2 STRINGS

A Dash of Halloween Chaos

Thursday, October 31

This morning wasn't much different from the others. I got up, showered, and pulled myself together for another day. But today wasn't just any day—it was Halloween. I decided to get a little festive with my outfit, throwing on black ripped jeans and pairing them with an oversized orange sweater with a small pumpkin stitched on the front. My curls were extra defined today, thanks to a little extra time spent with my diffuser, and I pinned back the front with a pair of sparkly black bat clips.

As I headed downstairs, the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg hit me like a warm hug. Mom was already in the kitchen, humming to herself while finishing up a tray of Halloween-themed pancakes—pumpkin-shaped, of course, with powdered sugar sprinkled like cobwebs.

"Sit, sit," Mom said, gesturing to the table as Dad attempted to sneak a pancake off the plate.

"Hands off, viejo. Let the kids eat first," she scolded playfully, swatting his hand away with a spatula.

Dad chuckled, raising his hands in surrender, but I noticed the slight limp in his step as he moved to the table. He sat down heavily, adjusting his prosthetic leg under the table before flashing us a grin. "You guys are lucky I didn't eat them all."

The pancakes were incredible, as always—soft and fluffy with just the right amount of spice. "Mom, these are so good," I said, my mouth half-full.

"Yeah, what would we do without you?" Greg added, smirking.

"Starve, probably," Mom replied smugly, basking in the compliments.

After breakfast, we all helped clean up to save time. As Mom handed Greg the car keys, she shot him a look. "No excuses for being late today. Your dad and I are heading to the restaurant now. Be there on time—we've got a lot to do."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Greg said, pocketing the keys.

George Washington High was in full Halloween mode when I arrived. The halls were lined with fake cobwebs and plastic spiders, and the usual fluorescent lights were dimmed, replaced by orange and purple string lights. Some students had gone all out with their costumes, while others just wore themed accessories.

Melody met me at my locker, dressed as a referee, complete with a black-and-white striped shirt and a whistle. "You look cute," she said, eyeing my sweater.

"Thanks. You look...official," I teased, earning a playful shove.

As we walked to class, we started talking about the Lunar Drift concert.

"So, what's the plan tomorrow?" I asked.

"Okay, here's the deal," Melody said, pulling out her phone. "Doors open at 7:00, but we need to get there early if we want a good spot. I'm thinking we leave right after school."

"Sounds good to me," I said. "Are you sure we're going to survive this crowd?"

"Jamie, it's Lunar Drift. If we get trampled to death, at least we'll die happy."

"Fair point."

We spent the rest of the day bouncing ideas about what to wear to the concert. Melody wanted to go full glam, but I was leaning toward something simple. Either way, we were both buzzing with excitement.

After school, it was time for soccer practice. Coach was in a mood, barking at us to push harder as we ran drill after drill. My legs felt limp , but I didn't dare complain. Melody and I barely had time to talk since we were split into different groups for scrimmages.

By the time practice ended, I was drenched in sweat and rushing to get home. Greg had left early to pick up Kooty from school, which meant I had to get ready quickly and head straight to the restaurant.

The restaurant was already buzzing when I arrived. Mom and Dad were in the kitchen, working like a well-oiled machine, while Greg balanced trays of food like a pro. Dad had to take a break from standing, though, so he switched out with me for hosting duties.

"Jamie, table five needs menus," Greg called out, weaving between tables.

"On it," I said, grabbing a handful of menus and heading to the family waiting near the door.

Kooty was in a corner with his books and toys, occasionally getting up to help by handing out napkins or charming customers with his toothy grin.

"Can I get more crayons?" he asked, holding up a nearly broken red crayon.

"Sure, little man," I said, ruffling his hair before grabbing a fresh pack.

Dad eventually returned to hosting while I switched back to waiting tables. The night was hectic, but it was nice seeing the place filled with families enjoying themselves. The Halloween decorations Mom had put up—paper bats, pumpkins, and twinkling lights—added a festive touch to the cozy atmosphere.

By the time we got home, it was late, and I was exhausted. Greg and I collapsed on the couch while Kooty showed off the candy he'd managed to snag from some customers.

"You're a little hustler, you know that?" Greg said, laughing.

"Mom says I get it from her," Kooty replied proudly.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. As tired as I was, moments like this made it all worth it.

As I got ready for bed, my thoughts drifted to Xolo again. The dreams had been relentless, his touch lingering in my mind even when I was wide awake. It was distracting, but also... thrilling.

Tomorrow was the concert. Just the thought of seeing him in person sent a shiver down my spine. I climbed into bed, pulling the blankets up to my chin.

"Only one more day," I whispered to myself before closing my eyes, hoping for sweet—or at least less vivid—dreams.