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"NOBODY dressed up at school this year," Emily explained, sighing as she put away her school bag in order to swap it for her trick-or-treating bag. "But it's okay — this is still the best night of the year!"
Iris shook her head with a grin. "Don't know where your kids get their optimism from, Christine," she laughed, Christine slapping her lightly.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come along this year, Emily?" Lexie asked again for the millionth time, her brows furrowed in worry. Emily simply rolled her eyes as she prepared to leave the house. "Not even to walk you to Mike's?"
"Yes I am sure. Lexie, I'm begging you to actually go out and do something tonight. Jonathan isn't coming with us, you don't have to either," Emily dismissed impatiently. "Go out, have a life."
"I do have a life," Lexie muttered, her quiet persistence not exactly the most convincing thing her sister's ever heard.
"You're welcome to invite some friends over, Lexie," Christine reminded, as she did every single year. Lexie nodded absently as she did every single year, knowing that even if she did, no one would show. But that was okay with her.
"And while you're doing that...we are going to be the bakers of the century and cater to several Halloween parties," Iris mentioned casually, clearly very proud of herself.
"I hope you guys have fun!" Lexie told them genuinely. While she said so, Emily was already one foot out the door, shouting that she was leaving. Lexie scrambled to meet her, shouting after her, "Be careful! Don't hesitate to come by if something isn't okay!"
But at that point her sister wasn't listening anymore and she simply watched her walk down the street without a care in the world, her bright orange dress flying behind her.
__________
The house seemed much bigger when no one else was in it. Lexie had her yearly stash of candy set out in front of her in a large bowl — partially for the trick-or-treaters and partially for herself to indulge in while she watched the annual horror movie marathons.
Setting the bowl on the coffee table, she threw away the packages and grumbled for a moment at how full the trash was. It wasn't like she had anywhere to be. She picked the trash out of the can and tied up the bag, stepped outside for a moment and walked out the to curb where the cans sat. A few kids walked around in costume, but the street was fairly empty.
A car suddenly pulled up against the curb, fast and angry, causing her to step back at the close proximity. It slowed to a stop and turned off immediately, her neighbor getting out of the car and running his hands through his hair in a distressed fashion.
