Mint & Pepper
blackcurrant.

It was quiet.

Easton set his bag on the floor as he closed the front door behind him. As usual, he was the only one at home. His parents were probably still out at work and the housekeepers were at the grocery getting the food for dinner. Sighing, he looked around the large foyer before walking over to the grand piano, his hands running over the smooth, ivory keys before sitting down on the piano stool.

He rested his hands over the keys as he thought of a song to play, and took a deep breath when he decided on one. Slowly, his fingers started playing the notes to Chopin’s Tristesse, easily skimming over the keys as he played the song from memory, forgetting a couple of notes once in a while, but managing to keep the singing tone of the melody.

Playing the piano had always been easy for him. Sure, there was always that rough patch when you just started on a new piece. He wasn’t immune to the frustrations whenever his fingers would miss a key or accidentally pressed an extra one, but, like most, the satisfaction he’d get when he finally mastered even if only a few bars of the music, was always worth the time and effort.

He sighed as the slow cantabile played across the empty foyer, echoing throughout the nearby rooms of the empty house. As he repeated the piece’s theme, his eyes fell upon the booklet for the music school Mr. Whitfield had given him. He had left it in the foyer the afternoon he had gotten it, and hadn’t picked it up since. His fingers fumbled on another key as he remembered he had less than a month left to submit his application... if he was going to submit one.

“Hmm... I haven’t heard you play that piece in such a long time.”

Surprised, Easton’s hands left the piano keys and the song came to an abrupt stop, its last notes hanging in the air. He turned to see his mother coming from the living room, running a hand through her dark hair. She was wearing a white blouse and a pencil skirt from work, and she was casually barefoot, relieved from the heels she wore the entire day.

“I didn’t know you were home,” Easton said.

“I actually got home early today,” she laughed lightly, stepping over to the mirror that was hung above the end table Easton had set the booklet on. She tied her hair back and smoothed over the strands that stuck out. “I haven’t had a nap in the living room since you were – oh? What’s this?”

She lifted the booklet from the table and flipped it open, and Easton immediately scolded himself for leaving it there. “I didn’t know you were thinking of going to music school,” she said aloud, turning around to look at him, a curious look in her eyes. She flipped to another page as she stopped beside the piano, leaning over its black surface.

“I wasn’t going to apply,” Easton quickly answered, closing the piano as he flexed his fingers.

“Then how’d you get this?” his mother asked, holding the booklet in the air.

“My music teacher gave it to me.” He pushed the piano stool back as he stood up.

All too familiar with her son’s personality, his mother set the booklet on the piano and stood up straight. “It’s a waste of an opportunity if you don’t try,” she just said, patting him on the shoulder as she turned for the kitchens. “Just think about it.”

“I have been thinking about it,” Easton sighed, grabbing the booklet from the piano and stuffing it into his bag for no one else to see. “And I don’t see the point of applying. Even if I am accepted, I’m not going to go.”

“You never know, Easton,” she mused, smiling at him.

He groaned as his mother entered the kitchens, frustratedly running a hand through his hair and proceeding to mess the dark strands up. “Can’t I just get a straight answer from anyone?” he muttered darkly.

He glanced down at the booklet that was now jammed between his notebooks, his calculator, and everything else. Stupid Mr. Whitfield. Stupid booklet. Stupid music school. He wondered how much easier his life would have been if he didn’t have to stress over another decision.

But that was the thing.

It wasn’t just another decision.

This was his future he was thinking over. It wasn’t as easy as deciding what movie to watch or what shirt to wear. He had to make the right one. But that’s what frustrated him. How would he know he made the right one? The effects of his decision weren’t going to come instantly after he made it – no, they’d come years after, after years he either spent well or wasted.

He didn’t want to count how many times he had heard people saying that in choosing what you want to do for college, you just ‘Choose something you want to do for the rest of your life.’

But what if you didn’t know what you wanted to do?

Easton was well aware he wasn’t as fortunate as most people to suddenly have an epiphany and know what he wanted to spend the rest of his life doing. What if he did go to the music school? What would happen after that? But what if he followed the path he was aware his father was creating for him? What if after four years of college he’d only end up looking back and wondering what the hell he had spent those years for?

Regret.

He didn’t want to regret anything.

“Fuck,” he muttered, shaking his head. He quickly grabbed his keys from the table and opened the front door, dropping his bag to the floor once more. He didn’t want to be around when his father got back, and he hoped his mother wasn’t going to tell him about the music school. “I’m going out!”

He hastily drove his car out of their driveway, the gravel crunching beneath his tires and he nearly swiped the sides of his car against the automatic gate as it opened for him. He didn’t know where to go exactly, but he couldn’t stay at home. He pulled his phone from his pocket and called the first person he could think of.

The phone was answered after its third ring. “Where the heck is the – oh, hello?”

“Daine,” Easton murmured, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance as he leant back on his chair, suddenly feeling drained. “Where are you?”

Her voice sounded irritated when she had answered, but it immediately lightened up when she heard it was him. “Uh... I’m at home, freaking over the candy later.”

“Candy?” he asked, the palm of his hand running over the leather of his driving wheel.

“Uh, yeah, because you know, it’s Halloween.”

He blinked as he tried to remember the date. “Oh yeah,” he groaned. “You’re right.”

She clucked her tongue at him and he could hear Adrien’s sister laughing somewhere in the background. “So, are you spending Halloween here again?” she asked.

“Yeah, probably.”

“Okay,” she said casually. “Before you come over, could you buy more candy? Adrien only brought lollipops and I want more variety.”

“You know, kids don’t really care what kind of candy they get as long as it’s sweet and ruins their teeth?” Easton said, even though he was already driving toward the nearest convenience store.

“Oh, Easton, just buy some or else we’re not saving a pumpkin for you.”

As Easton drove into the Triste’s smaller driveway, carefully avoiding their car that was already parked on it, Daine was hauling in some of the pumpkins into their front porch. “Hey! You’re finally here!” she said, standing up and leaning against the porch banister. She tucked strands of her hair behind her ear as Easton got out of his car.

“Yeah, a lot of people in the convenience store,” Easton muttered, closing his door and holding the grocery bag at his side. “Last minute Halloween shopping.”

Easton and Adrien almost always spent Halloween at her house. Her house was no way as big as Adrien’s condominium or Easton’s huge house, so her house would always end up a mess; at the end of the night there’d be candy wrappers left in even the smallest corners and pumpkin remains would be scattered all over the place no matter how hard they tried to keep the place clean.

But she did know Halloween at Adrien’s place was no fun, since there were barely any children at his high end condominium complex and using an elevator to collect candy sort of took out the fun in trick-or-treating. And children didn’t even bother going to Easton’s house for trick-or-treating, since by the time they got to the end of his long, oval driveway and at his front door, they were too tired to even cry out for candy and go to the next house.

Daine held her hand out as Easton tossed the bag to her, then she excitedly peered at the candy he had bought, her eyes widening when she saw what was inside. “Easton, you’re crazy!” she instantly exclaimed, taking a handful and holding it out to him. “You don’t give kids Ferrero Rocher and Cadbury during Halloween!”

He stopped at her front steps and scowled at her, sliding his hands into his pockets. “It’s chocolate.”

“Yeah,” she muttered, dropping the chocolate back inside the bag and glancing down at them once more. “But you give Milky Way, Hersheys, basic stuff… I feel like keeping these chocolate to myself now.”

Her mother opened their front door and peeked outside. “Daine! Have you seen your father’s CD with Monster Mash?”

Daine looked back at her mother and frowned. “Uh, maybe it’s beside all his Christmas records?” she answered, not too sure.

“Oh, okay,” she smiled then noticed Easton standing at their front steps before she went back inside. “Oh, hello, Easton! Spending Halloween here?”

“Yes, Mrs. Triste,” Easton answered, politely nodding at Daine’s mother. “I brought some candy if that’s okay.”

“Oh, wonderful! You could help Adrien with the pumpkins when you get inside,” Mrs. Triste said, smiling at the two before slipping back inside the house.

Easton turned back to Daine. “Oh, Adrien’s here too?”

“Yeah,” she muttered, opening the front door and holding it out for Easton before stepping inside. “He’s always here for Halloween, and he brought Carrie along too.”

Easton followed her inside the house, noticing the bags of candy and chocolate scattered across her living room. “Where are they?” he asked, stepping over rolls of tissue and cotton.

“I think my mom’s helping Carrie get into her costume upstairs, and Adrien’s at – “

“Hey, Daine, I call this pumpkin,” Adrien called from the kitchens. He stepped into the living room, holding a large pumpkin in his arms. “Oh, Easton, you’re here!”

“Yeah,” Easton muttered, shifting his weight to one foot as he looked around the room. “Can’t stand being at my place right now.”

“Ah,” Adrien said, nodding and not saying anything else about that subject. He turned to Daine, who was worriedly looking over at Easton. “Daine, where do I put this?”

“Oh!” she looked up at Adrien, quickly jerking her thumb over her shoulder. “At the porch, we’re carving outside so we won’t make a huge mess.”

“Sure,” Adrien mused, carefully stepping around the both of them as he made his way to the front door. Easton held the door open for him. “That’s what you said last time – and I still can’t get the stains on my shirt.”

As Adrien went outside, there was a loud thumping coming from the stairs. Carrie was excitedly racing down the stairs in her costume, a hand on the polished banister as she past each step. “Adrieeeeen! I’m in my costume!”

She was wearing an Alice in Wonderland costume her mother had made for her, and with the signature blond hair that she shared with Adrien, it was perfect. Everything about the costume was custom made in France, from the dress itself, to the black headband, and apparently, the black shoes were Christian Louboutin. Carrie could give Suri Cruise a run for her money in the clothes department.

“Adrien’s outside, Carrie,” Daine smiled. “He’ll be back in a while.”

Carrie nodded, sitting down on the step to wait for Adrien, but stopped when she saw Easton standing behind Daine. She squeaked as she got to her feet, an obvious blush forming in her cheeks that she tried to cover with her hands. She then quickly turned around and raced back up the stairs, leaving Daine to look smugly at Easton.

“I think Carrie has a little crush on you,” she said cheekily, prodding his shoulder before walking over to the couch and collapsing into it.

She was just about to close her eyes for a brief rest when her mother called from upstairs.

“Daine! Could you check on the cookies in the oven? Just make sure – “

THEY PLAYED THE MASH,
THEY DID THE MONSTER MASH,
THE MONSTER MASH,
IT WAS A GRAVEYARD SMASH!

Daine jumped in her seat as Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt Kickers started playing all over her house.

“Daine!” Her father yelled from the basement as he lowered the volume downstairs. “I found the CD!”

“Honey, I think you can take them out of the oven now!”

“Oh, wow! I think I found some of last year’s decorations down here!”

Daine rubbed a hand over her face before taking a glimpse up at Easton who stood out in his neat composure among the decorations and candy all over her house. She gave him an embarrassed grin before getting up from the couch to check on the bat cookies her mother made every Halloween. “Yeah… my place is kinda messed up during Halloween,” she mumbled.

Easton shook his head. “Don’t worry,” he smiled, kicking away a roll of tissue on the floor before she could slip on it. “I prefer it that way.”

Later that night, the three of them accompanied a group of kids in Daine’s neighborhood that were starting their candy gathering. Before they left her house, Daine looked back at Adrien who was checking his phone. “Hey, are you sure you want to do this?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “I’m pretty sure Ash Calahan is having his party tonight. I hear they’re good.”

He shook his head, sliding his hands into the front pockets of his hoodie. “Nah, Easton and I went to the one last year,” he said, looking over at the group of kids Carrie was with. “It was pretty boring.”

Daine turned to Easton, a surprised look on her face. “Wow, I’m surprised you actually went to it.”

He shrugged. “It wasn’t worth going to. We went to your place right after.”

“Ah,” she nodded, looking around at the streets that were full of kids. “That’s why you guys were a bit late last year.”

The kids in front of them were dressed up in their costumes ranging from the usual Disney characters like the princesses and this one cool kid that tried dressing up like Jack Skellington, to Star Wars characters, and this one kid that couldn’t think of a good movie character and probably decided to just go as a tomato. Carrie was by far, the best dressed out of all the kids, standing out in her costume that fit her perfectly, unlike some that looked a little too tight or short.

Adrien soon went up to the group, making sure no one was going to start fighting over who got more candy, and it looked liked he was actually having fun. Sometimes the person at the door handing the candy would be an unwilling teenage girl who was forced to stay at home instead of attending some awesome Halloween party, and the sight of Adrien among the group of kids was more than enough to make her forget her grudge and start smiling the entire night. Of course, this meant only Adrien would get candy, which would make the small boys he was with start punching him (at his knees, since that was as far as they could reach) and telling him to move to the back so they could get some.

Meanwhile, Daine and Easton were at the back, a few feet away from the group. Daine was munching on some chocolate she had brought from home, offering some to Easton who always refused, since he didn’t like sweets.

“So, what happened a while ago?” Daine asked, scuffing her sneakers against the pavement.

“Nothing.”

“You looked pretty upset,” Daine said, in a pretentious sing-song voice as she jokingly elbowed Easton. She took out a candy from her pocket and started unwrapping it. “So I think you’re lyiiiiiing.”

He sighed, “Can’t I just enjoy Halloween without those questions?”

She scoffed at him. “You can never truly enjoy Halloween because you hate sweets – and that’s what Halloween is all about.”

He glanced at her, an all-knowing look in his face. “Actually, the origins of Halloween – “

She held a hand up at him, before fully placing it on his face and pushing him away from her. “Easton, I don’t need a smart ass right now,” she said mock sternly, stuffing the candy wrapper in her pocket.

He laughed, catching her hand before she could drop it back to her side. “No violence in front of the kiddies, Ms. Triste,” he reminded teasingly, holding onto her hand as she tried to wrench it out of his hold.

His grip wasn’t even that tight, yet she couldn’t pull her hand out of his. “Well, technically, we’re behind them,” she said lamely, her inability to be witty showing at the worst possible times.

“Oh, good come back there,” Easton said, dramatically rolling his eyes.

There was a laugh from behind them. Still holding her hand and still trying to pull her hand out of his grip, the both of them looked back at some kids and a group of parents with them.

One mother, who looked like Daine’s neighbor, chuckled, “It’s Halloween, kids, Valentines Day is still a couple of months away.”

That was enough to make Easton drop Daine’s hand immediately. Daine stepped away from Easton as a hot blush formed on her face. Thank God it was dark. “Oh, haha, it’s not that, Mrs. Rosen,” she said, laughing weakly, although her neighbor didn’t look like she believed it.

When the group of parents left, Daine narrowed her eyes at Easton. “You know, you could help explain and stuff,” she suggested sarcastically.

Easton shrugged as they continued their walk, looking like he didn’t seem to care. “Well, come on, we’ve heard people say it a lot before,” he said.

“Yeah, so?”

“I got tired of doing the whole denying speech. Just let them think what they want.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I really don’t like you when you get to that whole, screw-what-the-world-thinks mode.”

Then he glanced at her, giving her a mischievous sideways smile, his eyes bright from the street light they passed. “But you know, sometimes I start wondering, what would it be like if what they implied was true?”

She stopped, glaring at him. “You know what? You’re scarier than Halloween itself.”

He didn’t say anything after that. He just waggled his dark eyebrows and smirked at her as he continued on with his walk.

Before Daine could say anything else, Adrien went up to the both of them, holding so much candy in his hands they were falling off. “Hey, do you guys want some? I’ve got a – “ he paused, his eyes switching over to the both of them. “Okay... what happened now?”

“Meddling neighbors,” Daine grumbled, walking over to Adrien and picking out the candy she liked from his hands.

“Another person assumed me and Daine were together,” Easton said casually, reaching over and picking out a lollipop. “Is this really sweet?”

Adrien’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh,” he said, his eyes involuntarily flicking toward Daine. “Well... that sucks.”

“And it’s embarrassing,” Daine said loudly, grabbing the both of them by their shoulders and stomping forward, pulling them with her. “Let’s go, please!”

Daine was pretty much silent until she got to her house, where the loudness and activity going on was enough to make her feel a bit more relaxed. It was Halloween after all, but the look she saw Adrien had when he glanced at her was a lot more unnerving than any ghost.

author note.

Early Halloween in this story – and I managed to write in some actual traditions my family does for Halloween. Yes, we still do the Monster Mash – and if you don’t know what that is, I suggest you listen to the original version on Youtube because it’s practically a classic!

And oh, I have a new summary for this story. I still can’t seem to write the right one for it though. Le sigh.