MARLEY // Max Mayfield

Subtle Costumes

Marley spat her gum into a passing bin and skidded into the bike lot, slicking her hair back with a clump of gel. Halloween, her second favourite holiday of the year, the air buzzed with anticipation for the night to come and Marley would be lying if she said she didn't feel the same. Getting free candy for doing absolutely nothing except dressing up was a win in her book.

The Party were all stood around their own bikes, arguing amongst each other and Marley could already feel a hair greying as she jogged over to them. "You're late..." Will whispered and she nodded, remembering she had overslept her alarm after crashing into a deep slumber following taking Max home, "why aren't you wearing a costume?"

"Actually --"

"I specifically didn't agree to Winston!" Lucas argued. Marley looked between Mike and Lucas noticing the two of them were wearing Venkman patches.

"Yes, you did!" Mike yelled and Marley rolled her eyes.

"I don't think he did..." Will said in a small voice, obviously trying to break up the argument, Mike glared at him so Marley glared back, sticking her tongue out just to piss him off even more. She now understood why Steve used to do it to her.

"No one wants to be Winston, man." Lucas sighed, Dustin nodded.

"What's wrong with Winston?" Mike shouted and Marley scoffed.

"What's wrong with Winston? He joined the team super late, he's not funny, and he's not even a scientist!" She exclaimed, joining in on the argument. She sent Will a sheepish grin afterwards though, realising she wasn't helping his efforts to break up the dispute.

"Yeah but he's still cool," Mike stated, shrugging,

"If he's cool, then why don't you be Winston," Lucas urged, holding his hands out.

"I can't!" Mike exclaimed and Marley smirked, crossing her arms.

"Why!?"

"B-Because..."

"B-B-B-Because...you're not black?!" Lucas asked, narrowing his eyes at the boy. Mike paled and Marley let out a laugh.

"I didn't say that!" Mike defended.

Marley looked around and noticed the lack of costumes everywhere. It set in the brewing for a bout of laughter as she waited for the boys to notice and revelled in her decision-making skills. The reason she had chosen to dress up as a T-bird from Grease was because the look was minimal and easy, wasn't as extravagant as the 4 ghostbusters she was stood with. Meaning she didn't stand out.

"Guys..." Looked like Dustin had noticed. "Guys! Guys!"

The boys looked over to Dustin and to where he was looking and Marley took that as her moment to resume her explanation of dressing to Will. "That Will, is why I'm wearing a subtle costume."

"Who even are you?" He whispered back obviously trying not to offend her.

"Duh, Danny from Grease, you know I adore that film," she grinned, pulling a toothpick out of her jean pocket and setting it in between her teeth. "Pretend this is a cig and that I have my leather jacket."

"I'll pretend for you Mars," Will smiled, patting her head, she laughed and stood up straight.

"Later losers!" Marley called, leaving the boys to wallow in self-pity at the situation they were in, "If you make it that far!"

***

A loud bang erupted throughout the hallway and many kids moved around Marley as she seethed, her head resting against the cold metal, a piece of paper screwed up into a ball in her palm. It was a newspaper clipping, an add for a conversion camp and it had been slotted through one of the slits in her locker the words 'Dyke' scrawled out across it.