Our Town of Halloween | Halloweentown ❥ Ethan

𝟎𝟑: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰

When they got to the school, they stood by while Gwen and Marnie looked for a flying school bus.

Dylan just stared ahead, and Maisie felt awkward because there were probably people judging them for idling at the sidewalk, staring into the sky. 

Maisie messed with the black cord necklace she wore. Sure, it had nothing on it, well, it had a heart pendant on it, but the pendant fell off and most likely ended up somewhere in Gort's cottage.

Kimberly came over and whispered, "Is this a magic thing? Just idling around, looking at the sky, scaring people?"

Gwen did not approve of Maisie revealing magic to Kimberly, but since Kimberly kept the secret and didn't look at them any different, Kimberly's memories stayed.

"We're waiting for our grandmother," Maisie said. "They took Dylan's joke seriously. They think my grandmother is going to fly a bus in."

"Oh," Kimberly replied. She started looking at the sky.

"I don't see anything," Dylan said.

Marnie spoke to Gwen, "I don't suppose you wouldn't know a total-eclipse-of-the-sun spell?"

"Afraid not," Gwen replied.

"We're going to need something to keep people from noticing a forty-foot orange bus, falling out of the sky," Marnie said.

"Cut her some slack," Maisie stated.

Kimberly looked at something, "If an orange bus wouldn't cut it, would an orange Bug do?"

The orange car drove up, and it let out a strange honk. 

Aggie stuck her arm out the rolled down window and said, "Yoo-hoo."

Gwen and Marnie's mouths opened in shock.

Maisie smirked at them, "You people have no faith in Grandma."

"Grandma?" asked Marnie.

"Yes, yes, yes," Aggie replied. "It's me, it's me, it's me." She got out of the car, revealing regular mortal clothing. She set her bag down, "Oh my, don't I look stylish?"

"Mother," Gwen started, "I am so impressed."

"Yeah, I didn't even know you could drive," Marnie added.

Maisie was confused, "I don't think she was driving."

"Yeah, I can't," replied Aggie. "I asked two leprechauns that I know to help work the pedals for me. They're right in here." She stuck her head in the car, "Thanks guys! Thanks!"

"Oh, well, it's a step in the right direction," Gwen said.

Aggie went to help a girl out of the backseat, "So, sorry, Cassie."

"A little help?" asked Cassie.

Maisie went over to help dislodge Cassie from the backseat. Maisie did notice that Cassie was wearing a very cute hat though.

"Oh, here, dear," Aggie said. "Let me help you."

"Her backpack," Maisie said, untangling Cassie's backpack.

They managed to get her out of the backseat. 

"Hi," Cassie greeted Gwen, Marnie, Dylan, and Kimberly. "Um, I'm Cassie. Are any of you human?" They waved at her, "I never met a human before. My guidebook says it's important to make direct eye contact and not to show fear."

Maisie cringed a little. These people have a lot to learn.

Marnie chuckled, "Hi, I'm Marnie. And that would be lesson number one on how not to greet humans. See, people around here automatically assume that everyone they meet is human."

"Oh, well, that's good to know," Cassie replied.

Cassie started saying something, but Aggie ran over, to grab her shoulders, "This is Cassie. She's a neighbor of mine."

"Where are the other kids?" Gwen said, "They're expecting—"

"Ow!" A boy, wearing a long purple scarf, said, getting out of the car, "Quit shoving." Cassie was pointing at the car.

"Come on out, Pete," Aggie told him. "Just put your backpack on." A girl wearing a red beret got out, "Oh, Natalie, you're so cute." A blonde girl got out, "Oh, hi, sweet girl." Another boy got out, "Here we are now, just checkin' up." A girl wearing a checkered dress got out, "Prettiest girl." A blond boy got out, "Oh big ones." Another boy wearing a red long-sleeve shirt got out, "Oh, Chester." Aggie looked into the backseat, "Ethan. Ethan Dalloway! Now, come on."

Maisie picked up on the last name. Dalloway? As in Council President Dalloway? Did the Council President send his own son to the mortal world to spy on them? Make sure they fail?

A guy, wearing a red hat got out. For some reason, Ethan was wearing a tie. "Chester's armadillo ate a hole in my sweater." He took out an orange sweater sleeve that had a hole in it.

Someone from the group snickered.

"Oh, Chester, I thought I told you – never mind, never mind," Aggie said. She went to Marnie, she spoke to the Halloween Townies, "Everybody, this is Marnie. She'll be your student adviser while you're in this world."

"Hi," greeted Marnie.

"And remember," Aggie added, "If anybody asks where you're from..." She trailed off and said, "Where are we from again?"

"Canada," Marnie told Aggie. She spoke to the others, "You're all from Canada."

"Better write that down," Aggie whispered to Gwen.

While Marnie told the Halloween Townies about the importance of blending in, Maisie stared at Ethan – not because he was attractive – well, he was – but because she was a bit suspicious of why he was here.

Okay, sure, maybe he was here to monitor the progress and report back to his dad about how good or how poor everything was going. Maybe he was honestly curious about the mortal world.

Maisie didn't know, but she had her eye on him. 

What she didn't notice was that Ethan was staring at her too, but it wasn't because he was suspicious, it was because he thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen.