Julia

Halloween arrived, and Jace wanted to celebrate it with me since it was our first Halloween as a couple. Of course, Jas and Casp tagged along because they enjoyed crashing my dates with my boyfriend.

We stood in line for the haunted hayride while Casp and Jas argued.

"How did we get stuck with frick and frack?" Jace asked me.

"Pure dumb luck on our part." I shrugged.

"We couldn't call people to distract them?"

I turned to Jace with my hands on my hips. "Who could we call? Charlie avoids people like the plague. And I refused to call my crazy cousins since they prefer to talk about boys."

Jace turned to me. "Our cousins are fifteen and fourteen."

"And they're crazy."

"That's not helpful whatsoever." Jace shrugged.

"I didn't say it was helpful. I said they were crazy. Jordin, Casper, and Liam would hurt us if we lost their precious babies in the cornfield."

"I'm sure they would find their way out with Casp here. He would draw them a map." He grinned.

I snickered because it was true. Casp would draw a detailed map so no one got lost. Talk about a buzzkill.

We got to the truck bed. Jace climbed up first, then helped me into it. We found a seat while Casp and Jas sat across from us and argued. What did they argue about? Casp was giving Jas pointers about her organizational skills. Jas told him to put a sock in it.

"Wait!" Someone yelled, running toward the truck with hay bales.

We glanced and saw Charlie reach the truck bed.

"Do you have room for one more?" She asked the guy.

"Sure do. Climb inside," the driver said.

Casp moved from his seat and helped Charlie inside. Jace and I exchanged glances while Casp led Charlie to a spot beside him. She eased down on the hay bale and got comfy.

"I thought you couldn't make it, Charlie," Jace said.

"I thought about what you said and decided I needed a break from life," Charlie said.

Okay, that's not what we said. I distinctly remembered that conversation. Never once did we say take a break from life. No, we suggested that Charlie help Casp with his OCD issues.

"Oh, good. Casp can discuss time management with you instead of me," Jas told Charlie.

"We were discussing your organizational skills, which you lack," Casp said, rolling his eyes.

Jas put up her hand to Casp. "Talk to the hand because I'm not listening."

Casp glared at her. "I can't wait until you start dating. No guy will deal with your sassiness."

"Then it's their loss." Jas shrugged.

"Are you two always like this?" Charlie asked them.

"Yep," they said.

"Okay, then."

The truck moved while Charlie refereed Casp and Jas. Thank the lord for small favors.

*******
Jace

I hoped to spend time with Jules alone on Halloween until Dexter and Odin suggested taking Jas and Casp with us. I swear they enjoy sabotaging my dates with Jules.

The truck drove through the hay field, and people dressed in costumes jumped out at us. Some screamed, while others laughed. I didn't care as long as I was with Jules.

The ride lasted thirty minutes before the truck returned to take other people for a ride. Once it stopped, I got down and helped Jules down. Then I helped Jas. Casp helped Charlie.

We walked to a booth, where we bought cider and donuts before finding a place to sit.

"What's next?" Jas asked.

"We could hit a haunted house," Charlie suggested.

"Uh, no," Casp said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"What's wrong with a haunted house?" Charlie knitted her brows in confusion.

Casp shifted in his spot and stared at the table. "I'm not a fan of dark rooms."

"Oh, okay."

Jules, Jas, and I exchanged glances. Charlie didn't know about Casp's fear of dark rooms, but we did.

"How about scary movies?" Jules suggested.

"I wouldn't mind gorging on popcorn and pop." I shrugged. "What about you guys?"

"I can do horror movies," Jas said.

"We'll keep the lights on, right?" Casp asked.

"Of course," Jules said.

"Then I'm in."

We glanced at Charlie.

"I guess I can deal with horror movies." She smiled.

"Then it's settled. We'll head to my house after we finish our cider and donuts," I said.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

********
Julia

Crisis averted. Charlie didn't know about Casp's fear of the dark. It wasn't our place to say anything and humiliate him. When he would stay over, he needed a nightlight so he didn't freak out. Dad created a cool gadget for Casp with stars on the ceilings. It helped with his fear.

We finished our cider and donuts. Charlie suggested that Casp ride with her to Jace's house. He was more than happy to do so. Of course, he would since he has a thing for her. Jas rode with Jace and me.

On the drive home, Jace's phone rang with a video call from Braydon. "Answer my phone, will you?"

I hit accept as Braydon's ugly mug appeared on the screen. "Hey, Braydon."

"I called Jace's phone, didn't I?" Braydon asked.

"Yeah, but Jace is busy driving."

"Hey, Bray!" Jace yelled from the driver's side.

"Hey, Jace."

"Where's your better half?"

"Helping Darby."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, she had a rough day. So, Dallas is helping her."

"Where's Emerald?"

"Taking a bath."

"You remember it's Halloween, right?"

"You remember we're ball players, right?"

Jace chuckled. "No, I haven't forgotten."

"Good, because Dallas wants to schedule a trip to Vegas."

"Say what?" Jace and I exchanged glances.

"Yeah, he wants to take Darby on a trip."

"Why?"

"Who the hell knows?" Braydon shrugged.

"Does Mom and Dad know about Dallas's plans for a Vegas trip?"

"No. They would flip if they found out."

"Hence why we need to tell them."

"Jace, you know how Mom and Dad get."

"Bray, it's better if we tell them before they find out from someone else."

"Then you tell them." Braydon ended the call before Jace could say anything.

"That was the strangest conversation ever," I said.

"It's Braydon. Every conversation with him is weird." Jace shrugged.

"Does Dallas realize you can up and leave on a moment's notice?"

"Dallas never thinks things through. My brother needs a babysitter."

I snickered.

Jace pulled into his driveway and parked. We got out and waited for Casp and Charlie. Charlie pulled into her driveway shortly after we did. They got out and walked over to us. We headed inside and removed our jackets.

While the others found a place to sit, Jace and I made popcorn and grabbed pops.

"Where are your parents?" I asked.

"Dad took Mom out to haunted houses," Jace said.

"Really?"

"Yeah." Jace nodded. "Dad likes it when Mom gets scared and clings to him."

"Your parents are so adorable." I smiled.

"Yeah, they are." Jace made two bags of popcorn and dumped them into two bowls. He carried them into the living room while I had the pops. He handed a bowl to Casp while keeping one for us.

Jas sat on the couch with Jace and me, while Casp sat on the loveseat with Charlie. I sat in between Jas and Jace while he queued Poltergeist. We sat and watched the movie while jumping at certain parts.

The next movie was The Amityville Horror. When I got scared, I clung to Jace and buried my face into him. Jace wrapped an arm around me to protect me, and Jas held the popcorn hostage so we didn't spill it.

Why did we pick horror movies to watch?

*******
Jace

Okay, this evening turned out better than expected. Anytime Jules got scared, she buried her face into my chest and clung to me like a koala. I didn't mind because it gave me a reason to hold her.

It didn't help when my parents came home, and the girls screamed. Mom and Dad glanced at us in surprise. I turned off the movie after Mom and Dad startled everyone.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you came home early," Dad said.

"It's fine. Casp didn't want to visit a haunted house," I said.

"Ah."

Charlie stood up. "I should head home since I have to work in the morning."

Casp followed suit. "I'll walk you to your car. Come on, Jas. I'll walk you home before taking off."

Jas shoved the bowl of popcorn at Julia and left with Casp and Charlie. Jules stayed a little longer.

"How was your date?" I asked.

"It wasn't bad." Dad shrugged. "Odin and Oliver's family had a great haunted house this year. We got a kick out of it."

"Only because you enjoyed me holding onto your arm," Mom said.

"I will take you holding onto me any time, honey." Dad smiled adoringly at Mom.

"Then, you might want to sit down for what I need to tell you," I said.

Concern crossed my parents' faces as they sat in the living room.

"What's going on?" Dad asked.

"Braydon called on our way home from the hay ride. He mentioned Dallas wanted to take a trip to Vegas," I said.

"Why Vegas?" Mom asked.

"I don't know." I shook my head. "But I didn't want to keep it from you guys."

"I'll call Dallas and talk to him. I don't want him getting into trouble if he wants to go," Dad said.

"If Dallas goes, I'll go with him."

Dad nodded in agreement. "I'll talk to Odin about it. I prefer it if you go with your brother. You're more levelheaded."

No kidding. I'm the oldest, and I keep my brothers out of trouble. It doesn't help that they live in another state. Something tells me that Dallas has a reason for wanting to travel to Vegas.