Hey There,
After much consideration, and re-reading the first chapter a few times (and talking this over with the characters and birthday girl at length!) I have decided to continue this fic for a few chapters rather than let it be a one-shot. It will be covering just these few day leading up to Halloween as well as that event when it happens. I am making a few changes to the first chapter to support this change (like naming the first chapter something besides 'chapter one' and maybe cleaning up a typo or ten). But this is chapter two, just for you!
Hope you like it! Here we go!
Thank you to ANYONE reading this right now and taking a chance on this OUTLANDISH plot. Special thanks to the few of you who even placed it on your story alert or favorite stories list. Also thank you to the few of you who have favorited me as an author, followed me as an author, or placed me on your author's alert. That is high praise I hope you're all still reading and enjoying!
Special thanks to all reviewers: [my friend] AwkwardGurl05 (Girrrrl! Every chapter is gonna be dedicated to you, this is your gift. I'm gonna keep doing that… I just hope it adds to your enjoyment of the gift. And I hope it still feels like a gift too! Winkwink! Logan really took over for all of the explaining too well in that first chapter. And didn't sidestep any chance to take aim at Mark or Quinn. Very differently, of course! LoL! He's so mad at Mark for last Halloween… truly. The boy just wants to play doctor with his girlfriend… and I gave him his wish and then some. But as you can see he's back for more. So I hope that means I did okay! LoL! The 30th will be EPIC, it shall! It has so much to overcome and Quinn's plans for the 31st will be even Better! But you read right through Lola, she is scaring off Logan's best actors cause she wants that spotlight all for herself. Look at you, nailing it! I know, Mark's such a stick in the mud! The Haunted Mansion at Disney is one of the whole reasons I wanted to even go to disney as a kid! It's so magical, and you don't know how happy I was that you love it too. And the ideas Logan had kinda stolen from it. Yes, Logan finally got to play messed up doctor with Quinn and flip the script on her too. It was a great first impression. Followed by so much more taunting and teasing ALL night! Logan would love to know you called him the 'MASTER of Halloween.' Knowing how much both of us give him a run for his money and that title! Yes, we do! Seriously how was Mark so bored with a girlfriend like that…guess it just wasn't meant to be. Yep, Quinn admitted to ALWAYS wanting Logan, we heard it here and we can't unhear that. Mark didn't put any effort into their relationship, he always bickered with her till she did what he wanted and nothing else. It was SO one-sided. Thank GOD! Logan's not like that at all! Even thought it hurt her, I'm glad Mark dumped her too, it woke her up and opened her up for such a BETTER opportunity! I'm also so glad she took that chance too. Oh! Good! I was so worried it got too spichy or not enough… I'm so glad you liked it and hope you still are! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Even though it's now AUGUST! Hope your having an AWESOME day! Take Care and Much Love!), [my friend] Guest Nina (Hey girl! Thank you so much for taking a chance on this title! I told you some spicier things were coming! No way! Halloween is your fav too! I knew I liked you! Yeah, I guess it was tough to give themed stories at PCA cause it was a paradise school. But I would have liked some more themed epis too besides the 'spring break up'. I'm trying to remedy that, god bless you for saying you would like that too. And even had been looking for something like that at the time! YAY! I agree, Logan seemed to think a lot of Dustin. I thought he would totally be handing off the torch to him for a bunch of things when he left PCA. Thank you for saying the same, coming from another diehard! I'm so glad you enjoyed Dr. Quinn's return performance. Yes! Where is a good scary walkthrough when you need it in spring, summer, or winter times?! LoL! SO thrilled Quogan's locked-in moment was your fav! Thank you so much for your kindness, support and encouragement. It really means the world! Hope you're still reading and enjoying! Hope you're having an AWESOME week! Take Care and Much Love!), [my friend] and Rose-Aki (Hey girl! It's nice to hear from you! I agree, I always found the Logan and Dustin dynamic super cute. I think they both really thought a lot of each other, and I loved getting to tap into that a little bit in this story. Thank you so much for saying you enjoyed that. I think they were like brothers too! Yes girl! You know I had a blasty blast getting these two to live it up on Halloween! And thank you so much for saying they did so in style! I know this is your Holiday too! And it means that much more knowing that! Hope you're doing great! Hope you're having an AWESOME week! Take Care and Much Love!)
Standard Disclaimers Apply - I do not own Zoey 101, Zoey 102, Nickelodeon, MTV, or any of the other trademarked things mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own twisted plots. Most will be returned unharmed!
This chapter is also dedicated to my friend AwkwardGurl05. Without you, I would never have had the courage to post this! Hopefully, this will just make your birthday gift a little better {and longer}. Even in August, winkwink!
Enjoy!
"The Halloween Before"
Chapter Two - The 25th!
Or Costume Genderbendering
(Logan's Perspective)
The only thing better than sneaking in any kind of sleepover time with my girlfriend. Is waking up the next morning still with her after a night like that.
GOD she is gorgeous, especially like this. I've missed waking up like this! Her head on my shoulder, her feet tucked against mine, cause hers are always cold, she says. They're never cold to me, but that's why she says she does it. Her arms around me so tight, but comfortably at the same time, her hair all over the place… It was just heaven… in the middle of a very fun but stressful week, that was only gonna get worse before it ended too.
This was what my last summer vacation time had gotten to be like, most of the time. And it was the greatest summer EVER! I wasn't alone so much, she was always there and I'm still not used to sleeping alone anymore… cause I'd spent nearly every night with her.
Well, every night that I could be next to her, I was. And it's been tough, going back to the way things were before that time.
But this morning… Was a victory! It couldn't be anything else!
She'd been so much prettier than I remembered when she's asleep. And her glasses are clutched in her hand or on top of her head. Today they were in her hand, and I'd gotten to wake her up with a kiss. And even then she thought she was dreaming… Cause she's missed me just as much!
So my new objective wasn't only a goal for me to NEVER let this much time ever pass again! Between dates, sleepovers, or even just seeing each other MORE. I was determined to make a much better effort from now on. But needless to say, as of now the new game plan was to somehow. Find a way of getting trapped inside of this walkthrough with Quinn every night that it's POSSIBLE! And with today being the 25th of October… that leaves five more nights that could end this way. If I managed to do this every night between here and the 30th (Because Quinn has demanded full control of the 31st and I'm surrendering that to her SO happily now… can't wait to see what that'll be like). No way any Halloween can beat that! No way!
Just me and my girlfriend! Yeah! That is that dream.
That was my ONLY altercation to my original plans, really. Find a way for this to happen as often as possible. Till the 31st. That's doable. It's not like I was chasing down the holy grail or anything. And there was still a lot of Senior Year left before graduation, summer vacation, or college. So… plenty of time to hone these ideals before they get MUCH harder and long distance.
All my roommates had noticed I never showed up at our dorm last night. They'd covered for me with the dorm checkers too. But they were all pointing out that I couldn't stop smiling today. Or how much of a better mood I was in. How I wasn't nearly as bossy or irritable as I normally am… especially in the mornings before my first cup of coffee… or the mornings I'm late seeing or don't get to see Quinn. I hate that too!
The girls had done the same with Quinn, and were all bugging her more than me. The Banshees! But I don't know if they ever nailed down exactly what happened to us. Because Quinn is a master of dancing around their questions when they turn too personal for her taste. She knew how to distract them all too well and change the subject. They also fall for these tricks, every single time too.
But the guys had all figured out completely what had happened. And not only were they giving me the business, but the moochers wanted in on any of my future schemes I was cooking up. So that they too could score some alone time of their own with their girlfriends. But that's just the thing! How can we all be alone with our girls in the same place? It'll never work even in a catacomb like our walkthrough location this year! Not all of the rooms have lockable doors either… Sometimes they just don't think, ya know! That's why I always need to be thinking ahead. Even my own friends!
No matter how many times I told them, it hadn't been planned. It just happened that way and I wasn't planning anything else. NONE of them believed me. They know that can't be true, they know how my brain always planning… ALWAYS! Well, Michael calls it more of an 'evil scheming' thing, but you get what I'm saying. They wouldn't give up, they kept bringing it back up, and teasing us about how both Quinn and me couldn't quit smiling. Especially if we got around each other and all these oversized gremlins were hassling me to tell them how I did it.
But I wasn't biting! No WAY! I wasn't telling them all I know. So all of them can try for the same thing and ruin my plans. NO! I wasn't telling a soul and neither was Quinn. Which made my smiling worse. Quinn always shares, and helps our friends out when they plead long enough. But the fact that she wasn't this time… that she was staying as tight-lipped as me… PRICELESS!
But as it turns out, I wasn't the only one who woke up this morning with a new game plan. Nope, Quinn had also woke up with other ideas. And YES, I hoped she was keeping some of them for later, with me too. I REALLY hoped for that! But as much as I was hoping ALL of these ideas were about me and our alone time together next time… ideally, tonight… some of hers included everybody else too… Which got them all so excited about her idea, they ALL quit bugging us both about the other thing… for now anyways.
When I asked her later too, she confirmed. "It got them off of our backs for a couple of hours. Didn't it?"
See, that's my girl. They're all lucky to call her a friend. She got them all nice and distracted, so we could enjoy our breakfast in peace. It was Sunday and there weren't many classes. The walk-through wouldn't kick off till the afternoon. So we had some time before then to relax… Well, the others did.
I ended up getting all of the movies showings reset and outdoor and indoor party locations stabilized too. Even the Masquerade dancefloor that would be starting up tonight too. That was gonna be run mostly by the 'dance club' that meets usually only on Saturday Nights. I knew I liked that bunch of younger kids, when they liked Quinn and my dancing so much together last spring (teaching ballroom to anyone attending Prom). They made a new club just for that style of dancing... and are even gonna compete against other schools' ballroom dance teams this year... But leave it to them to only get cooler and help out with Halloween too! Throwing a whole classy 'Masquerade Ball' in the Quad.
I wish I could have hung with the 'dance team' a little longer. They really are a fun bunch to be around, but I couldn't chill with Quinn or the gang till nearly lunchtime. Even with today being Sunday, I was just MAXED out! No time for Nothing!
But breakfast this morning, had been when Quinn pitched her big idea to the group, and other performers eating at nearby tables too. She was holding my hand and kidding around good-naturedly too as she said, "As I was killing all of you and having so much fun with it yesterday…"
Our table laughed along with her, totally in the spirit too. As she went on, "It occurred to me that the only drawback to owning this role. And overcoming such a personal stumbling block, was that I, myself. Never, ever, really get to be the victim to myself. You know? A twisted and clever doctor. All messed up and saw-happy…I mean, everyone should get a chance at the that kinda treatment once in their lives. And sure, my baby tried to remedy this, and it was delightfully dark and murderous from that standpoint. But I feel totally selfish and self-serving. Claiming this role two years in a row. So what I propose is that we take it all a step further and all of us for one night at least. If we want to… change roles with our boyfriend or girlfriend… like a gender bender only with our costumes. I had it in my mind as a couples challenge, but feel free to switch with whoever you like. One night only."
Lola spoke up next and said, "Oww! What if couples switch tonight and we do a 'Whoever-you-wanna-swap-with-switcheroo' tomorrow? So we can ALL feel more challenged. AND Get to be more than one role too, this year."
Zoey announced, "I love it!" Like that made official or something.
Chase said, "I can't wait to see you as the accident-prone zombie then, dear girlfriend."
And she'd fluffed his fro and said, "I can't wait to see you play the sexy sorceress either. Hope you don't mind fishnet thigh highs."
"You know I have that nylon allergy so all I can work with is fishnets." He'd said so sassy even Quinn had laughed (And she doesn't always find Chase and Michael's brand of comedy so funny).
Immediately! All the pairs were swapping roles! Nicole was trading in her mermaid tail, waterproof scales prints, and tank for her boyfriend's swampthing scuba suit. She even slathered herself in fluorescent paint like her boyfriend too. So she would appear radioactive like him. That's dedication, usually, Nicole would have whined her way around that. She was already hitting on other guys, left and right. SO I don't think she's over the boy crazy thing... but at least she was giving her all... sorta.
'Right-Now-Rita' who's always up for spontaneous things. Or whatever's in the moment, was switching her vampiress gothic look with her football player boyfriend… can't wait to see him try to squeeze into her gothic gown and fangs. And Rita's new costume was gonna have to be a mummy like her guy had been… this was already SO fun!
Even with Dustin was throwing his little clipboard and stopwatch in the air. He'd just gotten used to the new layout and now all actors were switching places. I reminded him, "This stuff happens every year, next year you're gonna be that much more prepared for anything."
But I think that this plan was genius in more than one way. And NOT just because it gave Dustin a night to cool off in a more normal role. Like he's more used to and let him have some fun. Where he wasn't overseeing every single thing, too.
Dustin traded his more executive standing with his current girlfriend. For a more stationary role in the back. An older girl named "Cammie" who he's been dating pretty much since our last Prom. She'd become his date after I stole Quinn from him.
Cammie's role before this was a scary baby doll in a room full of messed-up toys. She'd pop out and walk behind our guests and had earned more than a few screams. Dustin had been playing the walkthrough guide who gets eaten by the zombie hoard two minutes into the tour. But is magically alive again and dancing by the end with his doll-like girlfriend. He's also got a lot better at dancing since Cammie makes him practice all the time. She's a GREAT dancer too... even the pros I know always point her out in the crowd. I now had a new assistant and she was GOOD! She picked up his clipboard, stopwatch, (to help us time our performances), and SMILED at me. "Let's go, boss!"
What an improvement, even if it was probably only for the one day or two. To the point, I told Dustin she could help him a lot next year. And he'd said, "Yeah, she can." All dreamy-eyed…
Even Dustin's bringing game, now? What is this world coming to? I know he's Zoey's little brother, but he's kinda become all of our little brother. Through the years, seeing him get a steady girlfriend… Just wow! Weird, but WOW!
With this 'couples-switching-roles' thing officially 'a thing' now. Lola was the serial killer running the halls with a bloodied hockey mask, startling tattoos, and a chainless chainsaw. And even if she wasn't as beefy as her boyfriend… leave it to her to still be just as terrifying somehow. Vince had to show her how to rev the thing, but after that. She was EXACTLY the murderous loose-cannon we needed!
Vince was going full drag as Lola's role of skeleton from Mexico's 'Day of the Dead' parties. Hiding his face behind a fan till people came close. He'd even painted his skeleton mask in a different look from his girfriend's. So people would know he was someone different… like the height difference, body type changes, and all of the other upgrades weren't telltale enough. Vince even let Lola and Stacey go crazy painting the rest of his arms and legs in crazy colors and patterns. Vince was so dedicated he even put some fake gold teeth in his smile… just hideous! People were gonna be terrified!
Like Chase had warned, Zoey had to be an accident-prone zombie. And just like Zoey had also warned Chase had to also go full drag as a "sexy" sorcerer. Zoey hadn't been kidding about that… Or the fish net stockings. Lord! I'm gonna try not to go blind if he flashes me too much leg again. But since that summer spent serving drag queens in Hawaii… Chase and Zoey have no shame at all whenever they go drag themselves… not anymore.
While Michael was asking him, "Dude? Are your legs shaved?"
And Chase answered, "Dude? Is that a corset your wearing? Cause I don't remember you having an hourglass figure before now?"
Michael sassed, "Cause I didn't! But I didn't stoop to shaving my legs, man. I thought only swimmers did that."
"Well, I didn't want all that leg hair popping outta my fishnets. Like that devil villain on the Powerpuff Girls. (Anyone remember 'HIM?') So… yeah! I shaved them for this occasion." Chase defended his decision.
And when Michael, James, Vince, Dustin, and I could stop laughing. It was back to business.
Michael and Lisa were both ghostly roles they just switched costumes. So Michael was in Lisa's Marie Antoinette-style costume and he would lose his head at some point during the performance. And run around chasing his head as rolled on the floor. Screaming, "MY - HEAD! MY - HEAD!"
Lisa was now wearing a suit, vest, top hat and walking with a cain that could become a weapon at any time. The same goes for the little lace umbrella Michael borrowed from Lisa too… Even though I can't see how that would help anyone if it actually rained. But whatever!
Lisa's character (Michael's Creation) was called "the Pippin' Ghost," he sang and danced mostly about the graveyard set. His song was like four or five different ghost stories all in one. But it's really amazing how many people are sent from his skit screaming just because they're horrified at musical theater. Haha!
Since Lydia had been playing a devil, insult comic and James had been a werewolf in shredded flannel and flip-flops. Those flipped costumes were hilarious too. James in solid red complete with devil horns, tail and flamming pitchfork (he pushed a button for that, my girlfriend can do ANYTHING). While Lydia was in all lumberjack flannel, howling at the full moon and covered in red fur… she was even scatching fleas she was so into her role.
Mark was filling Stacey's place, the fortune teller, and we had to record his bored face for all the projectors. I had to fit this into the same time I was planning out all the movie showings. But we got it done while Stacey got to be a zombified dead body and lead the hoard when they start following our guests.
Hearing about Stacey's more forthright zombie role had made Mark complain. "Why didn't HE get to lead the hoard of zombies?"
Stacey answered him for us, "'Cause your performance as a dead zombie suits you better. I'm a more lively kinda zombie, even if I am undead. I'm that zombie you can't turn your back on."
Mark shrugged "okay," after that.
But I still asked Quinn, "Remind me why he's here, again? I know he's our friend, I was desperate for help and he's volunteering and all but remind me why, again? After last year's sh*t show?"
And she'd been helping me suit up to become the plague doctor. As she told me, "Because we're better people than that. To hold a grudge over someone who is a good person, underneath all of the complaining-"
"Is he? Really? Are you sure?" I had to ask her.
She'd insisted, "Yes! You know he is! And isn't complaining nearly as much with Stacey. He was WAY worse when he was with me." She was telling me as she was pulling the heavy gloves over my arms.
I took the chance to ask her, "Are you alright."
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" She asked, like it was so obvious.
But I made sure, "Because if you're not, okay... really okay, if you want him gone-"
I tried to say what I thought about that, but she stopped me before I could and said. "Enough about that, focus on your messed up doctor game. I need you to be as twisted and sick as me. And I can say it, because it's about me, that's a tall order."
And I had to ask her, "How did you do all of this to yourself?" When she was giving me the full dressup treatment and I couldn't move.
She'd shrugged at me, "Years of practice and I just used a lot of my lab protective wear in my costume last year. Things I'm in and out of every day."
And I had to tell my girlfriend, "Don't tease me." As I caught her and stole a kiss that she'd laughed through. "All that talk of taking off things."
"I said I was putting them on too, you only heard the coming off part. That's not on me." Quinn squirmed around in my hold like she wanted to escape. But stayed right there, anyway sitting on my legs facing me for a second. "Though I will admit to selecting a more formfitting costume this year… so tight I barely fit it. So sorry, but it's lab gear for you new Plague Doc."
I trailed kisses down her neck while I still could. And her neck wasn't all concealed by my borrowed headless horseman costume. It would conceal most of her throat for most the night. And she'd laughed that sexiest laugh of hers. While I teased, in a whisper, "First you're talking about being in and out of clothes, now how skin tight your costume is? Are you trying to kill me?"
She'd smiled, "No…but I am teasing you a little bit." Letting her head rest on mine for a second. Then she motivated me better, by saying, "But think of it this way. The sooner we get all of this costume stuff sorted out. The sooner we can get our blocking and staging right, THEN… we can spend the whole day stirring each other up. We didn't even get to do that yesterday. Because I was keeping my skit hidden from you for a huge part of the day."
"And you are gonna be back to this character again soon, right?" I had to fit in there. Because just the part of yesterday I had gotten to be her victim… a small part and it wasn't nearly enough. I was gonna need a lot more of her best most TWISTED treatments. And I planned on being a tough case to crack too.
She'd twinkled her eyes at me behind her glasses as she'd promised, "Oh yeah. I just thought this could be really fun for everyone… even if the most fun for me, getting to play your victim while you're the messed up doctor."
Then it was my turn to promise, "You won't regret it."
And she'd answered back, "I'm counting on it."
Before she was back to being serious and letting me pick from all of the masks, she had laid out for this switch. None of them were just store-bought either, she'd added her own touches to ALL of them, even made some from scratch. They would all react to our blacklights too, some way or another. All of them were so different from each other. But there was one wrapped up in packing paper at the back. That she hadn't displayed with all of her others. Since it was obviously another plague mask, it was the same shape as the others surrounding it. I just unwrapped it as Quinn was helping Lola and Zoey pin something onto Lisa's costume. Something about pinning it in place better, so it wouldn't fall out during her performance. Something at the back lower half of her costume by the coattails of her suit. So Quinn was bent over and concentrated on not sticking Lisa or herself. While Lola and Zoey stood around chit-chatting.
I know I said all of the plague masks were different from each other. But the wrapped one was SO different from all of them. It was more menacing, just sinister as hall. The eye sockets had this thing too that that made the eyes appear BRIGHT RED and glow… but were like looking through tinted glass to the wearer… SO BOSS!
I couldn't even wait for Quinn to come back, to ask her about it. I walked over and ignored the girly giggles and girl gossiping to ask, "Hey Baby? What up with this wrapped mask at the back of all your other masks?"
"OH! Double darn!" Quinn exclaimed while Lisa panicked.
"What? What!" Lisa asked hilariously gripping her own butt as she worried. That Quinn's little reaction had something to do with her look.
But Quinn let Lisa know, "No-no, not you, Lisa. Looogan!" Zoey and Lola grinned at me. Enough for me to think, 'Uh oh!'
Zoey went on, "That's the mask she made specifically for you. The most Halloween-obsessed of us all and she has been hiding it with hers all this time. But she's too bashful to say so."
"ZOEY!" Quinn freaked, giving Zoey a push from where she was still bent over helping Lisa. It had been powerful enough to sway Lisa with her. And I had to steady them both.
Zoey defended, "It's in his hand, Quinn. Cat's already outta the bag."
Then Lola went on telling me. "She made it just for you, but doesn't want you to think you HAVE to wear it, like it, or even keep it. If ya don't want to. That's why she's freaking- OUCH!" Quinn had kicked Lola even harder than Zoey. And Lola had pushed back.
Lisa was reminding all the pushers behind her. "Needles and flesh people! Needles and flesh that really don't need any more holes! I already have enough back there, to look like a diabetic!"
Then Lisa added to the conversation, "And I can feel the heat from her blushing from here." She'd said as she patted Quinn on the back. "There there, miss girl. He is holding it in his hand and he doesn't look like he hates it either."
All three girls thanked Quinn for her help and quickly left us alone again. And when Quinn stood up, I knew her face wasn't just that red because she'd been bent over so long. I quickly trapped her against the nearest corner and asked, "Is that true? You made this for me?"
And she didn't want to admit it, still. She'd said like it hurt, "Yes… but you don't have to like it or wear it. It was just, I know you like to collect costumes and masks. And you're always talking about how crazy mine look. I didn't even think about this switch back then, I just-"
I cut her off with a kiss, I didn't know how else to tell her how much I LOVED this. I left it all in that kiss and when we stopped I let her know. "Why wouldn't I love it, why wouldn't I wear it? This is going up on my wall when this is over."
Some people like to put animal heads on their walls… I have an uncle who does that. He's a hunter and he calls them trophies. But me, I like to hang masks. I have a few on my wall in our main house in Beverly Hills. From favorite Halloweens passed, or geek lore I like. But none of them were a gift like this or had been made for me like this one. This was gonna be my new favorite. For sure! And hard to trump!
Still being modest, though I don't know why. Quinn said, "You always complimented my work on my own masks. Even before we were so close, so I hoped you might like one of your own-"
"Yeah!" I was still gushing! I tried it on and it really felt made for me. Quinn even lined the whole inside with comfy stuff, so it felt nice on my face. I couldn't say that about my favorite Power Ranger mask from when I was growing up. I think my face still has marks from the way that mask pressed against my face.
I don't know if I already mentioned it, but Quinn even did something to the eyes. Where they glow red too without making it hard to see… SO COOL! I don't know how she did it. But she walked me through how I could slip it on and off again between takes. And even how to get the voice destorter all set up too. But like I was hoping once my mask was in place, the distorter was working perfectly, and I was in ALL of that messed up medical persona… I felt like a different person! And the other ghouls, and actors were freaked… This was gonna be so GOOD!
But then it was time to show Quinn the headless horsemen bit I've been performing since that role was now hers. And my costume looked SO much better on her, it wasn't even FUNNY. She wore her riding boots (like for a motorcycle) she had a horse throp under her arm (hurt me, why didn't I think of that accessory?). And she was just smoking hot, even though her face was painted up to look pale and dead. I don't know how her makeup was so deranged and STILL so freaking pretty. But none of the other girls were as pretty as mine… she was just KILLING it!
There's a room with a few fake horses that roll on a timed belt, where me and two other guys were all throwing these foam balls with glowsticks inside. The foam balls also had jack-o-lantern faces on them so it really looked like we were throwing lit pumpkins too. I needed to show her how the lit pumpkins are gonna pop outta the horse's neck. Like bowling balls at a bowling alley. And How to work the horse, so it looks like you're riding it. Because it's kinda like riding a see-saw, made for one instead of a horse. You have to lean back and forth to make it go and work as a team too. All three riders have to be doing it at the same time for the belt to move. So I helped her climb on and explained how to do it.
So she started to try, leaning back and forth, then back and forth…
And I had to tell her, "Okay, you got this, I'm gonna go-"
"Why? Am I doing it wrong?" she asked innocently. "Do I look weird?"
"Nope! No! But you are turning me on a little bit so- yeah, see you in the lab later."
"How is this a turn on?" She'd asked still working on it.
"Think about what you're doing for a second." I'd clued her in, and even though it hadn't been easy. I was glad I stuck around for realization to hit her face. SO funny! Even if she had hit me on the arm a few times. It was worth it!
But she was gonna kill it as a headless horseman - woman, however that works. She even made that costume just HOT!
Chase was showing Zoey all of the padded and mattressed places to fall. Lisa was showing Michael all of the doorframes not wide enough for his dress. It was fun watching EVERYONE fill in their replacements. But NOTHING was better, than Quinn teaching me her own personal shop class. Too bad that isn't a course I could get credit for. Cause I would have shown up for that all day, every day.
She showed me how she'd rigged actual hardware her dad had ruined, or her experiments had warped. But she also showed me how some could still basically work and I needed to be more careful. She also showed me how to make sparks and how to toss the fireproof blanket over her without drawing attention to the fact I'd done that. She even explained that having people in mostly or all-black costumes helped the most. Because visitors almost didn't see the blanket at all.
Just before I could say, "I think I've got this."
Cammie (Dustin's girlfriend) came through announcing "Curtains up in twelve minutes Performers! Be stage-ready in that time, please! And in your first positions too." See, she's so professional, take notes Dustin! Or I'll pass the torch to her so SHE'LL pass it to you after that.
I only had time to kiss my girlfriend good luck before she was racing for her first scene appearance. With all the other seemingly headless performers and I was left to figure out my lines. I wanted it to be different from Quinn's, and possibly more menacing. No way I could ever pull off smarter than her, but darker... I had a shot. Because when I wore a voice distorter, I sounded like one of those generic voice-over guys… you ALWAYS hear in Haunted places… And I really wanted to use that to my advantage.
So I was rehearsing all the way up to "GO TIME!"
And could not WAIT for that first group to reach our lair. Even if I was WAY more excited for when Quinn would get carried in here and strapped down by the guards standing on either side of the doorway. Like we'd rehearsed, a few times earlier. It just added to the drama, when I start taking apart a monster for stealing from me and throwing perfectly good enchanted pumpkin heads at our guests. That I could have been using in my experiments.
Oh! How those tables have turned!
Oh yeah! The victim has become the doctor… Full circle moment.
Ya know, when she finally gets here. And I remember that there are people watching us.
But, of course, I couldn't claim all of this for real. Till that first successful run-through happened. Which COULDN'T be the first one, not today anyway.
Because one of our first guests of the day. One dude literally started yelling to me. "NO - DOG! Not the sexiest Lady horsemen of them all. We didn't mind her throwing her pumpkins at us!"
Who the hell was calling my girlfriend sexy? I mean, she is… but who the hell said that?
If it had ended there, I would have just held a grudge for the one comment... BUT it DIDN'T stop or END there! The same voice KEPT flirting at Quinn and every flirt she gave me! RUINING it ALL!
Whoever it was is DAMN lucky that it was too dark with the combination of my mask, the blacklights and fog EVERYWHERE to see his freaking face. Because I would have been chasing him down with one of Quinn's jinked saws. I would have been insisting on her using her zap watch, or ankle laser! If I could have KNOWN who'd said that. Honestly, hearing that during that first run, just messed with me.
And got worse when he later catcalled and called her "So Hot!" too!
I mean, of course, she's 'hot' and MAD 'sexy,' she's drop-dead GORGEOUS today in her costume.
But she's all of that and so much more, all day, EVERY day! With the costume, without the costume, dressed normal, not dressed at all. And ONLY I can say that. Her friend turned boyfriend and fully realized soulmate. No brainless jock strap gets to walk up into this living Halloween attraction and gets to call my girl 'hot' or 'sexy.' whistling at her like he's a construction worker.
I know without even looking at the others lady horsemen too. That Quinn is BY FAR the sexiest of all the lady horsemen. Not even trying she'd win that prize easy! (Sorry not sorry Dana) Screw that, she's the hottest girl here, EASY! So the guy's not wrong, but she's also NOT some piece of MEAT!
And just hearing some other guy trying to tell her she's hot would have been bad enough. But this guy… AHHHHHHHHHG! Just pulled at ALL my triggers!
And what's worse is Quinn was so into her performance. Acting bada$$, not even a little damel in distress... that she totally missed the whole thing. So she didn't even know why I was mad afterward. She naturally thought she'd messed up or done something wrong. Even though she'd been perfect, and I'd flubbed at least two of my own lines I'd written for myself in my head. But since this was the first performance and there's no actual script, no one even noticed I'd missed a thing.
So when our skit was over (played through), and the room was cleared out. I was still so steamed I completely forgot we didn't have time to doddle. We had to pop up in a few other places along the way, before appearing in the Ballroom at the end of the performance, Where everybody meets up, and we dance, (kinda like the Haunted Mansion at Disney but don't tell them that), I only hit the rest of my cues getting there in the end, because of the hand in mine. Pulling me along.
We didn't even have time to talk I was so spaced out. Trying to pop a lid over my over boiling RAGE for that visitor. When all I really wanted to do was find out who the HELL that was.
Quinn finally asked me when we were inside that meet-up space. When she turned to me ready to dance. "What is WITH you? You forgot at least three jump-scare moments on the way here?"
I had jumped at my own gags. Hadn't I?
I'd asked, "Did you hear one of those jocks called you the 'sexiest' headless horsewoman?"
And she'd laughed in my face and said, "No way, you're hearing things. He had to have meant Dana-"
"Dana wasn't in the lab, it was just you and me, mostly." I said like it hurt... cause I was still fighting down all of my murderous tendencies... the ones not Halloween friendly. Still venting, "He also whistled at you trying to flirt with you while you were flirting with me. And he called you 'so hot' right after that too." I complained, "Which you are, I'm not saying you aren't-"
"Then what exactly are you saying, baby?" She asked as the lights dimmed, warning us that we should start dancing the colored disco ball spun. Throwing colors everywhere… And we all glowed under blacklights too.
The others were so concentrated on getting the steps right. Not me or Quinn… we'd stopped worrying about that LONG ago. Our bodies always followed each other's movements seamlessly… even when I'm a jealous wreck who wants to still figure out who the hell was whistling at my girl. Even now! We didn't miss a beat, step or move in the 'Monster Mumbo' to the song, "The Monster Mash!"
Even after I'd gotten to be with her last night, and I shouldn't have a worry in the world. That one guy derailed my whole happy train of thought, in that first run!
But Quinn had ignored the roles we were playing for a second and hugged me. While still making it look like a dance move. While she was close and her head was even lower than it normally is (with that seemingly headless costume). She managed to somehow assure me.
"I didn't hear it, see it, or pay attention. All I saw was you and even if I had seen the mouthbreather. Who probably isn't even half-serious, even if the room hadn't been maxed out in fog… I still wouldn't have seen him. Because I was too focused on you… and that isn't a part of your show."
I'd gotten a hold of her waist, which isn't even easy to do with her costume. And the too huge for my hands gloves I was wearing too. I'd picked her up so I could cover us a little. Pushed my mask up and voice distorter down. And I'd stolen a REAL kiss from her. She was so surprised she'd made these happy sounds, that just DRIVE me that much more up the walls CRAZY! And Michael had to remind us, "Hey, hey, HEY THERE performers! People around! All eyes on you? Remember? You guys can't be demasking, and making out like it's Valentine's Day. You're supposed to be scaring people, not grossing them OUT!"
"Screw you, the fog's too high to see us back here anyways." I'd told him. Not to mention him and Lisa had done this three times yesterday!
Only then did I realize I'd pinned her to the back wall of our dancefloor and her legs had gone around my waist. But that was just the thing! I couldn't have cared less in that moment who saw us, or if the fog was high enough. I kinda hoped that caveman whistling at her HAD seen us. So he wouldn't doubt Quinn's taken. Save some of that for a girl who gives a damn. Who HASN'T met her match… because Quinn is my match. I have NO doubt about that and I wouldn't mess that up for nothing.
Our first performance ended, we all ran to reset for the next group of visitors. But just before Quinn's hand wasn't in mine. I did kiss that hand that hadn't let go of mine all that time. And thank her, for straightening me out. I'd needed it and I told her to "Break a leg."
And she'd reminded me, "Hey, this is your thing, you're the boss, act like it."
So for the rest of our performances that day and night. That's exactly what I tried to do, just focus on her, our friends, and have the best time I could. And I have to admit, this Plague doctor is too FUN! I don't know how many times I thanked my girlfriend today, for letting me trade with her... And being the sexiest victim in the world. But that was a whole other 'thank you,' ya know?
((Quinn's Perspective))
I don't know what's going on with Logan today… he's acting a bit funny. You know? Not funny like Haha, either. But he's just a little off… ya know?
And when I ask him about it, he always makes some comment about, "Last night." Which, okay! I get that... but no, I feel like he's covering up something else... something BIGGER!
Don't get me wrong, last night was GREAT! Way too long since we'd gotten to be alone together... like that. And Okay! Sure, I'm affected today too. How could I not be? But come on… I know something's up. I've nearly dated him for a full year now, we've been friends WAY longer than that. I know him better than this and I got really good at reading him, when we were keeping this relationship a secret from all of our friends… So while I know that last night was a factor, I also KNOW there's something else he's not telling me.
But I can't push him anymore about it, I just have to assure him that "I'm here when he wants to talk." And trust that he'll talk when he needs to, or can. He sometimes has trouble finding the words to explain whatever reaction he's muscling through... And I have to remind him, he doesn't always have to be so strong.
He did mention some guy in our first batch of 'guests' today had been making him jealous. By catcalling and trying to hit on me. Even though I don't remember any such thing, but I had been focused on nailing my part. Making my boyfriend proud, I had been so laser-focused on NOT coming off as a damsel. And freaking people out while I was at it.
Logan also kept grumbling about Mark pissing him off, with his whining. But Mark was pissing EVERYONE off with his seemingly endless bellyaching! When Mark had been a 'zombie' [all of yesterday] he was always gripe-ing about every aspect of that job. The laying on the ground, the waiting around, the coldness of the tile floors on his back.
Now that his role had changed to the unfortunate fortune-teller character. Not only was Mark STILL objecting to EVERY aspect of his new portrayal. But he was also moaning and groaning about every little thing the person replacing him was doing. And I do mean EVERY thing she did.
Since he'd traded with Stacey, his all-but official girlfriend. She was always shutting him down and telling him to "MAN up! Before visiting peers started kicking him in the crotch just to make sure he had BALLS!" I'm guessing she means when he's back to his zombie role.
I get the impression that ALL of my friends (but mainly Logan) want me to get something back from this. Like vengeance or at least a little revenge… Because of Mark nearly ruining the last Halloween here at PCA for me. Even though it had been far from ruined in the end. And I'd still managed to have an absolute blast with my friends… you know, that were here last Halloween.
And frankly, last year had so much more to overcome, besides my first love being proven unrequited. Completely one-sided and nearly over. Even more than just Mark cheating on me too! Quick recap time!
Zoey was gone, staying in London. Chase was heartbroken and MISERABLE! Missing her more than anyone. Dustin was here, but he missed Zoey too and his friends had all been scaired off by Lola. That was a bummer for him.
Because the urban legend she'd cooked up in drama class. About the baker ghost always apearing in a puff of flour and whaft of vanilla extract. Lola nearly contracted pneumonia from breathing in too much all purpous flour and baby powder she'd used. Scaring off all of Logan's original cast of actors last year. It had coated her lungs and she was very sick all of last November, afterward! Her hacking and spitting hadn't all been acting either.
Lisa's beloved grandmother fell ill, even spent some time hospitalized last October. Michael had been worried sick about Lisa during that time too. She was constantly missing cues and runs, because she was on the phone with her grandma or family back home in Memphis. Michael had the dual dity of covering for her and being there for her too.
Vince, James, Dana, and Nicole, along with several other returning people and newbies weren't even here yet. Lydia and Cammie were both here, but too busy keeping up with all of their part time jobs to have any fun with us. So there was a much smaller group helping out back then too! It's amazing we'd still pulled it off in the end!
I could sit here and count all of the ways that things went wrong last year. But how does that help anyone? All that does is dredge up a lot of bad times and hurt feelings. So when I look back on last year. I do my best to think about all of the good things and fun we had.
Chase feels the same, he had been absolutely leveled back then. With Zoey gone, and he has to think of the fun times he had, being a clumsy ghost too. He had literally just had a sheet tossed over him last year, with two tiny peepholes for eyes. So he tripped more than normal, and it was so funny to our guests. They called him the 'slapstick ghost.' Which is his brand of comedy but he also had a rather condensed peppering of gashes and bruises. Every night I was always treating new ones after the last run was over.
I think that's why his route and costume were so much better this year. His whole stretch of appearance spots were lined in mats and mattresses… even a few trampolines, so he can bounce back QUICKLY. He's gonna struggle getting Zoey to give him back his role tomorrow, she's having WAY too much fun with those trampoline moments. Haha!
But Chase was the other person who HAD to really block out SO much of last Halloween to accomplish not holding a grudge. Against the meaner visitors, against our ruder peers, volunteering his time, sweat, and efforts again. Or against the holiday in general. JUST because it's SO important to one of his BEST friends (What we'll ALL do for Logan!).
So we'd found a surprising amount of solace just talking in between showtimes today. Chase and me, because Zoey's witchy appearance had been the room before my baby's. So with our couple-swaped-costumes and roles today. I ended up spending a lot of time with him. As well as Dana, who ended up being another headless horseman. Only she'd dressed up her boyfriend's costume to look more like a headless horsewoman. She even insisted on sitting side-saddle… Not exactly meeting the brief of this gender bender costume swap, really? Is she?
But to each their own. I'd tied back my hair into a ponytail and wore breeches to match the American Revolutionary times… but not everyone pays attention to those kinda details… Proving while my social status may seem changed since I have such a popular boyfriend... I'm still a total dweeb in the end! Unapologetically!
So, I hung with Dana and Chase for my first appearance cue. You know? Before I was caught and dragged to my baby's messed up operating table set and taken apart.
Oh! Yeah! That was something new we'd worked out today. That makes me so HAPPY about donning the beaked mask again tomorrow or the next day. Yes, it is my newest Quinnvention to date too… and an OVERWHELMING SUCCESS!
Well… So far, anyway! This is still it's beta run, but the terror and ingenuity… Just AWESOME!
My baby and I had managed to rig the table with an assortment of fake body parts. So it really looked like he was sawing me to pieces. But the pieces were all tied to fish line and he would toss them all haphazardly on the floor around the table. And when the timmers over the door dinged warning us we had only 30 seconds left in our showtime. There was another timer under the table set to retract all of the discarded fake body parts. So that they all flew back under the table and appeared to go under the blanket protecting me too. Giving the illusion that I reassembled myself underneath the covers. Then I would jump up all in one piece and start killing him, the way he was killing me in the end of all of yesterday's sessions.
Oww, the look on people's faces… When we first pulled that off… PRICELESS! A few people puked, one middle schooler peed. But a LOT of people laughed too! I had no idea so many of our peers were THIS twisted. But what a BLAST!
I'm so glad everyone seemed to be having fun with these switch-ups today too. I really wasn't sure if ANY one would do it or not. But I suggested it anyways, because I really wanted Logan to experience the trip I got from being 'the plague doctor.' He loved the messed up and scariest roles for this holiday, and I think this idea was very creative. If I do say so myself… I also really wanted him to see first hand how much fun he was letting me have. Not only creating all of the devices to accomplish these illusions. But all of the play and creativity that I was experiencing… nearly every go too.
I wanted him to know, how much MORE fun I'm having this year. Just BEING with HIM!
Last year… even though this had been before we were together. Logan had bowled me over with how helpful and kind he'd been. When Mark's behavior had reached an all time new LOW! Throughout my time volunteering for the walkthrough happening then, but especially those last two days of performing.
Last year, by October the 30th… the day before Halloween. I was so done with the way Mark was acting, the way he was treating me too. That I didn't even want to be around him, it felt too toxic, because it was. So I went the EXTRA mile, and sought out which coffee cart Lydia was working at that morning. Because even then she was the best barista on campus. And she was already my friend, she just hadn't gotten to know the rest of the gang yet… Well, that and James wasn't attending PCA just yet.
I had been about to get in line and make my order. But I noticed Mark was next in line. So I waited behind a corner, till he left. But I jumped outta my witts, when Logan appeared outta nowhere to ask me, softly. "What are you doing?"
"GOSH!" I said with a hand over my heart. "Where did you come from?"
"Come on, your roommate did a whole made up skit about my origin story." He reminded me, leaning on his arm against the wall I was laying heavily against. Lola had actually created several origin stories explaining the existence of Logan…. But I let him go on thinking there had just been one.
"You know that's not what I mean!" I said still struggling to normalize my heartrate and breathing. Even when we were just friends he managed to sneak these struggles on me, didn't he?
He'd replied smooth as glass, "Maybe, but seriously? Are you avoiding your own boyfriend, right now?"
"Well? Have you seen us lately?" I asked him.
"Obviously." He retorted curtly.
"Then CAN you blame me?" I asked as I'd glanced back around the corner. Not looking at Logan I told him, "I'm no coward, but I would just like to have a cup of coffee before I have to be in another screaming match defending my every blink today."
"Why even put up with that?" He asked me, and when I clicked my tongue. He said, "I'm serious? Why even put up with him? Why don't you even think about dumping him? He's AWFUL! Treats you HORRIBLE. Why don't you even think about telling him off? Telling him it's over?"
"I have told him off… repeatedly!" I defended.
"Yeah, but you never end it." He retorted. Before genuinely asking me, "Why?"
"Because!" I enlightened him. "You don't just quit on people like that. Not when you really love them." I remember telling him. "And not just because times are tough either. Most of the time that's when people need each other more than ever. And I'm trying to be there for him, but also give him the space he needs to figure out things for himself."
"Even though he's treating you so awful?" He'd asked. As I watched Mark leave the coffee stand. Sipping from his cup, and walking off towards his first class. And I already felt like I could breathe a little easier. And I answered Logan, "Yes… even then. Okay? See ya later."
So I started walking away from Logan but he was still hot on my heels walking over to Lydia's stand too.
"How can you love someone who treats you so bad?" He asked all irritated. Which puzzled me, to the point of asking him.
"Why do you care?" I asked with my arms crossed in front of me tightly.
"Because, you're my friend… my smartest friend, who's doing me a BIG favor, right now." He'd explained. "A favor so big I feel like I owe you-"
"You don't, okay?" I said and meant.
But he turned me too look at him as he explained. "Look… I know, you're helping me out with the walkthrough outta of the kindness of your heart. You're performing day in and day out… for hours on end, and you're no theater buff like, Martinez or even Brooks. You're helping me out, help me understand, how you can even still say you love somebody who acts the way he has?"
"Because you don't just stop loving somebody when they don't act right, do you?" I explained. The best I could! "You have to stick by them even better when you know they're going through a rough patch. Like he is now, that's when it matters the most."
"Even when he's treating you like dirt?" He'd asked before correcting himself. "I think I've even seen him treat dirt and rocks better than he treats you."
"Yes," I'd said darkly as the guy in front of us made a HUGE order of like sixteen different drinks. All with different specifics. And I even said, "Wow, really?"
If it had been any other cart, I would have left, but Lydia was gleeful for the challenge. And her precision showed, she was saying some of the guys order before he was. Must be a regular, so she wouldn't take too long. And I guess Logan felt the same, because he stood right there with me.
Only Logan had said, "What an idiot."
I thought he meant the guy in front of us and so did the guy, cause that person had turned and glanced at Logan too. I'd shrugged, "Guess he has a lot of friends, you could say the same."
Logan clarified, "No, I wasn't talking about him, random extra. I meant Mark. Mark's the idiot."
"Why, this time?" I asked, knowing Logan hated Mark. Or I thought so at the time.
"Because he gets to call one of my friends, his girlfriend. He never treats you like he should and you're WAY too good for him."
I just knew he couldn't mean that, so I turned around and looked around behind me. For who he could possibly be talking to.
Making him ask me, "What the hell are you doing right now?"
"Looking for who you're talking about, because it can't be me." I said as some of our classmates behind us laughed.
He caught me by my shoulders and told me to "Stop!"
I told him, "Then quit acting weird."
Just before Lydia said, "Next-Hey Quinn! Morning there, Reese. You guys want your usual pick-me-ups?"
I told Lydia, "Make mine with a double shot today Lydia, please? We gotta perform again tonight."
And she'd assured, "Yes, I've heard all about your plague doctor performances ALL week. Through word of mouth! You're killing it, Queen! Fix you right up!" And as she wrote mine down on the side of my cup. She asked Logan again. "What can I get for you, Logan? SO I can fix them up side by side?"
"The usual, but I'm paying for both of ours-"
"No, you're not." I objected but he was quicker handing Lydia his little black credit card.
He told me, "If you're not gonna dump him, if I can't punch his lights out, at least let me do this."
Lydia told me as she handed him back his card. "Oh! Let him, girrrrl. It's coffee, it's not a kidney or Ferrari. Just say thanx for the caffeine fix and keep turning trix!"
I'd accepted it, and said 'thank you.' But I still didn't know what to make of it? Since when was Logan treating ANY girl he wasn't trying to date. I just knew back then too that NOTHING in the WORLD would make him see me that way… so why had it felt like more than coffee?
Because it was, I just didn't know it yet.
When I missed a few cues, later on that same day. Because I was crying in one of the hiding places. Logan was the one who'd came looking for me, to check on me. I'd been expecting Lola or Lisa like normal. But he came and crouched down next to me with a tissue box and another cup of the same coffee he'd gotten me that morning. And he sat there with me till I could speak… I'd been crying too hard at first to even form proper speech.
He had a walkie talkie too and had stopped the whole performance and told everyone else to "Take five." There had been a line around the corner, so Dustin was telling people that, "we'd needed to clean up a little accident." It was happening frequently enough for the crowd to believe that too.
But Logan didn't tell me any of that when he was sitting there with me on the floor. He told me, later after I cheered up.
He explained to me, "Our last few guests got really freaked by the bloody hospital set with the 'demonic crying ghost sounds' in it, even if no one could see who was crying. I had a feeling this was the reason they thought that was our skit for this room. You were crying and still wearing your distortor, weren't you?"
The first word I could get out was, "Sorry."
He'd said, "Don't be. Can you tell me what happened?"
It wasn't easy for me to say, but I admitted to him, "I don't know… how much more of this… I can take… from him."
He asked, "Would it help if I got his role to be further away from yours? For the rest of the night and tomorrow? Or we could axe him from the project completely… or if you're just done. I understand that too, even if it won't be the same without you."
I told him, "You're just saying that. Because you're out of actors and need everybody we've got-"
"No, I just said I would happily axe Mark if it'll help you stay. I don't care about him, I care about you-"
"Because a plague doctor's better than a zombie who lays on the ground and complains about getting kicked or stepped on." I reasoned, but Logan corrected me again.
"No! Because you're my friend. And I'm way more worried about keeping you around! To hell with him!" He let me know, and there was no way I could quit on him. Which had probably been the goal, but how could I let him down after he said something like that. Even if he had just said it where I was hiding and no one else was around to hear it.
He helped me up and I wiped my face as he'd said, "Seriously! Just say the word and he's out. But don't let him ruin our fun… It wouldn't be the same without you, Quinn."
"You mean without the plague doctor bit-"
"I mean you." He'd stressed. And I did remember Logan was a great friend at the time. I hope I hugged him for that too… I think I did.
But even then, it NEVER would have occurred to me. That we could be anything more than unlikely friends.
Then cut to this year, where we're both so gone on one another. We've grossed out MOST of our friends with our constant mushiness or not being able to keep our hands to ourselves… can you imagine?
But last year, we're talking about LAST year's Halloween. When I was still with Mark and looking back now, even I don't know why. But I was! I was still committed and convinced I was in love with him, and NOT the person I KNOW I love now.
Imagine all night long, telling yourself that you were gonna get outta here as soon as you possibly could. That you would get the HELL away from the person. Who's done nothing but berate you and scream at you all night. And then discovering the doors were all locked from the outside and you're gonna be trapped with him ALL night till the clean up staff unlocks the doors sometime tomorrow. I remember being so at my wit's end, I'd had a full breakdown in one of the closets. Not knowing that my friends were already having fun scaring the absolute crap outta each other while this was happening to me.
Okay, Logan was the one going around scaring everyone. Having a total ball too. If I had been in a better state of mind I totally would have joined in. But instead, I just watched him nail friend after friend.
Thank Goodness, he didn't try so hard on me… I really wasn't in the mood. I think if he'd so much as said "Boo!" I would have burst into tears. I think he may have even known that too.
But instead of doing anything like that. He'd kept talking to me, about the craziest things. Like ways we could make next year scarier and better… That had even got me drawing out blueprints for Quinnventions on napkins from the afterparty held by the ghouls and monsters who had been working together all night. I don't know how many drafts of things from that party had been added to our festivities this year. But I would guesstimate it was in the twenties or thirties of things we'd perfected better from those napkin samples. I'd sketched out talking to him last October 30th. During that locked-in nighttime.
But when Mark had somehow found another reason to take my head off. That night last year, about HIS grades slipping. Like it was somehow all MY fault… I'd made a point of telling him to "STAY - AWAY - FROM -ME!" And when he didn't listen, he may have gotten shot up by my zap watch and ankle laser. Making his zombie outfit way holier than it had been at the start of the night.
At bedtime, in the moonbounce room… when everyone was finding spots to sleep in. I asked Logan, "If he minded me sleeping near him." It was the furthest point away from Mark. Or so I told myself at the time. There was this strange mountain structure in the moonbounce last year. A mountain made of bean bag chairs all pile on top of one another. It stood between Logan and Mark too. I think visitors could climb onto the piles of bean bags or something... I can't remember, anymore. But I'd really not been able to stand the thought of even being where I could see Mark that night.
Logan, of course, said. "Sure." And kept me brainstorming till I was comfortable there too.
As we were laying flat looking at the ceiling. I'd shivered next to him.
Now, remember! We were all caught off guard about having to sleep there. No one was prepared, so people were using capes and gowns as blankets. Folded clothes, bookbags, or stolen beanbags for pillows. But my costume wasn't even really a costume at all. It was all lab gear covered in fake blood and other splatterings of fluorescent paint. It didn't really have any drap-able components. It was all lab gear last year. Thrown together on a whim, last minute.
So even though he didn't have to, and Mark never would have done anything like this. Logan had shared his cape with me. And when I'd cried, he'd even held onto me and told me "everything would be okay."
He even still held on to me, when he fell asleep. He'd held on tight.
And it had felt nice… he was warm and that room was super cold to make you feel like you were in space. So we'd stayed close (even cuddled a little, if I'm perfectly honest) for warmth… Again, that's what I'd been telling myself at the time. I remember also waking up the next morning. Discovering I'd used Logan's shoulder more than the beanbag we'd been sharing as a pillow. Even then, I'd had that habit. Before we were anything besides 'tentative friends.'
I'd had to admit… it had been a relief being beside him, even then… and he'd taken such better care of me than my own boyfriend had. I even remember thinking, "Whoever convinces Logan to call him their boyfriend was a lucky girl."
Ya know, especially if he acknowledged such a claim too. Player that I thought he was, back then.
So when Halloween Night happened, I made a point of hanging with my friends and NOT Mark. Which was even easier when he left early, like he wasn't even in the final performances. But no one really missed his complaining or blaming me for everything.
And Halloween Night had been the most fun of ALL last year! That's what I remembered about it. I remember Logan surprising me more than all of my other friends that night. He tried to act like nothing had changed, but things were always a little different after that night… ALWAYS… even before Mark dumped me and I got together with Logan officially.
That was all on my mind too, till a certain Plague-masked surgeon came and put his arms around me from behind asking in his demented and distorted voice. "What are you thinking about so hard?"
"My boyfriend…" I told him with a grin hoping he caught it even through the optical illusions on the outside of his mask. I had no way of catching even a glimpse of his real eyes with him all ready to greet the next group of victims- I mean, guests.
"Yeah?" He asked, managing to still sound happy about it in that too-low tone.
"Yeaaaaah," I drew out, flirting, "That man knows how to take me apart and put me all back together too."
"Sounds like a real piece of work." He'd said leaned in close.
I'd let him know, "Nope, I know how to end him and begin him that same way. We're perfect equals most days and opposites all of the others."
"So it's never boring." He'd said so softly.
"Nope, never." I agreed.
Before, he'd cursed. "Damn, why did I have to get ready so quickly for the next group?"
"Because you're a professional… a perfectionist… and you know a little peck's not gonna hack it." I'd flirted almost meanly, bumping into him and feeling his hands grip me so tight for a second. He'd lifted me by my waist and put me on my horse's saddle.
He'd warned, "We're 'taking five' after this run, be prepared for more than a peck. During that break."
I'd said, "You're the boss." But I always am ready for those moments with him, anticipating what he'll do or say next. This boyfriend, who I love so much! And this love that's fully reciprocated and grows more every day. I don't think I'll ever get used to it or grow tired of loving him.
As promised after that performance ended, and I'd teased him even more during our scenes together. Particularly the dancing together we did that time had been a tango. Which is one of our favorite dances to perform together… Most of our friends were just dancing slowly, with their significant others… because they'd already forgotten the steps we taught them… before prom last year.
But every move I'd made had been a reaction to a step he'd taken. It was something I don't think I could EVER forget with him. And those 'guests' had stayed till we finished and our castmates hadn't stopped us. They'd let us command the dancefloor.
I had to remind him at the end, to "take a bow." Make it look more planned. And not like we'd been stirring each other up ALL DAY and LOST it for a minute. Like all of our friends KNEW we had.
So we all bowed and wished those guests a "Happy Halloween" as they exited. Dustin later even boasted that those guests had been convinced "The real Halloween party's in that last room at the end of the show."
Soooo, the bowing had helped!
Then Logan announced, still wearing the mask. "Take five everybody." Then he picked me up and started running to the nearest hiding place to our first cues.
I did hear Michael telling Chase too, "Whoo! Yeah! He's the one that needs those five, this time!"
We ended up back in the lab with the doors closed. Logan had taken off his mask, wiped his face with a wash cloth {cause he'd been sweating in that mask}, and dried it while I was reaching up and setting those timmers on the entrance and exit doors. I JUST finished setting it to four minutes, when I was being picked up again and carried to the examination table. He sat me up there so it was easier to reach my lowered face (that needed to appear out of a lower slot from where my head should be). He'd kissed me like there was no tomorrow in that time ignoring all the chatters on the walkie-talkie in his pocket. Even though his name was said several times by different friends.
The kiss had been so good that I-we ended up laying together on the examination table. And snoodled close. For just a few minutes and he'd whispered. "This lab gear still smells like you."
"Sorry." I'd felt like I needed to say.
But he'd told me, "No, I love it! It keeps me on my toes."
So I shared, "Your costume still smells like you too, I keep smelling your colongue here and there."
And he'd said, "Sorry."
Then it was my turn to say, "No, I love it too... It keeps you with me."
He's head fell back as he asked, "Do we have to let more people in here? Really?"
"You know that old saying, 'the show must go on.'" I'd teased, even doing jazz hands at him.
He'd said, "Screw that!" hilariously before switching gears and pleading. "Please tell me we can be together again tonight… like last night. And it doesn't have to be all the same. Just tell me I don't have to be away from you again. Not yet. Even if all we do is sleep."
"I hope we can." I'd shrugged. "It's all gonna come down to when and how things go tonight." When our showtimes and after party end and hopefully all of our friends are gone again.
And he'd warned me, "Yeah, and the guys are all trying to already horn in on that already, the hudgers!"
"So we'll see." I'd shrugged again.
But as luck would have it… We did get locked in again. And even though they'd all tried to get locked in with us. Our gang all miraculously ended up locked outside. While Logan and I were locked in together again.
And tonight I was more prepared than I had been last night. I'd stashed pajamas the same time I'd stashed spare clothes in that side closet Logan had clued me in on last night. They were blue with little white and orange ghosts in a pattern saying "Boo" in comic speech bubbles. Not knowing where the night would take us. I had matching ghost underwear to match it too. But I wasn't gonna mention that, he could find that out for himself.
So I came outta there thinking I would set up a place for us to sleep again in the moonbounce room. But Logan surprised me by already having the whole thing set up tonight. As well as having all of the cameras already unplugged, and he was just sitting there waiting for me tonight.
He was also dressed in pajamas too, technically, even if his were only bottoms again. With patterns of Ghostface reacting to the blacklights over his head.
Making conversation as I walked carefully his way (That surface is cush but hard to walk on). I let Logan know. "I wish I knew you owned Ghostface jammies we could have matched."
"You have jammies with the scream face mask on them too?" He'd asked… and left wide open.
Even if I did have a pink more feminine set of the same scream-mask jammie-jams. I had to make him wonder and I said, "Well, I don't know if you'd call them pajamas exactly…"
His face… So FUNNY! As he said, "Wear whatever it is tomorrow, if we're lucky enough to be here again."
When I was close enough to him and still struggling so much to keep my balance. He took my hand and helped me over to our spot too. As I pitched to his ever planning brain. "As wonderful as this is and last night was… we probably need to figure out other places we can sleep comfortably in here. In case more than just us get locked inside here. I really thought we were gonna end up with at least one other couple in here tonight with us."
Logan admitted, "I know, so did I." And we ended up standing together right beside the spot where we would be sleeping. And he admitted, "I've already been trying to figure that out too. Just in case."
I even reasoned, "It's not fair to all of our friends that we've tricked the system and stole time like this together. When they can't… and they've all been working so hard together too."
"I know." He agreed before he said. "But is it bad that I'm so glad they didn't succeed tonight and it gets to be just me and you again? For one more night? Even if all we do is sleep in here, just getting to be totally alone with you?"
And I told him the truth, "Why would that make you bad?"
"I don't know, it just doesn't sound nice." He said making this face that cracked me up. Sometimes he's too cute!
And I told him, "No, if that makes you bad, than I'm bad too."
He'd said, "No. You could never be bad, not ever."
"Then neither are you," I hope I assured him. But just in case that didn't do the trick, I told him about what I had been thinking earlier. As I did look back on last year and deal with some of that leftover hurt. "I know you and everyone kinda want me to get some kinda revenge on Mark. For how he acted and treated me last year. But I don't need that. Because when I look back on it, all I mostly remember is the fun. And even then you just wowed me with how kind you were. I'm not with Mark anymore, I put that all behind me. And now, I have my best friend as my boyfriend who goes out of his way to let me know I'm loved everyday… How could I have a complaint in the world?"
He'd hugged me so tight and said, "I do try to do that… I'm gonna try to be even better at it."
"You don't need to-"
"Yes, I do." He insisted. "I feel like I haven't done a great job of that since September ended. And this whole thing took over my life for the month of October. So many things are gonna take over my life in the future too. With college, whatever work we end up doing, you and me, even with life itself… I want to always make sure we get this right. I have to do better than I was, especially while we're still in the same school… which we won't be for much longer."
I couldn't help it, I did have to ask him. "You're already planning for that too… when you'll be here at filmmakers school… and I'll be on the East Coast?"
"Well, yeah…" He said before he explained. "I know the others are all talking about stuff… Some even think they'll probably break up instead of trying to make a long-distance thing work… but… That doesn't even cross my mind."
I had to tell him, "Mine either."
But he just had to nearly kill me by saying. "I mean it when I tell you I love you… That's not just words to me. And I'm gonna do every thing I can to make this work… even when you're on that other coast. Even when it's hard… because my smartest friend taught me. You don't give up when you really love someone."
I flipped out, "So you do remember that?"
"I tried to remember everything you said… all the time, even then... before all of this… I just didn't fully realize why." He'd admitted.
I would share what happened next, but I'll suffice it to say we didn't just sleep during this alone time. Not after so many gray areas had just been cleared, and old wounds had been healed. I guess Logan's right about anything being possible in October. Even things that seem impossible the rest of the time.
That's all folks!
Well for this update anyways. But don't fret more is on the way and I promise to post more soon. Because this season is about to kick off again! I CAN'T WAIT! SO excited! It's really my favorite time of the year. Please review if you get the chance, I would love to hear from you. Hope this brightened your day! And that you're having a GREAT summer! And these Spooky plots cooled things down a bit! Take Care and Much Love!
~DarcyBeDippy85!