| October 31 | Tuesday Night |

I teased my hair and wiped away the excess make-up under my eyes. If not for Megan and her impeccable fashion knowledge, I would've never been able to pull off this look.

"You look so hot," Megan beamed from the door.

I pulled back from the bathroom mirror. "Yeah?"

She stood and waltzed over to me with a smirk on her lips. Suddenly, my entire being was a few degrees hotter.

"You wear my leather pants well," she teased.

I laughed. "I'm still curious as to why you even have leather pants."

I inspected myself once more in the mirror, impressed by the costume Megan and I had put together.

With the leather pants, layered necklaces, black Rolling Stones tank, black boots and leather jacket, there wouldn't be a hotter rock-star at Jinx tonight.

I faced Megan. "Why haven't I seen your costume?"

"It's a surprise." She smiled. "And because the accessories didn't come in until today."

I moved in and allowed my hands to roam over her hips and lock behind her back. Red appeared on Megan's cheeks.

"Well, I can't wait," I whispered close to her full lips.

"You're gonna be late."

"Rock-stars are never on time..." I pressed our bodies together. "I have to stay in character."

Our lips met and I allowed the warmth to surround me. My hands pressed against the small of her back before inevitably traveling over to her butt, which made Megan smile into our kiss.

"I think you're getting a little too into your character."

"Oh, that's not my character." Our noses remained touching. "That was all me."

She giggled before pulling away, leaving me wanting more.

"Go." She held up my keys with a wide smile. "I will see you in a few hours."

I accepted my keys and passed her with a sultry look. Then, before leaving completely, I stole one more kiss.

Tonight, we were putting on a costume contest at Jinx, and the winner would receive a one-hundred-dollar gift card. It had quickly become the talk of our regular patrons, and I was excited.

I walked into the bar and spotted our staff, along with Jas, stocking up and getting things in order before we opened.

"Let me guess!" Sara shouted. "A rock-star?"

I struck a pose. "You are correct."

I joined Jas, who was on the small stage in the corner. "What are you up to?"

"Costume contest sign-up sheet," she sighed. "It's about to be crazy in here, you know that?"

I nodded. "Oh yeah. But it's about to be a blast."

"Nice costume, by the way." She looked up. "It's totally you."

"Thanks." I gave her a once-over. "And you are a... fortune teller?"

"Gypsy," she corrected with a laugh.

"I was close."

She gave me a look before I proceeded to hook up the microphone we would need to conduct this contest.

Jas and I hadn't worked together in a while, and after the kiss, we hadn't interacted much either. It's not that I hated her, it was just weird. But I still had to be civil with her, and making it more awkward wasn't on my agenda.

Once everything we said and done, we opened the doors and prepared ourselves for the night.

It wasn't until a few hours later that Jinx was alive and flowing with people. I was flipping drinks left and right in hopes of helping Sara and Quinton stay ahead while Jas worked the crowd concerning the costume contest. Once sign-up was over and the show started, things would settle down.

All was going well. That was until I heard my name above the noise.

"Samantha Carson!"

I turned and spotted none other than Emma and Shay standing at the bar. The sight of them managed to make me nervous, but I had to play it cool.

"Hey!" I greeted. "What's up?"

"We just had to see if it was true!" Emma joked.

I frowned in confusion.

"If you really worked here!" she elaborated.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm a manager."

Both of their faces told me that must've been a shocking revelation.

"Seriously?!"

"Yeah!" I grabbed a few beers per Sara's request. "How'd you two get in here?"

Emma smiled mischievously. "Your bouncer was distracted."

Great. So, Emma and Shay were here illegally, which wouldn't be a big deal if Megan wouldn't be coming. I wanted to have a good time with her tonight. Not have to worry about Emma and Shay wondering why we were so close nowadays.

And don't get me wrong. I knew it wasn't against the law. Well, not anymore. But it wasn't something I wanted to explain to them. If they so happened to even think our relationship had started before I graduated, things wouldn't be good. Sometimes, gossip was just gossip, and sometimes it could really hurt you.

And I wasn't sure if gossip about Megan and I would quickly blow over or linger.

That's when Blair, Tony and Megan walked through the door.

I tried not to stare too hard at my girlfriend, for the sake of Emma and Shay, but it was impossible. She looked stunning.

My eyes traveled up from her golden sandals that wrapped all the way up to her knees, the fake dagger against her toned thigh, and then to her flowy white dress that was tightened around her waist by a golden corset-belt. Golden bands were on each of her wrists as her dark hair fell over her shoulders in loose curls. And to pull it all together, she had a golden band around her head.

If I had to guess, she was Aphrodite.

"Holy shit!" Emma exclaimed. "Is that Miss Adams!?"

I rolled my eyes. Okay, I thought, Mood ruined.

I exited from behind the bar and quickly found Blair, who was clinging to Tony.

"Emma and Shay are here," I alerted.

"You're killin' my vibe already," Blair groaned.

I looked past Blair and saw Megan talking with someone she must've known. My heart fluttered at the sight of her.

"Are you a mermaid?" I asked Blair.

"I'm Ariel." She twirled and then clung to Tony. "And he's Prince Eric."

"Nice," I complimented. "Help me get rid of Emma and Shay."

"What!? How the hell do you want me to do that?"

I threw up my hands. "I don't know, but I really don't want to deal with them tonight."

"Sam-"

"And keep Megan away from me until then!"

"You're being ridiculous!"

I headed back towards the bar as I heard Jas announce the final call to enter the contest. Before I took my place back behind the bar, I looked back at Megan, who was still talking to one of her friends.

Jeez, how was she so hot?

When I got back, Emma and Shay were still there, Shay staring at Megan a little too long for my liking.

"So, should I enter the costume contest?" Emma asked.

I sighed. "I wouldn't bring more attention to yourself."

She frowned. "What's with you? Usually you aren't this uptight."

That's when I looked up and caught Megan's gaze. She smiled and started to make her way over to me, which caused my heart to hammer faster.

"Ah, I'm just busy and there are a lot of people here right now," I lied.

"Would it be possible to get a drink?" Emma wondered. "I won't tell on you."

My frantic eyes found Megan as she pushed her way through the crowd. That's when Blair and Tony saved the day and stopped her. My heart sighed in relief.

"I can't do that," I declined.

Emma groaned. "Lame."

Blair and I locked gazes and I silently told her to do something. She gave me the finger then disappeared back into the crowd.

I leaned forward. "I could be fined five-hundred dollars for serving minors."

"If your caught."

"I'd rather not chance it."

"Since when did you care about any of that?"

Okay, maybe I was being a bit irrational. I just didn't want her and Shay to stay much longer. Although, if Blair didn't do something, I was convinced they would be here all night.

I looked up, and when Megan and I locked eyes this time I could see the jealousy. Blair must've told her who was here and she wasn't happy about it.

"Sam!" Quinton called. "Could you to make three house shots?"

I complied and continued to ignore Emma and Shay in hopes that they would get bored and leave. But when I finished the shots and turned around, they were still there.

Dammit! They were really putting a damper on my night!

Then, as if Heaven answered my prayers, a bouncer walked up to the bar.

"Are you two ladies of age?" he asked.

Emma and Shay were caught off guard.

"U-Uh-"

"Do you have your IDs?"

I turned away with a smirk on my face and pretended to be busy. That's when I heard "You two have to leave".

I disappeared into the back storage and did a victory dance, and when I came back out, Emma and Shay were gone.

"I think it's time to get this party started, don't you?!" Jas shouted through the mic.

The crowd erupted.

Looks like it was time for the costume contest.

"Can I get my judges up here for some help?"

I looked at Quinton who clapped his hands excitedly before joining me out on the floor. Once we were in position to judge, Jas continued.

As the costume contest proceeded, I searched for Megan. Then, out of nowhere, two hands grazed my hips, which caused my face to heat up.

"There's my sexy rock-star," Megan whispered in my ear.

A quick shiver ran down my spine.

I faced her. "Aphrodite?"

"Athena."

I nodded. "Should've figured."

"Was it worth the wait?" she wondered as she twirled in her costume.

One arm snaked around her waist. "Oh, it was definitely worth the wait..."

But before we could have a moment, we were interrupted.

"You're welcome, by the way," Blair intruded. "You're lucky I love you and Megan."

I pulled away from Megan and looked at my best friend. "I owe you one."

Blair batted her eyes. "Remember that when Tony and I get up on that stage to be judged."

Right. The costume contest. I was supposed to be paying attention.

I hugged Megan to my side and watched as people walked, and occasionally stumbled, onto the stage with Jas. There were some seriously awesome costumes that I wish I could've been clever enough to think of, but that's why they were in this competition and not me.

"Alright, can I get Ariel and Prince Eric onstage?" Jas called out.

Blair nudged me in excitement before rushing off with Tony.

I leaned into Megan. "You looked jealous when you noticed Emma and Shay at the bar..."

She faced forward. "I was anything but jealous."

"Coulda fooled me."

I enjoyed teasing Megan about her jealousy because, in my opinion, it was absurd. She had absolutely nothing to be worried about. God, I mean look at her! Oh wait, that's all I've been doing since she walked into my life.

She faced me. "I have nothing to be jealous about." Her hands gripped the sides of my jacket. "Because I'm the only one who gets to do this..."

Our lips pressed together and my body was aflame. She was so right. There was no one that would ever come close to how she made me feel. No one could light up my world like she could. No one would ever love me as much as she loved me. Kisses like this one reminded me of that.

We parted and I stared at her breathlessly and at a loss of words.

She just gave me a smirk before returning her attention to the competition. I just continued to stare at her.

That's when the costume contest judging was over and Jas joined Megan, Quinton and I on the floor with the sign-up chart.

"Alright, we have a decision to make," she said as her eyes locked with mine.

I snapped out of my daze and squeezed Megan's hand. "I'll be right back."

She nodded before joining Blair and Tony.

As Quinton, Jas and I determined who would be Jinx's first Halloween costume contest winner, my mind lingered on that recent kiss. My body was still tingling from it.

"Alright, are we all in favor of this choice?" Jas asked.

I just voiced my agreement without much thought.

When Jas returned to announce the winner, I found my girlfriend and hugged her close to me. She just smiled into my neck.

Unfortunately, Blair wasn't satisfied with the results.

"Sam! I thought you were gonna vouch for me and Tony?" she protested.

"I fought," I lied. "I fought hard Blair, but it just wasn't enough. Better luck next year."

She shoved me in response.

We laughed as Megan leaned into me.

"Alright. Time for drinks."

* * *

A few hours later the bar was closing and people were drunkenly making their way out the door. It had been a successful Halloween bash, but it was time to shut it down. I was exhausted.

"Wow," I said as I counted Quinton out. "Looks like you had a good night."

"My costume was on point," he boasted.

I closed the drawer and yawned. That looks like everything.

"Alright drunkie," I called to Megan. "Let's go home."

"I'm not even drunk, Samantha," she protested.

I grabbed her hand. "Sure."

As I led the Goddess of War and Wisdom to my car, I couldn't help but laugh as she stumbled through the parking lot. Not drunk, huh?

I opened the door for her.

"The most chivalrous rock-star I've ever met," she said.

I sat in the driver's seat. "You've met other rock-stars?"

"Well, no, but I'm sure they're not as nice as you."

"Or as hot."

"Or as hot," she agreed.

I looked over to her and smiled. "You're really cute when your drunk."

"I'm not even drunk."

We made it back home and I led Megan inside. Charlie met us at the door with her tail wagging excitedly. I knelt to pick her up.

"I'm gonna go take Charlie out," I said. "You should go change."

"Bossy."

Then Megan disappeared into our room as Charlie and I headed back outside. Once she was done and ready for bed, we joined Megan back inside the apartment.

But when I walked into our room, Megan was sprawled out on our bed with her costume still on.

"Having trouble?" I asked her.

"I can't unlace my shoes."

"Thought you weren't drunk?"

She opened her eyes. "I thought wrong."

I laughed as I placed Charlie on our bed and knelt to help my girlfriend undress. Once I removed her shoes I lifted her upright.

She groaned in protest.

"You can't sleep in this," I said as I removed her head band.

"Wanna bet?" she tested.

Once she was in nothing but her white dress, I began to change out of my own costume. These leather pants were gonna be a real bitch.

Ten minutes later Megan and I were changed and under the sheets as Charlie was curled up in her bed that sat on the floor. We had finally gotten her to sleep on her own, which was a small miracle. Baby-steps.

"I had so much fun..." Megan said with her eyes closed.

"Did you?" I wondered. "Is the room still spinning?"

She giggled. "Just a little."

"Do you have class tomorrow?"

"Unfortunately."

I cringed for her.

"I'll get up and make you breakfast," I offered.

Her smile grew as she brought her hands up to my face. Then she pulled me in for a quick kiss.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too, babe."

Then she curled into my chest and I held her to me as my eyes closed in satisfaction. This had been a Halloween for the books.