THEY STOOD AT A DOOR, smiles beaming as Will records with the giant film camera. An older lady opens the door, exclaiming in awe. "Oh! Well, aren't you cute? A little princess and exterminators!" She says, extending her arm out which held the bowl of candy.

Their smiles fade, exchanging confused looks as they all take turns taking a handful of candy and dropping it into their bags. They bid the woman goodbye, saying their 'thank you's' to her as they walk down the driveway and onto the street.

Opening their bags to check their haul. "If I get another 3 Musketeers, I'm gonna kill myself!" Lucas groans, staring down at the large amount of silver, blue, and red packaging which had amassed in his pillowcase.

"What's wrong with 3 Musketeers?" Dustin asks as they set off onto the grass and towards another house.

"What's wrong with 3 Musketeers?" Lucas repeats in disbelief.

"No one likes 3 Musketeers," Mike adds, simply.

"Yeah, it's just nougat," Will agrees.

"Nougat dipped in weird tasting chocolate!" Mariella pipes in, Will nudging her with a laugh as he nods.

"Shut up, Peanut Butter Cup enthusiast!" Dustin says to her, making fun of her favourite, Reeses. "Just 'nougat'? 'Weird tasting chocolate'? It is top three for me!"

"Top three? Reeses are so much better than 3 Musketeers and I don't even like peanut butter!" Lucas scoffs.

"Top three," Dustin finalizes.

"Oh, God. Give me a break," Mike groans.

"Seriously, I can just eat a whole bowl of nougat. Straight up," Dustin goes on.

"That literally makes me want to gag," Mariella responds, Dustin opening his mouth to fire back but it cut off by someone hopping in front of them with a mask on and plastic knife.

All of them backing away, screeching and screaming in fright. Mike had pulled Mariella's shoulder back into him, out of instinct and they ended up straight up against each other. Lucas screeched the loudest.

The person begins to laugh, grabbing at the mask and pulling it off. "Holy shit! You should have seen the look on your faces," The persons says, revealing their identity. Max.

Mike rolls his eyes at her as he gently sets Mariella up in front of him, she instantly goes to his side and leans into him shyly. Despite her changes, she still was the timid girl she'll always be.

"And you? Who screams like that? You sound like a little girl," Max laughs, looking to Lucas as she begins to walk away before stopping upon noticing how they didn't follow.

"Hey, you guys coming or not?" She asks, turning to look at their frozen figures. Oh, I heard we should hit up Loch Nora. That's where the rich people live, right?" She goes on, a smile on her face.

"That's where Ella lives," Lucas says to her, gesturing to Mariella who stood close to Mike.

"Really?" Max asks her, a look of surprise on her face. Wondering why their group hadn't just gone to her house instead.

Mariella nods. "Yeah, we usually just stay here though. It's easier cause it's kinda like the middle between all our houses," She speaks, pulling away from Mike slowly.

"Oh, we can just stay here," Max begins but is cut off by Dustin and Lucas.

"No! Let's go," They laugh as they walk towards Max, Will following after them.

Leaving, Mike and Mariella staring at their backs. "Who invited her?" Mike asks, looking down to Mariella, his eyes flashing towards her lips before snapping back up to her eyes.

She shrugs. "Don't be mean, Michael," She shakes her head as she begins to walk after her friends. Mike following after her hurriedly.

♧

They enter the Loch Nora area and the sound of 'Monster Mash' by Bobby Picket plays through the neighbourhood, elaborate decorations all around the houses. They had ended up making Mariella lead, knowing the area best and all. Will stood beside her, he knew the area best after her. He had spent so much time here when they began did their project.

"Which house first, Mars?" Dustin turns to her, with wide eyed excitement.

"The Lennox's," Mariella answers almost instantaneously, pointing towards the house which stood next to hers, walking towards the large brick house.

She walks into her front yards grass, cutting through it and onto the Lennox's property. Sauntering up the stairs, the group following behind her.

She knocks on the door, Will still recording and it opens. Revealing Claudia Lennox. An older woman who had lived next door to the DeGray's for what felt like forever.

"Trick or treat!" They all say in unison, smiles on their faces.

Claudia smiles, looking down at the small girl in the front of the group. "Mariella! I haven't had you come to my door in a long time," She laughs, picking up a bowl of full sized bars and holding it out to the group.

Mariella smiling back at her, "Yes, it has been! We were just in area, so we just decided to come. Do you know if the Richmond's still give out candied apples?" She asks, sweetly.

"I believe so, Sweetie," Claudia smiles to her as Mariella takes a chocolate bar and moves to the side so Lucas can grab one.

"Alright, thanks!" Mariella nods, walking down the steps and waving goodbye to her neighbour, Will and Lucas following after her.

"Mars, seriously? Why don't we go here every year?" Lucas asks her, excitement in his voice as he holds up a full-size Kit Kat bar.

"Right?" Dustin says, coming behind them with Mike and Max.

"Candied apples!" Will adds, shaking his head at her as if she were hiding this secret to herself, a small smile on his face.

"If you guys want to change plans and start going here, I can ask my mom and dad if we can hang out at my house next year," Mariella says to them, laughing at their excitement and gesturing to her house.

"Wait! You live there?" Max asks.

"Yeah," Mariella shrugs, shyly. She was never really comfortable discussing her families money. It was all old money. "Anyways, let's hit up the Richmond's," She changes the topic, rushing away from the group. Mike and Will following after her, leaving Max, Lucas, and Dustin discussing the area in excitement.