another shorter chapter, however I've been trying to time what will be next week's chapter to Halloween,so.

thanks for reading/reviewing :)

title taken from: "What's This?" by Fall Out Boy (bc, seasonal and everything)

"Looking forward to Halloween this year?"

Dwight nodded enthusiastically, smiling genuinely for what appeared to be the first time in a long, long time, going by the pain it seemed to cause him. "Mose and I host a scary harvest night every October 31st, on the farm. Desperate stepparents are willing to pay anything to bond with their stepkids." He looked around the table. "We make a small fortune, every year."

"Glad to know you're able to profit off of one of the most fun holidays for children." Jim punctuated his statement with a can you believe this? look towards Pam, who rolled her eyes in response.

"So, is anyone going to the Halloween party in the halls?" Kelly asked, impatiently, as if she'd been waiting for the question to come up. At everyone else's silence, she added, exasperatedly, "I honestly can't believe you people. It'll be so fun!"

"I might go." Pam said. She shot Kelly a tentative half-smile. "It'll be better than just sitting around studying."

"I guess I'll stop by, too." Jim added, perhaps too quickly to be convincingly coincidental.

"That's great!" Kelly squealed. "We can go in a group, like the Breakfast Club or whatever. I'll ask Ryan!"

Once it was confirmed that Ryan might be coming, depending on a whole load of random, unconnected variables, Kelly proceeded to work out a game plan. In the end, it wasn't really all that complicated: she and Pam would get ready in their own dorm, and then they could all meet up in the courtyard outside their block to walk to the party together.

And Jim was actually pretty excited for it. Halloween wasn't really his thing, and usually, neither were parties, but he guessed that with the right company, it could actually be fun.

LINE BREAK

Pam, thankfully, seemed to have given up the idea of questioning him about his aloofness the past few days. Instead, she was a lot more Pam-like than usual. Joking around and being able to make biting retorts at the drop of a hat. It reminded him of the first time they met.

Presently, she was sidling up to his chair in a conspiratorial way, ensuring that he definitely would not be focusing on the lecture Mr. Scott was giving.

"What?"

"I was just wondering what you'd be going as for the Halloween party tomorrow."

"Um," What would he be going as? Costumes really weren't his thing. "It's a surprise."

"Uh-huh." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"What're you going as, then?"

"It's a surprise."

He faked a laugh, trying not to stare too obviously at how her eyes crinkled when she squinted in that teasing manner, how the corners of her mouth twitched when she was trying to hold back a smile.

LINE BREAK

The rest of the day passed largely without incident, and all too soon, Jim was standing in front of his tiny wardrobe, trying to find a makeshift last-minute Halloween costume.

Dwight suggested he go as himself, as his normal face was "terrifying enough", but he guessed he would have to actually find a proper outfit.

The last time he put any effort into dressing up for Halloween had to have been 6th Grade, maybe 5th. By the time the next year had come around, he just figured he'd grown out of it.

Just when he was wondering just how terrible it would be to take Dwight's suggestion into serious consideration, an idea finally dawned on him. It wasn't the best, but it would have to do - and it seemed just clever enough to be easily accepted that he put effort into choosing it.

Yeah, this year was gonna be good.