The Long Game, Lucas Sinclair

012. i host the halloween show

CHAPTER TWELVE.
2x02: Trick or Treat, Freak

"I thought you didn't even want to go trick-or-treating this year," Stephanie murmured, holding Sam's chin with her hand.

She was painting on Sam's face with oranges and yellow, and some black here and there. The costume Sam, Stephanie, and Corey ended up putting together was a very last-minute scarecrow.

Sam wore a white turtleneck of her own with an old, oversized flannel of Corey's on top of it. She also wore overalls of his that he no longer wanted, with a hat of Aunt Kat's they'd stolen from her room. In between Sam's layers of clothes, they stuffed her with straw taken from Aunt Kat's hay-bale Halloween decoration outside. The boots she wore were being borrowed ("yes, Steph, I know I'm just borrowing them, jeez") from Stephanie, and she'd also plaited Sam's hair into two simple braids.

The only thing they needed to do now was paint Sam's face. Stephanie was dressed in her Shaggy costume as she painted on the circle cheeks, triangular nose, and stitched smile.

"I didn't," Sam agreed, trying not to shiver at the cold paint being applied to her face. "But I made a friend today, and I think she's coming with us. So."

Sam shrugged.

"Wait," Corey interjected from where his legs were dangling off the side of Stephanie's bed. "Max is coming with us?"

Sam turned to Corey, confused that he was confused, until it hit her.

"I knew they didn't take a vote!"

"Stop moving your head!" Stephanie hissed, gripping harshly onto Sam's chin again and forcing Sam to look forward. As she continued painting, Stephanie commented, "I'm proud of you for making a friend that's not an idiot boy. You need more of a female influence in your life."

"I've made another friend that's a girl!" Sam protested, quicker than she should have.

Stephanie stopped painting to shoot Sam a disbelieving look. "Really? Like who?"

El, Sam wanted to say, but forgot she couldn't.

She panicked over speaking too fast, and made worried eye contact with Corey—he also looked nervous. He shook his head and shrugged cluelessly. He was absolutely no help at all.

"Uh..." Sam searching her brain for a lie, looking at Stephanie again. "Well, you, right? You're my friend?"

And luckily, Stephanie reacted as if she felt bad for being so rude about Sam's choice of wording. Sam let out a relieved breath, grateful the sad little sister move had worked once again.