Just One Step

The night at the Monster Mash had been going off without a hitch, Charlotte couldn’t remember the time she’d had this much fun at a crowded party. Amongst all the bodies and no matter how many drinks she had, she needed some fresh air. The brunette slipped outside and found a seat away in a corner. The cool air was exactly what she had been needing, starting to bring her body temperature down, She noticed someone not to far away, “Seems like I wasn’t the only one escaping for fresh air, totally cool costume by the way. How’s your night been, hopefully as good as mine?”

Not one to get overwhelmed the cop had instead simply overheated. While the full length black dress had felt like a good idea at the time and she didn’t really regret her choice when she knew she looked good, all the other bodies in there sure ramped up the temperature. A voice caught her attention and she blinked at them for a minute. “Huh?” Eventually their words sunk in and a grin crossed her lips. “Oh thanks, I call it Sexy Witch Number Five.” Wry smile was given when she was nothing if not self aware that she hadn’t been all that original. “Yours is cute though and I don’t think I’ve seen at least four other people wearing the same thing.” 

Location: Monster Mash

“The think I love most about Halloween is how detailed and creative everyone gets.” Kessa explained, she stood at the bar with a drink in her hand. “I mean look at that girls costume.” Pointing to the girl in front of them with an extremely detailed costume and face paint on. Which the face paint alone was an artwork in itself. “What costume have you seen that you like the most?” She asked as she turned to face the person next to her. “Well besides your own.” 

Hum of agreement had been given to the brunette next to her when she wouldn’t argue that there were certainly some creative minds in the room with them. Grin crossed her features as she answered, gaze flicking over her fellow witch. “I’m kind of partial to yours but maybe I’m just biased because we clearly both had the same great idea.” She leaned in closer, smirk playing over her lips as she spoke. “Maybe it’s a sign we should start our own coven.”

Location: Lucky’s 

Notes:  @abbyaldridge​

“Listen I love the theme I really do, but please tell me that you aren’t going to be this basic for Monster Mash.” Alex asked, she gave her sister a once over again. “Because if so I’m going to veto your costume and pick something else out. You’re single. You need to embrace it and probably have a one night. Which hey what’s better than Halloween.” Gesturing with a smile. “I mean hey you don’t even have to look at them if you don’t want.” 

With her sister’s words interrupting her sip of rum, she couldn’t help but pull a face, eyes rolling slightly at the comment. “Oh come on. I was going for accuracy not sexy - some people find attention to detail attractive.” Horror films were a more recent fixation of hers when she had grown up in love with old Hollywood movies and she had been determined to make her Annabelle costume as realistic as possible. “I hear you but you’d better be intending to take your own advice.”

Halloween had been his favorite time as a child because he got to dress up and be someone else for awhile. Now though, standing on the pier he glanced into the tunnel. Wondering if he should go in or not. Or maybe he should just hit up one of the bars or maybe go to one of the movies or maybe even go and kick a bucket over. Text one of his sisters and see what they were up to or something. Glancing around for a moment, that was when he noticed someone else. “Going in?” He questioned while looking over at them for a moment still.

Halloween had never made a huge impact on her growing up but this year she was determined to go all in on it and she’d headed to the pier to see what was up for grabs. At the sound of a familiar voice she stops in her tracks, swivelling to face him while her shoulders roll into a shrug. “That was the plan.” Brown eyed gaze flickered from him and then back towards the tunnel, brow arching in curious challenge as a small smirk played across her lips. “You needing a hand to hold or something, Rhodes?”

Chuckling hearing the comment about Aaron. “You have no idea.” It might have been an uncalled for comment and a little too much information but they did have a child together. Phobe didn’t exactly have much of a filter, to begin with, but it was significantly worse when she wasn’t around Dani. “Pretty much. Decorate all of her shit.” 

Playful shudder was given as the other brunette made a quip about her younger brother. Truth being told she didn’t mind it too much when it was all in good humour but she still help her hand up to stall any more talk of it. “Nope and I think I’d like to keep it that way.” Grin was shot across the room to Phobe before she rubbed her hands together in preparation for the task ahead.  “Alright, let’s get to work.”

Josh: Not really found one yet. Brewery 301 works for me. When?

Josh: Hey! Yeah, I'm free. Where are you thinking?

Abby: Anywhere but Alex's bar?

Abby: Hey, it's just me. Work's been pretty hectic but I have some free time coming up tonight. Do you want to grab a drink or something?

(five minutes later)

Josh figured he wasn’t actually going to win this discussion right now, so probably best to leave it for another day. He was surprised to even see her standing there, to be honest, he couldn’t even get past that in the back of his mind. A part of him had imagined that perhaps he’d never actually see her again, but no, here they were. “If you say so,” he answered simply, shrugging his shoulders.

He was about to respond to her when he heard a bang behind him and immediately glanced over his shoulder to see his client tapping on the window. As soon as they’d locked eyes, she was jabbing impatiently towards the yard. He sighed softly, and then turned back to Abby. “That might be a sign to get back to work,” he said with the lightest of laughs. “But uh, I still have the same number, if you want to get together sometime and talk properly.”

Part of her felt pleased he’d decided to drop it but mostly she still felt sad that it was even a conversation that they needed to have. “I do.” The words came out firmly before her attention shifted towards the impatient looking woman. “Yeah, definitely don’t get fired because of me.” Small wry smile tugged at her lips while she did what she did best and used humour to try to make things that little bit easier. “I think my arms are about to give up anyway.” Surprise took over her features, the last thing she’d expected was for him to offer to see her again but as shocking as it was to her, she was instantly grateful. “I’ll maybe see you around then.”

Hard for me to stay mad or disappointed in you, her words repeated in their mind. Mara watched her facial expression, trying to see if what she was saying matched with how she really felt. They placed their drink down once they finished it, pressing their lips together. “I guess that’s fair,” they told her, knowing well that it was. But that’s easier said than done. They shrugged their shoulders before leaning back against their chair. A part of them does not fully believe Abby’s not mad or disappointed in them. But they weren’t going to push on it. Well, not now anyways.  

Frown creased her brow at her sister’s response, studying them for a moment or two as she wondered just how she’d managed to shut their conversation down so quickly. “You sure about that?” The question hung between them for a while, gaze flickering over them as she waited for an answer. Sighing slightly, she couldn’t help but curse their parents for the levels of dysfunction that they’d allowed between their children. In truth all Abby wanted was for them all to get along - be some sort of cohesive unit that was there for each other - but she never knew where to start. “Look, I know things have always been weird in our family and it’s generally just a mess but you can talk to me about stuff.”

Normally Samantha had no problem taking care of things herself, she didn’t really need the whole white knight. She was usually doing the saving anyways. But when Abby approached her she felt bad for mistaken her to be that guy. There was a small chuckle that escaped her lips at her comment. “Well I must say you are a lot more prettier than pushy frat boys anyways.” She nodded her head a little bit. “That I am. So feel free to order whatever you want. On me all night or well for as long as what I’m here for.”

At the redhead’s compliment she couldn’t help but cast her gaze over the other woman before a smile spread across her features. “Thanks. You’re definitely up there yourself.” Nonchalant shrug of  her shoulders was given to not play up her words too much. “Someone’s feeling generous.” Teasing tone touched her words as a good humoured smirk pulled across her lips. The offer seemed too good to be true but even though it seemed to be genuine, the brunette wasn’t content to take drink after drink for a simple misunderstanding. “At least let me get a couple in later on to balance it all out. If you still want to put up with me at that point.”

“Ah, but I bet it’s the best bad joke you’ve heard,” Jasper retorted with a laugh. In all honesty, it was only the bad jokes he ever remembered. They just appealed to him more. Perhaps it was that something bad was still able to bring about something good, or perhaps Jasper just had a really shitty sense of humour. “Maybe so, but I’m not going to get along with everyone, even though I might like to think I can. I don’t go out of my way to displease people, but I’m not about to change myself to please them either. I rather like being a human ray of sunshine.” 

“Do you genuinely think it’s the best joke?” Frown creased her brow as she gave him a look to suggest he baffled her. She found herself wondering if it was another kind of joke that she’d missed. Words left her lips slowly, for once uncertain of where the conversation was going. “Look I’m not usually one for crushing dreams but I can’t lie to you either. Definitely ranks somewhere in the worst twenty I’ve ever heard.” The next speech he gave made a whole lot more sense to her and she found herself nodding along, impressed with his line of thought. “Touche. Nice mentality to have.”  

“Good for you.” Phobe encouraged as she listened to her. She was completely enticed in what exactly Abby was into. All the Aldridge’s seemed like they were into something. Eventually, she would like to know what exactly made them all tick for her own personal amusement. “Fuck yes.” The brunette encouraged with a proud smirk on her lips. “I think just like decoration stuff. Aaron helped with a lot of stuff.” 

Absentminded hum was given to the other brunette’s comment, she supposed that having more choice was a good thing but she needed to start acting upon it if she wanted any degree of success. Grin crossed her lips at the mention of her brother. “Glad to hear he has his uses.” Nod was given again. “So we need to make the place look fit for a princess.”

Nathan nodded his head, pleased she’d said that, but hadn’t doubted for a moment that she would anyway. “Good to know,” he responded, brows lifting for a fleeting second. Then, as she continued, he couldn’t help but laugh. Of course she had to add that, this was Abby after all, not a day went by without a little teasing here and there. “You are, huh? Maybe…” he laughed. “Never really bothered, to be honest. I used to meet a lot of people through work —- although that seems to be dying down now I’m single, just my luck.”

“Never going to be any different.” The words leave her lips quickly, not willing to dwell on sentiment too much but she had little intention of her stance on the matter ever changing. Moments later she’s reverting to type, smirk sparking across her lips as she speaks. “Fair warning though that not everyone on there is as amazing as me.” Shoulders shrugged. “I have a love hate relationship with it most of the time. Can’t say I’ve used it much recently.” She claimed that life was too busy but she’d found herself somewhat disinterested in it all. “That’s life though. It likes dishing out the irony.”

Logan makes a face, an as if flash of disgust. “Nah, I own up to my guilty pleasures,” he says in confidence. “Pumpkin spiced shit is not one.” He eyes her then, feigning a hint of suspicion before his eyes tick briefly to her own cup. “Sounds like you’re tryin’ to cover up for your own guilty pleasure. Pumpkin spiced latte’s your thing, huh?” It’s all a joke, at least from Logan’s point of view. He doesn’t care. Not really.

“Oh do you now?” Brow rose, intrigued as she made a mental note to come back to that point later. “I look like a pumpkin spice kinda girl?” Features scrunched up into a look of disgust despite her general disinterest in what other people chose to like and dislike. It was none of her business. But this conversation was entirely about the fun of it so she played it up even more, shaking her head as though she was disappointed. “Now you’re really grasping at straws to divert that suspicion away from you.”