A/N: The weather's starting to change, and all the colors and smells are invading stores everywhere!
Spoopy Season is upon us but if you're like the people in our story, you don't get the fun of the leaves changing or that chill in the air. But everyone likes Halloween, so we are going to have a humongous chapter packed with spooky fun!
ENJOY AND PLEASE DROP A REVIEW!
The Western Gate, L.A. had opened the previous summer.
Originally an amusement park based in San Francisco, they were constantly loaded to capacity so a second venue in Southern California was planned. A third was speculated to begin breaking ground as well. It was the brainchild of an eccentric wealthy YouTuber (not Mr. Beast but close) who wanted to give Disneyland a run for their money. Indeed, the competing park attracted many visitors. It was the most anticipated opening of its kind since California Adventure years ago.
Naturally, the Los Angeles version was a big success. So much so that they were courted to being bought and added as another location under the Six Flags banner but the hefty price tag of $5 Billion slowed down negotiations.
Since mid-September, The Western Gate had begun their month-and-a-half-long Halloween event: Scream Kingdom. And they go all out with the decorations, scary characters running around, and even limited attractions like a haunted "escape" house. They also had plenty of appropriate music being piped in at all times; not just "Thriller" or random library spooky sounds. They was plenty of heavy metal and alt rock being played from Rob Zombie to Alice in Chains.
But you had to get there when you could, because by November it will all be gone and back to the regular park.
Jenna, Lauren and Chase were all looking to go before Halloween weekend when it would be insanity. Alice was interested and after some prodding, Mia texted back to the group that it sounded like fun. Since her rendezvous at the skate park was a big fat bust, Mia thought to at least hanging out with her friends would be okay. Of course, Jenna couldn't load everybody into her car.
Tori and Jade ended up volunteering to give their daughters a ride. And it wouldn't hurt for the multiple parents of multiple kids involved that there were a couple of chaperones present.
That opening year was pure madness; you had to reserve your time frame to visit for that particular day. So, for the whole group this was their first time going there.
"Holy crap!"
Jade's eyes were bugging out, taking in the spooky overlay of the theme park. They haven't even entered yet, but the entrance was adorned with so much black and purple and orange; it was comforting for the writer.
"Is this heaven?" she said to no one in particular as she wandered ahead of the teenagers.
Once inside, it was a buzz of activity. "Flesh 'n Blood" by Oingo Boingo was playing over the speaker system.
"Okay, what are we doing first?" asked Lauren.
Alice pointed to the steel rollercoaster with the name The Reaper. The track was painted blood red while the cars were neon green. Ironically, this was a permanent staple of the park; it just sticks out a lot less on a day like this.
"I don't know," said Jenna. "Looks scary."
"Agreed."
She turned to see Billy standing behind her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked with a smile.
"Thought I'd check it out. Came here with a couple of friends and they...ditched me I think."
"Wanna hang with us?" offered Chase.
Everybody else nodded and welcomes the addition.
"I want to check out the games," Jenna said. "Anyone wanna come?"
"I will!" jumped in Billy.
"I don't want to go on that thing," Lauren said with a face, thumbing the ride. "Not a fan of coasters."
"What are you afraid of heights?" chided Mia.
Lauren shot her bestie a glare.
"Heights don't bother me. I just don't like being dropped helplessly from said heights."
Mia shook her head and put her arm around Alice.
"Really, you chickens? Nobody else wants to go. Mom?"
"Hell no!" Tori shouted.
Alice looked up at Mia.
"Guess it's just us."
"Alright, how about we meet at 3:00 for the haunted house?" suggested Chase. "That's got to be fun."
"Cool," nodded Mia.
"Sounds good," agreed Lauren.
"We're in!" said Jade.
The group then split up, Jenna and Billy to play some games. Alice and Mia went to go on The Reaper. Lauren grabbed Chase's hand.
"Come on," she smiled. "Let's go in the funhouse."
"Alright," Chase chuckled with a blush and they too vanished.
"Yeah, that's a trip to the amusement park for you," said Tori. "We come together just to separate."
"Quit your bellyaching," smirked Jade. "Are you going on that death machine with our daughters?"
Tori took another gander at the rollercoaster and shuddered.
"Nope."
"Then it's settled. Now look for signs that say coffee."
Mia and Alice were getting in line for The Reaper, which was pretty long. But at least a dozen people got on at a time, so it was moving.
"There should be a law against waiting an hour for something that takes 90 seconds," whined Mia.
Alice chucked.
"That's nothing. I once waited for almost three hours for one ride and by the time it was our turn, they closed it down for the day."
"That's balls!" huffed Mia.
"Oh, look who it is!"
Alice saw Mia grit her teeth.
"God-fucking-dammit!" she grumbled.
Sure enough, Savannah and her brood were standing there as defiant as ever.
The younger girl also noticed a sudden shift, a twinkle in Mia's eye when she turned to face her. There have been plenty of encounters in the past that Mia made a point to have insults locked and loaded if need be.
"Don't do that!" Mia said, holding her chest in exaggeration. "They didn't tell me the monsters were going to be this scary!"
Alice held her lips together tightly in a smile.
"You must be so happy that they'll just let anyone in now," Savannah said, her dumb friends nodding in agreement. "I do miss that opening year where the rabble couldn't afford a reservation."
(Ouch, that bitch can improvise, too.)
"Wow," Mia said. "All your money and still no personality."
Savannah scoffed and one of her friends, Kris, chimed in.
"Ooh, sick burn!" she said sarcastically.
These girls were insufferable. They were like the teeny tiny fish that glob onto a great white shark.
"Oh look!" pointed Ashley when she noticed Alice. "Mia's babysitting."
"Screw you, valley girl!" Mia shot back.
"I sure hope Alice's mommy pays well," added Patricia. "I can tell from your hand-me-down clothes that you need the money!"
Mia's fist clenched but it never left her side.
That last comment stung. Yes, Mia wore these button shirts over her own t-shirts. It was kind of her signature look. She did like how they felt but a bigger component was they were her dad's old shirts. Tori was thinking of giving them to Goodwill, but Mia stopper her. Today, she was wearing her favorite of his: the green flannel. Mia scarcely took off that locket but wearing his shirt, it felt like a reassuring hug she could take with her.
"Not being an asshole is free," Alice shot. "So why can't you afford it?"
Mia shook off her anger for a moment and looked down at her friend.
(Aww, baby's first clapback.)
Savannah rolled her eyes.
"Whatever! Come on, girls. We need to go anyway. Oh, Mia did you hear about Ryan?"
"What about him?" she huffed.
The blonde ran her hand through her hair.
"Oh, nothing that concerns you. He's coming home for the second semester."
"Yeah!" added Kris. "He's going to be done with his vacational school."
"Pretty sure that's vocational school," Alice corrected her.
Savannah grumbled. Even she could tire of her dimwitted friends sometimes.
"Yes, by January we can pick up where we left off."
"You really think so?" asked Mia.
She shot the Latina a harsh look. Like she was psychically telling her: Don't fuck with me!
"I know so!" Savannah smiled. "I mean we all remember how that ended up, so don't even think about it!"
Alice was confused by that.
"Ta-Ta, shit stain!" she waved at Mia as they left.
Mia grumbled, folding her arms tightly.
"When is this stupid line going to MOVE!?"
"Hey let's try this!"
Jenna led Billy to a target game where they shot lasers at enemies. Normally, it was goofy-looking clowns. But this time it was dressed up so that you were firing at bloodthirsty zombies. Billy paid the guy behind the counter and they each took up their plastic assault rifles that were wired to the table.
"Here we go!" announced the operator.
A buzzing came on and a red light flashed above, bringing attention to the booth. It was successful in drawing others to watch, many of them lining up to be next.
Indeed, a crowd formed behind Jenna and Billy as their zombie hunt started.
Appropriately, some funky Goblin music played during the game, so it felt like Dawn of the Dead. There was a giant screen in the back that projected a random backdrop like a rundown city or a cemetery. In the foreground, puppets would pop up and it was all in sync to the laser blasters. A direct hit would result in the fake zombie falling back down. Successful marks also took out zombies displayed on the screen. It was all very well-made.
"There's one!" Billy noted as he laid a shot that only grazed its head.
"Oh, shit!" chuckled Jenna. "You only made him mad."
"That's what he thinks."
Billy got him again as he got closer.
"One more second, and he would've bitten you."
He scoffed at Jenna.
"No melting bag of bones is gonna get me," Billy smirked.
"Good. I would hate to put you down."
Billy made a frown.
"You would?"
Jenna laughed as she took out three ghouls in the background.
"You know it would destroy me if I had to make that choice."
"Well, at least when I die, you'll be the last thing I'll see."
The momentary blush made Jenna miss her last target.
"Hey, back off dead-boy!"
Billy came in with a final shot that blew the head off the one coming toward Jenna.
"My hero," she dryly said.
The buzz returned, signaling the end of that round.
Some of the spectators clapped. Billy and Jenna looked at each other and smiled.
"Okay, that was fun," he said.
Jenna looked around.
"What else they got?"
Jade took a long sip from her takeaway cup of fresh brew.
"Now I'm good," she sighed.
She noticed Tori leaning against the wall across the way.
"Waiting for the bathroom?" she asked.
Tori shook her head no.
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Tori replied. "I mean...I don't think..."
Jade grabbed her hand and dragged her to a table in an area where people were eating their food.
"Alright, spill."
Tori sat down and put her hands on the table.
"I was thinking about the store...you know, ever since that day."
Jade nodded, still feeling bad she opened up that old wound.
"And what were you thinking?" she asked.
"Mia asked if we should re-open it." Tori hugged herself. "But I don't think it's the right thing to do."
The former goth sipped her hot beverage.
"I know that emotionally it's a bit of a minefield. It's not an easy decision. But, if we're being practical, you are an educator. Might want to consider some form of income for the summer break."
Tori scoffed.
"Okay, Miss Jade, if and I do mean IF, then who would run it?"
Jade shrugged.
"If only we knew of a gaggle of teenagers who might be looking for some part-time employment."
"Are you serious?"
"Most definitely," nodded Jade. "If you were Mia's age, wouldn't working in a music store be like...the dream?"
Tori would be lying if she said that wasn't true. And Jade knew her at that age so she wasn't just blowing smoke.
"Plus, you'd be keeping it in the family, right?"
The Latina rubbed her arm.
(She's making some good points.)
"Can I ask you a real question?"
Tori looked at her with squinty eyes.
"Were the previous questions just warm-ups?"
Jade took an even bigger swig of her coffee.
"By real, I mean it's as difficult for me to ask as it will probably be for you to answer."
"Okay?"
Jade cleared her throat.
"Tori, and I'm being serious, are you determined to be sad?"
She mentally vapor-locked for a second. Wasn't expecting such a simple and yet complex question.
"I...I don't understand."
"Look, I know your singing career didn't exactly work out. Knowing you that must have hit you like a truck. Then what happened to Sam. I can't imagine that. And I'm deeply sorry that I wasn't there for you."
Jade stared down at her half-empty cup.
"It's just, you seem like you're not happy. I know..."
Tori slammed her hand down, surprising Jade.
"You don't know anything! I have a lot to be happy about!"
Tears began to form for both of them.
Tori stormed off and Jade followed, leaving her cup behind.
"Chase? Chase?"
Lauren wandered through the labyrinth of mirrors. Even the ceiling and floor were reflective. It did a good job of making you disoriented, not knowing which way is up.
"Cha-OOF!"
She collided with the object of her search. Chase got a hold of her shoulders. They both breathed a sigh of relief.
"Found you," he said.
"Where were you?" she asked.
He chuckled.
"I was stuck in that spinning tunnel. It felt like being in a dryer."
"How do we get out of here?" Lauren mused.
She then spotted a person blinking in and out of sight.
"There! Come on."
A few turns later, they navigated their way out of the mirror room.
"YES!"
"Sweet," huffed Chase.
They followed through a corridor that only grew narrower to the point that they had to proceed single file. Lauren was in front and the taller Chase right behind her. A red door is at the end of the hallway.
"What do you think is on the other side?" he asked.
"No idea," Lauren replied. "Just stay close to me."
"No problem," Chase blushed.
"UGH FINALLY!"
Mia hopped into the seat and Alice carefully stepped in a leg at a time.
The older teen smirked.
"I thought you were a thrill ride connoisseur."
"I mean, I've always been fascinated by them but..."
Mia raised an eyebrow.
"But?"
"I only went on smaller rides for the longest time. Mom didn't do these kinds of things anymore and I was usually too short to ride alone."
Alice looked back at her friend who was biting her lip.
"Go ahead," she pale girl huffed. "Laugh at me."
Mia opened the gate, and she held her stomach as the 'yucks came rolling out.
"You good now?" Alice asked as the safety bar automatically came down in their laps.
"Yes," Mia nodded. "Sorry."
The roller-coaster cars came around the bend and began the old ascension into the blue sky. Everyone was pumped with anticipation on the slow crawl to the first drop.
"For making fun of me, maybe you can let me in on what's the deal with you and Savannah?"
Mia shrugged, "What's to know? She's a cunt."
"I know she's bad," Alice sighed. "But she has a strong distaste for you. Why?"
They were almost at the top.
"You really want to know?" Mia asked.
"Of course!"
CLANK-CLANK-CLANK-CLANK...
"I'll tell you if..."
"If what?"
Mia made an evil grin.
"If we survive."
The riders went over the hump and began plummeting down, gaining enough momentum to the first of several loops.
"Hey, Jenna!" Billy called out. "Watch this."
He picked up the hammer from the TEST YOUR STRENGTH game and reeled back before slamming it down like he was working on the railroad.
The yellow ball rose several feet, only to reach 60 points out of 100.
"Aw, man."
"Let me try," Jenna said.
Billy stepped back and let her have the floor.
Jenna picked up the hammer and didn't pick it up at first. She underestimated the heft of it. Now, Jenna took a more focused stance and was able to lift the thing. She nearly faltered a bit when the heavy end swung behind her.
"Let's do it!" he cheered on.
She brought the hammer down and the little ball went higher and higher until it hit the bell.
Jenna let out a "woo" while stretching out her arms. Her muscles really were noticeable. And Billy couldn't stop staring.
"What?" she asked.
"What? WHAT? Dude, you're a warrior!"
She blushed, casually walking away from the high striker.
He joined up alongside her.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"You don't have to make fun," Jenna said.
"Who's making fun?" asked Billy, perplexed. "I was being serious."
Jenna stopped.
"Really?"
"Yeah, you were amazing back there."
She brushed back her hair without realizing it.
"A lot of guys are put off by that."
Billy shrugged.
"Well, you're not wrong. A lot of guys are very stupid."
Lauren and Chase staggered out of the funhouse.
"That was a funhouse?" he said, out of breath. "More like a happy-go-lucky mindfuck."
She chuckled.
"That's why I'm glad I went on this with you. You've got the best sense of humor."
Lauren coughed when she was done laughing.
"Can we talk for a second?"
"Alright," he nodded.
"Listen...I'm still sorry about what happened at the park that day."
"You already apologized," Chase said. "A few times."
Lauren rubbed her hands together.
"I still feel bad about it."
"Me too," he nodded. "I mean it was a good idea. I will have to play in front of people eventually."
"Did...you have any ideas?" she asked.
"Actually, I might."
Chase went over to a spot where there were less people.
"The whole time I was playing, before I saw the other people, I was comfortable because you were there."
"What?"
"What I mean is, you made me feel confident back there. I could play when you are watching because I know you wouldn't tease me."
Chase swallowed.
"You have a good heart."
Lauren blushed.
"And I thought about it and...if we do get picked, we would have to be on stage...together. So why am I playing by myself, right?"
"Right," she nodded.
"Let's try this again," Chase said. "Only this time we both get in front of people. And we find a venue where nobody expects you to be perfect."
He showed her the Chrome browser on his phone: China Kitchen Restaurant.
"Karaoke?"
Chase nodded.
"It was actually my uncle's idea. He said this place is great and according to him, most people are drunk or tone-deaf."
Lauren smiled.
That wasn't all Neil helped him with. He gave Chase pointers for keeping his body in check when talking with a girl he likes. That way he wasn't a stuttering, shaky, sweaty mess. Chase definitely still felt nervous but it was bore out of excitement rather than fright.
"Even if I fail, who cares? It's karaoke! It's supposed to be fun. No pressure."
"Should we tell the others...?"
"Could it be just us two?" Chase asked. "I just...it's...it's different with you."
"Oh-okay, sure."
"Good," he sighed. "Great."
They reached the tail end of The Reaper. Once the cars hissed to a stop, Mia and Alice looked at each other and screamed.
"THAT WAS AWESOME!" Alice shouted.
"BEST. RIDE. EVER!" added Mia.
While half of the riders were on the verge of puking, our girls were among the jubilant.
"Finally, another thriller-seeker!" said Mia. "Nobody else wants to ride shit like this with me."
"When and where," smirked Alice. "That's all I need."
Mia playfully punched Alice in the shoulder as they exited the ride.
"So, what was that whole business with you and Savannah?"
"Oh, yeah. That. Okay, well..."
"And what's with that Ryan guy she mentioned? Who's he?"
She held out her arm for Alice to stand still.
(What did you have for breakfast, a bag of sugar?)
"Okay, okay, okay. Listen. Me and Savannah never got along, as you can see, but things became more messy last year."
"Was it about Ryan?" Alice pressed.
Mia groaned and covered her face.
"Oh my gosh!" Alice gasped. "Were you two..." she then shrunk her voice to a whisper. "...romantic rivals?"
"What?" Mia winced. "You've been reading too many books."
Alice stood ready to hang on her friend's every word.
"Here's the deal, this guy transferred sophomore year named Ryan. Savannah made no bones about making a play for him."
"But you wanted him, too!"
Mia sighed.
"I did. I even..."
Alice's eyes grew like saucers.
"What?"
"No, it's embarrassing."
"Out with it woman!"
Mia leaned in and shout-whispered, "I wrote him a note, okay!"
The petite girl covered her mouth.
"What did it say?" she asked incredulously.
"I don't remember, thank god! I think my brain was trying to spare me the cringe."
She put two together and looked solemnly at Mia.
"So, he rejected you?"
Mia shook her head.
"No, he never read it. Because when I put it in his locker, Savannah (bitch) intercepted it. I don't know HOW but she got a hold of his combo. So she not only kept it from reaching Ryan, she knew there was competition and stepped up her game. Next thing you knew, they were dating."
"That's terrible."
"And just to drive the point home, she stuffed the note back in my locker. Only she wrote over it in red Sharpie that I was a..."
Mia looked at Alice.
"...something I'd rather not say out loud."
(Just when I thought I couldn't hate someone more.)
"What happened after that?"
Mia shrugged, "They dated for a few months and then Ryan was offered an early college prep thing based on his work. He made these really cool designs that got the attention of some engineer professor. He could be an architect. But that school was far so they had to cool things off. I think it was a soft breakup. She tells everyone that he will wait for her. Now he'll be back from whatever school he went to for half a semester."
"Are you going to go for him?" Alice asked.
"No, I don't think so."
"Why?"
Mia crossed her arms. "Romantic rivals, as you put it, implies that I have a chance. But I don't! Savannah always gets what she wants. Always."
"So, that's it?" asked Alice. "You're just gonna give up on Ryan?"
"Yep, I don't need that tall, handsome dork with dimples that appeared whenever he smiles..."
Alice made a face.
"Goddammit."
"Tori? TORI? Hey, Tori?"
Jade stopped when she found the woman, sitting on a bench crying.
"I didn't mean to upset you," Jade admitted. "I just couldn't shake that something was wrong."
She sat beside her.
"I'll back off if that's what you want," she told Tori with a hint of sadness in her tone.
"Don't...go," Tori said. "Please. Stay."
"Okay, I'll stay."
Tori wiped her eyes.
"You were right. I'm not happy. I mean I've tried to do happy things like go to work or spend time with Mia. But lately, work has become more complicated. And Mia," Tori chuckled. "She wants nothing to do with me."
Jade put her hand on her shoulder.
"Tori, that's not true."
"Oh, please!" the Latina chortled. "Alice adores you. She even wants to be a writer like you."
Jade licked her lips, feeling dry from all this talk.
"But Mia...I feel like deep down, but she won't admit it, that she hates me."
Tori started sobbing again and Jade brought her into a hug.
"No, no, no, you can't possibly think that."
Jade faced Tori.
"Alice didn't talk to me for a while. Bet you didn't know that!"
Tori shook her head.
"For a time, I hid the truth from her. So, there was a period where she was mad at me over the divorce. That it was my fault. But then that changed when Harry came clean and told her about his affairs."
"My God..."
The dark-haired woman did her best not to start crying herself.
"That was a tough time. But I got through it. And now, yes me and Alice have a strong bond."
She held up Tori's face.
"And you and Mia have gone through a lot. But I don't think the two of you have healed. That's why there's...static...with each other and yourselves."
Tori coughed, her face beginning to dry up.
"When did you get so smart?" she asked.
"Writing horror for a living brought me in contact with a lot of therapists and psychologists."
The two friends hugged.
"Okay, I'm going to seriously think about the store."
Jade smiled.
"Good. I think that would be a big step for both of you."