Night Changes (Soon To Be EDITED)

Trick or Treat, You've Got Me Beat

"You're taking Petey Trick-or-Treating, go buy yourself and Liam a costume after school."

The last thing on my priority list today was taking my eight year old brother Trick-or-Treating, but I knew I didn't have too much say in the matter. My parents had already done a ton for me the last month and a half, and most of my life, the least I could do was take my brother out tonight when they both had to work. There really wasn't a need for my little brother to have to suffer the consequences of not having fun either.

I frowned, plucking the money from my mother's fingertips. "How early? Please tell me it won't be at like six with all those little babies."

"Yeah, I'm not a baby!" Peter appeared in the foyer, tightening the strap on his Ninja Costume.

I could see my mom chuckling out of the corner of my eye.

"Okay, Kiddos. Get to school." Mom ushered us out of the house with a nod, shifting Liam back and forth in her arms as she watched as jog down the steps.

My brother had gone all out with his costume for school. Taking into consideration he couldn't wear a mask on school grounds, he had asked me to paint one on him. I had actually done a decent job and had changed my profile picture on social media to the two of us after I'd finished. He had made Dad buy the most expensive of the Ninja get-ups because it was his favorite color, and it shielded his entire body with a black and blue robe.

The closest thing I could say I had to a costume was a lopsided ponytail and I hadn't cared enough to change out of my sweats. Petey had joked I was going as a girl in pajamas, and I was going to go along with it if anyone asked.

"Zane!" Peter exclaimed, startling me. I caught his arm before he could run any further down the driveway, my eyes widening a fraction. He was right, Zane had pulled up in a blue Beamer I knew belonged to his father.

His costume confused me a bit. He was wearing a blue jersey with his name and the number 11 stretched out across the back in big white text. His shoulder pads were slightly uneven, but I got the feeling he had done it on purpose. His shorts, a little longer than those the boys on the real team use during practice or when they were just hanging out, revealed a little too much leg for his liking. He kept reaching down and running his hand along his leg.

"Hey, buddy." Zane ruffled my brother's hair.

"Are you supposed to be a football player?" my brother asked, peering up at the older boy in curiosity.

I could tell by the bitter look that crossed his face that there was more to his answer than what he spoke. "Sure, kid. Just that."

"That's cool! I'm a ninja!" Peter laughed, making a sudden movement with his hands so he was in a karate like stance.

Zane opened the back door to the Beamer and grinned. "Bro, that's the coolest costume I've seen in years."

Peter, clearly pleased with the compliment, climbed into the back seat and pulled his seat belt on.

"Nice costume, sweetheart." Zane joked as I finally approached the car.

"Could say the same." I looked him over. "Is this some sort of joke? A jab at your brother?"

Zane snorted. "I'd never give him that satisfaction."

"Yeah? So you're suddenly cool with dressing as a football player? Cool."

I slipped passed him and walked around the car so I was sitting in the back with my brother. Peter kept the conversation going until we dropped him off at the front of the school. He kissed my cheek as he usually did before hopping out and waving at his friends on the playground.