Chapter 9: Hushed Conversations && Halloween Costumes

Author's Note:: I feel like a terrible person. So much for writing more often. I've decided to try not to make any more promises that I can't (well, don't) keep. Anyway, I apologize for not writing for SUCH a long time and have many ideas for the next few chapters, so I'm HOPING that they will be up sooner rather than later. Reviews are greatly appreciated, however if you don't feel like it who am I to judge? Please, enjoy!

What Happened Last

"You're the girl who Reid walked to the dorms."

"Junia is that girl?"

"Um, yeah." Junia said feeling awkward. "Reid helped me out because I forgot my umbrella."

"Why didn't you say so at Nicky's the other night?" Caleb asked.

"Well, I didn't know it was Reid until recently." Junia responded. "I didn't know his name at the time, and well, I didn't think it mattered."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"You watch." Kira pointed at them. "I'm going to tell Aaron, just you watch." The girls stormed ahead of them.

October 28th, 2006

Junia walked into the classroom in between Caleb and Tyler. Caleb moved into the row where Pogue was already standing, putting his stuff down.

"Hey, man." Pogue greeted, giving Caleb a fist bump.

"Hey, what's up?" Caleb asked. Junia moved to the row below where Kate and Sarah were sitting. Luckily, the seats around them were free.

"Hey, Junia!" Kate greeted, smiling. Sarah turned around and smiled. "I didn't know you were in this class."

"I usually sit," Junia turned pointing to the far left back corner of the classroom. "All the way back there."

"Well it's about time you came and sat with us."

"Caleb invited me."

"Well, I guess he's good for something then." Kate teased, looking up at Caleb who missed the comment. He seemed to be having a somewhat animated, but hushed conversation above them. Kate waved them off and turned back to Junia and Sarah. "Hey, put your stuff down."

"Oh, sure, umm, where should I sit?" Junia asked, looking around.

"Here you sit in between us, and I'll take Kaleigh's seat. She falls asleep in class anyway, I doubt she'll mind." Sarah said, moving her stuff over so Junia could get set up.

"Oh, Sarah. How did that thing go with the um, the um…" Kate trailed off waving her finger back and forth, searching for the world.

"Oh, the textbook thing? Funny story, actually…" Sarah said starting to tell the story. Junia noticed that Tyler was missing, and scanned the classroom over Sarah's shoulder.

"…you're serious? I mean I just assumed it was all a joke or something." She heard Pogue say, and then stopped paying attention in search of Tyler. She located him in the upper part of the right side of the classroom, talking with Reid. Judging by Tyler's facial expressions, they were also really into their conversation. Tyler pointed to where she was standing, and Reid turned around. Junia quickly shifted her gaze to Sarah who was smiling as she was telling her story, so Junia started to smile as well. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Reid turn back and say something to Tyler. Junia felt her face grow hot and prayed she wasn't turning red. The last thing she wanted to do was to explain just what she had been paying attention to for the duration of Sarah's story.

"You're joking." Kate responded, making Junia inwardly jump, as she started paying attention to what she was looking not.

"Nope, I swear, that's what happened." Kate started laughing, and Junia kept her smile up.

"Sorry, Junia. If you knew who Riley was it would be tons funnier."

"It's still pretty funny." Junia said taking a stab in the dark.

"I thought so." Sarah said, as the Mr. Waugh walked to the front of the classroom

Class was long and boring. Junia hadn't liked Cormac McCarthy's work that much.

"If there's one thing I don't get," Kate said, packing up her notes after class ended. "It's cowboys. I just don't get them."

Sarah laughed as Kate slung her bag over her shoulder.

"So, I take it you're not going to be a cowgirl for Halloween then." Sarah asked?

"I'm going to be a flapper, actually."

"Yeah? Just remember it's going to be cold." Sarah warned, hinting at the length of the costume.

"There are going to be tons of people at the party, and I'm know for a fact that Pogue's house has decent heating." Kat responded. "Plus, I have a boa just in case." The two girls giggled as Junia walked quietly behind the pair as they discussed Halloween. She wasn't a Halloween fanatic like some people, but she still felt awkward as they talked about their plans in front of her.

Sarah looked back still laughing, and noticed Junia staring at anything along the path that could be even remotely described as interesting. "Kate." Sarah said, hitting her friends. "Did you not do it yet?"

"Oh my goodness, Junia! I forgot. I completely forgot." She turned to Junia, stopping as they walked down the path. Junia looked at Kate. "We're having a Halloween party on Friday at Pogue's house. Do you wanna come?"

"Sounds great." Junia smiled faintly.

"Great! It's a costume party, so make sure you wear one. Don't be afraid to show some skin." Kate poked her and Junia grew red quickly causing the other girl to laugh. "Or not, it's up to you. But seriously, wear something you can dance in, that looks good on you, not like sheet ghost, oh, and don't be a fairy."

"Don't be a fairy?" Junia's forehead creased in confusion.

"There's always a million fairies." Kate rolled her eyes.

"And witches was popular at my old school." Sarah put in.

"Oh yeah that too. Don't be a witch."

"Other than that, anything's fair game. Even characters."

"Characters?" Junia felt a little bombarded by the information and wished that maybe she hadn't been invited. No. She definitely wanted to be invited.

"Alice in Wonderland, Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas, Wilma from the Flinstones, you know." Sarah rattled off.

"What are you guys going to be?

"Well, Pogue and I are going to be a gangster and flapper." Kate smiled.

"Oh, so you did decide to coordinate." Sarah commented. "I'm going to be a pirate. Who knows what Caleb's being."

"I think I'll just be whatever they have in the store."

"You should be Supergirl. They always have tons of superhero costumes." Kate grew excited

"Or a Native American Princess." Sarah suggested.

"Way to be PC." Kate rolled her eyes. "You can always do-it-yourself with stuff from the thrift store and be a gypsy or something."

"I'll figure it out." Junia shrugged. "Well, this is the way to my dorm. I'll see you later."

"Hey, Sarah and I are going to grab some lunch. Wanna come?" Junia looked to the dorm and then back at her friends.

"Sure, thanks." She said as the girls switched topics.

Ending Thoughts:: So I realized the date was October 28th, and I needed to address Halloween. After this I'll go back to what I was planning, and Halloween fits in very nicely, even better than what I had originally thought. I hope you don't mind if from now on I skip most of the filler, lead up chapters. I'd rather just get to the action.