"How excited are you?" Erica asked Sarah, who was collecting books from her locker.
"For math? Not very." She responded.
"She means for the vampire halloween party!" Olivia said, excitedly.
"How cool does that sound?"
"A lot cooler than babysitting because I need money." Sarah sighed.
Olivia and Erica gasped. "No... you're not! This is our first vampire halloween party!" Erica groaned.
"Well, if I explain it to Ethan's mom that way, I'm sure she'll give me the night off." Sarah replied, sarcastically.
"It was gonna be great!" Olivia whined.
Sarah sighed. "Maybe, but not as awesome as the night where I dress up as butter and you were salt and we did the popcorn dance at the theatre!"
Olivia raised an eyebrow. "This has gotta be good!" She laughed. "Show me."
Sarah ran to Erica's side and the two began to hop from side to side. "Pop, pop, pop, corn, corn, corn, six bucks for a small!" They were both grinning but Erica's didn't last for so long. "Don't try to cheer me up, I am grumpy!" Erica said.
Sarah and Olivia laughed. "Aw... pop, pop, pop." Sarah mumbled, jumping to the side three times once Erica walked off. She looked at Olivia, who had her arms folded, chuckling. "Nice dance."
***
"You ready?" Erica grinned.
Olivia returned the grin and nodded. "Let's go!"
The girls ran to the party at vampire speed. The music was loud and there was at least one blood fountain in every room. "Am I in Heaven or has Christmas come early?" Erica said, gazing at the perfect atmosphere.
Rory then suddenly appeared with a mask on his face, growling at everyone. "Rory! Will you quit it?!" Olivia hissed. "You're gonna get us kicked out!"
Rory ignored her and ran around the room, holding people's heads and shouting some sort of spell.
"Is he with you?" The host of the party asked the girls.
They both shook their heads quickly. "No, of course not!"
"I'm sorry, but we've seen you guys together and you three have to leave right now before things get rough." He threatened.
Olivia and Erica looked at each-other before groaning.
"I can't believe you got us kicked out of that party, you goon!" Erica whined, Rory was trailing behind the girls. He then ran in front of Erica and reached for her face but before he could Erica threw him. Olivia laughed. "That should get rid of him."
"This is the worst night ever!" Erica complained, rolling her eyes. "I can't believe I'm going to do this."
"Going to Ethan's party can't be that bad... right?" Olivia asked, trying to send Erica a convincing smile.
Erica stared at Olivia. "It's gonna be awful."
The girls walked up to Ethan's porch and rang the doorbell. Sarah quickly answered it and Erica and Olivia walked in without her consent.
"Erica? Olivia? What happened to traditional vampire night?" She mocked.
"Rory got us kicked out!" Olivia whined. "He wouldn't take off that stupid mask!"
"So... where is he?"
"He was following us so I threw him - I'm not quite sure where he ended up."
"Well, I'm glad you're both here; this party is way under control! At least I can have fun with you guys." Sarah smiled.
"Correction; with Olivia." Erica said. "Do you know where I can set up my meditation blanket?"
"Your what?" Olivia and Sarah asked.
"That's how we celebrate the true vampire halloween." Erica smiled. "Have any candles?"
Sarah gave her a weird look before slowly shaking her head.
"No? Alright." Erica replied, walking upstairs.
The two girls watched Erica go upstairs before Sarah turned to Olivia. "So, a witch, huh?"
Olivia sighed and nodded. "I figured since I'm not one anymore I might as well pretend to be for just one night... apart from the green skin and stuff... I wasn't that kind of witch."
Sarah felt sympathetic towards Olivia, she knew Olivia didn't deserve what Jesse gave her and she swore the next time she saw Jesse, she would make sure it would be the last time she saw him - ever.
"The green ones don't taste as green as they used to." Ethan said, judging one of the sweets Benny gave him.
"Hey! You're supposed to take me trick-or-treating! Let's go, time is candy!" Jane ordered.
"Okay, okay! Don't get your whiskers in a knot!" He called out to his sister once she began to head for the door.
"Can I come with you? Girl-rilla won't stop flirting with me." Benny said, looking over Ethan's shoulder.
Ethan followed Benny's eyes and saw the girl who was batting her eyelashes in his direction. She then grinned and waved.
"Dude, she's flirting with me."
Benny scoffed. "Pft, as if."
Ethan rolled his eyes before calling out to Sarah. "Sarah, I'll be back in a bit!"
"That reminds me, is Olivia still at that vampire halloween party?" Benny asked.
Ethan shrugged. "I don't know, you'd have to ask Sarah."
"I will after I stock up on candy." Benny grinned, pulling out a trashcan.
"What's that for?" Ethan asked him.
"If we're doing this, I'm gonna break my record: 11.28 pounds!" Benny replied, tapping his trashcan.
An old lady opened the door, holding a bowl of candy. Jane meowed.
"Oh, what a sweet little mouse!"
Jane's smile turned into a confused look. "Huh?"
"Here, dear." The old lady smiled and handed her some candy.
Jane looked at Ethan before sighing and walking away. Benny then wheeled his trashcan to the door and grinned.
"Oh, my! Children are certainly are getting tall these days." The old lady squinted. "Are you sure you're not too old to be doing this? Let me get my glasses out."
Benny panicked. "No!" His voice suddenly turning high, like a child. "I'm 10. I-I, I love recess and balloons and... that cartoon... about that bouncy thing." He tried to cover up.
"Alright then, there you go." The old lady gave in and handed him some sweets.
Benny chuckled before returning to his child voice. "Thanks."
"Are you serious?" Ethan asked, as he watched Benny wheel his trash can full of candy away from another house.
"That house is a candy goldmine! Their fun size bars are actually fun!" Benny grinned. Ethan opened the lid before sighing and dropping it. "You have 14 pounds of SeedMints."
"A record's a record." Benny responded, tipping them into his mouth, half of them falling back out.
"Good thing Olivia isn't here to see this." Ethan whispered to Jane, who laughed.
***
"Erica, I need-" Sarah trailed off when she saw her friend sat on Ethan's bed, meditating.
"What are you doing?" Olivia asked.
"Trying to meditate."
"Can you come downstairs for a minute?" Sarah asked Erica.
"I can't. I have to communicate with my inner predator or else I won't be cleansed enough for..." She flicked through her book. "chapter three!"
"No, seriously! The nerd fest down there is getting a little out of hand." Olivia told her.
"Since, you put it that way - no." Erica smiled, shutting her eyes. "Can you keep the music down?"
Olivia and Sarah looked at each-other before sighing, giving up and walking downstairs.
"There you are!" Sarah yelled at Benny and Ethan, followed by Olivia.
"We need to talk." Olivia said. She then noticed Benny's costume and raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Benny asked.
"You know what, I don't even want to know, let's go."
"Did Rory just turn Jane into a cat?" Ethan asked.
"I don't know what's happening but he really got this party started." Sarah stated.
"He's wearing that mask - what's up with that?" Olivia asked.
"The native mask from Mr G's class." Ethan told her. He looked to Benny. "What did he say it did?"
"You're asking me to remember something from class?" Benny scoffed.
"Figure it out later! Stop it, now!" Sarah ordered. "We can't let a gorilla and a ninja out onto the streets!"
"I got this." Benny grinned. "Groundus, domicus, eternius." The four then heard the sound of the doors locking. "It's the spell grandma uses to ground me." Benny folded his arms. "No one gets outside!"
They then heard the door open and Ethan's mom call out his name.
"What about inside?" Ethan asked.
"I doesn't work that way..." Benny mumbled, scratching the side of his head. The four walked into the kitchen and saw Rory yelling something, holding Samantha's head. He started to laugh before running away.
"Mom?" Ethan asked.
"Quiet!" She ordered, spinning around and pointing her wand at him. "Not another word... or I'll turn you into a toad!"
Ethan scoffed. A green bolt shot out of Samantha's wand and hit him, Ethan turned a bright green before shrinking down to the side of a toad.
"Oh my God..." Olivia muttered.
Benny carefully placed a basket over Ethan.
"Ethan, please don't jump out at me again - it was so disgusting to catch you." Sarah groaned.
"You know, I think he's cuter as a toad." Erica smiled.
"Alright, stand back. Benny said, running his hands together. "Amphibiar, formus, malnath, ectopaso!" He shouted, two bolts shooting out of his palms and hitting the basket. Ethan shot up back to his usual height with the basket still on his head. Benny grinned and reached forward, taking off the basket. Everyone jumped back and screamed at the sight of Ethan's toad head.
"What? What is it?" Ethan questioned.
"Uh... nothing!" Olivia lied.
"Everything is fine, you do not have a hideous toad head." Benny said.
Olivia hit him. "Smooth!"
"That's my next five nightmares." Erica whispered.
"What?" Ethan ribbited. "Why did I just ribbit?"
"Okay, no, I got it now. I know what I did wrong." Benny chuckled, holding out his hands. "Amphibiar, returnus, malnath, ectopaso!"
This time, Benny tentatively reached for the basket and slowly taking off Ethan's head. To their relief, it was Ethan, not a toad. He looked around quickly. "I'll freak out about this later. Let's get to work."
"Erica, help me find Jane... she's sort of a cat now..." Sarah said to Erica.
"Fine. I'll help you find your cat then that is it! I need to shun the material world and... and feel the pulse of life blood." Erica grinned. "That sounds awesome."
"So, an ancient warlord used this mask to turn his warriors into wolves and bears?" Benny asked Ethan, who nodded. "We know that."
"What happens after?" Olivia asked, placing her hands on Benny's shoulders, looking at the computer.
"The Gods were angry with this warlord so they blasted his mask off with a bolt of lightening! And... his warriors turned back to normal." Benny said excitedly.
"Can you lightening the mask off?" Ethan asked Benny, he then looked at Olivia. "Both of your powers combined would do it."
"This is 15000 year old magic, only a big time wizard would have that kind of power..."
"A wizard like El Merlo Loco?" Ethan grinned.
"Is that what you are?" Olivia chuckled.
"Sure, he's awesome! But he's just a costume, Ethan, am I supposed to go down there and get Rory to turn me into the real El Merlo Loco so I can have the magic power to stop him?" Benny responded.
Olivia sighed. "You really don't catch on quick, do you?"
"You're doing it too!" Benny shot back.
"No, I'm not! Who said I am?!"
Ethan looked at her and grinned.
Olivia groaned and rolled her eyes. She took hold of Benny's arm and dragged him out of the room. "Let's get this over with."
"Oh, great warlord!" Benny said, getting Rory's attention. "Your army has an ape, and a butler, but you're missing both a mighty wizard and a mighty witch!" Benny opened his arms.
Olivia watched Rory take hold of Benny's head and shout the same spell. She gasped at the red light in Benny's eyes before Rory let go. "Benny are you-"
He turned around began to speak Spanish, but that's all Olivia heard, because before she knew it, Rory's hands were on the sides of her head and she became a real witch.
Olivia suddenly snapped out of it and looked around. Her eyes laid upon Sarah and Ethan, who's lips were almost touching. Sarah's eyes opened and she pulled away immediately.
"So close." She whispered to herself. She then looked to Benny, who had his foot on Rory, who was lying on the floor. "Is this a party? Am I invited?" Rory asked excitedly. Benny took his foot off Rory and looked around, confused, much like everyone else in the room.
"Ow, my head!" Rory groaned.