"I really think he needs you, Jo. You're the only one he actually listens to about shit." Jessica Davis spoke to Josie Saltzman as the two of them stood at her locker. Jessica was getting her backpack ready for the day ahead of her.

Josie let out a chuckle, rolling her eyes. "Does he really listen to me, though?"

"He does." Jessica nodded, closing her locker. "He doesn't want to admit it, but he would literally do anything you asked of him."

"That's not true." Josie crinkled her nose as she looked down the hallway. "If he did, he would be here right now."

"He's just freaking out, okay? Like the rest of us."

The girl sighed, nodding her head. "I'm just kind of worried about him."

Jessica's eyes wandered along the wall, and she found a poster. "Why don't you force him to do the costume contest with you? The prize it two hundred dollars."

Josie shook her head. "Hope and I do it together every year."

"I think it would be good for Justin to focus on something though."

"Oh well. It's hope and my thing."

*

Private Message Between Ho(e)pe and Troll

Ho(e)pe
Okay so maybe we can do out Hogwarts houses
Because I'm obv a Gryffindor and you're obv a hufflepuff

Troll
Did you take the Pottermore quiz?
I think you're more of a Slytherin

Ho(e)pe
UH
I HAVE BEEN A GRYFFINDOR ALL MY LIFE
And yes I did take it and I got slytherin
But that does not matter I am a Gryffindor

Troll
Alright whatever you say

Ho(e)pe
Thank you
Or we could do the powderpuff girls but we would need Jess
We could do Velma and daphne
MERMAID MAN AND BARNACLE BOY
That's it

Troll
Please don't be mad at me

Ho(e)pe
You're ditching me

Troll
Not yet
I'm considering it

Ho(e)pe
BUT WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR AND WE WIN EVERY YEAR

Troll
But Justin needs something to focus on
I was talking to Jess about it this morning and she kind of convinced me

Ho(e)pe
Of fucking course this is about Justin
Ugh
I can't believe I actually thought you were done with him
The two of you are obsessed with each other
And I mean that in the nicest way possible

Troll
We can have next year I promise
And we can still watch hocus pocus on Halloween together

Ho(e)pe
Alright fine
But I'm not happy about it

*

Josie had forced Justin Foley to come with her to the Halloween store downtown to search for costumes together. "You could be Harry, and I could be the Golden snitch!" Josie squealed as she held up two Harry Potter inspired costumes.

"You're a nerd." Justin laughed, shaking his head. "How about this?"

He pointed to a woman's costume that was an outlet and a men's costume that was a plug. Josie narrowed her eyes, sending him a frown. "We don't want to be disqualified."

"We won't be disqualified." Justin wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"No, Justin." She groaned, walking past him. "You actually have to be there for us to win, though."

Justin nodded as he followed behind her. "Yeah, I know. I'll be there."

She turned, raising her eyebrows. "Do you promise?"

"Yeah, I promise." He furrowed his eyebrows as he looked down at the ground. "But I've kind of felt that you've been like a babysitter or something to me lately."

"Then maybe stop acting like a child, and you won't need a babysitter."

"Justin!"

The two looked up to see the Coach of the basketball team walking towards them. "Oh, uh- hey, coach." Justin stuttered.

"We missed you at the pep rally and at practice." The Coach made his way over towards Justin and Josie

Justin shoved his hands into his pockets, nodding. "Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. I've just had the stomach virus."

Josie placed her hand on Justin's back. "We're about to go get his medicine."

"Mhmm." The Coach did not seem to be buying their story. "Everything all right at home?"

Justin looked down at Josie, who sent him a nod, before he answered. "Yes, sir, I've just been sick. I'll be there tomorrow. I won't let you down."

"I'm not worried about you letting me down, son." The Coach let out a sigh after he spoke. "Colleges look at things like school attendance, game attendance, your grades."

"Yes, sir."

"Okay." The coach nodded. "Now you take that medicine." He started to walk away before turning back to them. "And son, get yourself some eye drops while you're at it."

Josie let out a giggle as she watched the Coach leave them. She began her walk down the isles again, and froze when she saw the perfect costume. "No, Jo. I'm not wearing that."

"We're going to be ketchup and mustard."

"Fuck you, Josie."