Four days later and it was Friday October 31. At last it was Halloween. The people had not seen or heard of the wolf so they figured that someone in the community had caught it and killed it off. The small town of Kettlecorn was able to be at peace again since they could enjoy their Halloween traditions without worrying about a killer wolf. What they didn't know that the wolf still lurked in the shadows and stayed out of sight during the day. He would live off water and scraps of food from trashcans. During the days that the wolf appeared to be absent, Bailey felt worried for the wolf. She didn't know if it was still alive or it was dead. All she knew that it was not around anymore in broad daylight.

Later at night when everyone was getting ready for a night of abundant of festivities, Bailey was in her room putting on her Halloween costume. She was going as Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz. She just loved the movie and the costume was an easy fix. Plus, she didn't feel like dressing up in something scary. She wanted a nice change of pace after the whole wolf incident. As Bailey was putting on her 'ruby slippers', which were regular high heels with red paint and red glitters sprinkles on them, Bailey could hear a knock at the door. She fixed her pigtails and grabbed her basket that went with her costume. She then walked over to the door and opened it. In front of her was her sister, Diane, who was dressed up like a witch with a fake mole on her nose and green costume make-up on her face and hands.

"Are you ready to go to take us trick-or-treating so we can get to the party in time later?"

"Yes."

Diane looked over her older sister's outfit.

"Why are you dressed up like that? Shouldn't you dress up in something scary?"

"Diane, don't judge me. I haven't been Dorothy before and I don't feel like dressing up in something scary this Halloween, okay?"

"Okay. Sorry I asked."

"Whatever. Let's just meet up with Lila and Suzy and we can be on our way."

"Okay."

Bailey walks out the door and closes it behind her. She walks down the stairs with Diane and they meet Lila and Suzy at the front door. Lila is dressed up like a scarecrow and Suzy is dressed up like a mummy. Eunice walks up to them with a Halloween themed apron tied around her waist and gives Bailey a flashlight.

"Bailey, take good care of your sisters and use the flashlight when it gets pretty dark. And call home with your cell phone when you need help."

"Yes, mama."

"Okay then. You girls be good and stay safe."

"We will, mama."

Afterwards, Bailey ushers her sisters out of the house and they go on for a little trick-or-treating before they head to the Halloween party that is held at a big barn near the school. The party is to start at seven thirty and the current time is six thirty. The four Pickett girls go to door-to-door for Halloween treats. Bailey doesn't collect any candy since she'll know that she doesn't need any candy. Once Diane, Lila and Suzy's bags are half full, Bailey decides that they should head over to the barn for the Halloween party. When they get to the doors, the three youngest Pickett girls place their trick-or-treat bags in little cubbies that will be watched over at the person who works at the door. Once their bags are safe in the cubbies, they go inside with their older sister, Bailey, inside the barn for the party. As the four of them go inside the barn, a pair of yellow and green eyes watched them from behind a bush in the distance. Cody walks out from the shadows and lurks close to a corn field. He saw Bailey go inside a big barn with who seemed to be her younger sisters. He thought that he would like to know Bailey better on a more personal level especially at a time when everyone is having fun and are occupied with his presumed death as the big, bad wolf. Cody looks up at the moon and scowls at it. He then turns his face away from it and uses his strength to turn into his human form. Once Cody has taken the time turn human again and making sure that he is still clothed in his back clothing, he casually yet discretely slips out of the corn field and saunters over to a nearby thrift store. He walks in the store and the owner looks at him.

"Hey, boy, are you going to the party at the barn tonight? It supposed to be the best one this town has had yet."

Cody looks over at the shop's owner.

"Yeah, I'm trying to find a last minute costume."

"Well, what are you looking for?"

Cody thought for a minute and then decided on a costume idea. He would go as the Phantom of the Opera. He knew exactly what he needed to be in costume. He had the most basic parts of his costume already. All he needed was a pair of black gloves, a white button up shirt, a black cape, a black vest and a white mask.

"Do you happen to have black gloves, a white button up shirt, a black cape, a black vest and a white mask?"

"Why sure I do, son. Come over here."

The shop owner kindly showed Cody to the items that he had in mind. Cody found what he needed and knew that the shirt and vest would fit him and brought the items over to register to purchase them. When the owner had showed Cody the masks that were left over, Cody picked the half-mask since it was the one that best copied the mask that the Phantom of the Opera wore. When the owner brought up the price of the items, Cody pulled out his money. He was able to have money ready because ever since his transformations, he was able to make proper adjustments to his new life style so that he would be ready for anything that may have come his way. Once the owner gave Cody his change, he bid him a goodnight and good luck. Cody thanked him and went on his way. He walked off far from the thrift store and put on his white long sleeved, button up shirt over his black shirt. He tucked the shirt in and then had put on his black cape. He slipped on the black gloves over his hands and completed his costume by straightening out his bangs and putting on his half-mask over the right side of his face. Cody then picked up his back shirt from the ground and casually walked over to the barn. He went inside the barn once other kids had scurried in the barn. He didn't know Bailey could have been at that moment so he used his nose to detect her scent and follow it to locate her through the mass of people dressed up in all sorts of costumes.

In another part of the crowded barn, Bailey was mingling with her sister, Diane, for their younger sisters went off with some friends. Bailey and Diane had walked together until it came apparent to Bailey that Diane would leave her soon since she was looking for her friends. Once Diane found he friends, Bailey listlessly had allowed her sister to leave her behind. Not a single soul had accompanied Bailey in her solo search of fun. She was a good person and had enough peers to call friends but for the night, she was alone. Everybody already had prior engagements to attend to and Bailey was left in her Dorothy costume holding a woven basket as her prop. As Bailey walked a lonely path through the crowded barn, she looked at the various activities that people were engaged in. The activities included apple bobbing, corn bobbing, dancing, scavenger hunting, and bean bag toss where the small beans bags had pumpkins on them. Bailey considered on partaking in one of the activities but she was stopped by a figure that soon became an obstacle for her. In front of Bailey was a tall Darth Vader. The person in question took off their mask and exposed themselves as a boy that Bailey did not want to see. It was Moose. He smiled at Bailey.

"Well, yee-ha, Bailey. Don't you look you pretty. I think you make a better Dorothy than the original."

"Go away, Moose."

"Ooh. You got some bite in you tonight, Bailey."

"Moose, I'm not in the mood to talk to you. By the way, I didn't know that you like sci-fi."

"Sigh what? Nah. This is just a costume that I borrowed from a friend's cousin. I just needed a costume fast."

"Oh. I see."

"Anyway, Bailey, are you that you don't want to dance with me? You seem awfully lonely tonight."

"Well, actually, Moose…."

Just then a gentle and warm hand graced Bailey's right shoulder and she and Moose turned their attention to the figure that joined their company. He was the boy from the previous four days. Bailey thought that her protector had left town. She thought that 'Sigmund' had been gone for good. The teenaged boy in question knew exactly who he was. Cody looked straight into Moose's eyes.

"Are you bothering her again? Don't you know the meaning of the word 'no'?"

"What?"

"I guess not."

"Where did you come from stranger?"

"I came from the next town over. I was here four days ago. I had left to complete a task but then changed my mind and came back here. How could you not remember me in such a short period of time?"

"I don't know what you're rambling about, but would you mind leaving? I was just about to ask Bailey for a dance."

Cody took his hand off Bailey's shoulder and walked in front of her so he could look Moose square in the eye.

"Fine. You may ask her to dance with you but if she declines your offer and asks you to leave her alone then you must respect that and tend to other business in this barn. I'm sure this plenty to do in here. If she does accept your offer then I will leave you two alone to enjoy your night together."

"You got yourself a deal, little feller."

Cody politely moved out of Bailey's way and stood quietly off to the side and waited for Bailey to give Moose an answer. Bailey briefly looked at Cody before she looked at Moose.

"So, Bailey, are you up for some dancing?"

"Moose, if I was in the mood for dancing, I would not want to have you as a dance partner for you have been bothering a little too much this past week and I need to have a break from you asking me to give another chance. I need space to breathe and be able to think things clearly. I am sorry, Moose, but I can simply not accept your offer. I hope that this does not dampen your plans for tonight. I do hope that you have fun like the rest of our peers that seem to be having."

Moose scowled. "Fine! I don't need you. I'll go look for Mary-Lou and dance with her."

Then Moose storms off and puts his mask back on in the process. Bailey then turns to Cody who she has not learned his real name but intends to do.

"I'm so glad that you came back. What changed your mind and how did you get here?"

"I got bored and felt that I had not had much contact with people my age to call a friend. I knew that you existed and decided to come back and hope to kindle a kind of companionship with you if that would be okay with you. As for how I got here, I walked."

"Oh, wow. You came back for me and you did it by walking? I feel so honored. I would love to spend the night with you."

"Great."

"Where do you come from?"

Cody wanted to tell Bailey all about him and his situation but he knew that it would be best to introduce tid bits of his life to her in a gradual build up.

"How about we talk about that for later?"

"Oh, sure. Of Course. I guess that's a little personal for our level of friendship."

"Don't worry. We have plenty of time to become well acquainted with each other. Would you care to dance?"

As Cody offered a dance to Bailey, he offered a glove clad hand for her to take if she accepted his offer.

"I would love to dance with you but before we do so, may I know what your real name is? It's just killing me because since your departure from town four days ago, I couldn't help but make a name for you."

"What name did you give me?"

"Sigmund."

"You mean as in Sigmund Freud?"

"No. I just meant Sigmund."

"Why 'Sigmund'?"

"It's because it means victorious hand or protector and when we last met, you, in your own special way, protected me from Moose. I consider you to be my protector."

"Oh. Well, thank you for that interpretation of what to give me but I think it would be best that you knew my real name."

"I'll make a deal you. If you tell me your full real name then I tell you my full name as well."

"Okay. I can deal with that."

"Okay. So, what's your name?"

Cody smiled at Bailey as much a boy could smile who wore a half-mask. He dropped his hand for moment.

"I'm Cody Martin."

"And I'm Bailey Marie Pickett."

Bailey then extended her hand out for Cody to shake as if playing along to their pretend 'first meeting'. Cody took her hand in his own and shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Bailey."

"It's nice to meet you too, Cody. "

Cody finishes off the act with taking Bailey's hand in his own and bringing the backside of her hand to his lips and kisses it before he releases it.

"It is my pleasure to have met you."

Bailey felt herself blush and she let her quirky yet adored and cute laugh that was her signature laugh. Cody was delighted to hear Bailey laugh. It was more of a giggle but still could be considered a laugh. He smiled at her. She calmed herself and stepped toward him.

"You know, Cody, I much rather prefer your real name over the fake name that I gave you. It suits you much better because you look like a Cody."

"Thanks, Bailey. I would hope so since my mom named me. And may I add, your name suits you very well because you definitely look like a Bailey."

Bailey giggled again but a little bit more softly than the previous time. Cody lifted his hand up again to offer it to Bailey and he asked her again:

"Would you like to dance?"

Bailey smiled brightly and she took Cody's hand. "It would be my pleasure."

Cody was pleased with himself as he guided Bailey to a secluded spot on the assigned dance area where they would bump into other dancers and he brought him and Bailey in atypical ballroom dance start position, where his left hand was held up with her right hand in his own and while his right hand was placed on the small of Bailey's back and that her left hand was delicately placed on his right shoulder. They moved to the basic steps of the waltz. As they danced together, their feet glided across the dance floor and Cody never tore eye contact with Bailey. She allowed her basket to hang from her elbow as she was lulled to a spell by his enchanting stare. Bailey felt as though she should have been with Cody for longer than they had known each other. The young man that brought her into a whimsical world made Bailey tremble with delight and made her feel as though they were meant to be. When they finished dancing, Bailey could feel a certain kind of gravitational pull that was to bring her close to Cody. An unknown force was beckoning her to close the gap between her and his lips but Bailey restrained herself from doing any sort of action for she had just got to become comfortable with Cody and she needed to know about him before she could just take him in her arms and kiss him senseless. Bailey's chest heaved underneath her blue and white plaid dress and her white blouse from underneath the dress. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt as though his simple charm silently seduced her. Bailey fluttered her eyelashes and then slowly withdrew from Cody's touch.

"That was fun."

"Yeah, it was. What would you like to do next?"

"I don't know."

"Well, I thought that I saw some maze outside the barn that was made out of hay. Could we do that?"

"Oh, sure. You're going to love the maze, Cody. I've done it plenty of times."

"Okay. Let's go outside to the maze."

"Alright."

Cody carefully took Bailey's hand and guided her out of the barn to the welcoming cooling air of the night. They rounded to the right side of the barn and approached the maze. They entered the maze together. While they walked through the hay maze, Cody looked down at his and Bailey's hands and had realized that they were still intertwined. Embarrassed by his guffaw, Cody had let go of Bailey's hand as it was appropriate for new friends to hold each other's hands. Bailey hadn't notice when they were holding hands but did notice when Cody removed his hand from her own. The maze's walls got a little higher than originally built at the start and the more shadows had casted down onto the ground making it darker than before. Cody and Bailey walked through the maze, turning left and right until they got to a dead end. They retraced their steps as best they could until they got lost. Cody and Bailey walked around in circles until they got tired and had to rest. They sat down on the hay covered ground and leaned against the hay stack wall. Cody looked over at Bailey.

"Bailey, have you gotten lost in this maze before?"

"Yeah. Once or twice when I was younger but I think that they changed the maze a little bit this year."

"I see."

Bailey looked up at the moon.

"Cody?"

"Yeah, Bailey?"

"I've been thinking about how when you first came to town. You came at a time when the wolf hadn't been heard of in a while."

"Oh?"

"I think that the wolf…or I mean the werewolf needed my help but I haven't seen or heard of him anymore. I'm afraid that he might have been killed. And the saddest part is that I won't be able to see him in his human form."

Cody felt the urge to comfort Bailey by letting her know that he was the werewolf and that he was just fine. He wanted to tell Bailey but he felt that it wasn't time just yet to expose his secret to her. He would wait a little longer. Cody placed a comforting hand on Bailey's shoulder.

"I think that if the werewolf was truly good at heart then he would have been spared by some higher power and be able to escape with his life."

Bailey turned toward Cody. "You really think so?"

"Yeah. I think that there's a possibility that the werewolf is still out there somewhere."

Bailey smiled at Cody. "You know what, Cody? I think that you're right. Thanks for comforting me."

"You're welcome."

"You know, you're the first person to not judge me for being concerned about the animal who is portrayed as a horrible human killer."

"Well, I was taught by my mom to not judge people of what they say first hand. She always told me to get to know someone before you could pass judgment towards them."

"You know, Cody, you're absolutely right. Maybe that's why it feels okay when your family and close friends judge you because they know all that they need to know about you to have validation to judge you. But you shouldn't listen to stranger who's judging you because they don't you at all. That really does put things in perspective, Cody."

"I'm glad that I could help."

Cody then took his hand off Bailey's shoulder. Bailey was secretly sad that Cody took his hand off her shoulder but then she thought it was for the best.

"So, Cody, what kind of family do you have?"

"Well, I was raised with my twin brother, Zack, by our mom. Our parents had divorce when Zack and I were young and we travelled the country until we could find a permanent place to call home. When we finally settled into one place, Zack and I were just about ready to start middle school."

"Oh. How old were you two when you started middle school?"

"Zack and I were eleven. We have early birthdays during the school year."

"When's your birthday?"

"It was September 22."

"Oh. My birthday's going to be May 6."

"What year were you born?"

"I was born in nineteen ninety three."

"So, you're about eight months younger than me."

"You mean, you were born in nineteen ninety two?"

"Yeah."

"So, you're eighteen already."

"Yeah. Why is that a problem because you're still seventeen?"

"No. I guess not. I mean, it would be a slight problem if a girl was sixteen and she had a boyfriend who just turned eighteen and they were….ready to take the next step then there would have been a problem."

"Oh, yeah. I see what you mean. It kind of sucks when couples are in that sort of situation. But we don't have to worry about that because you're close enough to my age and we're just friends, right?"

"Right."

Bailey could feel her heart pound in her chest. She has this unyielding desire to kiss Cody and let him have his way with her. Bailey didn't know what got into her. She wasn't even considering to do that sort of thing until she was either close to be engaged or was at least engaged before she would consider to have pre-marital sex and even so, she would have to find a guy that she could see spending the rest of her life with. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Bailey for she has this odd sensation of skipping all those steps just to lose her virginity to a guy that she just become friends with. Bailey didn't know why she would even consider such a thing with Cody since they we're even thinking of becoming a couple in the first place. Bailey thought to herself and blamed her mood on the night….and how kind Cody was and how handsome he looked in his Halloween costume. Bailey mentally slapped herself and then refocused her attention on Cody.

"Cody?"

"Yes, Bailey?"

"Do you think that we should get out of this maze?"

"Yeah. The night is still young and I want to do more with you than just dance and go through a maze. Does your town have a movie theatre?"

"Of course it does. I know that it doesn't see obvious since this is such a small town but we have one. I think they're showing some special films just for tonight."

"What kind of films?"

"Oh you know, ones that should be shown on Halloween like The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Halloween, Hocus Pocus and Halloween Town. People used to show more scary movies but everyone's still a little on edge since we had the werewolf come to town. The only scary movie that would be playing is Halloween with Mike Myers in it."

"I guess that's understandable. Do you want to go to the movies?"

"I wish that I could but I brought my sisters here to the barn. Plus I didn't bring any money with me."

"Tell you what, we can see if your sisters are taken care of and if not we can take them home when they're ready then you can get some money and tell you parents where we're going and we can go see a movie."

"You really would be willing to do all of that with me just so we could go see a movie in this small town?"

"Why not? We're friends and friends do a whole bunch of nice things for each other."

"But we just became friends. I wouldn't expect you to do so much for me. What you're offering to do is incredibly generous and sweet of you."

Cody casually shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just that kind of guy. So, what do you say?"

"I guess it couldn't hurt."

"Great. Let's get out of this maze and go see a movie."

Cody stood up and offered his hand to let Bailey take hold it to help her stand up. She grabs his hand and stands up. They walk through the maze and get out without any more complications. With a plan in mind, Cody and Bailey walked side-by-side back to the barn to find Bailey's younger sisters.

To Be Continued…