A Selection of Halloweens

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So, my Creative Writing teacher had us write character vignettes and this is what happened.

Enjoy and review!  Votes would be nice too...

Completely unedited!  Please let me know about any gramatical errors or sticky/ just plain weird spots!

Oh, and Étienne is pronounced eh -- t -- YEN.

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Sophomore Year

Étienne storms through the empty house towards the kitchen, muttering under his breath.

            “I’ll show them.  Idiot!  Of all the- An absolute idiots!  What was I thinking- oh, right, I wasn’t.”

            He continues to grumble angrily as he bangs around the room, retrieving sauté pans and ingredients.  He takes to slicing onions with a vengeance that suggests the small vegetables have done him great personal wrong- and cuts his thumb in the process.  Cursing, he immediately runs to wash the stinging injury under the tap.   This provides enough distraction that he didn’t notice the bronze-haired girl that has slipped in after him until she is a few feet away.

            “Having some trouble there, Et?”

            The boy in question jumps and nearly hits his head against the cabinet above.  Scowling, he turns off the faucet.

            “Leave me alone.”

            “Now, why would I ever do a thing like that?” she replies cheekily, swinging back and forth on her heels.  “As your best friend, it is my sworn duty to cheer you up, especially after finding the girl you love in the arms of another.”

            “I am not in the mood for your theatrics today, Iris.”

            “But Et,” Iris whines.  “It’s the perfect day for ‘theatrics.’  It’s Halloween, the spookiest day of the year!  The day you get to dress up and act however you like and no one will judge you for it…  Much.”

            Étienne sighs as he stirs the sautéing vegetables.  “I hate Halloween.  You know that.  You’ve known that since sixth grade.”

            “Yes, and I have been determined to change that since sixth grade.”

            He makes no sound, turning to the stove.  Iris huffs and leans against the counter, knowing that she wont’t get anywhere with him until he is done with his meal.  Ten minutes later, she’s presented with a plate of beef stir-fry.  Digging in, she holds back a moan.  Her best friend is the greatest cook she knows, but he already has a big enough head.  Although maybe that isn’t the case anymore, after today.

            “Do you want to talk about it?” she prods cautiously.

            “No.”

            “Étienne…”

            He laughs, harshly and humorlessly.  “What’s there to talk about?  Maria led me on and then turned around and started dating some other guy.  At least she broke my heart before I humiliated myself by asking her out.”

            Their conversation halts as Iris considers him, before setting down her plate and moving towards him to take his hands.  “C’mon.” She yanks on his hands, pulling him forwards.  “I know exactly how to cheer you up.  We’re going trick-or-treating.”