand to him, not looking up from his text book. "What's up?"

"Homework," Cameron mumbled.

"Cool," Squib said, "Well, not cool, but…"

"Yeah," Cameron chuckled.

"So, Tanis talk to you about the Halloween party yet?"

"No…wait, there's a Halloween party?"

"Yeah," Squib explained, "this Friday."

"Huh," Cameron shrugged, "what does that have to do with Tanis?"

"Oh, she was, uh…she wanted help with her costume," Squib attempted to cover.

"Oh," Cameron looked back to his textbook, "okay."

"I've gotta get to the courts, or Gunns will have my head," Squib explained, picking up his racquet and heading out the door. Moments later, who should appear but Tanis, looking perfectly flustered and out of breath.

"Hey…Cam…" she panted.

"Er…Hey Tanis. You okay? You want some water?" She nodded and he went into the bathroom, emerging seconds later with a small glass of water.

"Thanks," Tanis said gratefully after downing the glass.

"So, what's up?" He asked.

"Um, you know the Halloween party?"

"Oh, yeah, you wanted costume help, right?"

"Um…no," she told him, "Where did you hear that?"

"That's what Squib told me…"

"Uh, actually I was wondering if you maybe…wanted to go…with me…"

"Like…a date?"

"Well, yeah," Tanis said quietly.

"Isn't there a rule about dating your friend's ex?" Cameron asked after a minute.

"Well, I mean, technically you're not her ex! You only went on one date!" Tanis exclaimed.

"Well, did you talk to Adena about this?"

"No," Tanis admitted, "but I'm sure she'd be fine with it!"

"Tanis," Cameron spoke slowly, sadly, "Adena is my friend. Our friend. We can't do that…"

"Fine," Tanis said bitterly, staring at the floor, "whatever. I gotta go."

"Tanis-,"

"Forget it, you're right. See ya."

"Hey, Squib," Adena greeted him as he walked off the court, "have you seen Tanis?"

"Not for a while, no. Why?"

"I saw her a while ago looking pretty upset, but I don't know where she went."

"Well, I haven't seen her…"

"Hey, guys," Cody called as she and Nate walked towards them.

"Hey," Squib answered, less enthusiastic.

"Have you two seen Tanis?" Adena asked, the foursome making their way towards the main building.

"Not lately," Cody spoke.

"So, you all going to the Halloween party?" Squib asked.

Adena looked confused, "There's a Halloween party?"

"How am I the only one who knows about this?" Squib cried, exasperated.

"I knew," Nate pointed out.

"Shut it, Bates," Squib snarled.

"Squib!" Cody hissed.

"Anyways," Adena interjected, "I suppose if you're all going, I will."

"Because, you know, it will be such fun," Nate quipped.

While the party had not turned out to be as boring as Nate predicted, it certainly wasn't anything worth raving about. Tanis stood sulkily near the speakers as the Monster Mash blared, dressed as a witch.

"Hey, you okay?" A princess bounded over.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, fine," Tanis flicked the long, black wig out of her face.

"You sure?" Adena asked, adjusting her tiara.

"Yeah, positive," Tanis replied shortly.

"Hey, man, something wrong?" Squib, in full vampire getup, asked Cameron.

Cameron sighed, "Girl drama."

"Ah. I hear ya," Squib tried to sympathize, "Well, not really, but…hey, at least your costume's cool!" Squib gestured to his friend's blood-spattered tux.

"I suppose…"

"See," Cody said, "now, is this so bad?" She adjusted her fairy wings slightly as she stood by the punch bowl.

"I guess not," Nate sighed, "but I still can't believe you made me dress up."

"Oh, it's not that bad. Besides, your costume's funny."

"More like humiliating," Nate gestured to his tennis gear, "but it was all I could think of."

"Well, I like it," Cody told him.

"Good," Nate leaned toward her. He caught her glance over his shoulder, as she pulled away at the last second.

"Come on. Let's dance. I love this song."

Hurrah! Not only is it long(er), but the title is relevant! At first it was gonna be 'Somebody's Baby', which…isn't. But now it is! And yes, it's only Halloween. I told you I went slow. And no, I have not forgotten about colleges. Next chapter.

Again, before writing the chapter…

Nova-Janna: That's the song from the commercial! Yay! No Death Cab? Tragedy! I just got the new one:) And I've heard a few Hot Hot Heat songs, I like 'em. They came here last year and a bunch of kids from school went. Have you heard about the Rainy Day Challenge? You've gotta enter! If you do, we'll officially have more than three fics! IF Candy holds up her promise…

Sarah: I haven't written a Pam/Jim fic as of yet. But I probably will in future. They're too cute not to.

Chelsea: Liking Nate is the first step to corruption. Mwa ha ha! No, so long as you don't go around shouting 'omg cs 4eva I hat nate hez so evl lolz he shud dy its like kisin bates!' you're still good in my books.

Candy: …It had just been a while since I mentioned you in the A/N. How's life? Good? Good. Enough you-know-what-ness (lol, I wonder if anyone's cracked the code) in this one? Hope so.