You shrugged; it couldn't hurt to humor her, could it? After all, what were the odds of your mother being able to get a costume on such short notice?
"Sure, mom. I'll go if you get me a costume," you replied offhandedly as your focus drifted elsewhere.
Had you paid more attention, you might've noticed the canny look on your mother's face. The one which may have clued you in that she wasn't going to let the topic drop...
"Hey, Samantha!"
You looked up from your phone, idly browsing through your socials. The teacher, and most of the school, were phoning it in today. What with half the student body distracted by the official unofficial holiday. The occasional costumed student and the banners hung across the school, omnipresent reminders that, indeed, today was Halloween.
Not that you intended to get involved with that, anyways.
"Hey yourself, Casey," you replied good-naturedly as your friend of some eight years planted herself beside you. "Honestly, kinda surprised you're still here."
Casey feigned a wounded look. "What, you don't think an honors student would take her grades seriously?"
"No," you deadpanned. "Plus, it's the last period. Don't you have a costume to wear or something?"
"Nah," Casey threw her feet on the desk, pointedly ignoring the teacher's disapproving glance. "I'll have plenty of time."
Once the teacher turned away, she cast an expectant gaze at you. "So..."
You feigned ignorance. "So... what?"
Casey rolled her eyes. "You know what, the party, you coming or not?"
You shook your head. Parties weren't your thing, too many people, not enough sense. "Wasn't planning to, not like I have a costume for it. You know me, Case. Probably just gonna sit at home and mooch off the candy."
"Ugh, y'know, you're such a bore."
"Guilty as charged."
"You're seriously not coming? It's Junior year. You don't have many chances like this left. Come on, live a little."
"I'll live when I graduate, plus I don't even have a costume." You turned your attention back to your phone. "Not unless my mom whips something up in a day, which I doubt."
Casey sighed. "Well, suit yourself, I guess. If you do come, you know where to find me."
Something was off. Humans are creatures of habit, and your mother was an active woman. You've grown accustomed to *something* going on when you returned home. Whether the howling of a kettle, the noise of the television, or even just the car absent from the driveway. Which meant the absence of any activity at home was... unusual.
"Mom?" You asked, climbing the stairs. Your mother popped up from behind her bedroom door.
"Samantha, Your home! I've got your costume ready!"
You took a double take. "What? Wait, really?"
She nodded excitedly, motioning to her room. You followed wordlessly, not entirely sure what to expect. Your mother had surprised you before, she was surprinsgly with the times, but the costume laid out before you was...
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