L.J. shows up at the door and lets me in while I cover the name on the bag.

"Go ahead and put it in that bucket," he says pointing to a red bucket in the corner.

I put it in and the rest of the guys start to show up after awhile. We hang out and everything till it gets dark and I head home.

oOoOo The Next Day oOoOo

We all race to inside L.J.'s house to that bucket and reach in handing off different bags to each other and backing off once we all get ours in hand.

"Alright, A, since you went first, you gotta change first," L.J. says pointing to the bathroom.

He goes in with a smile and we wait, impatiently. Till we hear it.

"I am gonna kill one of you," he shouts as the door opens.

I bust up laughing while the others try to hold it in but smile at him. He is dressed as a giant eggplant emoji.

"Beth I swear if you did this-"

"I wish I could take credit for this," I say motioning to him as I stop laughing and just smile.

"Uh-huh. Mason, you're next."

He walks in and in no time we hear him shout at us.

"Gray, your dead."

"Get out here!" Gray shouts back in.

He walks out and we all stifle our laughter as he's dressed in a pregnant nun costume that is a short dress reaching past his knees and covering his head.

"Go, L.J," he says before standing beside A.

He goes in and comes back out wearing a Popeye costume with a pipe sticking out of his mouth.

"I can't complain compared to the other two," he says laughing slightly.

Trever walks in and comes out dressed as a crayon. Not just any crayon. One labeled 'skin color' which is extremely lighter than his actual skin color. 

He still has a smile on his face though and walks over to the others.

Alan is next and comes out dressed as Batman.

"I'm pretty happy with this," he says smiling.

But when he turns around I almost lose it and have to stifle my laughs. On the back says, 'Look at my face, that's why I'm single,' painted on it.

"What?"

"Nothing," Mason says quickly as we try to turn our smiles flat.

Gray goes in and comes out dressed as the Joker with the green hair, white face, hand tattoo and everything and the others all shrug their shoulders at it. A lot of effort, not that big a deal.

"Alright Beth, your up."

I walk in and lock the door behind me and pull out the costume.

"This is a stripper's costume you pervert!"

They all laugh at me. 

I put it on and adjust it to cover as much skin as I can. It's a Harley Quinn costume. Gray knew he was gonna be the Joker, didn't he? The lace leggings are just fine but the shorts are what get to me as they fit more like underwear. The shirt is a crop top with holes in it. There's the puddin choker, and jacket. And inside the bag left over is a bunch of make-up and hair stuff to go with it.

I walk out once I finish my makeup and hair and they whistle and chuckle at me.

"You set this up!" I say pointing at Gray.

"I mean you're not wrong," he says chuckling.

I scowl at him and they all smile.

"C'mon puddin," Gray says smirking at me as we all start to the door.

"You know if you keep using nicknames for me I'm gonna start using ones for you."

"As long as it isn't curse word, we're good," he says smiling as we head to cars to carpool with each other.

I sit next to him in Mason's car with Mason driving, Trever in the middle passenger's seat with me next to him and, Alan then Gray in the back.

"Alright, fish sticks."

"What about me?" Alan asks.

"Not my drug dealer."

They all stifle a laugh.

"What kind of nickname is that?!"

"Not a sketchy one, that's for sure," I say smiling.

"And me?" Trever asks.

"Turd Fergestain."

"Wow," he says chuckling.

"What do you got for me?" Mason asks.

"Mombod."

"You are officially the best person ever," Alan says laughing.

"Note to self: never let Beth name anything," Mason says as we start to drive off.

"Yeah, if it was my choice the English language would be even worse off," I say chuckling.

"What would you call a refrigerator?"

"Refergaligator."

"Cereal."

"Milk food."

"Ocean?"

"Blue fish pee."

"Kids?"

"Head-ache activators."

"Halloween?"

"The-one day-you-can-get-candy-from-a-van-without-anyone-questioning-it. Day."

"Shoot that's dark," Gray says looking to me.

I chuckle and look out the window.

"I mean, it wasn't too far off," Trever says smiling.

We soon make it to the huge house and head inside.

It wasn't a bad party by any means...no I take that back it was awful. After a while, we might have been the only sober ones there. Needless to say, we left early.

We all go back to L.J.'s house and I just slide my sweatpants and hoodie over my costume, not really caring and head home.

 I. am. so. tired. I head upstairs and begin to put my stuff away dragging my feet and yawning at least ten times. I fall on my bed and my phone rings beside me. I moan out and grab my phone, the bright light shines in my eyes.

Gray: Hey, you made it home alright? You didn't look too good when you left

Me: Yeah, just tired, how about you?

Gray: Tired

Me: Would you mind coming over?

I wait for a few minutes and he doesn't respond. 

Okay. So, I kinda have been thinking about what he said. Text him to come over if I ever wanted to get back together with him. Forget thinking, I had to leave my phone in my motorcycle bag to keep myself from texting him. 

I know how ridiculous I sound, how incredibly dumb I must look. But not being with him, just...I can't explain it. All I want is to be with him and I can't make the feeling go away. Wow, I sound like the dumbest, lovesick, puppy ever.

I do miss him. I know I said to hold off for awhile. And I meant it. I needed a break from...him. And I didn't feel like this then but, I don't know.

Me: Gray?

Me: Hello?

Me: Did you fall asleep?

Gray: Where are you?

Me: In my room...

Gray: Go downstairs

Me: Why?

Gray: I get the whole 'question everything' but seriously, go downstairs.

I sigh and head downstairs and go to the front door realizing what he's doing.

I open the door and see him holding coffee in both hands.

"Sorry I took so long," he says smiling sheepishly at me.

"Just...wow," I say opening the door for him to come in.

He smirks and walks in.

"Yeah, I just realized how ridiculous I must look," he says shaking his head and chuckling.

I watch the pink cross over his face.

"Wait a minute, did you just blush?"I say smiling at him.

"Just take the coffee," he says handing me one of the coffees.

"Okay!"

I soon hear a gasp as I take a drink and look over to see Rain dressed up as a butterfly. 

"Sup?" Gray asks waving to her.

"You guys look just like the real Joker and Harley Quinn!"

"Thanks. You look just like a real butterfly."

"So is Gray your boyfriend now? Or are you two just gonna keep being awkward around each other?"

I have to hold down my coffee from the shock of what she just said and Gray laughs at me as I hold my hand over my mouth.

"That's up to her," Gray says turning to me.

"Will you make up your mind already, this whole together, not together thing is annoying," she says sighing at me.

This little girl is gonna be the next Dr. Phil.

I look to Gray.

"Rain, why don't you go get ready for bed, it's nearing one AM."

"Fine!" She says sighing and racing up the stairs but before she is in her room she shout's again. "Not!"

I laugh slightly at her.

"So I take it that between the text and sending Rain away that you have thought a bit more about us?"

You have no idea. What is wrong with me? 

"Maybe?"

"That's not a maybe question."

"Yes?"

I watch a smile spread across his lips.

"Are you gonna give me a straight answer or not?"

"Gray, will you go out with me?"

He looks taken back for a moment and quickly recovers.

"Yes."

------

Authors Note: 

One last chapter after this! It's been a long, long, long, long road, you guys. I have adored writing this and absolutely love you all for supporting me. Thank you all so, so, so much! I remember the chapter when I thanked you all for 460 reads and now there are over 20,000! I had actually cried and screamed, and danced.

I will see you all in the final and last chapter of Girl In The Hoodie. Thank you again, it's been a long road. Thank you again! I'll see you all in my next book.

I'm not crying! Your crying!   [T~T]