Mischief Unmanageable

Chapter Seven: Halloween Costumes

"I'm so bored!" complained Ari was she flopped onto the couch next to Marlin.

Marlin looked up from the book she was reading. She studied Ari, observing her friends Halloween themed socks.  Halloween was in a couple of weeks and to be honest, Marlin was ecstatic. She always had fond memories of Halloween and all the strange costumes, her and Ari would wear. But before Marlin could continue her thoughts, Ari dramatically rolled off the couch and thus pulling Marlin back into reality.

She looked at, Ari who was now laying on the floor and staring up at the ceiling.

"Ari, what are you doing?" asked Marlin extremely worried but not surprised by her friends actions.

"I wanted to know if the ground was as comfy as the couch." she explained like it was a normal thing for anyone to wonder.

But before the girls could continue with there extremely fascinating conversation, the Marauders barged into the common room. James and Remus were arguing.

"Come on Moony," James said, "it'll be fun!"

"Party's aren't really my thing, Prongs, you know that." 

"Moony, don't be such a git! We've already picked you a costume and everything!" James told him as he sat down in a chair.

"WAIT! What's this about costumes ?" shouted Ari startling the boys from the ground.

"The yearly Halloween Costume Party, we always throw in the common room." explained Sirius, who was watching Ari intently.

He was waiting to see if she would mention anything about the kiss the two shared a few days earlier.

Marlin looked between the two. She could see the worry on Sirius's face, who despite her telling him, thought Ari hated him because of the kiss. She then turned to look at Ari who had now moved back onto the couch. Ari looked up at Sirius and smiled, it was obvious she was ignoring his worried look, pretending like nothing had happened between them.

"Because nothing had happened!" Ari told herself.

Marlin sighed and thought "she really is going to act like nothing happened, this isn't going to end well."

But out loud the two girls said at the same time. "Costume Party?"

They looked at each other and giggled.

"It's sort of creepy when you two say things at the same time." Peter told them nervously. 

Ari looked proud when Peter pointed this out. Marlin on the other hand wanted to hide in the corner.

"So," said Ari, "are we  invited to this costume party?"

"Fine," thought Sirius, " if you want to pretend nothing happened, I will too. But only  for the time being."

"Of, course you are love." he said out loud, while winking at the two girls.

Ari couldn't help it and blushed, but turned to Marlin so Sirius wouldn't see.

"Act like nothing happened," she repeated in her head like a mantra, "he doesn't even like you like that, he didn't mean to kiss you." she told herself.

Out loud she asked Marlin, "Lets coordinate costumes!"

"Yes," agreed Marlin.

The two girls looked at each other, doing the thing where it's almost like their reading each others minds.

"Most definitely, we are so doing that as are costume!" Ari said, giving Marlin a high five.

The Marauders all looked at them, intrigued and curious to know what the girls were dressing up as.