A A R O N

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I take three extra strength Advil and a Tylenol the second I get back to my dorm, collapsing onto my bed to take the weight off of my ankle after a particularly grueling studio session. My mini-fridge is directly next to my bed, also serving as a nightstand for exactly this reason; I take out my ice pack and wrap it tightly around the swollen joint, wincing when the cold burns my bare skin.

Propping it up on a pillow that is constantly kept at the foot of my bed, I lay back and check my phone, seeing a missed call from my mum and a text from Charlie. Deciding that I'll ring my mum back later, I open the message from my sister.

I know you forgot. You can make it up to me by letting me pick out your Halloween costume and actually wearing it. Her text reads and it takes me a minute to realize what she's talking about. Her birthday. "I'm a git," I say aloud, then proceed to type exactly that and send it to her.

Of course, I'll let you. Dinner? I ask, although it's last minute and I'm sure she has plans. What a bloody arsehole I am. Just to bury myself in deeper, I look towards the calendar on the wall and where it says October 30th, nothing is written. I forgot to write my sister's birthday on the goddamn calendar, but I have "last practice before recital" taking up all the space for the day instead.

Studying. Just come over tomorrow and we can get ready together.

I pout, knowing that I'll be guilting myself into going to whatever party or plans that Charlie has on, not that she'd ever pressure me into doing anything I don't want to do; I've got that covered.

Dramatically, I throw my ice pack back into the frozen corner section of the fridge and sigh. Hanging out with my sister for one day can't hurt.

I wonder if Maddison will be there. I know that they share a mutual friend in Reed, so the chances are high...aren't they? My cheeks blush red at the thought of Charlie dressing me up as something adorable and parading me around to her friends and teammatesβ€”to Maddison.

Nothing too embarrassing please. I type back.

You have no say in the matter. She replies and I cringe.





"You look so cute!" Reed squeals and I smile awkwardly with my lips pressed together. Being called cute by your older sister's pretty friend is not exactly as flattering as it sounds.

"Very handsome, if I do say so myself," Charlie says, patting the lapels of my costume over my chest and taking a step back to look me over. "Still missing something though. What else was there other than the coat? Dark hair?" She wonders aloud, looking at Reed who shrugs.

"I don't know, it's you who is into the movie. I still think you should have gone with a villain."

"It's just so fun and Aaron loves this stuff."

"Still right here." I cut in, but now I'm genuinely smiling at the two.

"Pull up the picture again," Reed says. "You know people are just going to think he's Harry Styles or something."

"Who cares. The people who get it will use it as a conversation starter and boom! Best friends." Charlie exclaims, smiling at me while scrolling on her phone. Reed leans in.

"You could straightenβ€”"

"That's it! Sit." Charlie turns to me and Reed grimaces at me, mouthing "sorry" and I roll my eyes.

"If this is your present, do whatever you want," I say and wrap my arm around my sister's waist, hugging her to my side for a brief second before letting her go.

"Even eyeliner?" She asks with big green eyes. I blink.

"You actually think eyeliner phases me at this point in my career? Charlie, no." I say and she laughs.

"True. You don't need it for this anyway. Maybe a horse. Reed?"

"Are you asking me if I have one tied up in the back, or if I'm willing to provide one?"

"Either will do," Charlie says as if she's not joking and my eyes widen. I've never had a friend like that to joke around with like the two of them do. I love their humor but feel as if I would be out of place if I opened my mouth to add anything.

"You're outta luck, my dude. Anyways I gotta run. Farris and I are doing the trade in the girl's locker room because it's obviously empty. Xander is coming to referee because it got a little heated last year."

"And who's fault was that?" Charlie asks her with a raised eyebrow as she finally decides the iron is hot enough to start to run it through sections of my hair, making me sweat a bit as I listen to the girls.

"He made me wear his gymnastics uniform because he left it so last minute and had nothing else."

"To be fair, your ass looked amazing in those pants."

"Don't you dare mention the top." Reed glares at her.

"It's not his fault you weren't wearing a sports bra."

"I feel like I shouldn't be here for this conversation." I cut in and they don't even spare me a glance as they continue to bicker as Charlie keeps straightening my hair.

"Garrett was not happy."

"Who gives a flying fuck what Garrett thought?" Charlie says and Reed purses her lips and nods. It seems that they have called a truce over their mutual dislike for Reed's ex-boyfriend. Fair enough, he sounds like a twat anyway.

"Okay, well he promised that he actually put some thought into it this year, so fingers crossed," Reed says before waving and opening the door.

"Good luck, Aaron. See you guys later." She dismisses herself, leaving me alone with my sister.

"Almost done. After this wanna go grab a bite and then I'll take you home? I won't make you come out with us." Charlie says thoughtfully and I almost consider taking her up on her offer but quickly shake off that thought.

"No, I'll come. You get ready and we can go."

"Really?" She shrieks, hugging me before I can confirm. "Okay. I'll be quick." She says and runs into the bathroom, grabbing a hanger on her way in and I take a look at myself in the mirror.

My hair is flattened against my face, straightened, and smoothed down, making me look even more uptight; not to mention the white shirt with a tie around my neck that feels like a noose. At least I'll be warm with the massive overcoat.

When Charlie finally exits the bathroom, her hair is up in voluminous pigtails, with dark eyelashes drawn on the outer corners of her eyes and fake eyelashes on. Her lips look like she's made them sharper and bigger and when she opens her mouth to speak, I see dark lines in the corners that give them that illusion.

"Ready to go, Mr. Darcy?"

"Please, never call me that again. And did you really have to wear the pants?"

"What? They're low in the movie. It's part of it."

"Right." I deadpan, trying not to think about what tonight is going to be like with my sister wearing that in what I assume to be a frat house that we're going to. "Well, I'm not going to be that brother, so stay close." I sigh, pulling her in closer to me and keeping my eyes open, on high alert.

Halloween is when all the monsters come out.


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