Crush Culture [M.Wheeler]

[24] TRICK OR TREAT, FREAK

Nori stands in front of Mike's mirror in his room, continuing to transform into various other models from the magazine while he simply watches on his bed.

The two were waiting for the others to arrive so they could trick or treat. "Hey, Mike?" She asks, turning around, transforming back into herself, in her long orange dress.

"Do you think one day I could just turn into some model and stay like that forever?" She sighs, taking a seat beside him. "Well, you could, but.. I don't see a reason why." Mike shrugs.

"Well, I mean, it'd make me prettier, so." She chuckles anxiously, pulling a strand of her hair behind her ear. "But you don't need to be prettier." Mike says, unsure of how to word it.

"What do you mean?" She furrows her eyebrows. "I—I mean that— That you're already pretty— yeah. Like, prettier than the models on those magazines." He stammers, looking down at his carpeted floor.

"You really think so, Mike?"
Nori asks softly. Mike looks up into her eyes, the nods.

They end up staring at each other for a moment, before hearing the front door open. "Michael, your friends are here!" Karen calls from downstairs.

***

Later, when Will arrives, Dustin, Lucas, Mike, and Nori walk out with their pillowcases. "Will! Hey!" Dustin calls out while Johnathan honks the car horn.

While they wait for him, Dustin and Lucas begin to hit each other with the pillowcase, Nori quickly joining in. "You two have competition." She glares at them, whacking the case as Lucas, who backs away.

When she wasn't expecting it, Mike cuts in, hitting her in the face, causing her let out a laugh. "You're dead, Wheeler. Dead!" She shouts, imitating Troy and charging at him, then abruptly pausing as if Eleven were there.

"Dude, Tiny peed herself." Dustin adds, while the boys chuckle. "Will!" Lucas exclaims as the boy makes his way towards the group.

"Egon!" Dustin adds. "Yeah! You ready for tonight, man?"

"It's gonna be awesome." Nori laughs, giving the boy a high five.

***

"Trick or treat!" The boys and Nori say cheerfully as a kind looking woman opens the door. Will holds up his camera. "Oh! Well, aren't you cute? The little exterminators and a princess." She smiles, holding out her bowl of candy.

They all exchange looks, then shrugs, taking a handful of the candy and dropping it into their pillow cases.

"If I get another 3 Musketeers, I'm gonna kill myself." Lucas sighs as they walk out onto the street. "What's wrong with 3 Musketeers?" Dustin asks.

"What's wrong with 3 Musketeers?" Lucas repeats, annoyed. "No one likes 3 Musketeers." Mike chimes in. "Yeah, it's just nougat." Will nods.

"Whoa. Just nougat? It is top three for me." Dustin argues. "Top three? That wouldn't even make it into top one hundred for me." Nori laughs. "Top three!" Dustin repeats to prove his point.

"Oh, God. Give me a break." Mike rolls his eyes. "Seriously, I can just eat a whole bowl of nougat. Straight up." The curly headed boy continues.