Tricks or Treats?

trick or treat?

No one could compare to Ashton Levi. At least, that's what Brooklyn Hu thought. Their senior year was supposed to be perfect, but Ashton's one drunken affair shattered their plans forever. Brooklyn felt that everyone at their high school had known they broke up but had gotten the narrative wrong. She was painted as a horrible girlfriend who drove Ashton away, and he didn't do a single thing to defend her name. Brooklyn expected his passivity, for she knew that Ashton cared too much about his pride, reputation and couldn't stand to be lesser than someone else. She could have just exposed his affair, but the whole situation had her feeling vulnerable, wronged and utterly humiliated. She demanded revenge, and she knew exactly how to get it. Her plan required a pawn, someone to make Ashton feel the betrayal that she feels, someone who could challenge Ashton's innocence in their breakup and, most importantly, someone who is able to make Ashton feel inferior. But that meant that her new boyfriend needs to be better than Ashton in every way, and that is a difficult task for her.

It's been weeks since they broke up, and Brooklyn had made no progress in her plans. It had been harder to pick herself up than she anticipated. When her best friend Nicole invites her to a Halloween party in Toronto, she decides that she will find her rebound by the end of the night regardless of what it takes.

The Halloween party consists of sticky floors, damp socks and the skunky stench of weed. Brooklyn, who is dressed as Iron Man and Nicole as Pepper Potts, quickly fits in amongst the crowd of costumes. Nicole has gone off socializing while Brooklyn wanders, scouting for a target, but she couldn't find anyone promising, no one is comparable to Ashton. The guys that are dancing smells like old socks and the guys she drinks with couldn't hold their guts– not like Ashton, who always smells of fresh sandalwood and is never bothered no matter how many drinks he had.

She is drinking some Ciroc lemonade in the kitchen when she feels a tap on her shoulders. It's Spider-Man in his suit of red and black. Brooklyn approves, she believes that the Iron Spider suit is much cooler than the typical red and blue one.

He pulls off his mask and Brooklyn is caught off guard– he's cute. He smiles at her, and the deep dimples in his cheeks make him look boyish, and she feels the sudden urge to push her finger into them.

"Mr. Stark!" says Spider-Man, "Ms. Potts' told me you were here. Why are you at a Halloween party?"

Brooklyn catches a glance at Nicole as Ms. Potts a couple of feet behind Spider-Man, who gives her a thumbs up.

"Mr. Stark?"

"Oh, shit. Ahem. Peter Parker, why are you out here partying when you should be studying?" she says, taking a moment to study his features. The soft strands of hair that fall onto his face, the clearness of his skin and the way his jaw is defined along his face compels Brooklyn's hand to reach for them, but she doesn't.

Someone shuffles by behind her, and she tips forward towards him, where his arm reaches to hold her and stays there.

He leans down to her ear, "well, I didn't know you were keeping tabs on me." Brooklyn can hear the smirk in his voice, and she wonders if he is going to be a promising candidate.

"Well, someone's gotta do it since you're so irresponsible," she shot back into his ears.

"So you think you can handle me?" He challenges her.

"Oh, I can definitely handle you," she says, and he laughs.

"Okay, let's see you handle me in a game of beer pong," he says as he guides her forward.

Brooklyn considers whether she is wasting her time. She notices the dozens of eyes that follow them as they make their way through the stuffy house and take it as a confirmation that Peter Parker is a worthy investment. She justifies that he must be attractive if people are staring at them. With soft hair, deep dimples and a charming quality, Brooklyn assesses his potential of being her pawn.