Halloween, October 31st.
Magenta tried to decide what to wear for the Halloween house party and trick or treat afterward.
"Should I be the mouse or the sexy cat?" She asked Blue.
"Mouse. The mouse." Blue said, looking at the two costumes Magenta held up.
"But the mouse one is so plain," Magenta complained.
"Exactly. No one will touch you or see parts of you that only certain people should see."
"And you are certain people right?" Magenta smiled.
"It's up to you to decide that," Blue said, chewing on his energy bar and hiding his rising smile.
So Magenta dressed as Jerry and Blue as Tom.
"It's almost time to go back to Oakstone," Magenta said.
"Yeah, about a month," Blue said.
"Are you worried?" Blue asked.
"A bit." Magenta said.
The circles under her eyes were getting slightly better. She'd been able to sleep more now that she was on the sleeping pills. But she didn't want to be dependent on the pills so she only had half a tablet every other night.
"Ah, midterms are soon too! I've got to study for that."
Blue said, "my hardworking rodent."
"Smart mouse." Magenta corrected.
"Yes." Blue agreed, kissing her forehead.
"Noo, you'll get my makeup off," Magenta said, swatting him.
Blue said, "I'll help you reapply."
He took the foundation from her vanity and Magenta laughed, pretend-wrestling with him to get the foundation back. They fell onto Magenta's bed and Blue stroked her hair as they watched a random cooking show.
Shelby and Jasper turned up earlier to get ready too.
"Ooo, I love that." Shelby motioned to the Tom and Jerry idea costumes.
"So what did you and Jasper decide on!" Magenta said.
"He's going to be the tomato to my potato," Shelby said.
Incredulous, Magenta watched as Shelby and Jasper blew up round balloon-looking plastic balls with a hole in the center.
"No way!" Magenta laughed so hard when Shelby and Jasper popped on their costumes, they looked like little blob aliens, one yellow and one red.
"I love this. You guys came up with a potato and tomato. So cool. And funny." Magenta said.
They were finally ready and took a bunch of pictures using an instant camera and their phones. Shelby and Jasper barely fit in the frame.
As they went out to trick or treat with their pumpkin candy pots, they ran through the streets, munching on candy and knocking on doors.
"Aren't you kids a little too old to be doing this?" An old woman asked.
"Well, we only get to come back home once a year, because we go to boarding school. We love joining in the tradition." Blue said.
"Ah, well then that's lovely. Here take some candy. See you again next year." The woman said, smiling at the youth's delight.
They ended up by the local park, looking at the fat ducks swimming to and fro. Each couple sat on a park bench drinking their Gatorade and water after eating so much candy.
"This is the best," Jasper said through a mouthful of his favorite strawberry soft candies.
Shelby wiped his mouth with a tissue, fussing about how messy he ate.
Blue and Magenta linked arms, and they talked quietly.
"How has the sleeping been?" Blue asked.
"Better. Still some nightmares but not too bad," Magenta didn't want Blue to stress about how she was doing.
"Okay. That's good to know."
"Have you studied for the midterms?" Magenta asked.
The sky above them was full of stars. Blue looked up at the stars and he said, "a little."
Blue said, "how do you always get perfect scores? I'm amazed."
"I always thought you never studied. You always seem to be asleep in class! But you have all those books in your room," Magenta said.
"Oh those, you saw them?" Blue said, fond of his favorite books.
"I read a lot I guess. But soccer and running have been my firsts."
"Awe, I'm not your first love?" Magenta asked innocently.
"You are," Blue said, looking into her eyes.
Magenta was glad to know Blue only had her in his heart for a long time. She felt bad that it wasn't the case for her but she couldn't wait to spend their time together in the coming years.
—-
"I expected more from you." Mr. McCartney said.
"It won't happen again," Reese lied smoothly, adjusting his tie.
"Because of you, I have lost my title and respected job. Because of you, we had to move here. You should be thankful I didn't beat you to a pulp."
Reese swallowed and replied, "yes. I deserve that. Thank you for your mercy."
"I'm only withholding because you are my only son. Leave this house and don't come back until you've learned your lesson. Don't forget to show up for the charity ball later." Reese's father opened the front door, indicating for him to leave.
Reese went to his penthouse and smashed the laptop to the ground in his anger. All his hard work, all his plans. Wrecked in an instant. All because of those two stupid lovebirds.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he picked up the phone call.
"What is it?" Reese said, his eyes drawn to slits.
"When are we going to do it?" The voice came through.
"I'll come back. Soon."
"Are you sure we can pull it off?"
"Yes."
"What do you need me to help with?"
"Just be on the lookout. I'll send you more details later."
"Okay."
The call was short, and Reese needed some wine. He called his attendants and they assisted him by sending up a bottle.
Reese was not underage, contrary to a popular assumption by other students in Oakstone and Thundering. He had been homeschooled and trained by another "father" for a long time before being placed in a younger grade.
And now all his training would come to pass in the final countdown. He rubbed his hands together, threw the remains of his laptop away, and went to his desk to figure out and enact the rest of his plans.