For Better or Worse- {2}

Chapter Three- Bit Late To Be Cool

HALLOWEEN GAVE CAROLINE A KIND OF EXCITEMENT that no other time of year could.

Sure, she felt like her costume was cheesy as hell, but it coordinated with her friends, and that made it fun.

As Lucas, Mike, and Dustin pulled up to the school on their bikes, Will started bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. Caroline fidgeted with the hem of her white dress as Lucas parked his bike first and his eyes settled on her.

"Who you gonna call?" Mike and Dustin sang at the top of their lungs.

Will joined in the other a big goofy smile on his face. "Ghostbusters!"

"Hey, Spengler!" Mike grinned.

"Egon! Yeah!"

Will embraced Lucas. "Venkman!"

Mike waved his hands in the air, stopping everyone cold. "Whoa! Whoa!"

"What?" Lucas asked, clearly annoyed.

"Why are you Venkman?" Mike demanded, looking his friend up and down.

"Because I'm Venkman," Lucas insisted.

"No," Mike gestured violently at his name tag. "I'm Venkman."

Will looked between Mike and Lucas .lWhy can't there just be two Venkmans?"

"Because there's only one Venkman in real life. We planned this months ago," Mike ranted. "I'm Venkman, Dustin's Stantz, you're Egon, you're Winston, Callie's our ghost."

"I'm the centerpiece of the operation," Caroline flipped her hair, hoping to get a smile out of Lucas after quoting him.

Lucas was too angry to smile. "I SPECIFICALLY didn't agree to Winston."

Caroline reached over and took his hand, becoming solemn when she remembered the reason.

Mike kept going, like an idiot. "Yes, you did!"

Will saw his sister holding Lucas's hand. "Mike, I don't think he did."

"No one wants to be Winston, man." Dustin agreed.

Mike stuttered. "What's wrong with Winston?"

"What's wrong with Winston?" Lucas echoed angrily. "He joined the team super late, he's not funny, and he's not even a scientist!"

Mike saw his dilemma. "Yeah, but he's still cool."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "If he's cool, then you be Winston."

Mike turned bright red. "I can't!"

Caroline gritted her teeth at her friend. "Why not?"

Mike stuttered even more. "B-B-B- Because..."