Aphmau laughs and throws the empty paint can to the side, "I love Halloween."

"You need a new can, kitty? Looks incomplete." Gene offers. Aphmau looks around for anyone watching. Of course she finds just the person to stop her.

"Not now. Aaron's the stop light will complain my ear off." She notices he starts walking over towards them. "Speak of the devil."

"You guys realize that you could end up in jail for validation of property, right? Shouldn't you be in class?"

"Shouldn't you be in class?" Sasha snickers.

Aphmah sighs and walks up to Aaron, "Lycan, the difference between me and you is that I could care less about this dump." Gene wraps one arm around Aaron's shoulder.

"Buzzkill, why don't you go organize your binder for science? That sounds like a lot of fun." He suggests. "Unless, we have something you want." Gene looks at Aphmau, "Or someone."

"Shut up, you perv." Aphmau rolls her eyes. She bents down to pick up a paint can and tosses it to Aaron, "Since you seem so interested in what we're doing, why don't you try it?"

"Because I care. Unlike you, I want my college degree to look good?"

"I don't give a damn about your reputation." Zenix takes the can from Aaron, "He's a coward."

"I'm not a coward."

Zenix and Gene look at each other before Zenix speaks again, "You're right. You're nothing but a loser."

Something formed in Aaron's eyes. Not tears, no no no. Anger. He flings Gene's arm off of him and pushes him to the ground. Before Zenix could react, Aaron pushes him too.

"Are you psycho?! They didn't even hit you!" Aphmau bends down to help Gene and Zenix up.

"Cool." Sasha says.

"Shut up and help me Sasha." Aphmau says as Sasha helps Gene up.

Zenix laughs, "Looks like Lycan isn't a pussy."

•○●A Purplla Publish●○•

"Is it bad that Lycan's kinda hot now?" Sasha asks. Aphmau closes her locker and swings her backpack over her shoulder,

"That's vile. Who would call Lycan of all people hot?"

"You gotta admit, he's really good looking. You've seen him in gym. He's the hottest person to walk the halls."

"I've got eyes, but I also have taste." Aphmau and Sasha start walking towards their next class. "I thought you and Zenix had a thing."

"Yeah, but I don't like dumbasses."

"Then why do you like Lycan?"

Sasha sighs, "You're coming to the haunted house with us, right? I can't deal with Gene and Zenix alone. Plus, the party will be bumping."

"If I can't, take pictures. It's funny when Zenix gets scared."

"No, you're coming. No more repeats of last year."

"Fine. Halloween costume or nah?"

"Only if you're the devil to my angel."

~~~

"Gene, maybe you should pick up a textbook before a paint can." The teacher gives him back his test.

"Hey, a 35 is better than a 26."

"Zenix, I don't know why you're even in this class." She gives him his test.

"I did better than Gene."

"Yeah, by 6 points." Sasha says as the teacher gives Sasha back her test, "Boom. 68."

The teacher looks back at Aphmau and smiles, "Good job." She says as she walks away. A 94. A ninety four. She flips her test over before Aaron can see it.

"What did you make?"

She looks at him, "Does it matter, Lycan?"

"Well, sorry for asking." He says, "So when can you come work on the project with me?"

"When you stop asking. I obviously don't care." She responds, taking out her phone and texting someone.

Aph: Meet me outside in five minutes

Aphmau raises her hand, "Can I go to the bathroom? It's an emergency."

"Sure, but hurry back." Aphmau stands up and walks towards the door, closing it tight behind her. Aaron took this as an opportunity to flip her test over and look at it.

"'I don't care' my ass."

~~~

Aphmau steps out of her car and shuts the door, texting Sasha who isn't texting back.

Aph: Where the hell are you???

Aph: I don't see your car or the idiot's

She changes the contact over to Gene.

Aph: Where are you guys??? I've been waiting for about 30 minutes

Aph: You know what? Tell Sasha and Zenix I'm going inside. I'm not waiting any longer

She shuts off her phone and walks towards the entrance, someone holding the door for her.

"Enjoying the Shadow Knights?" Laurence asks.

"Bite me." She says, walking off into the party. Laurence smirks and follows her.

"I'd love to. When and where?"

"How about in your dreams? That sounds like the perfect place." His hands reaches for her lower back, but he gets stopped by a hand.

"She obviously isn't interested."

Laurence laughs, "And what say do you have in this, Lycan? You don't know her."

Aphmau scoffs, "Neither do you." She steps closer to Aaron, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be." She grabs Aaron's hand and whispers, "Play along."

They both walk away until they no longer see Laurence. She stops them in front of the haunted house section. "Thanks for helping me back there."

"Aww the devil has a heart." He taunts.

"Don't make me regret it." She rolls her eyes.

"So we're getting in?" Aaron points towards the haunted house. Aphmau chuckles,

"That was just an excuse to get the retard away from me. Going in there with you of all people is the last thing I'd do-" Aaron takes her hand and drags her inside. Before she could leave, the door was shut behind her.

"Fucktard."

"See, that's your problem." Aaron says. "You're trying to hard to fit in that you refuse to be yourself. That you're actually pretty smart compared to the idiots you hang out with."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You don't think I know about your grades. Your straight A report card and a 4.0 gpa."

"Are you a stalker now? How did you know about that?"

"I saw your report card. Last semester and I saw your test earlier this morning."

"Yeah, because it's normal to go look at other's grades and academic standards." She says, "Fine. You got it. Miss Aphmau Everton is a smarty pants, woop de doo. What do you want?"

"For you to go through this haunted house with me."

"Does it look like I have a choice? But why? Why are you pushing this?"

"Because I know this isn't you. A rebel who pretends to not care and pretends like she doesn't have a shot at life when you are way more than that. You're a beautiful young woman who has the smarts, strength and talent to get through life and you refuse to admit that."

"... Did you just call me beautiful?"

Aaron blushes and hides his face, "It slipped out? Look, I mean it, okay? You're way too smart to fail yourself out."

Aphmau laughs, "Does Lycan have a crush on me? Is that what this is about?"

"Okay, so maybe I think you're beautiful and smart and so so much more than what I thought you are, but that doesn't mean-"

"Lycan?" She covers his mouth, "Shut up and take me through this haunted house. We can talk about this later."

~~~

"This is way better than painting walls with Gene, Zenix, and Sasha." Aaron pushes Aphmau on the swing a bit higher.

"Life is a lot more than wearing black and being bad just to get attention." Aaron says. Aphmau slowly stops the swing and stops besides Aaron.

"Can I tell you something? You CANNOT tell anyone else this."

"I got you."

She sighs, "I didn't want to end up like this. In middle school, I was a completely different person. I volunteered at homeless shelters and donated, I was top ten of the smartest eighth graders. But then I went into high school and it was not the best experience I've been through. I was mocked and made fun of. But then I met Gene, Sasha, and Zenix. They didn't care about the rules and they were true rebels. I got a taste and I wanted more. So much more. So I dressed like them. Acted like them. Eventually became like them."

Aarom stands in front of her and pulls her up off the swing, "You're nothing like them. Unlike them, you have a chance. Your story isn't over with yet."

"You're just saying that because you like me."

"No, I'm not, Aphmau. I mean every word of it. Look. When I first met you, I automatically knew you were something else than your appearance. Something special. This was all before I started liking you. I started liking you when I was 100% sure that you're not Aphmau the Shadow Knight." He takes her hands, "You're Aphmau Everton. And only Aphmau Everton."

She smiles and sighs, "You'll alright, Lycan."

"Alright enough to start hanging out with me?" He asks and Aphmau pushes him lightly.

"Don't push your luck." She checks the time, "I better get going. It's still a school night."

Aaron gasps, "Aphmau cares about a curfew? Amazing." He says and Aphmau laughs,

"You dork."

"Only for you."

Aphmau gasps, "Lycan getting flirty and not nerdy for once? Astonishing." She jokes.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Aph." He says.

He turns to walk away, "Wait." Aphmau says and he faces her.

"Yes?"

She gets on her tippy toes to kiss his cheek and she lowers herself, "Point one, Everton."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe it is."

"You're on."

•○●A Purplla Publish●○•

I meant to post this yesterday for Halloween 😖

Until next time,

~Purplla 💜