L.A. Dreaming: Destinations and Detours

Chapter 8: Somebody's Watching Me

(October 31st, 2025)

Halloween season was here, and the excitement in the air was palpable. The beach house was buzzing with activity as Lisa and her friends fully embraced the spooky spirit of the season. The once-relaxed coastal home was now transformed into a Halloween haven, with cobwebs draped over furniture, jack-o'-lanterns glowing warmly, and eerie soundtracks playing softly in the background.

Outside, the group had even set up a haunted trail leading from the beach up to the house, complete with creepy decorations and strategically placed scares to give any brave trick-or-treaters a thrill. The smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon filled the air, mixing with the salty ocean breeze.

Lisa, who had just finished helping with some last-minute decorations, couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as she thought about the upcoming festivities. Between the group's planned costumes, the record label's Halloween party, and her budding relationship with Brynn, it promised to be a Halloween to remember.

As she prepared to head over to Brynn's place, she took one last look around the house. Her friends were still hard at work, adding final touches to the decor and laughing about old Halloween memories. There was something special about this time of year—something that brought everyone closer together, whether through shared scares or shared laughter.

"Alright, I'm off!" Lisa called out, grabbing her keys.

"Don't forget to bring back some of that Halloween magic!" Sherie teased, as she sorted through a box of decorations.

"Yeah, and make sure Brynn knows we're expecting her at the party," Chamile added with a wink.

Lisa smiled, feeling warm inside. "I will! See y'all later!"

With that, she left the house, eager to share the Halloween spirit with her girlfriend and excited for what the rest of the fall season would bring.

The night seemed almost too perfect, as if it were plucked straight from the script of a classic Halloween movie. A thin layer of fog drifted lazily across the road, swirling around the tires of Lisa's car as she drove toward Brynn's house. The moon hung low in the sky, full and bright, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape. Shadows danced between the trees, and every so often, the distant hoot of an owl or the rustle of leaves in the breeze would send a small shiver down her spine.

As Lisa drove, she noticed how the decorations in the neighborhoods she passed seemed to come to life in the dim light. Pumpkins with carved faces grinned eerily from porches, and skeletons, witches, and ghosts peeked out from behind bushes and windows. The air was cool, crisp, and carried the faint scent of wood smoke and pine, the quintessential aroma of an autumn night.

There was something almost magical about it all—this was the kind of night that made Halloween feel like more than just a holiday. It felt like an experience, a moment in time where anything was possible. The excitement in Lisa's chest grew with each passing mile as she anticipated seeing Brynn.

•••

Eventually, she pulled up to her girlfriend's house, the soft crunch of gravel beneath her tires signaling her arrival. The house was cozy, warmly lit from within, a beacon of comfort on a mysterious night. Lisa parked the car and stepped out, the cool air instantly wrapping around her. She took a moment to look up at the sky, the stars twinkling in the dark expanse above, before making her way to the door.

As she approached, she could see the faint outlines of Brynn's Halloween decorations—tasteful, understated, but with just the right amount of festive flair. Lisa raised her hand to knock on the door, her heart skipping a beat in anticipation.