Mnemosyne and I spent a few weeks together. Being the muse, she gave me some pointers on honing in that particular ability of mine. Aside from our misunderstanding, we had surprisingly a lot in common. We weren't similar in any way, but we had a lot of similar views. She took her musing very seriously, just as I did my stories. I promised her that I'd leave the Mediterranean to her, which was her 'turf' as she'd called it, in return for the pointers.

Part of me found it difficult to deal with her, she had a snarky attitude and was slightly elitist. She also was a terrible gossip about other immortals. She badmouthed them at almost every turn. On my second day with her, she realized that she had heard a few passing comments about me. Mostly from immortals who'd seen me and Jack together. "I'm surprised. With your personality, I should have heard something concrete about you."

"Well, I haven't had much contact with other immortals. My roommates and the Guardians being the only ones aside from you. And the later two groups were recently."

"You've met the Guardians? All of them?"

"Yeah, I was visiting with Tooth just before I bumped into you."

She paused for a minute, looking like she was going to say something. "No, I see it." I'd rolled my eyes at her. The highlight of hanging out with a muse is that I was inspired. Not by her abilities, no. We kind of cancelled each other out. No, talking to her got me going. Hearing everything she'd done over the years... namely the people and stories she'd inspired. My fanart senses were tingling. When I finally said goodbye, I flew straight to the sanctuary and all but barricaded myself in my room. When I finally came out, and checked the calendar, it was three days before Halloween.

I whistled. "Maybe spending that much time with Musie isn't very good for me."

Selie was at the table in the kitchen with me. "Who?"

"Oh, Mnemosyne. I met her after spending some time with Tooth."

"So, you finally met the Muse." She took a sip of her coffee, smiling slyly at me. "So, how mad did you make Mnemosyne?"

"Not at all... after our initial meeting."

She chuckled. "Mnemosyne has a bit of a temper. And she doesn't like sharing her toys with strangers."

"Yeah, I found that out the hard way." She stared at me in a way that told me to elaborate. "I mused a guy in front of her, and she... well she kinda tore into me. In Greek, might I add." Sel snorted and drained the last of her cup, moving to the counter to make herself another. "I swear, Sel, you drink more coffee than anyone I've ever seen."

"Yes, well, if you had to attempt to sleep every night listening to Del'Ket's snoring, then you would need coffee too." She pulled her finished cup back to the table and sat again.

I giggled. "Yeah, glad I don't have that problem. Speaking of, where is morning breath?"

"He went to visit his family."

"And left you alone? The nerve!" Del rarely left aside from catching dinner, so it was weird that he'd be gone.

"I was planning on taking the opportunity to visit Seraphina." She took another sip of her coffee.

"You should, you haven't seen her in a few years, right?"

She nodded. "It has been a while." She stared absently for a minute, then nodded. "Right, I am going for a visit." She drained the last of her coffee and chucked the mug in the sink.

As she left the room, I called out. "Have fun!" I sat at the table for about five seconds before jumping up and heading to my room. No way was I going to be left alone at the sanctuary for Halloween. As I got my things together in my bag, I worked out where I was gonna go. Well, I had told Caeden that Jack and I would - possibly - be trick-or-treating with him this year. North Pole it was.

Clad in my jacket and boots, I hovered around the Arctic Circle for a day and a half before finally spotting a stray yeti. As opposed to what Jack would do, ergo sneak in, I landed next to the yeti and told him I was looking for Jack. The yeti gestured for me to follow him and an hour later, the Pole loomed into sight.

If seeing the sleigh was like meeting the president, then seeing the Pole was like meeting God. It was that impressive. To say the absolute least, it literally took my breath away. I'd forgotten that there wasn't only one central building, but many small ones as well. The lights made a stark comparison to the darkness of Polar Night, the warm tones of the wooden walls almost clashing with the blue of the ice and snow. I'd been on the opposite side of the crevasse than the main workshop, and so the yeti led me over the bridge spanning the gap. Despite everything telling me I was safe; that it was sturdy, how thick it was, that even if I fell, I'd be able to catch myself, etc... I still felt a huge adrenaline rush walking across the thing. Halfway across, I walked to the edge and stared down. Now, I don't know how deep it went, but I almost got vertigo staring down. It was awesome.

I followed the yeti down the pathways up to the biggest building in the vicinity. The workshop itself. Standing at the main doors, unlike I'm sure every other person to ever stand there, I turned and looked back at the bridge. I was definitely checking that out later. The Yeti that had gotten me this far left to go back to his job, whatever it was, and left me to my business. I pushed on one of the massive doors, which must have weighed a thousand plus pounds. Why the hell does North need such gigantic doors anyway? Once I got it open enough slipped in and almost collapsed to the floor. It didn't matter if I was immortal now or not, I still wasn't in the best shape. I stared at the doors for a few minutes, trying to decide if I should give the effort to try and close them or not... and then decided to leave it. A yeti would get it eventually, and I was sure they could move the deadweights far more easily than I could. After catching my breath, I got up and started wandering the halls, looking for Jack or the big man himself. Dang this place was huge.

I probably wandered around for an hour straight before I caught a glimpse of possibly the most iconic piece of the Pole. The globe. I saw a flash of blue out of the corner of my eye, a twinkle, and I followed it. I was a few stories up by now, so when I got to the railing and saw the globe in it's entirety, I also saw down through the heart of the Pole itself. Dang, my globe was a store bought rinky dink, this thing was bigger than my old house! I leaned out over the railing straining to see as close as I could. North sure does know how to make you wonder. I chuckled at my own silent joke. My eyes roved the rest of the workshop - what I could see anyway. Yetis were everywhere, elves 'under boot' looking like nuisances. A white, moving dot caught my attention as I realized it was Jack's hair. Figures, that'd give him away.

He was entertaining a group of elves, had them almost mesmerized. I smirked, awaiting the response to my next move. I climbed up onto the railing, calling a miniature version of my wings to me, just enough pages to slow my decent, and jumped. I used the mini wings to angle myself until I'd fall where I wanted and then let 'em go. When I landed, I did so in the middle of the group of elves, making them scatter in different directions. I smiled up at Jack's stunned expression. "'Sup, roomie?"

"Story?" He glanced at where the last elf was disappearing underneath a workbench. "Nice landing."

"Thank you." I stood up, brushing the last clingy page from my shoulder.

"What're you doing here? I thought you'd be hanging around somewhere warm."

"I was, for a while." I looked up at the globe again, it was hard not to - the thing was just so dang big. I whistled.

Jack looked up at the spinning orb, slinging his staff across his shoulders. "I know." He looked over at me, idly starting to walk down a hall, knowing I'd follow. "So, why are you here again?"

"I told Caeden we'd possibly go trick-or-treating with him this year. Figured I'd come and see if you were up to it." I was taking in everything as we walked. My eyes not resting for a moment.

"Halloween's the day after tomorrow." He was using the same tone I'd given him when he gave me the short notice about the meeting.

"Yeah, I kinda lost track of time. And then it took me a while to find the place." I gestured around me, my gaze still roving.

"How'd you get in?"

I had no doubt that he was reminiscing all of the times he'd tried to break into the pole - and failed. I smiled innocently at him. "Oh, I told a passing yeti that I was looking for you and he led me to the front door."

Jack narrowed his eyes at me, but smiled a moment later with a laugh. "Yeah, you would do that."

I shoved him. "So, where you taking me anyway?"

"To North's office. He's been down there for the past few hours carving out another prototype." We came to the elevator and Jack opened the door, gesturing for me to get in.

"My, aren't we the gentleman?" I stepped into the center while Jack followed me in.

"I thought it was ladies first?" The elevator started going down and I remembered that North's office was a ways a way from the hub of things.

"It is, but it's also age before beauty."

He smirked at me. "So... am I the age, or the beauty?" He batted his eyelashes at me and I almost doubled over in laughter. Jack wasn't much better off.

"You, are definitely the age in that equation. I don't care if you do look younger than me, I am always the beauty, thank you!" Now it was his turn to shove me. I just laughed at him. The elevator reached the desired level and we stepped off together this time. Jack led the way down the hall to a less ornate, and much smaller version of the front doors. Jack knocked on the door and I heard North's muffled voice waft through telling us to come in.

When we closed the door behind us, North was still encompassed in his work, listening to his music and all. The song was familiar, and after pausing to listen for a second, I pinned where I knew it. I silently laughed, moving closer to the toymaker. He started working a lot more vigorously, while Jack pinned me with a look. I just shrugged. Yeah, I was musing Santa. I was a little less than patient about wanting to try out the tips Mnemosyne gave me.

When he had finished, he threw his arms up and shouted triumphantly. "Ha! Is best yet!" Jack walked closer to get a better look at the prototype.

"You say that every time."

"Every time is best yet, Jack. What brings you here?" He noticed that I now stood at him other arm, looking closely at the sculpture. "Ah, Story, when did you get here?"

"A few hours ago." I said it absently, staring at the sculpture that was moving. The song he'd been listening to started playing again and I looked at him sideways. "Trans-Siberian orchestra's 'Carol of the Bells'? Nice choice." I went back to looking at the sculpture.

North smiled and raised his eyebrows at me. "Is one of personal favorites."

"Me. Too." I looked up from the piece again to smile.

Jack leaned against the corner of the table, being careful to not knock anything over. "Do you think you'll need me around for he next few days?"

North considered it for a few minutes before shaking his head. "No, I do not think so. Why? Do you need to manage blizzard?"

Jack cocked his head. "Yeah, but that's not why. Story and I are planning on going trick-or-treating with her brother."

"And one other teen. I got another believer the last time I stopped by." I turned to face the two Guardians, mimicking Jack's lean subconsciously.

Jack raised his eyebrows, whereas North was his more exuberant self. He threw out his arms from where he sat and boomed out his congrats. "I am happy for you, Story!"

I smiled. "Thanks." I glanced at Jack. "I kinda cheated though. I mean, she was already halfway there"

Jack tried to hide his smile. North looked at me disapprovingly. "What do you mean 'cheated'?" He folded his previously open arms. Leave it to the keeper of the naughty and nice lists to slip into parent mode.

I shrugged. "I moved a few books, talked through her mp3 player..." Jack was trying to not laugh, knowing how North would react as well as thinking of how devious I'd been. "But, like I said, she was on the fence, I just shoved her over."

"Story..." North's tone was as disapproving as his stare. "I'd say you were bad influence on Jack..." We both glanced at said immortal who immediately tried to put on a straight face. "But we all know is not possible."

I burst out laughing with North soon following suit. After a moment where he frowned at us, Jack joined the laughter. Poking fun, at the Guardian of fun, was always fun. I was still chucking when Jack composed himself enough to talk. "So? We good to go?"

North, still smiling from his earlier fit of laughter, looked to Jack. "I think yetis and I can handle workshop without you for week or two. Go, have fun. Just - don't dig yourself deeper on naughty list."

Jack gave his trademark smirk, which I mirrored almost simultaneously. "I make no promises."

Jack and I headed out after that, Jack not being the type to carry a lot with him, he didn't need to gather anything. As we left through the front doors, a yeti being kind enough to get them for us this time, I was faced with the gorge again. I was really going to have to spend some more time up here.

Jack turned to look at me from where he stood on the front step. "So, where to?"

I called my wings as I answered. "Well, you need a costume. You can't go trick-or-treating in the same clothes you always wear."

Jack stared at me blankly. "And where am I going to get a costume? If you haven't noticed." He gestured down at his attire which hadn't changed since I'd met him. "I'm not exactly known for my vast wardrobe, unlike you."

I hooked my thumb at my bag, which was slung across my back. "I do have money if you recall. We can always buy you one."

"How will that work?" We took off, me flying by my own power and Jack by the wind's.

"The same way I got the cookie dough. Distract the cashier and leave the money on the counter."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "I don't think that'll work anywhere that's not third-world."

I pursed my lips. "Shut up, know it all." I considered it for a minute or two. I looked at him from the corner of my eye, something Mnemosyne said to me having come to mind. "You know..." He looked at me, looking slightly suspicious at my tone, to which I smiled. "We could always find one of your fangirls and get them to buy it for us."

His face paled - if that was even possible. "No! Story, no. Not the fangirls again, please!" I smiled wickedly at him then. "Story, I am begging you. Don't. Get. A fangirl."

"Sorry, my mind's made up." I stared ahead as Jack groaned, dropping his head into one of his hands, his other busy holding his staff.

"Sure, torture me why don't you."

I had to laugh at him, I couldn't help it. "Jack, you are going to get over your antisocial behavior eventually." I turned sideways so I could face him. "You handled me, and I was a complete fan of you back before we met."

"Yeah, but you didn't try to strip me when you first set eyes on me." He glared at me. The sad thing was, that'd actually happened more than once with his fans.

"I can't really argue with that." I straightened out again.

Jack was idly twirling through the air, not really paying attention. "Looks like I'm not getting out of this."

"Nope."

He shot me a look. "So, what should I go as?"

"What about a Jack-o-lantern? Goes with-"

"No."

"Well that was quick... How about..." Jack and I bickered back and forth for almost an hour straight until we came up with a costume for him, coincidentally, the character was also named Jack.

After we'd gotten him all figured out, he suddenly turned to me. "Wait, what are you gonna wear?"

"Me?" I tsked him. "Now, Jack, do you not remember the night I left Niles, all the stuff I packed?" He shrugged. "Oh, you're such a boy. Anyway, remember that dress I packed? The black and red one?"

"Yes?" He shrugged again and I shook my head.

"Well, that's what I'm wearing, along with that circlet." He stared blankly at me. "The crown thing."

"Oh."

"Sometimes, I wish my best friend was a girl. Anyway, I'm going as a generic vampire. I did the same ensemble a few years before I became immortal, Caeden might remember it, but I doubt it. In any case, since it's short notice, I'm working with what I've got. Next year though." Jack looked at me. "Next year, I have a plan for our whole group."

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

I couldn't help but laugh at his discomfort. I'm his friend, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna coddle him. "Don't worry, I'll do your costume for you. God knows I've got the time."

When we finally landed in Michiana, it was in Mishawaka on Grape Rd. Which is basically down town. To my right was Old Country Buffet and Hobby Lobby, to my left Jo Ann Fabrics and the Home Goods Store. Jack was staring at the store in front of us, not looking quite convinced. I didn't blame him, the outside was fairly unassuming, especially considering that this time of year, they had a banner covering half of their usual sign. Since Halloween was only a day away, there was a small crowd of people rushing to get their costumes, but most people had already gotten theirs. "Are you sure this is the best place to get me a costume?"

"Trust me. This place is the best for anything costume related... except maybe good quality wigs, theirs are a little eh." I started towards the doors.

Jack shrugged and followed me. "If you say so." Because I was in front of him, I got into the store first, and had time to catch his expression when he saw the inside. I hadn't been understating it's appearance when I said the outside was unassuming. Inside was probably about twenty times as big as the outside let on to be. All the stock was out on the floor, so there was no back room, just the floor, and so they maximized on the space. "Okay... maybe you're on to something."

I laughed at him. "Fun FX was my first stop a lot of the time. I know what I'm doing." I took the lead again and started off towards the adult male costumes. After a few minutes of searching, I found the costume we were looking for. I held it up to Jack who'd slowly followed me, staring around the building like I had at the Pole. "Here, go try this on, make sure it fits."

His eyes widened. "What do you mean try it on?"

"I mean, take this into the dressing room." I pointed at said area. "And put it on to make sure you're not swimming in it." He stared at the dressing rooms like there was a two headed kraken in it. "Oh, come on!" When he didn't answer or change his expression, I threw the costume at him. "Do it, or I'll do it for you, then you'll see how well we fangirls can strip the subject of our affections."

At my comment, he all but flew into one of the rooms while I shook my head and chuckled. When it came to being normal, Jack was too terepidatious than was good for a Guardian of fun. A few minutes later he came out in his normal attire carrying the costume. "It fits fine."

"Perfect, now to find a fangirl." He grimaced at the mention of my plan, or at least the part he greatly disliked. I started wandering around, looking at the teenaged girls, or the ones who at least looked around my age. None noticed us. I was starting to think finding one of his fangirls was gonna be harder than I'd thought when I heard a gasp. I spun around to see Jack wincing and a girl barely holding in a scream. She rushed over to us - or rather Jack.

"Oh my gosh, your costume is PERFECT! Where did you get it - or did you make it? It doesn't mater. You look exactly like Jack FROST!" She jumped up and down in excitement. I was barely controlling my laughter as Jack stared at the girl in confusion.

"Jack, she doesn't realize you're you, she thinks you're dressed as you for Halloween." I shook my head smiling. Like I said, he was clueless when it came to normal stuff.

"Oh." He stared at the girl who was looking at him like he was - well - him. "Uh... yeah. I get that a lot. Hey um, do you think you could pay for this for me?" He held up his costume. "I've got the money for it, it's just... uh..." He glanced at me.

"Tell her that one of the cashiers is your ex and you don't want her to see you."

"My ex is a cashier today. I don't want her to see that I'm here."

The girl looked over her shoulder towards the coulter, seeing the three girls and two guys who were up there. She smiled at him. "No problem. I've felt your pain. And I'd do anything for someone who looks so epic in their costume as you do!" She took the costume and money up to the checkout as Jack and I snuck towards the door. She met us over there when she was done, handing the bag to Jack. "Here you go! By the way, why are you getting that when the costume you're wearing is so epic?"

"Oh, uh, my friend wants me to go as this to a party, she wants to match." He held up the bag to say that it was the one he'd just bought that his 'friend' wanted to match.

"She must be a really good friend for you to match with her."

Jack glanced at me. "She is. Thanks again." Jack and I walked out of the store, me smiling like a sap.

"Aw! See, you do care!"

"Oh, shut up." He handed the bag to me. "Here, you bought it, you carry it"

"And he's back. Where'd that 'ladies first' guy go?"

"I left him at the pole when you started torturing me with fangirls."

"Okay, but it wasn't that bad, she didn't even realize you were you."

"I know, it was weird..." He looked down at the ground an odd look on his face. "She was looking straight at me, but she wasn't really believing in me... it's like another version of how it was before."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was like that... It's still better than fangirls though right?"

"No question."

Now that we had Jack's costume, he ran off to spend the day with Jamie and Sophie in Burgess, having not seen them in months because of first Southern summer and then staying at the Pole. I knew how he felt so I didn't argue or anything, I just reminded him to be back here at least two hours before trick-or-treating was scheduled to start. I made my way to my old house to tell Caeden that we'd be attending. I asked him if he'd invited Tanya.

He blushed. "Uh..."

I smiled and lightly chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll go ask."

He nodded, still blushing. "Yeah, okay. Hey, what's Jack going as?"

"It's a surprise." I left through the back door and flew up to Tanya's house. I hovered around, glancing in the windows looking for her, finally spotting her in her kitchen with her mom.

She was talking to her about her plans for Halloween and I stopped to listen for a minute, waiting until I could get her attention. "So, honey. Are you going out to do anything Wednesday night?" Her mom was cooking something on the stove, probably their dinner. Whatever it was smelled awesome, even if it looked like mush.

Tanya was sitting at the table on her laptop. From my angle I couldn't see what she was doing, but she was moving the plug in mouse around a lot. "I don't know. I haven't been invited to do anything. It's not like I have a lot of friends who throw parties at the drop of a hat." She didn't look up from her computer, so she didn't see her mom shoot her a slightly worried glance. My mom had given me that look enough times that I knew exactly what she was thinking. "And I'm a little to old to be going trick-or-treating solo, you know?" She dropped her head into her left hand, her right still occupied with the mouse, and sighed. She mumbled something under her breath that her mom didn't catch but I did. "I wish Story would show up."

Well, I'm just gonna have to grant that wish. I went to the window nearest her and yelled through the glass, knowing her mom wouldn't hear me. "Hey there Mr. Grumpy Gills! Why such a long face!"

Her head snapped towards me and a smile lit up her face. "What are you looking at, honey?" Her mom had seen her looking out the window, smiling.

"Oh, nothing, just a squirrel being cute. I'm gonna go up to my room, I'll be back down for dinner." She started packing up her laptop.

"Alright." He mom called over her shoulder, as Tanya was already out of the room, racing up the stairs to her room. I flew up to her window to meet her, beating her to it.

Through the window, I saw her throw open her door and toss her laptop onto her bed in her haste to get to her window. Only once she opened it and I crawled in did she finally greet me, throwing her arms around me in the process. "Story! I'm so glad you're back!"

I reciprocated her hug with one of my own. "I can see that. You might wanna close your door so your mom doesn't hear you talking to yourself." I pointed at said door.

"Oh." She ran and closed it while I moved her laptop to her desk. "Where have you been? Tell me everything!"

Inside I was laughing. Yep, she hadn't changed ion the few months I'd been gone. "Well, after I left you guys I went and hung out with Tooth, man her place is gorgeous! You should have seen it. I mean, I've been to the Sistine Chapel - okay? Her place beats even that!" Tanya's face was full of wistful wonder, and I have no doubt she was trying to imagine the place. "After I left the Palace I ended up in Athens where I met the muse - "

"The muse? I thought there were a few." She looked at me confused.

"That's what I said. I even named them all off in front of her, since the name she gave me wasn't any of them. She said that she's gone by those names from time to time, but her real name is Mnemosyne. However, in my mind, I just call her Musie. It's way easier to pronounce. Anyway, she was pretty cool, aside from the fact that she started yelling at me when we first met. But we're cool now. Anyway, so when I left her I went straight back to Jack's place and turned out piece after piece up until two days ago when I came up for air."

"Whoa. So, did she inspire you or something? Wouldn't you two cancel each other out, or would it double on each other?"

"No we canceled out, but she was telling me all the people and stories she'd inspired and my fangirl went wild." I started laughing, remembering how entranced I'd been for that time in my room. "Oh, yeah. I brought a few for you." I reached into my bag, pulling out a few pieces I'd done. "I noticed the posters and other things in your room last time I was here, and thought you'd like these ones." There were two sketches a painting and three full color drawings. I handed them to her and her eyes lit up.

"These are beautiful! Oh my god, it's Totoro!" She burst out laughing at herself. "I'm such a geek."

"Eh, so am I, there's no shame." She immediately went to her desk to find a box of push pins and started tacking the pieces to her walls - where there was already little to no available space. Her room was almost as colorful as mine.

While she was placing one of them, she spoke to me over her shoulder. "So did Nemos..."

"Mnemosyne."

"Yeah. Did she inspire all of these stories?"

"Most of them. Some she'd spent time with the author or artist with a different story, and I connected them subconsciously, but yeah, for the most part."

"She's mused Myazaki?"

"I know! I felt the same way. I was about ready to worship at her feet!" I laughed. It was fun and easy talking to Tanya, like with Jack. "Oh, so, last time I was here. Before You started believing, mind you. I told Caeden that Jack and I'd be going trick-or-treating with him this year. Wanna come?"

She paused in her pinning, almost frozen in place. She didn't say anything as she turned around, her expression a mix of star-struck hope. "I'm gonna meet Jack?"

I nodded. "Well, if you decide to come, that is."

"Of course! Who in their right mind would pass up a chance to meet an immortal!" Her stare got a bit vacant and I knew she was lost in thought.

"You're a fan aren't you?"

She blushed. "No."

I laughed. "Don't worry. I used to be a huge fan too. Once you get used to him, you get over it real quick."

She laughed too as she turned back to putting up my pieces. When she was done she stood back to admire them. "Oh!" She ran to her closet, grabbing at something propped against the side of it. "I finished 'Imaginary' while you were gone." She pulled out the painting and held it up for me to see.

Not much had changed since I'd seen it last. The field of flowers was the most obvious difference, as it was now completed. I noticed something and moved to get a closer look. In the farther trees there were a few loose pieces of paper stuck in the branches. On one of them, tiny as it was, I could make out the words 'for Story', though the size made it hard to decipher. I looked up at her expectant face.

"What do you think?"

"It's beautiful." I smiled up at her. I could see she worked hard on it and the little dedication that only I would ever notice or know the meaning of touched me. "You did good, kid."

She smiled back at me. "I want you to have it."

I balked. "What?"

"I want you to have it." She repeated as she held the painting out to me.

"Are you sure?"

"Story, I was working on this when I first met you. If I hadn't been working on this, we might never have met. I want you to have it... It's a thank you, for getting me to believe in you."

I stared at her for a minute before smiling. "I love it. But, you keep it until I'm ready to leave, that way I won't have to carry it around with me." It wasn't the smallest painting, if you catch my drift.

She giggled. "Fair enough."

That night I spent with Caeden, watching 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and 'Hocus Pocus' until late. When he fell asleep, I used his computer to get onto my deviantArt account, which I'd kept open after I'd become immortal. None of my friends on there knew that anything had happened to me, they just thought I'd gotten better at my art, that's all. I didn't let on that I was anything less than annamae411, the quirky and slightly annoying friend from Michiana that they'd known for years. I uploaded a few new pieces, having snuck into a Walgreens a while back to use the scanner. I smiled as I finished the description of the last one, clicking the 'submit' button.

I spent most of the night looing at different pieces and chatting with my international friends. I'd looked up a few of them in person since becoming immortal, but none could see me. I contented myself with the fact that I could still talk over the internet, where even beings who didn't exist could be real. I'd closed all my social networking accounts and email, only leaving dA, and the author sites still running. No one was the wiser. Sometimes, I wanted to tell my closer friends on the sites that I was an immortal now, and I was so tempted, but the rational part of me said to keep quiet. At best, they'd believe me - believe in me and I'd gain a believer. At worst they'd think I was lying and I'd loose a friend. Most likely, they'd think I was joking or working on a story. No one would jump to the conclusion that I was telling the absolute truth.

I even downplayed my adventures. I'd posted journals and updates over the years that were fairly vague. That I'd moved to the south and had roommates. That I was able to jump into my art as a career now. That I'd gotten to go on vacation to the places I'd always wanted. Vague versions of actual events, phrased in ways that were believable. I posted another one now, about how I'd recently reconnected with my little brother and was going to go trick-or-treating this year. Generic, toned down, but true.

I heard Caeden snoring from down stairs and started to giggle. Snoring was a family trait, at night, most of the house rumbled. It made sleeping at the same time as Del a little bit easier. I closed his laptop and headed downstairs. I peeked my head into his room, smiling at the way he was spread-eagled on his bed. He snored again and I couldn't help but laugh. Casey, my cat, was laying on top of his stomach, curled into a fat, fuzzy ball. I walked in and crouched down, petting him. He started purring before opening his eyes to see who was petting him. When he did he shrunk back. I sighed and got up, walking out of his room. I went back upstairs and turned on the T.V. channel surfing until morning came and everyone headed off to work or school.

I spent the day hanging out at the mall, trying on clothes - while making sure that no one saw the clothes floating through the air. I had fun messing with people too. Never let it be said that all immortals are completely black or white. I may be a generally good person, but I can be nasty with the best - or worse - of them. I wouldn't be surprised if I had my own record on the naughty list. By the time the end of the day came, I spent the night at Tanya's house, where she told her mom that she'd be trick-or-treating with a friend from school.

"What's this friend's name? Do I know her?"

"Him, and his name's Caeden."

Her mom raised her eyebrows. "A boy?" She smiled.

Tanya rolled her eyes. "Mom, he's just a friend. Besides, he's a sophomore."

"Well, how did you meet this 'Caeden'?"

"A mutual friend introduced us."

Her mom raised her eyebrows. "Well, is he cute?"

Tanya blushed a deep scarlet while I doubled over in laughter. She shot me a furtive glance. "Sort of. I don't think of him like that mom. He's a friend."

"But he likes you." I sing-songed it, making her blush even more. She shot me a look, begging me to shut up. I held up my arms in resignation.

"Alright." Her mom sounded uncertain. "I'd prefer to meet him tomorrow before you go out, just to feel safe."

Tanya sighed through her blush. "Fine. You're picking me up tomorrow, right?" He mom nodded. "Well, you can meet him then."