Kylie had a giant smile on her face as I handed her an envelope.

"So, giving me money in an envelope? I feel like I'm in the mafia." Kylie said, without opening the envelope.

I put on my fedora, smoothing the brim and saying in a stereotypical mobster voice "Ya' handled that guy good, kid, good." I realized what she said. "How'd you know it was money?"

"Female intuition." Kylie said.

"Maka told you, didn't she?"

"That, and I figured you had no idea what to get a girl for her thirteenth birthday."

"Touché." I said. "Ready to go to the Halloween Dance?"

"Sure." Kylie said, grabbing onto my hand instead of waiting for me to carry her.

'What the hell?' I thought. 'Why doesn't she want me to carry her?' I felt a little heartbroken when I realized it'd probably embarrass her. I straightened my tie and opened the door, letting Kylie go first. 'She's grown up.' I thought sadly. 'Well, might as well make the best of tonight.'

The day before.

Kylie and I were having breakfast when the phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked.

"This is Soul. I want to talk to you." Soul said.

"Okay. What's up?"

"Would you object if I said I wanted to take Kylie to the Halloween Dance?" Soul said, obviously nervous.

"Only if you didn't take good care of her." I said.

"Thanks."

"It's no problem. See ya' later." I said.

"Bye." Soul said, hanging up.

"Who was it?" Kylie asked.

"Nobody. 'Cept your boyfriend." I said.

Kylie coughed some orange juice back into her cup. "What?"

"It was Soul asking if he could take you to the dance. I said he could." I said.

"Really?"

"What did ya' think I was gonna do, start smashing plates?"

"A little." Kylie admitted.

"Wow. I thought I gave off the 'caring brother' vibe, not the 'crazy-protective bother' vibe." I said, chuckling.

"Thanks Rye." Kylie said.

I shrugged.

At the Dance.

As I walked up to our friends, Kylie let go of my hand, walking over to Soul. Black Star and Tsubaki were holding hands, Maka was alone, and Crona was nowhere to be found.

"Hey Soul." Kylie said, grabbing Soul's hand.

"Hey guys." I said, hands in my pockets.

Kid walked up to us, and I moved a little away from him.

"Hey." Kid said. He only had Liz with him, and she was standing really close.

"So, is your father going to say hi?" Kylie asked.

"He's already saying hi." Kid said. "I'd rather stay out here and talk."

"Ya' can stay out here and freeze, I'm going inside." I said, noticing Maka shivering a bit. I took off my jacket and put it on her shoulders.

"Thanks." Maka said.

I shrugged.

"Oooh!" Patti said. If I wasn't afraid of getting shot, I'd have told her to shut up.

M

I pulled Riley's jacket closer as he walked inside. He didn't seem to be in a good mood, and something was off about the way he walked: he leaned back, like he'd just took off a backpack full of books. I suddenly realized that he wasn't carrying Kylie; she was holding Soul's hand.

"Hey, Maka, are you and Riley going out?" Patti asked.

"No." I shook my head. My hair was down my back, and I was wearing a black dress, just like the one Tsubaki was wearing (though her hair matched with hers.)

"Can we go inside now?" Soul asked.

"Sure." Kid said.

I wondered something, and accidently voiced the question before I could stop myself. "Are you really attracted to Riley?"

Kid narrowed his eyes at me. "What are you talking about? I'm here with Liz, after all."

I looked as Tsubaki. "Hey, I heard it from Patti." Tsubaki said.

I looked around for Patti, who was nowhere to be found.

Kid blushed. "That's why girls suddenly started asking me if they looked cute in whatever outfit they were wearing, isn't it?"

"Probably." Liz said.

"Hey, Liz, why are you with Kid and Patti isn't?" Kylie asked.

"We're on a date." Liz said.

"Shouldn't you hold his hand?"

"Then I would be asymmetrical." Kid said.

Kylie gave Kid a look that was much like Riley's 'he-needs-therapy' look.