𝐑𝐄𝐃 • Max Dennison

IV: TRICK-OR-TREAT

Trick-or-treating was going on painstakingly slow, and Dani didn't show any sign of stopping any time soon.

"Lighten up, Max," she said, stepping down the steps from her most recent house.

"Can we go home now?" Max asked.

"No."

Max and Dani were about to leave, when they noticed a huge group, yelling and spinning. One of them picked up a pumpkin and threw it into the street, smashing it. Obviously, it was Jay and Ice.

"Let's just go this way," Max suggested. He was ignored. "Dani."

"Ding-ding. Ding-ding," Ice said as Dani attempted to walk past.

"Stop and pay the toll, kid," Jay stood up.

"Ten chocolate bars. No liquorice."

"Dump out your sack."

"Drop dead, moron," Dani spat.

"Yo, twerp. How'd you like to be hung off that telephone pole," Ice bent down to reach Dani's height.

She scoffed. "I'd just like to see you try, because it just so happens I've got my big brother with me. Max!"

Max rolled his eyes. He'd already regretted his decision to come out, and now his regret was growing. Jay and Ice laughed. "Hollywood! Oh, no!" They hugged each other mockingly.

"So," Jay said, "You're doing a little trick-or-treating. Ding-dong!"

"Wooooo!" Ice yelled.

"I'm just taking my little sister around," Max said.

Jay hummed. "That's nice. Wow, I love the costume, but what are you supposed to be? A new kid on the block?"

"For your information," Dani yelled, "He's a Little Leaguer."

The group continued to mock, as Lilah left her house. Max realised that this was her street. No wonder Jay had decided to hang here. He secretly hoped she'd come over and get Jay to leave him alone again, but he didn't want to make himself seem like a wuss by calling out to her. Luckily, she got the message.

"Jay, Ice, irrelevant friends! What'd I tell you about picking on Dennison? His little sister, too? Man, that's low. Even for you, Jay," Lilah said, walking over. She was meant to be heading for Allison's house. Her parents had already left.

"Li! That outfit is hot! What are you meant to be?" Jay asked.

"Off limits."

Everyone laughed and 'ooed' at Lilah's comment. Jay's cocky demeanour faltered for a second as he thought of something to say. "You know this is all in good fun, right?"

"I don't see the fun in picking on kids because you want a little candy. Honestly, it's just screaming diabetes to me. Your teeth are gonna rot all because you wanted to scare some kids. You'd be so unattractive without your teeth."

"So you think I'm attractive with them?"

"Hm. I don't know. Depends whether you decided to leave these two alone or not."

While Jay was obviously willing to give it up, Ice wasn't exactly whipped. Max, Lilah and Danni went to walk away, but Ice grabbed Max by his jacket. "Wait a minute," he said, "Everybody pays the toll."

"Stuff it, zit face," Dani said.

"Why you little-"

Just as Ice was about to hit for Dani, Max stopped him. "Hey! Ice, here, pig out," he shoved a bag of candy into Ice's chest. "Come on, Dani, let's go. Jerk."

The three went to walk away as Jay grabbed a hold of Lilah's wrist. "Wait, you headed to a party?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Maybe I'll see you there."

"Trust me, Jay, it's much too sophisticated for you."

"But-"

"Dude. Shut up and eat your candy."

Lilah assumed Dani and Max had walked away was she was stopped, but Max had waited as Dani went up to the next house. "Thanks, again. I owe you one. Well, actually, I owe you two, now."

"It's fine. I didn't exactly manage to save you from that one, though. Sorry about Ice, he's not exactly as fond of me as Jay is. He's not fond of me at all, actually."

"Oh well, I'm sure a bunch of other people are fond of you," Max said. Lilah shrugged. "I'm fond of you."

"Thanks, Dennison. I'll see you in school?"

"That's if I make it through tonight."

Lilah furrowed her brows at Max's attempt at a joke, then headed off to Allison's house. Max walked back over to Dani. "Was that Allison?"

"Lilah."

"You should like Lilah instead. You should have punched that guy!"

"Maybe your right. About the first thing, not the second, they would've killed me."

"At least you would've died like a man."

"Hey! You just humiliated me in front of half the guys at school. So collect your candy and get out of my life."

"I wanna go home. Now!"

Dani ran down the steps and Max chased after her. She threw herself down on some hay and began to cry. Max sat next to her. "Dani, I'm sorry. It's just that I hate this place. I miss all my friends. I wanna go home!"

"Well, it's is your home now. So get used to it," Dani wiped her tears.

"Yeah," Max agreed, "Gimme one more chance?"

"Why should I?"

"Cause I'm your brother," Max pulled an over exaggerated pout, making Dani laugh. He looked up at the sky, "Woah, check that out."

"What?"

"Something just flew across the moon."

Dani looked up to the sky in an attempt to spot what Max had seen. Max suddenly grabbed her shoulders, scaring her. "Fooled ya."

"Let's go, jerkface."

"Woah," they said in sync as they came across a huge house.

"Check out this house."

"Eh, rich people. They'll probably make us drink cider and bob for apples."

They nodded at each other as they walked into the house. "Trick-or-treat?"

Lilah, who was playing with her nails, looked up at the pair. "You stalking me, Dennison?"