chapter three:
❛ halloween is martiza's favorite ❜

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Martiza's favorite holiday was Halloween, and this year, she was determined to go all out. She and Sunny arrived fashionably late to the school dance, just as the excitement in the gymnasium reached its peak. The room was filled with the vibrant colors of Halloween decorations and the thumping bass of the DJ's music. A fan blew gently, making their costumes billow as they walked in.

Martiza, dressed in a sleek Black Widow costume with a form-fitting black bodysuit, red belt, and high-heeled boots, commanded attention as soon as she entered. Her dark hair cascaded in waves, accentuating her fierce look. Sunny, by her side, was sporting a superhero costume complete with a bold, colorful cape and mask that highlighted her vibrant personality.

The moment they stepped into the gymnasium, Eli, Miguel, and Demetri's eyes were locked on them. Their jaws practically dropped. Miguel and Demetri couldn't tear their gazes away from Martiza, while Eli's attention was entirely focused on Sunny.

Martiza and Sunny walked over to where the boys were standing. The trio of boys, usually confident and composed, were now hesitating and stammering over their words. Eli seemed particularly flustered as he tried to muster up a compliment.

"Uh, hey Sunny," Eli said, struggling to find his footing. "I-I really like your... uh, superhero costume."

Sunny flashed a bright smile. "Thanks, Eli. I love your plastic surgeon costume too."

Eli blushed beneath his mask, a faint red hue visible through the eye holes. "At least you know," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant but clearly flustered.

Demetri and Miguel looked at each other, clearly unsure of how to respond. Sunny chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment. "I guess I'm just better at recognizing costumes."

Martiza, overhearing the conversation and noticing the boys' reactions, decided to jump in with her own playful jab. She turned to Demetri, who was dressed in a rather elaborate necromancer costume, complete with a dark robe and staff. "Nice necromancer costume, Demetri," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "But it looks like you're missing a few spells. Miguel's skeleton costume is so much better."

Miguel, who was dressed as a classic skeleton with glowing bones, couldn't resist the chance to compliment Martiza. "Your Black Widow costume is amazing, Martiza. You look... um, hot."

Martiza's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected compliment, and she took a moment to collect herself. "Uh, thanks, Miguel."

Demetri's face turned slightly red with jealousy, though he tried to mask it with a casual remark. "Well, if you're into skeletons, I guess," he said, his tone dripping with thinly veiled irritation.

Martiza's eyebrows shot up, and she shot back, "What's that supposed to mean, Demetri? Just because your costume is, like, a million years old doesn't mean it's better."

Miguel, sensing the tension, tried to smooth things over. "Hey, let's just have a good time tonight. Everyone's costumes are great."

But Demetri wasn't finished. "I just think it's funny how you're so quick to criticize when you're practically covered in spandex," he said, his voice edged with annoyance.

Martiza bristled, her cheeks flushing. "And what's wrong with that? At least I'm not trying to look like a zombie from an old horror movie."

The argument between Martiza and Demetri quickly escalated into a full-fledged bickering match. Sunny and Eli watched, slightly amused but mostly unsure how to intervene.

Eli leaned closer to Sunny and whispered, "Well, this is one way to make a Halloween dance memorable."

Sunny giggled. "Yeah, it's definitely one of a kind."

As the bickering continued, the tension in the room was palpable. But despite the heated exchange, it was clear that the Halloween spirit was alive and kicking, with everyone fully embracing the holiday's mix of fun and drama.

Sunny and Martiza were twirling on the dance floor, enjoying the pulsating rhythm of the Halloween party. Sunny's superhero costume swished with every move, while Martiza's Black Widow outfit shimmered under the gym lights. Their laughter and energy were infectious, drawing smiles from everyone around them.

Suddenly, Moon, Sunny's older sister, appeared at the edge of the dance floor. She looked around, then made a beeline toward Sunny. "Hey, Sunny, can I talk to you for a second?" Moon said, pulling her sister away from the crowd of friends.

Sunny followed reluctantly, her eyes scanning for Martiza. As they reached a quieter corner, Moon motioned toward Yasmine, who was standing nearby with a smirk on her face. Yasmine had been eyeing Eli, who was mingling with the crowd in his plastic surgeon costume and facemask.

"Hey, Sunny," Yasmine called out, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Nice of you to bring your 'surgeon' friend to the party. Is he hiding a bunch of botched surgeries under that mask?"

Sunny's face flushed with irritation. "Yasmine, you don't need to be so rude," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Eli's wearing the mask because he has a scar on his lip, and he's probably uncomfortable about it. It's Halloween—people are allowed to have fun with their costumes without being made fun of."

Yasmine rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. It's not like I'm the only one who thinks it's a little ridiculous."

Sunny took a deep breath, feeling her frustration boil over. "You know what, Yasmine? That's enough. Eli's a good person, and making fun of him just shows how petty you can be. I don't see why you think it's okay to mock someone for their appearance. It's not funny, it's hurtful."

Moon looked surprised but nodded in agreement. "Sunny's right. Yasmine, you should really learn to keep your comments to yourself."

Sunny's face was flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment as she turned to Moon. "Sis, I don't understand why you're friends with someone like her. It's like she doesn't have any empathy."

Moon opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by Sunny's brisk departure. Sunny stormed back to the dance floor, where Martiza was still dancing, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Sunny approached Martiza, who immediately noticed her agitated state. "Hey, what happened?" Martiza asked.

Sunny's heart was racing, and she couldn't help but start to ramble. "I-I just stood up to Yasmine. I actually yelled at her a little. I've never done that before. I don't know why I did it. I just felt like I had to."

Martiza's face broke into a proud smile. "Sunny, that's awesome! I'm so proud of you! You stood up for Eli, and that takes guts."

Sunny's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she looked at Martiza. "Thanks. I didn't expect to get so worked up, but I just couldn't let her keep putting people down."

Just then, Eli walked over, having overheard part of the conversation. "Hey, Sunny," he said, his voice tinged with admiration. "What you did back there was pretty cool. I appreciate you sticking up for me."

Sunny's blush deepened, and she looked down, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Thanks, Eli. I just felt like it was the right thing to do."

Martiza high-fived Sunny, her grin wide and encouraging. "Seriously, you were amazing. I'm so glad you did that."

Sunny smiled, her nerves starting to calm as she soaked in the support from her friends.

The gymnasium was awash with the warm, flickering lights of the Halloween dance, and the air was alive with music and laughter. Sunny's heart raced as she approached Eli, who was standing slightly apart from the crowd, his plastic surgeon costume and facemask making him look somewhat out of place. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the moment she had been thinking about all night.

"Hey, Eli," she said with a friendly, encouraging smile. "Would you like to dance?"

Eli's eyes widened slightly as he looked at her, clearly caught off guard. "Uh, I don't know, Sunny," he said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I'm not much of a dancer. I'll probably mess up."

Sunny gave him a reassuring squeeze on the arm. "It'll be okay, I promise. It's just a dance. We don't have to be perfect."

Eli hesitated, then let out a reluctant laugh. "Alright, I'll give it a try."

Sunny led him to the center of the dance floor where the music had slowed to a mellow, romantic tune. She guided him gently into position, and they began to sway together. Eli's movements were a bit clumsy at first, and he stumbled slightly as he tried to follow the rhythm. Sunny's smile never wavered as she kept her hold on him, her presence calming his nerves.

"It's okay, Eli," Sunny said softly, her voice a soothing balm to his anxiety. "You're doing great."

Despite her encouragement, Eli's nerves persisted. He kept fidgeting with his facemask, which was slipping and causing him further discomfort. Sunny noticed and reached up to gently remove it. "You don't need this," she said with a kind smile. "You're perfect just the way you are."

Eli's face flushed red as the facemask was removed, revealing his slightly awkward but endearing expression. Sunny leaned her head on his shoulder, her warmth spreading through him as they continued to dance. For a moment, the world around them seemed to blur, and Sunny's thoughts drifted into a daydream.

In her imagination, the gymnasium floor dissolved beneath them, replaced by the vast, shimmering surface of the moon. They danced in zero gravity, floating gracefully among the stars. The serenity of space enveloped them, creating a magical, intimate atmosphere. Sunny was so lost in this celestial reverie that she barely noticed how close she and Eli were becoming, their faces just inches apart, their breaths mingling in the quiet of their shared space.

Martiza, standing by the punch table with a proud, satisfied smile, watched the scene unfold. She was touched by the tender connection between her friends, her gaze softening as she saw the genuine affection between Sunny and Eli.

But the serene moment was abruptly shattered by the frantic arrival of Demetri, his face pale and his voice trembling. "Guys, you have to come quickly! Miguel is getting beaten up in the locker room by Kyler!"

Sunny and Eli's moment was interrupted as their faces filled with concern. "We need to do something," Sunny said, her voice resolute.

Martiza shook her head firmly, stepping forward. "No! We don't know how to fight. Hopefully, Miguel's okay, but if Kyler saw Demetri, he'll be after him next. We need to get out of here."

Sunny, her face a mix of frustration and determination, nodded. "You're right. We have to go."

As they quickly moved towards the exit, Sunny glanced back at Martiza, who was following close behind, her expression a blend of worry and resolve.

Sunny's room was bathed in the soft, flickering glow of her laptop screen. The room was otherwise quiet, with only the rhythmic tapping of Sunny's fingers against the keyboard breaking the silence. Martiza, who had crashed on the floor after a fun night, was curled up in a blanket, her breathing steady and deep. Sunny was engrossed in a series of YouTube videos titled "How to Tell a Boy You Like Him," her eyes darting across the screen as she absorbed the advice.

The door creaked open, and Moon stepped in quietly, her footsteps barely audible on the carpet. She glanced over at Martiza, who was still asleep, before approaching Sunny with a soft smile.

"Hey, Sunny," Moon said in a hushed voice, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "I just wanted to tell you that what you did with Yasmine the other night was really impressive. I didn't know you had that kind of courage."

Sunny looked up from her laptop, her face flushed from the combination of her nerves and the laptop's glow. "Thanks, Moon. I just couldn't stand by and let Yasmine keep making fun of Eli. It was time someone put a stop to it."

Moon nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You know, Yasmine and I have been friends for years. She's not always easy to deal with, but she's been there for me through a lot. I can't just abandon her because she has a few rough edges."

Sunny's brow furrowed slightly. "But why do you keep hanging out with her if she's consistently mean to people? It's like you're turning a blind eye to her behavior."

Moon's eyes held a mixture of sadness and frustration. "It's not about turning a blind eye. I know she can be mean, and sometimes she doesn't realize it. But friendship isn't just about agreeing on everything. It's about sticking together through thick and thin, even when someone messes up."

Sunny shook her head, her voice a bit sharper now. "I get that, but it feels like you're just accepting her bad behavior. It's not fair to people who are actually kind and respectful. You should stand up for them too."

Moon's shoulders slumped as she sighed. "I understand where you're coming from, but it's not that simple. I've known Yasmine for so long. It's hard for me to just cut her off. We've been through too much together."

Sunny's frustration was evident, but she also recognized that continuing the argument wouldn't change anything. The two sisters fell into a quiet lull, the tension palpable between them. After a few moments, they both seemed to come to the realization that their disagreement wasn't going to be resolved easily.

"You're right," Moon said softly, her tone resigned. "We're not going to agree on this, are we?"

Sunny nodded, her expression softening. "No, I guess not. It's just... frustrating to see someone be so hurtful and not do anything about it."

Moon reached out and gave Sunny a gentle hug, her voice full of affection. "I know, Sunny. I know. We may not see eye to eye on this, but I appreciate that you care."

Sunny hugged her back, feeling the warmth of her sister's embrace. They pulled away, their expressions lighter after the heartfelt exchange. Moon's gaze then drifted to the laptop screen, where a video titled "Confessing Your Feelings: The Ultimate Guide" was paused.

Her eyes widened with realization, and she gasped in excitement. "Wait a minute... Sunny, do you like Eli?"

Sunny's face turned a deep shade of crimson as she stammered, "Uh, well, um..."

Moon's excitement bubbled over, her voice rising with enthusiasm. "Oh my gosh, Sunny! You like Eli? That's so adorable!"

Martiza, who had been sleeping soundly, let out a groan and muttered, "Shut up," her voice barely more than a whisper.

Sunny and Moon exchanged amused glances, their earlier tension melting away into shared laughter. Moon's cheery demeanor was infectious, and Sunny couldn't help but join in the giggles. The sisters continued to laugh softly, their playful banter bringing a sense of lightness to the room.

Moon leaned closer to Sunny, still grinning. "So, what's stopping you from telling him? You've got to let him know how you feel."

Sunny's cheeks were still flushed, but she managed a shy smile. "I don't know, Moon. I'm just... scared of messing things up."

Moon patted Sunny's hand reassuringly. "It's okay to be scared. Just remember, sometimes the biggest risk brings the greatest reward."

Sunny nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Thanks, Moon. I'll think about it."

Just then, Martiza stirred again, mumbling, "Seriously, you two?"

Moon and Sunny chuckled quietly, their spirits lifted by the shared moment. As they continued to talk and laugh, the bond between the sisters felt stronger than ever, and Sunny felt a renewed sense of confidence about facing her feelings for Eli.

ASH SPEAKS!

I LOVE ELI AND SUNNY SO MUCH...so sad i'll be ruining it (sort of) when he turns into hawk☹️

SUNNY AND MOON >>>

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)