𝙴𝚛𝚒𝚌 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚛 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 ★ 𝙾𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ★

𝐻𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓃 🎃

The living room was bathed in the soft orange glow of the jack-o'-lantern you'd placed on the coffee table, its jagged grin casting flickering shadows on the walls. The air smelled of popcorn, the salty scent mixing with the sweetness of the candy spread out in bowls between you and Eric. You could hear the faint hum of the VCR as it rewound the tape, a nostalgic sound that made you smile.

You were sitting side by side on the couch, blankets draped over your laps, while Eric was fiddling with the remote in his hand, about to press play on the old VHS tape of Frankenstein you'd found at a thrift store.

"I can't believe we're watching this on VHS," Eric chuckled, his voice soft and warm. "It's like being a kid again, waiting for the movie to start."

You grinned at him, the excitement of Halloween bubbling up. "It just feels right for tonight. Popcorn, candy, an old monster movie..." You gestured to the array of chocolate bars, candy corn, and caramel apples you'd both grabbed from the corner store earlier that evening.

"Perfect night," Eric said, his voice growing more playful as he reached for a handful of popcorn and threw one kernel at you, aiming for your mouth.

You laughed, catching the kernel in your hand before popping it into your mouth. "Nice try, but you're gonna have to do better than that!"

Eric's smile widened, and he shrugged. "Just warming up. Let's see what Frankenstein's monster is up to."

He hit play, and the classic film began with its grainy black-and-white scenes and the eerie score that always sent shivers down your spine. As the movie unfolded, you couldn't help but glance at Eric every now and then. His face was soft in the dim light, his long curls brushing against his shoulders, and his eyes were focused on the screen, though the faint curve of his lips told you he was enjoying the moment just as much as you were.

Halfway through the film, Eric reached over to the candy bowl, his hand blindly searching for something. You nudged him playfully and handed him a mini Snickers bar. He grinned and unwrapped it, popping it into his mouth.

"You know, I don't remember Frankenstein being this sad when I watched it as a kid," Eric murmured as the monster stumbled through the forest on the screen, alone and misunderstood.

You nodded, your heart softening. "Yeah, it hits differently now. The monster never wanted to hurt anyone... he just didn't know how to fit in."

Eric shifted a little closer to you, his arm brushing against yours. "Kind of like how people can be, right? Misunderstood until you get to know them."

You glanced at him, feeling the warmth of his presence and the comfort of the familiar connection between you. "Yeah... exactly like that."

For a moment, you both let the movie play, the sound of the storm on screen echoing through the room. You snuggled a little deeper into the blanket, and Eric slipped his arm around you, pulling you into his side without saying a word. His fingers traced lazy patterns on your shoulder, and you let out a content sigh, resting your head against his chest.

"Thanks for doing this with me," you whispered. "I know it's just a silly movie, but..."

Eric tilted his head to look down at you, his expression serious but tender. "Are you kidding? This is perfect." He pressed a kiss to the top of your head, lingering there for a moment. "I wouldn't want to spend Halloween any other way. Just you, me, and some classic monsters."

Your heart warmed at his words, and you nuzzled into his chest. The film continued to play, but now the sounds of the movie were a comforting background to the soft, steady beat of Eric's heart under your ear.

As the final scenes of Frankenstein played, you and Eric stayed close, sharing occasional glances and comments about the movie, but mostly just enjoying the quiet comfort of being together. When the credits finally rolled and the VCR whirred as the tape came to a stop, you stayed wrapped in his arms, not wanting to move.

"Do you think the monster found peace in the end?" you asked softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Eric hummed thoughtfully, his hand gently stroking your hair. "Maybe. Maybe he finally understood he wasn't really a monster."

You closed your eyes, a smile tugging at your lips. "I like that ending better."

Eric pressed another kiss to your temple and tightened his arm around you. "Happy Halloween, sweetheart."

"Happy Halloween," you whispered back, feeling safe, loved, and perfectly content.