Thanks for the feedback! A chapter from Annie's POV! Thanks to JediGirlAcrosstheStars21 for the Halloween suggestion!
Halloween is approaching. Annie has picked out her witch costume weeks ago, black with shimmering purple stars. Every day after school this week she's tried it on after school, and it's only the promise of wearing her costume there on Halloween that has stopped Annie from wearing to school too. She's planned to trick-or-treat with two friends and Annie can hardly stand the anticipation. Halloween is circled on her calendar and every night before bed Annie crosses out the day leading up to it. It seems interminable.
Jess is pretending to be hurt that Annie doesn't want him and Rory to take her around this year. In past years they would all dress up, Charlotte and Richie too, and go around the neighbourhood, sometimes Stars Hollow if it was a weekend. Charlotte claimed to be too old for it years ago and Richie dropped out last year, but Annie was content to carry on. One year her dad wore-fashioned clothes and a sign around his neck that said Dodger, and another he and Rory dressed up as rockstars, telling Annie they were Kurt and Courtney, which meant nothing to her. Annie imagined they'd go around this year too until Melissa, the most popular girl in her grade, announced that only babies went with their parents. Trick-or-treating was still okay, but not holding your mommy and daddy's hand like a baby. Annie is glad not feel embarrassed over trick-or-treating - she's already excited for all the candy - but is a little awkward that the mother of her friends is going to be escorting them around. Still, better than nothing, she supposes. When she'd informed her parents of the plan Jess had put his hand over his heart in mock-pain and said, "You mean I'm missing out on the fun?"
"You're missing out on the candy," Charlotte remarked, wandering into the kitchen and Jess had shrugged. "Same difference."
"Please?" Annie had begged. "I really want to go with my friends."
"Okay, Annie," her father agreed, smiling. "As long as Lucy's mom is with you."
Lucy has even said her mom might let them hit a few houses unaccompanied. Annie is so excited she can hardly stand it. She's even excited to go bed because it's bringing Halloween faster. Every morning she looks longingly at the witch dress hanging on her closet door before pulling on her boring jeans and plain shirt. Halloween can't get here fast enough.
On Wednesday, disaster strikes. Lucy comes down with a cold which has taken out half the grade, and although, she weakly says on the phone that she's trying to get better, she is still sick on Halloween morning, along with Jessica, the third member of their party. Annie has no one to trick-or-treat with and weeps bitter tears after school.
"Don't cry," Rory says gently, putting an arm around her. "We can take you."
"No!" Annie sobs and Jess says, "We've got some old costumes upstairs, we can throw something together. I know it's not the same but we'll have fun, Annie-girl. What do you say?"
"No!" Annie wails, lifting her face from where it was buried in her hands. "I don't want to!"
"Ouch!" Jess exclaims, raising his eyes at Rory. "And why's that?"
"Because it's embarrassing!"
"Oh boy," Rory remarks. "I thought I had a couple more years before I became embarrassing."
"Let me go by myself."
"No," Jess says firmly. "You're too young."
"I'm ten!"
"Exactly, you're ten years old! I'm not letting you walk around the neighbourhood at night on your own!"
Annie's protests that it'll be full of other kids falls on deaf ears. Her parents refuse to let her go by herself. They keep suggesting that they go around together and don't care when Annie tells them she'll be the laughing stock of her class.
"You're getting tears all down your dress," Rory says, handing her a napkin. "Are we that bad to be seen with?"
"You just don't understand!"
"And I thought I had a few more years before that kicked in," Jess says, sighing. "Look - it's your call, Annie. You can go around with us and get candy or you can stay home and watch a movie with us, but you're not going trick-or-treating on your own."
"It's not fair!"
The argument is interrupted by Richie ambling in. He rummages through a cupboard before emerging with some crackers and, as he starts putting cheese on them, Jess asks, "Hey Richie, what are your big Halloween plans?"
"Zero," Richie says with a snort. "I might check out this haunted house downtown."
"You might?"
"Probably won't. It's just going to be some bonehead jocks trying to impress girls."
"Perfect," Rory says brightly. "You can take your sister trick-or-treating."
Richie freezes, a slice of cheese halfway to cracker, and says, "Excuse me?"
"Annie doesn't have anyone to go with - her friends got sick."
"Make Charlotte do it!"
"Charlotte already has plans," Rory says, giving him a look. "She's going to a party. And we're asking you."
Annie is silently grateful for this. If someone has to take her, at least it's Richie. Her sister is always talking about being too old to hang out with Annie. She and Richie used to have a good time together but Annie's noticed lately he's refusing to spend time with her. He doesn't even want to play the car games they always play on the way to Nana Lorelai's and all her parents say is that he's growing up. Annie can't help feeling that she's done something wrong.
"I just said -"
"You just said you probably weren't doing anything," Jess reminds him. "And your mother and I are too embarrassing to take her."
"Guess I understand that," Richie jokes but Annie is bristling under her witch costume. She hates being the youngest. Everyone is allowed to do their own thing except her.
"I'm not a baby," she says indignantly. "I can go by myself!"
"No," Jess says. "End of story. Richie is taking you."
"But -"
"But -"
"Great, everything's worked out," Rory says, beaming over their protests. "Richie, you'd better find something to wear. Make sure you bring us back some candy!"
After a sullen meal brother and sister step outside. Annie has stuck her witch's hat on as hard as it will go, so as not to be recognised, and Richie is wearing a black T-shirt and pants as a nod to a costume. He's dusted his face with some flour and said he's a vampire, but declined Charlotte's offer of some lipstick for blood. He walks silently down the street, dodging some kids dressed as angels and devils and angrily says, "This sucks. Okay, hit five houses and then we're going home."
"Five? No way! I'd get zero candy!"
"No you won't. We're going to Nana's house on Saturday anyway and she'll give you tons then. You don't even need to go trick-or-treating!"
"You're just jealous because you think you're too cool to go!"
"Jealous, right," Richie echoes with a snort. "Whatever - just hurry up."
Annie hits the first street, getting a decent haul. Richie reluctantly waits beside her and Annie is cheerful as they walk towards the next, her pumpkin bucket reasonably heavy. Her witch skirt is swishing out and Annie jumps, watching the stars sparkle. It's the best costume shes had in a while. When she was little Annie wore the pumpkin costume handed down from Charlotte and Richie until it eventually split. She was given most of their old clothes and even now has some old things of Charlotte's. The only new things she had were baby clothes and that, Richie likes to tell her, is because she was an accident. Her parents say she was a surprise which sounds better, though Annie guesses being an accident is true as well. It's embarrassing to think about.
Annie is so lost in thought she collides with a girl in a pop singer costume.
"Ow!"
"Sorry!"
"Watch it," the girl snarls and then smirks at her. It's Melissa. "Hey, Annie. You with your mommy and daddy?"
"No, I'm with my brother," Annie says stoutly and then goes red as Melissa laughs, the glitter she spread on her face glowing in the shadow.
"Because you're too scared to go without him holding your hand?"
"I'm not holding his hand!"
"Baby!" Melissa shouts and then runs off, laughing. Annie clenches the handle of her bucket, hot with shame, and Richie says, "Are you going to hit another house or what?"
"Melissa's going to tell everyone I'm a baby who went trick-or-treating with her brother!"
"Big deal!" Richie exclaims unkindly. "You're all little kids anyway! You're little kids and I have to spend my Halloween walking you around this stupid neighbourhood! I'm fifteen and stuck babysitting my little sister! Everyone is sending me pictures from the haunted house and I can't even check it out because you wanted to trick-or-treat!"
"No one asked you!" Annie flings back. "Go to your dumb haunted house! I'm not a little kid, I can go by myself!"
"You can?" Richie asks doubtfully and Annie says firmly, "Go see the house and meet me back here in an hour. Mom and Dad don't need to know.
"You sure?"
"I'm fine," Annie says. Her brother looks at her for a moment and then breaks into a grin, giving her an unexpected hug.
"Thanks! You're not so bad."
"Yeah, yeah."
Richie gives her a kind of wave before hurrying down the street. Annie watches his dark clothes disappear into the black before taking a deep breath, turning and going to the next house.
The next few streets go smoothly. Annie is just going to go to the last one before heading back when three bigger kids approach her. They are teenagers dressed as pirates, perhaps Richie's age, and one says, "Hey kid. Give us your treasure."
"No." Annie tries to walk past and the second pirate steps forward.
"I believe my buddy here asked you a question."
"Leave me alone." Against her wishes, Annie is starting to feel nervous and she stands a little straighter. Taking a breath, she tries to walk past and the third boy grabs her pumpkin bucket.
"Hey!"
"All's fair on Halloween!"
"My big brother's going to come back any minute and..." Annie's voice falters as they laugh at her. She's just trying to stop the tear falling that's built in her eye when a fourth voice says, "What are you kids up to?"
A woman dressed as Wonderwoman shines a flashlight into the first pirate's eyes and he blinks.
"Nothing," he says. His friend drops Annie's bucket and before the woman can ask any further they run around the corner and out of sight. The woman turns her flashlight to Annie.
"Were they bothering you?"
"I'm okay."
"Are you with your mom or dad?" the woman asks. She's got a small boy and girl with her, whose eyes are drawn to the bucket of candy on the ground. Annie picks it up and shakes her head.
"I'm with my brother."
"Where is he?"
"Right over there," Annie lies, pointing at a crowd of kids over the street. "I'd better talk to him - thanks!"
"Wait -"
Before the woman can stop her Annie is running across the street. Blending in with the crowd, she waits until she knows the woman has gone. Taking a look around and breathing hard, Annie walks in the opposite direction to where the boys ran. She doesn't want to risk bumping into them again. Heart thumping under her witch dress, Annie tries to summon some of its powers as she trawls along the street. She takes some twists and turns, far away from where the kids are, and then looks up to see she's lost. Annie knows she hasn't gone far from the neighbourhood but everything looks different in the dark. Across the street, she can see a house decorated for Halloween and wonders if it's Richie's haunted house. Annie walks over to it slowly, the handle of her bucket tight in her hand. The door is open so Annie slips in, surrounded by the loud recording of ghostly wails and laughter. There is some louder music playing upstairs and what Annie hopes are fake cobwebs blowing into her face. Annie walks slowly along the hallway until suddenly someone jumps out from a side door, leering in a monster mask.
"Boo!"
Screaming, Annie turns and runs out of the house, ignoring the call behind her of, "Hey, it was just a joke!"
Annie doesn't stop running until she's at the end of the street and sinks onto the sidewalk, bursting into the tears. So much for witch powers. She is completely lost. Richie has a phone but Annie doesn't - her father said Richie was going to stay with her so they didn't need two. Now what is she going to do? How is she going to get home? What if that scary movie Annie saw that time really is real and a ghost is going to come and get her? What if those guys come back? Shivering, Annie unwraps a piece of candy and eats it, to try and silence her mind. It doesn't work. Tears run steadily down her face and it's starting to get cold.
"Annie!"
Annie lifts her face to see her sister staring at her. She is wearing a black dress with silver bats, which Annie privately thought looked dumb when Charlotte left for the party, but now it's the most wonderful thing she's ever seen.
"Charlotte!" Annie yelps, jumping up and running to her. Charlotte allows her to fling her arms around her waist before stepping back and asking, "What are you doing over here? Where's Richie?"
"He went to the haunted house."
"What? He left you alone?"
"I was fine until those jerks tried to steal my candy."
"What jerks?"
"They've gone now...they were dressed as pirates."
"Come on. Let's go home."
"What about Richie?"
"He can find his own way."
Silently, Annie hands Charlotte a piece of candy. As her sister takes it Annie asks, "How was the party?"
"It was only okay," Charlotte says with a shrug. "Mostly boring guys showing off...you know the drill."
Annie doesn't but she nods wisely. They walk a little further and Annie recognises the streets.
"Hey, I know where we are!"
They carry on and then a figure comes into light, a figure in a black shirt and pants and a frantic look in his eye, calling, "Annie! Annie!"
"Richie!" Annie shouts and her brother runs over to her.
"Where were you? Where did you go?"
"You're asking her?" Charlotte shouts. "You left her to go to some dumb party!"
"Oh, you're one to talk!"
"I wasn't the one in charge of Annie! You were supposed to watch her and you just walked off, you moron! Mom and Dad are going to kill you!"
"I'm sorry," Richie says to Annie, ignoring his older sister. "The minute I went I felt like an jerk."
"It's okay."
"It's not okay," Charlotte interrupts. "Some creeps tried to take her candy. What if she'd run into someone worse?"
"I know," Richie says quietly. He sniffles slightly, wiping a hand roughly across his cheeks and Annie stares.
"Are you crying?"
"No, I'm fine! But I'm sorry, Annie, I am. It wasn't even worth it."
"It's okay. I'm okay."
Richie hugs Annie tightly for a moment and, when they break apart, Charlotte says, "We'd better get back or Mom and Dad are really going to wonder where we are. Well, where you are anyway...I've got til midnight."
Annie gives her another piece of candy and Richie, even if she's dubious to him deserving it. The three walk slowly back and, to Annie's relief, their mother doesn't seem to notice it being later than they expected.
"How was it?" Rory asks, bending down to give Annie a kiss. "Did you get a lot of candy?"
"It was pretty good."
"Do I get some?"
Annie hands her a few candybars and her father appears, demanding some too.
"Did you have a good time?" he asks. Annie, Charlotte, Richie look at each other and nod at their parents, silently agreeing to keep the adventure secret.
"Good," Rory says happily. "So tonight worked out."
"And it wasn't so bad, taking your sister round, right?" Jess says to Richie who mumbles, nods and says something about washing the flour off his face. He gives Annie's hand a squeeze and hurries out, taking a candybar with him. Annie takes one herself and asks Rory, "What did you and Daddy do?"
"Oh...we watched a movie," Rory says. She blushes, for some reason, and giggles as Jess says, "We held hands during the scary parts."
"I'm going to get to bed," Charlotte says, rolling her eyes. "Shower that gross party smell away."
Rory and Jess say goodnight to her before turning to their younger daughter.
"It's time someone else was in bed too."
"Just a little longer," Annie wheedles. "It's Halloween!"
"And you're a big girl, I know," Rory teases, giving her a kiss. "We're going to do it all over again in Stars Hollow on Saturday."
"I know...but just another five minutes."
"Let's have some hot cocoa before bed," Rory decides. "It's cold tonight."
As she disappears Jess slips into the chair next to Annie, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.
"So you had a good time?"
Annie nods and her father puts his arms around the top of her shoulders, giving her a gentle hug.
"Hey, don't be in too much of a hurry to grow up, Annie-girl," Jess says gently. "Enjoy being a kid while you can."
"Dad..."
"I know, I know. You want to grow up - and it's exciting, all the new stuff you're going to experience - but you're still only ten. And you should enjoy that. I know in a few years you won't even want to go trick-or-treating, and that kind of makes me sad. Your brother and sister are already past that."
Annie silently can't believe she'll ever want to stop going trick-or-treating but she lets her father go on, "I want you to want to grow up. And you will, but you're still a kid, and I just don't want you to let go of it until you have to. Do you know what I mean?"
Annie doesn't but her father kisses her cheek. "You will, someday. Come on, Annie. Let's get that hot chocolate."
"Daddy, did you like Halloween when you were a kid?"
"I liked getting to dress up as someone else," Jess says enigmatically. He gives Annie a tight hug instead of an explanation of what he means.
They take the drinks from Rory and that night, Annie lets her mother tuck her in rather than say she can do it herself. Rory kisses her cheek and says, "Goodnight, angel. I hope you're not too mad at me and Daddy for not letting you go by yourself."
"It's okay," Annie says. "It wasn't so bad."
"Good." Rory tucks one of Annie's dark curls behind her ear. "You know, growing up feels slow, but really, it's fast. Trust me. The next thing I know you'll be a teenager."
Annie giggles at that, unable to picture it, and Rory gives her another kiss. "You'll still be my baby, though. My beautiful Annie-girl."
Annie smiles, unsure what to say. Being an adult seems so far away, almost as far as when Rory was a girl. "Goodnight, Mommy."
"Goodnight, sweets."
Annie turns over once her mother has switched out the light. She ruminates over the night's adventure, thinking of how not too long ago she'd have blurted out the whole story to her parents. Annie doesn't know when that changed, and an odd kind of emotion spreads through her. Is this starting to grow up? Maybe. It feels strange. Annie hopes she'll do okay with it, and no matter what anyone says, she's sure she'll never grow out of candy. A smile spreads across her lips and Annie falls asleep.