I watched the entrance to the room I was in as music blared around me. I had nothing to do with my hands, so I shoved them in my pockets, then pulled them back out and fidgeted with my fingers.
A hand landed on my shoulder and I jumped badly, shrinking away. Arlo frowned at me, concern in his eyes.
"Hey," he said. "You okay?"
"Fine. You just scared me. I didn't hear you coming over the music," I said, reaching out for the drink he offered me. I took a large swig of it, relieved at the burn of alcohol down my throat.
Arlo put an arm around my waist, thumb slipping under my shirt to lightly rub the skin there. "Jeremy, did...something happen?"
"No," I said.
He was eyeing me, trying to be casual about it, but that damn concern on his face gave away what he was looking for. I took another swig of my drink and leaned against him.
"No," I repeated, quieter. "No, sorry, I just...usually spend the day with Seth. It's just weird. I can't remember the last time we weren't together on Halloween."
He'd been mad about it, sure. But he hadn't...hadn't hurt me. He'd just turned his back on me when I left the room to go meet Arlo at the bus station.
"Do you want to leave?" Arlo asked. "We can go put on a few horror movies in my room. I got alcohol, if we want it. We don't gotta stay here, Jeremy. I know you gotta be in the mood for these kinda parties."
I shook my head. "Nah, let's stay. I want to be here."
That was a lie, but I knew Arlo had been looking forward to this. Even now, he was dressed as Sir Arthur, which he'd assured me would be a lot funnier whenever Nicky showed up. Having no costume, I'd just put on my Red Hood T-shirt and gray jeans. I'd been called Batman three times already, but at least they assumed I was in some kind of costume.
"Well, let me know if you wanna leave early. I don't have a problem with it," he said.
"What, and miss you getting drunk enough to spray yourself with a hose again? Not a chance," I said.
He grinned. "Aw, let me live it down, Jeremy! We could reenact that night, but play the role of the bushes couple."
"I will literally never fuck a man in the bushes," I said. "Or a woman. Or a nonbinary per- you know what, you get my point."
He laughed, the mood easing instantly with the sound of it. "Yea, alright, fair. Ain't sanitary, I guess."
"Says the man who's had sex in a public place," I said.
He groaned. "It was one time! And it wasn't like- we- it was a back room, so not, like, open to the public, and- Agh! I can't even remember who brought that up but I hate them for it! Probably Brooks."
"If it leaves you miserable then, yes, it probably is Brooks," I said.
He opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut as we heard galloping. His face broke out in a triumphant smile.
"See! See, I told you it'd be funny!" he said.
Nicky entered the room, continuing to hit the coconut halves together. Arlo was laughing so hard that he had to slump against me to keep on his feet.
"Oh," I said, sighing. "Arthur and Patsy. Why am I not surprised?"
"You call that a costume, Jeremy?" Ziv asked as he came into the room with Brooks. "Did you even try?"
"Nope," I said. "And I don't really think you or Brooks can judge me."
Ziv was dressed as Gaston and Brooks was dressed as...well, I wasn't entirely sure. One of the Hex Girls, maybe? She had the ponytails, dress, jewelry, and makeup, at least. Ziv looked down at himself, then back up at me.
"Nooooo oooooone...leaves like Ziv!" he said, backing towards the door.
Brooks snagged him by the shirt. "Oh, no, we went out of our way to pick you up, you idiot. You're staying, and we're never letting you live the costume down."
"Okay, you know what, it was a lot funnier when Vin was with me as LeFou," Ziv said defensively.
"Now, that's something I'd pay to see," I said. "Hey, Arthur, let's play Kings while we wait for Harley and Chief."
"To the table!" Arlo commanded Nicky. Nicky obediently hit the coconut halves together and Arlo galloped for the table.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the laugh that slipped past my lips at the sight. Arlo's eyes brightened at the sound and he began to gallop more dramatically, a bright smile on his face as I laughed a little harder.
We gathered around the table and began a game of Kings. The alcohol helped me relax a little, but I couldn't stop watching the main entrance to the room, part of me sure that Seth would come in any minute. He'd been mad at me for ditching him on Halloween, of course, but he'd also been worried about me getting drunk and making it back safely.
What if he and Brynn left the party they were at to come check on me?
I was a little startled when someone did walk in, but eased up as I realized it was just Harley, Chief following close behind. He was wearing a skeleton shirt, and Harley confirmed my earlier thoughts about Brooks by also showing up as a Hex Girl.
"Hey," Harley greeted all of us. "Oh, Jeremy, you did dress up. Chief didn't have a costume and I told him you probably wouldn't go all out either."
I glanced at Chief. "I literally pulled a T-shirt out of my drawer and showed up. You put in more effort than me, Chief."
He gave a shy smile. "I think it looks alright. We're the only ones who didn't do a theme, though."
"Sure we did," I said. "I'm Red Hood, and you can be the dead body of some criminal I killed. There, theme."
He looked pleased. Harley smiled at him and tugged him so that he was sitting next to her at the table. We dealt them in and Arlo took off to get everyone drinks.
We played a little longer before shifting into a different room and playing flip cup, Brooks and Ziv declaring war on me and Arlo. They declared a second war when we won the first time and Arlo celebrated by galloping circles around them while Nicky did the coconut sound effects.
I shook my head at them, but I must've drank more than I thought, because the room spun a little when I did. I leaned back against the wall until I felt steady again, brushing a hand through my hair. My eyes darted towards the entrance to the room. Seth would be mad if he found me in this state so early in the night.
"You okay?" Harley asked, coming up next to me. "You seem a little off tonight."
"I'm fine," I said. "I just drank a little too much. I'll slow down."
"When was the last time you spent a Halloween without him?" she asked.
I dropped my gaze. "I can't even remember."
Sometimes mom worked Halloween nights. When I was really little, she'd have her friend, with kids just a little older than me, take me out trick-or-treating with them. Once I became friends with Seth, we'd go alone, my mom usually working and his family not bothering to keep an eye on him. We'd put together the best costumes we could manage and trade candy after the night was over. Sometimes we'd sneak away to the graveyard and sit there, sharing candy. Seth would tell scary stories that left me ready to run for my life from the graveyard, but then he'd always sling an arm around my shoulders and tell me I was fine because he was there with me.
As we got to college, we always went to a party together. To be here without him felt like a betrayal.
Harley put a hand on my arm, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Did he go somewhere tonight?"
"Yea. He and Brynn went to a different party," I said.
"Then you shouldn't worry," she said, surprising me. "He'll have fun at his party. I hope you have fun at this one."
I gripped my drink tighter. "So, ah, Hex Girls?"
She smiled. "Tried to convince Arlo to be Luna, but he had his heart set on Sir Arthur. He kept talking about how much he thought you'd like his costume."
I looked over at him as he and Brooks traded friendly insults. "He's an idiot, but he's my idiot."
She gave me a light push. "Go keep an eye on your idiot for me. Chief wants a soda but he doesn't want to go into the kitchen alone. We'll be back in a minute or two."
I went over to Arlo, who grinned at me and bumped me with his shoulder. "Undefeated kings of flip cup!"
"Sir Arthur and his unworthy lover," I said, bowing a little.
He put his hand under my chin and tilted my head up, kissing me. "Not unworthy. The Holy Grail."
"Oh, brother." I pushed his hand away, trying not to laugh. "That was so cheesy. You're drunk, huh?"
"But you laughed, so you are too," he said, pleased. He took my hand and tugged me out of the room, leading me to the back door of the house and outside.
The cool air made me shiver despite my jacket. Arlo put his arms around me, hugging me to his chest, both of us just standing out on the back deck and looking out at the dark sky. A sliver of moon appeared from behind the clouds.
Arlo rested his chin on my shoulder. "I ain't judging, but you're drinking more than usual."
"It's just...a lot," I said, putting my hands over his. "I'm okay, though, Arlo. I really am having fun. Hard not to with you idiots."
He laughed softly, his breath ghosting across my neck and making me shiver. "I'm glad you're here."
"I like your costume," I said.
He hugged me tighter. "I figured you were the kinda nerd who would. We gotta do a couple's costume next year. Maybe Midnighter and Apollo. But I get to be Apollo. 'Cause Midnighter's your favorite, but also 'cause I'm as jacked as him."
"And you're both himbos," I said.
He sat down, pulling me so that I was leaning back against his chest. I felt better, away from the loud music and the constant movement of people. Being outside eased my anxiety about Seth, too.
"I'm glad I came," I said.
It was weird, adjusting to a life without Seth as a constant. But if I'd gone with him tonight...
"I'm glad, too," Arlo said. "Wanna stay out here a little longer? We can go back in and get water after. I'd grab the hose but I ain't makin' the same mistake twice."
I smiled, just a little. "Yea. Yea, let's stay out here."
So we did. We sat outside together, just enjoying the night. And while some part of me longed for those Halloween nights I'd shared with Seth, another part of me was relieved to spend the night with Arlo and our friends, just having a good time and getting to feel genuinely happy.
------------------------------------------------------
A.N.- Happy Halloween! I've been slacking on holiday specials the past few years so I made myself write something. Hope your night's as good as Jeremy's and Arlo's!