(John's POV)

"Time to sneak into the Schuyler Mansion! We ready?" Alex yelled. I know, we shouldn't be doing that, but it was tradition. On Halloween's Eve, every year, me and the guys would try to sneak into the Schuyler household, while the sisters (and occasionally Maria) would set traps and defenses. We've held this tradition since we all met, around when I was in second grade. The boys would try to get inside and find where the candy is held. If we find it, the trick or treaters wouldn't get any candy. Eliza and Peggy had started talking again for this tradition, but they weren't necessarily on good terms.

"Got the hoodies? Good, the ropes? Mhmm. Who has the baskets? Laf, give them here. John, you got the pins in the bag? Okay everyone good? Hercules put the glitter down."

"But we look atrocious in these outfits!" Herc gestures to the black garments we were wearing.

"Oui, nous avons l'air hideux." Lafayette said. I stared at him.

Alex sighed. "He said, 'Yeah, we look hideous.' Not everyone understands french Lafayette the Baguette."

I shrugged. "Ready to go? Good. Let's start walking over." We sprinted over to the house. The neighbors saw us, but didn't comment or think out of the ordinary, we've been doing stuff like this for years. There was one man who gave us a startled look as we crept across the Schuyler's lawn. "Just moved in? I'm John, this is Lafayette, Hercules, and Alex. You'll see us do weirder stuff with the Schuyler sisters." I stood up and held out my hand.

Alex pulled me back under the bush costume we were wearing. "No time for introductions Jo. Pegs at three o'clock." Peggy was marching back and forth the doorway, and in front of the window we planned to get in from. She looked in our direction, and even though we were hidden, she raised a walkie talkie to her mouth and said something.

Hercules clutched his heart. "That's the spy I trained. But I trained her. I'm a better spy than she is. Follow me." He ran right up to the window and launched himself in headfirst. Peggg has gone inside already, so she didn't notice. "Stay out there! I'll get the door." Herc called from inside.

"I'm glad we stay out here. We can't do that move!" Laf muttered. The door swung open, so we bolted to it. But when we entered, it was Eliza who stood there, but Herc.

"Nice try. But, the only one who got away was Hercules." She kissed Alex's cheek and we sat down on the couch, then she hurried upstairs.

"We were so close!" Alex complained. Then, a window opened and Herc jumped in the room.

"Quick, give me the supplies. Peggy heard me. Hurry!" He snatched our bags and dashed out of the room.

As soon as he left, Peggy came jumping down from the ceiling! "Darn! Just missed him. I was going to tackle him. Should've done it earlier. Got to go." She pulled on a rope that was dangling from the roof and spiraled up, out of sight.

"Peggy and Hercules take this way too seriously. And Mr. Schuyler lets Pegs get away with a lot. Where did she even come from?" Alex started searching the room.

"Just give up. Herc and Pegs have been doing this spy stuff for years. Apparently they knew each other before we did." Laf leaned his head over the couch and groaned.

"I hate being benched. It means I can't play! But if there's anyone who can win a theiving game for us, it's Herc." I sighed.

"Of course you hate getting benched, you play sports." Alex said, punching the wall to check for secret doors. "Oh crap!" He punched a button and a small passage way opened up in the wall frame. Before we could investigate it, Herc came running in through the tunnel.

"Oh thank god, you opened it. Peggy is on my tail." He gasped. We pulled him out and shit the little trapdoor. Peggy fell down from the ceiling again and landed on top of him.

"HA HA! GIVE BACK OUR CHOCOLATES YOU THEIF!!!! LIZA, ANGIE! WE WON!!!!! WHOOO!" She yelled. Herc groaned and passed over a small bag.

"Where did you even come from?" I asked, looking at the ceiling. She grinned. "Secret."

Angelica and Eliza came crashing to the floor. "You can do it too?" Peggy asked, in awe.

Eliza stood. "No, we fell through that trapdoor you carved in the floor." She pointed to a big gaping hole in the ceiling. Peggy shrugged. "We won at least. Fifth year in a row!" She threw her hands up and cheered. Angelica rubbed her backside. "My butt hurts. Help me up." She reaches up and grabbed Eliza's ponytail.

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Stop it." She pried her hair loose and helped her sister up. Peggy was bouncing up and down next to me and it was pretty annoying. I pulled on her hand, so she stopped and she entwined her fingers with mine. She hid it in the folds of her skirt so nobody saw.

Maria soon came sprinting through the door carrying a bunch of stuff. "Time for the annual Halloween sleepover?" She offered. Everyone cheered and we got to work laying our sleeping bags down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Maria kick my bag next to Peggy, she Pegs would be in between me and her. There were snacks, songs, jokes, and we finally fell asleep around three am.

"Happy Halloweeny Witchy Hour!" Peggy yelled, the only one fully awake. Eliza rubbed her eyes. "God Peg, did you eat the trick or treating candy or something?" Peggg and Hercules suddenly stiffened. "You can't prove nothing!" He slid into his sleeping bag, hiding from us. Peggy giggled and pressed a finger to her lips.

"We should sleep now." Alex stretched. Laf was already asleep. The lights were turned off and we settled down. I saw Peggy's eyes blink at me in the dark. She reached out and grasped my hand. Then, we fell asleep.

OOOOOF!!!! DID YOU HEAR THAT ANTHONY AND JASMINE GOT ENGAGED!!! IM STILL IN SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!