"No, that didn't happen until the War of 1812."

"Oooohhh," Lydia said, correcting a mistake in her notes.

I flopped back in my chair at the table, sighing wearily. "Why don't we break for the day?" I asked her eagerly. 

She nodded enthusiastically. "Bernie's has awesome sundaes."

"Sweet!" I responded, grabbing my phone and purse. "Let's go, kiddo!"

                                                                                     ~

"Mmmmmmm~"

"Enjoying yourself, there, (Y/N)?"

"You were right, Lydia," I sighed, mouth full of rich, creamy ice-cream.

"Told ya," Lydia chuckled, laughing harder when my eyes rolled back into my head when I took another bite. 

"Well, howdy, you two," came a familiar voice, and when I looked up, I saw the signature smile that belonged to Riley.

"Hey!"  I greeted him, wiping my mouth with my napkin. "I almost forgot you started today!"

Riley laughed. "Well, can I get you guys a refill?"

"Um, sure! I had water," I said, handing him my glass.

He chuckled. "Of course. Besides coffee, you're such a purist, (Y/N)." He returned my refilled glass.

"I mean, you're not wrong," I agreed, grinning at him.

"And how about you, little lady?" he asked charmingly, addressing Lydia. 

She gave him a small smile. "I had coke."

"Alright, I'll go grab another one from the kitchen and be right back with it," he said, taking her nearly-empty glass.

"Thanks, Ri," I said to him.

He gave me a wink in response, then he was off, expertly moving between tables and people at light-speed like a champ. It was as if he had been working here for forever, but that was just Riley. He picked up on things quickly and was naturally good at just about anything.

"Your friend's cute," Lydia whispered, smiling shyly. I laughed, and her eyes widened. "Don't tell him I said that."

"Don't worry, I won't," I assured her, smiling.

"So," she began, taking another bite of her sundae, "are you guys together?"

I smiled. "Nah, not anymore. He's my ex."

"Oh, wow. You guys acted really friendly, for him to be your ex."

"Well, when we broke up, we both did it. We both knew we weren't right for each other, so there were no hard feelings. In fact, we're even closer, now. We're like brother and sister."

Lydia nodded. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

Just then Riley came back with Lydia's coke. "Here ya go," he said, sitting the glass down carefully in front of her. "Sorry about the wait, business is really starting to pick up, this hour."

I nodded. "Totally fine. Well, don't let us keep you, I know you're busy."

"Alright, I'll catch up with you....."

Riley's sentence fell off into nothing as he stared out the large window to the right of our booth.

"There's a green raccoon perched on the window sill."

Lydia and I both turned to look, and there, his little grubby paws pressed up against the glass almost pleadingly, was Larry.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe he followed us!" I said, chuckling. 

I mean, what else could I do in that situation besides chuckling in bewildered amusement?

"Well, I can believe it," Lydia growled, scooting out of the booth quickly and hurriedly making her way to the exit of the restaurant. "Stupid raccoon!" she hissed under her breath just before she turned the corner and disappeared from sight. 

"So... things are interesting at the Deetz house, I see," Riley commented, both of us trying to ignore Lydia chasing a giant, green raccoon outside the window that my back was currently facing.

I nodded, that bewildered smile never leaving my face. "Interesting is certainly a word for it."

                                                                                         ~

"Okay, so... truth or dare!"

I tapped my chin, pretending to be in deep thought. 

"Mmmm..... I'm gonna go the safe rout this time and choose 'truth'."

Lydia grinned as she repositioned herself across from me in the floor of her bedroom.

I had asked Lydia if she had ever had a slumber party before on the way home from Bernie's earlier that day, and when she had replied that no, she hadn't, I knew I had to fix that. And screw it, I didn't care if it was a school night; we were gonna have some fun if I had anything to say about it.

"Truth, huh? Okay.... um, how many boyfriends have you had?"

Warning bells went off in my head.

Touchy subject! Touchy subject! Touchy subject!!!!

"Um...." I said, fiddling with the draw-strings on my sweatpants. "Well, I guess.... I guess I've had two," I said finally, wanting to be honest with her.

I didn't want to start my relationship with Lydia by telling lie on top of lie on top of lie; so many lies until I myself could no longer discern fact from fiction.

After all, Lydia had been nothing but honest and open with me this whole time...

Right?

The gothy teen perked up at my answer. "Two?"

 I nodded.

"Do tell," She drawled, getting comfortable.

I, on the other hand, was having a panic attack.

"Um, Lydia, I'm gonna tell you something, but before I do, you have to swear this stays between us, okay? You cannot tell another soul. Not even that guy I hear you talk to every night over FaceTime or Skype or whatever."

Lydia looked panicked for a split-second. "You.... you know about that?"

I nodded. "Don't worry, I can't understand what you're saying, I just hear muffled voices."

She looked relieved. "Okay. Well, I swear I won't tell anybody. Not even my best friend I talk to every night."

I took a deep breath. "Okay, here goes."

So I told her my story. I told her about my curse, about moving to America, meeting my boyfriend (although I kept his identity to myself), the boat sinking, and finally ended with Lawrence's suicide.

"(Y/N), that's terrible," Lydia said finally. "I know how hard it is to lose someone you love."

 I gave her a sad smile, my mind going back to the similar comforting words I gave her back when I gave her and her family a tour back in New York. 

"Yeah, it's hard, but I'm getting over it. Slowly but surely."

She nodded. "Each person grieves a different way." 

"So," I said, wiping my teared-up eyes on the back of my hand. "Let's talk about something a bit happier, shall we?"

Lydia smiled at me and nodded.

"Alright, so, what're you going as for Halloween?"

She smiled even brighter. "I'm going as a dead bride!"

I blinked a couple of times in brief surprise before smiling, myself. "Wicked! Can I see?"

"Yeah, it's in my closet, if you wanna come take a look."

I stood and followed her to her closet. She opened the doors, and hanging in the front was a tattered, blood-red, wedding dress. 

While it was tattered and worn (obviously for the costume's aesthetic), the dress was beautiful. The skirt was all ruffles and the veil was red lace.

I reached out and gently touched one of the ruffles. "Lydia, it's beautiful," I breathed. 

"Thanks," she said, shutting the doors to her closet and resuming her position in the floor. Larry traipsed in and curled up on her bed behind Lydia and me, eyeing the two of us curiously. "What are you going as?"

I sighed hopelessly, flopping back onto the floor and rubbing my eyelids tiredly. "I have no idea!" I groaned. 

I noticed her and Larry exchange a glance. 

"What if I could get one for you?"

I sat up. "That would be so cool, Lydia! Are you sure, though? I don't wanna be any trouble."

She nodded. "I don't mind. It'll be a fun surprise!"

"Well, I can't wait to see it! Whatever it is, I know it'll be killer!"