Jarida Drabbles

Halloween

The doorbell clanged, shattering her peace in the small house. Groaning, she paused her movie and untangled her limbs to stand. She tightened the ponytail that miraculously managed to hold back her fiery curls and straightened her "This is my Costume" shirt.

She shuffled towards the front door and snatched up the small plastic bowl with assorted lollipops she had gotten at the dollar store that afternoon at the last minute. Resting it on her hip, she unlocked the door and swung it open after plastering a smile on her face. As her bright eyes met familiar blue, her shoulders dropped, her smile following.

"It's just you," she breathed out as she tossed the bowl back onto the small table it had been resting on.

"Well, that's a horrible greeting." A finger poked her between the eyes as the voice continued, "People usually say 'Happy Halloween' or 'Look at how cute you are!'. Is it that hard to remember?"

"I'm not in the mood, Jack."

The young man scoffed. "I can tell."

"What are you even dressed as?"

A smile pulled at his lips as he stepped back from the doorstep and stretched out his arms. "The Easter Kangaroo."

A red eyebrow arched. "Hate to rain on your parade, but it's the Easter Bunny."

He smirked, "Perhaps here, but what about in Australia."

She released a soft chuckle. "You're bugging Aster again, aren't you?"

A triumphant grin twitched at the corner of his lips. "That obvious?"

"Painfully."

"Good," he declared. "Now," he continued, inviting himself into her house and shutting the door behind him, "since I have a costume: trick o' treat!"

Chapped hands cupped and extended up to her nose.

Smacking them away, she exclaimed, "You're such a kid."

His bottom lip curled out, eliciting a grumble of annoyance for the young woman.

"I get enough of your tricks as it is. So, here," she said, tossing a yellow lollipop at him.

Jack deftly caught it. His blue eyes roamed over it briefly before he raised it and tapped it against her small nose. "Not what I had in mind. Besides, I don't want your hate filled candy."

"Hate would be an improvement over the crap that's probably in that," she countered.

His eyes widened briefly before he laughed, sticking the candy in his pocket. "So am I getting my treat or not?" he asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Hmm," she mumbled in thought as she leaned forward against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You've been pretty naughty."

"That's Christmas."

She shrugged off the discrepancy. "Do you want a treat?"

"Yes," he answered petulantly.

The red head smiled as she closed the space between them and pressed her lips against his. Slender arms snaked around her and held her close, deepening the kiss.

A loud bang and low snickering broke them apart.

"What the hell was that?" Jack exclaimed.

"My brothers, the wee devils," she groaned as she pulled away. "You are now going to witness why I hate Halloween."

"They can't be that bad," he chuckled.

A sly grin pulled at her lips. "We'll see if you'll still be saying that later."

She pulled the door open and shouted, "Boys!"