Halloween was just around the corner, and Olivia was determined to make this the best one ever. I tried to keep up with her pace, but her enthusiasm was almost impossible to match. Between classes and projects, we spent most of our time debating our costumes. Or rather, Olivia and I did, because Sack didn't seem particularly interested.
—Look, I already have my costume —Sack declared, putting on a cowboy hat with total indifference.
Olivia fell silent for a second, blinking in disbelief before giving him a look of complete disapproval.
—That's it? —she asked, crossing her arms—. A cowboy hat? Seriously, Sack?
—Yes —he replied, shrugging—. It's simple, comfortable, and no one will look at me funny on the street.
—THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF HALLOWEEN! —Olivia exclaimed, waving her hands dramatically—. People dress up in ridiculous and flashy costumes because it's the one night you can do it without being judged.
—I'm judging him —I interjected, smiling as I scrolled through a list of ideas on my iPad.
—Exactly, thank you, Lindsay —Olivia nodded, as if she'd won the argument—. Besides, I was hoping we could do something coordinated, all three of us together. Something epic. Like a group of superheroes.
—I'm not wearing spandex —Sack responded immediately, not even looking up from his phone.
—Then something classic. Pirates? Ghostbusters? Star Wars! Oh! What about characters from an iconic horror movie? We could be the main characters from Scream .
—Isn't that just normal clothes and a mask? —I asked, raising an eyebrow.
—Exactly! So Sack has no excuses —Olivia said, giving him a playful nudge.
Sack sighed, clearly realizing he wasn't getting out of this easily. But before he could refuse again, I decided to intervene.
—We could make a deal —I said, leaning over the table—. If Sack agrees to wear something more elaborate, Olivia has to tone down her obsession with costumes and not make us change them three times on Halloween.
Olivia pursed her lips, considering the offer.
—Fine, I accept. But it has to be decent. And no, Sack, you can't be a zombie-cowboy.
—Tch. We'll see —he muttered, resigned.
Satisfied with the progress, Olivia switched topics with the same energy.
—Alright, now that Halloween is covered, let's talk about the treasure hunt.
This was another one of her big ideas. The rules were simple: each of us would hide an object somewhere on campus and create clues for someone else to find it. I'd make the clues for Olivia, Olivia would make them for Sack, and Sack would make mine. It was a silly game, but it sounded fun.
—I still haven't decided what to hide —I said, twirling my pencil between my fingers—. I don't want it to be too easy, but I also don't want it to send you running around aimlessly for hours.
—Make it a real prize —Sack suggested—. Something that makes it worth the effort.
—Like what? —Olivia asked.
—I don't know, concert tickets, a voucher for free food, or a pass to make us do whatever the winner wants for a day, like in the pumpkin-carving contest we're doing tomorrow…
Olivia smiled mischievously.
—I like the way you think. I might hide something like that. But if I lose, I demand a rematch.
—That's not how treasure hunts work —I said, rolling my eyes.
—Let me dream, Lindsay."
Sack pulled out his phone and started typing something, probably ideas for the clues. I already had some in mind, though I wanted them to be challenging enough that Olivia would actually have to put in some effort.
—And you, Sack? —I asked—. Do you know what you're hiding yet?
—Maybe —he responded cryptically—. But I'm not making this easy for you, Lindsay. Get ready to solve some riddles."
I smiled. I liked challenges.
—Deal."
The excitement of Halloween was in the air, and although Sack pretended not to care too much, I knew deep down he was enjoying all of this.
The week flew by, and before we knew it, it was October 30th. We had finally settled on a group costume: characters from Ghostbusters . Olivia insisted we try them on that afternoon, just in case something went wrong the next day. Sack didn't object too much since the costume was basically a jumpsuit and a plastic proton pack, comfortable enough for his taste.
That night, we split up to hide our objects in different parts of the campus. We walked carefully, making sure no one saw us, which made the experience feel almost like a secret mission. When we finished, we regrouped and decided to go to the store to buy pumpkins.
—This is almost as important as the costumes —Olivia said as we browsed the store, examining each pumpkin as if it were a work of art.
—Do we really need to be this picky? —Sack asked, crossing his arms—. They're all pumpkins.
—Incorrect —I replied, picking one up—. Some are easier to carve, others have better shapes. It's a matter of strategy.
Sack looked at me with a half-smile and leaned slightly closer.
—Strategy, huh? What's your strategy for winning the pumpkin-carving contest?"
—I can't reveal it —I answered with a mischievous smile—. But let's just say my pumpkin will be the best."
—That sounds like a challenge —he murmured, leaning in a little more.
For a moment, the noise of the store seemed to fade away. I realized how close he was to me, and my heart skipped a beat. Olivia cleared her throat loudly, breaking the moment.
—Yeah, yeah, romance and all that, but we need to find the perfect pumpkin —she said, rolling her eyes with a grin.
—I'll try, but only because Lindsay asked so convincingly —Sack said with an amused look, grabbing a random pumpkin and showing it to me—. Is this one good?"
—Not a chance —I laughed, shaking my head—. Let me help you."
Sack and I spent some time evaluating pumpkins together, while Olivia continued her own search with absolute determination. When we finally found the right ones, we headed to the checkout line with our choices ready.
—And don't forget, the winner gets to decide what we do all day without objections —Olivia added with a sly smile.
—Yeah, yeah, we get it —Sack said—. But don't expect me to try too hard. If I win, I just want a day off where no one forces me to do ridiculous things."
—That's boring —Olivia complained—. Me, on the other hand, I have plans."
—What kind of plans? —I asked suspiciously.
—Oh, you'll see —she replied with a mischievous laugh.
Sack and I exchanged worried glances but didn't say anything else. It was too late to back out now. The competition was on.