Chapter Three: Haunted

The next day, Annie, Meghan, and Holly were doing their locker routine when they found Max at her locker. "Hey, Max!" Annie called out. She had just closed her locker with her stuff in hand when Annie called her name.

Max turned and smiled at the trio. "Hey," she said, looking at Annie and then the other two. "Are you guys heading to class?" She hopped in with their group and went down the hall.

"Not yet, we have to stop by Annie's locker where the bell usually rings so we get going and then we see each other in the next class," Meghan said. Max nodded along. "But hey, you guys start in the first class, so that's pretty cool."

Annie smiled. "Sure is. Means I don't have to deal with them alone." Meghan and Holly knew exactly who she was talking about. Max, however, was lost.

"Who's 'them'?" she asked. Annie remembered that Max didn't quite get her history with Max's 'stalkers'. The name was deserved with the way they've been staring at her.

On cue, the bell rang leading Holly and Meghan to wave goodbye and walk to their class. Max stayed with Annie at her locker as she grabbed her things. "They are the boys who've been stalking you. It's a whole thing... I don't bring it up often," she explained.

Max nodded and was curious on what happened, but she decided not to push and wait for a day they might be closer. A part of Max's mind hoped for that day to come soon. "Cool," Max said, not knowing what else to say.

Despite the awkward topic, Annie let out a snort at Max's even more awkward reply. The noise surprised Max and she looked at the brunette confused, yet not weirded out. She was still smiling.

Annie's cheeks went red and she covered her mouth with her free hand. "I'm so sorry, oh my god that was weird," she said quickly, the words toppling over each other.

Max found herself ready to come to the defense again, but stopped. A lot of the things she was doing, she realized, was defending. But specifically, defending what Annie said about herself. It was weird, and it could remind her of a similar circumstance back in California with a friend of hers in the fourth grade.

The two girls entered Mr. Clarke's room and went to their seats quickly. Max was still doing her best to avoid the stares her new stalker gave her. Annie tried not to feel jealous and hurt by their constant attention on the new girl after they cut her out.

The day was pretty bland, with Annie continuing her doodles and Max trying not to stare as she did. At their last class before lunch, the group decided they'd meet each other in the lunchroom. Meghan would get the table, as always, while Holly and Annie got their food. Max wanted to drop her things off and grab her skateboard, then she'd be right there.

Annie sat down with Holly coming in right behind and the girls got to eating their lunch. As they ate, Meghan set out the snacks- more jicama- but this time there was a third bag. "So," Annie started, going off her thought of the bag. "Max is pretty cool."

The other two nodded quickly. "She's awesome," Meghan said. "Hope she likes it here. I want to ask her about California."

Holly nodded. "I hear it's so cool down there since it's such a huge city," she added on.

Annie laughed. "You know California is a state, right?" she asked, teasing her friend.

"Ha ha, yes I do. I just meant, like, Los Angeles and that area. I bet that's where she's from."

They didn't talk for a moment, just enjoyed their food. During their silence was when Max came by and sat down with them. The girls kept up nice conversation, just chatting about random little things. Holly ended up asking where in California Max was from and she talked about it a little, but not too much. One thing Annie picked up was that she missed it.

Near the end of the school day, Annie decided to ask Max about her Halloween plans. "So, you got plans for Halloween?" she asked. "Holly, Meghan, and I are going to come over to mine and get ready then we're gonna hit the streets for some candy."

Max paused and thought for a second. She contemplated the invite she got from Dustin and Lucas, but she also really liked hanging out with Annie. Her friends weren't that bad either, so it might be fun. The stalkers, on the other hand, were weird but Dustin and Lucas were friendly enough.

Sensing the hesitation, Annie backtracked. "If you've got plans, that's cool. Just wanted to ask," she clarified. She would never admit it, but Annie was disappointed that Max already had plans with somebody else. Or maybe her family did a thing.

"No, no it's okay. I'd love to. It's just that those stalkers Dustin and Lucas invited me. Those were the only others possible plans I had," Max explained.

Annie nodded. "Cool. Are you gonna with them?" In her mind, she begged the answer was no. She didn't know why she wanted that so badly.

"I don't know... they seem nice, but I know you guys are nice. I don't know." They were quiet and almost to the school exit. "Maybe I can hang out with you guys then maybe meet up with them? I don't know," Max said.

The smile that filled Annie's face made Max really happy, though. "Sure! Let me write down my address and I'll see you at four? We planned to hang out and get ready and make sure to get out early enough that the good candy is still there."

Max smiled too. "Sure, yeah sounds great. Can't wait," she said. Once Annie had her address written down, she handed it to Max. The redhead took it and put it in her pocket, then got on her skateboard to meet at her brother's car. The girls waved at each other.

Annie made her way to Steve's car and got in. "Hey, the girls are coming around 4 so we can get ready for tonight together. Sound cool?"

Steve smiled. "Yeah, sounds cool. You guys still going trick-or-treating?" he asked.

"Yep. Want to enjoy it while we still can, before we become high schoolers and lame," she joked. Steve just laughed and rolled his eyes and they made their way out of the parking lot.

~~

Music was blasting from Annie room as the four girls dance around and got ready together. Steve and Nancy had left a but ago, going to a party like high schoolers usually did. If she was being honest with herself, she'd miss the days like this- blaring music and getting ready together and ending the night with trading candy around and having a sleepover because everyone's too tired to go home.

Even Max was doing okay with Holly's ultra mega personality coming out. She was almost screaming along to the words of When Doves Cry. Holly was already ready to go in her cute costume that kept freaking Annie out when people called Holly Annie. It was weird.

Meghan was doing the finishing touches to her zombie costume that looked hilarious. Max was basically ready, except she didn't want to wear the Michael Myers mask right then since it was hard to breathe in.

Annie was finishing her Barbie costume, getting the wig on and tucking every strand of brown hair under it. The wig just wouldn't stay on. "Ugh, this is so dumb," she muttered, taking the wig off and trying again from square one.

"Here, trying putting your hair up in a ponytail first. Makes it easier to tuck the hair in," Holly said in between verses, right before going back to "singing" again.

She did as suggested, using a small tie to put her hair up in a low ponytail. Max was sitting next her, and so Annie decided to get her to help. "Hey, can you help make sure the back is all tucked in?" she asked.

Max nodded and set her knife down. She came behind Annie and carefully made sure no brown hair was showing. "Done," she said and stepped back to look at Annie in the mirror, who was doing the same thing.

They looked at her and the girl in question smiled. "Yes! It looks great," she said and finished putting on some makeup she took from her mom. "Hopefully it doesn't get too cold out there."

Meghan then said, "All finished!" She turned to show off her costume to everyone. It was pretty good considering she spent only a few bucks on it. "Can't wait to scare little kids," she said.

Everyone laughed. "I'm hoping to scare big kids," Max countered. Holly and Annie would be the breath of relief after the other two did the scaring.

"Looks like everyone is ready then!" The music was shut off and the girls left the Harrington residence. Annie had to carry around a little bag to hold her house key in. After only twenty minutes of walking, she dropped it in her bag holding he candy and decided one thing to hold was enough.

The mismatched group of friends walked down a few streets, getting loads of candy, before disaster struck. Holly was walking up ahead, doing some skips in there as well (she'd already eaten quite a few pieces of candy at this point). As she landed from one, her ankle rolled and she went down.

"Holly!" Annie called, quickly running over to her, Meghan and Max following closely behind. They all kneeled down in front of her and got her sitting up and off her side. "Are you okay?"

All Holly could do was shake her head. Meghan looked at the ankle, having the most experience out of them with this kind of thing. "I don't think it's serious, it might just be a rolled ankle. Still, I don't think you should walk on it."

"I don't think I could even if I wanted to," Holly commented.

Inside, Annie felt her heart deflate a little. This was most likely the last night they'd do this and it was cut short. Of course she couldn't be mad at Holly, the girl didn't do this on purpose, but couldn't stop from feeling disappointed.

"What do you want to do? Go back to mine or go home?" Annie asked. There was contemplation in Holly's eyes, and Annie knew what she wanted to do. "Hey, it's okay if you want to go home and take a rest. It's better if you're able to walk at school tomorrow, yeah?" Annie offered. The others could hear disappointment but didn't outright comment.

Meghan stood up, followed by the other two. "I'll help her home, you guys keep going. Just bring us some good stuff tomorrow?" she asked while helping Holly up from the ground.

"We don't want to keep going without you guys," Max said back. She felt awkward in this situation, but was mainly speaking for Annie here.

Holly quickly shook her head. "No, no, you guys keep going! Really, I'd hate it if you guys had to cut the night short because of me- especially your first Hawkins Halloween, Max!"

There was hesitation, and Holly looked over at Annie. "Really, go. Like Meghan said, bring us some good stuff, okay? Maybe we can conduct the trading at lunch or something," she suggested. "If you go home early because of me, I'll be mad at myself so do it for me?"

Annie sighed and rolled her eyes, but a smile came onto her face. "Okay, I guess I can do that... just get better!" Annie carefully hugged Holly and Max waved at the girls as they turned and started going in the direction of Holly's house.

Now it was just Annie and Max. Something bubbled inside Annie at the thought. She pushed it down though because no way was it the feeling she just thought it was.

"Well, looks like it's up to us now. Barbie and Michael Myers." Max laughed and hooked her arm through Annie's. "Better keep to our word."

They kept going, getting more candy, when Max heard a familiar voice ahead. "Oh my god look!" she said, pointing down at the street. Annie turned and saw four Ghostbusters walking and loudly complaining about nougat.

"We should scare them. Or you should, because I can't imagine too many people would be scared by a hot pink Barbie," Annie said. Max laughed and slipped her mask on.

"Let's get to it then, Barbie."

They carefully came to where the boys were in the road, and then Max jumped in front of them, growling and waving her knife at them.

Annie couldn't stop laughing at their screams- especially the girly scream from Lucas. She was doubled over as Max laughed and pulled her mask off. "Holy shit! You should've seen the look on your faces!"

"That was so funny! And come on Lucas, who screams like that," Annie teased, moving from her spot in the grass to beside Max. The girls were both smiling, but there was no malice in either.

They started walking off, but Max turned around and looked expectantly at them. "You guys coming or not? I heard we should hit up Loch Nora- that's where the rich people live, right?"

Annie at first wanted to disagree with the invite, but she didn't. Not because it would've been super awkward at this point, but because she didn't mind. She could just avoid Mike and stick to talking with Will and Max.

Lucas and Dustin followed quickly, with Will following them. Mike waited, not wanting to join the girls at all, but followed anyway.

All around Loch Nora, the group went to each house and got so much candy, full-size after full-size. "Another full-size," Dustin commented. "Like, seriously, rich people are such suckers. Wait, you're not rich right?" he asked Max.

She shook her head, her arm still linked through Annie's- it had been almost the whole night. "Nope, I live up old Cherry Road," she answered. Dustin made an awkward noise. "It's fine I mean, street's good for skating."

Annie didn't mention how she was technically rich, deciding she enjoyed this moment. She missed these moments with the Party.

Dustin and Lucas went on to make jokes about her being a California girl, saying "Totally tubular" over and over in varying ways. It had Max laughing, which had Annie smiling. She liked seeing Max happy.

"Stop you guys, my ears are bleeding," Annie said through laughter.

Max smiled and said, "We wouldn't want that to happen to Barbie now would we?"

Luckily, Max looked away before she could see the blush creep up and burn Annie's cheeks. As she smiled, she thought about how it was because of Max. But then another thought came into her head and her smile fell.

You can't like girls, Annie. That isn't right.

But then why did she feel like she did? Maybe it was the candy and the night getting to her. She didn't actually like like Max, she just enjoyed spending time with her and the others and having fun like this. Girls couldn't like girls.

Max looked over to see if Annie was laughing at Dustin's remark and instead saw the girl in deep thought with a frown on her face. "Hey, you good?" she asked.

Annie snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Max, giving her a nod. "Just thinking about all the candy we've gotten and what I should get to Meg and Holly," she lied. Max easily saw through it, but didn't push. She'd ask later, when they weren't around the others.

"Where's Will?" The words caused everyone to pause and turn around to see a panicked Mike, and no Will. "Guys did you see Will?"

Annie quickly shook her head. "No, we didn't, he's been hanging back there with you. Where'd we lose him?" she asked quickly.

"I don't know!" Mike yelled, and he started to go back and look around. Everyone followed him and Max's arm slipped from Annie's for the first time. They all ran around, looking for him everywhere.

Dustin found the camera Will had been carrying laying on the ground and suddenly, everyone knew something was wrong. While Max and Annie didn't know exactly what, the boys had a pretty good idea.

Mike led the group and they all went down some stairs and found Will huddled by a wall. "Will!" Mike yelled, and the boy was snapped from the trance he was in.

"Holy shit," Dustin muttered as the entire group managed to get down the stairs.

They saw Will was still acting strange. "Is he okay?" Lucas asked.

"I don't know," Mike quickly responded. Annie, scared to death, found herself clinging to Max's arm. She'd never seen Will this way. Mike went on, telling Will they were going home. When Dustin moved to help get Will up, Mike brushed him off and took charge. "Keep trick-or-treating. I'm bored anyways."

As they watched Mike lead Will up the stairs, Annie realized she was still holding Max's arm and let go with a blush. "What's wrong with him?" Max asked, looking to the boys to see if they had any answers. Annie wanted to know, too.

Instead of answering her question, Lucas decided to call it a night. Him and Dustin left and went back to their homes. Annie and Max stood for a little bit, not knowing what to do. They finally walked back up the stairs and then stood at the top, again, unsure of what to do.

"Um, so, this was fun," Max suddenly said, but not too loud. Annie nodded in agreement. "Too bad it had to end that way I guess..."

Again, Annie nodded in agreement. "I guess it is late anyway. Steve might be back from his party by now..." He hadn't said what time he'd be back home before he left Annie and the others to their shenanigans, but she didn't think it'd be an all night type situation.

"Yeah. I hope I beat Billy home," Max said, not explaining what she meant to a suddenly super confused Annie. "See you tomorrow? At school?" she asked.

"Yeah, totally. I'll see you tomorrow. Maybe bring some candy with you to school as a snack or something. Could sell it to kids for a few bucks, even," Annie joked. Max laughed and Annie's heart did a weird thing that she ignored. "Have a good night."

"You too, Barbie."

A/n: another chapter down, yay!! I'm so excited y'all 😁