1.

J acqueline Ophelia Lantern had never been a scaredy cat, except on Halloween.

It was the one night a year she felt justified in her fear of monsters, and more specifically, in people pretending to be monsters. She'd go on any roller coaster, jump off any high dive, and explore any spooky cave. Halloween had her in a cold sweat, though, and each year was worse than last.

"You need to get over it," said Emma. Jacqueline's best friend was even braver than she was. "I still can't believe you don't like Halloween. Your name is Jack-o-lantern, after all. It's like you were born for this."

"I didn't ask for my name," Jacqueline protested.

"You didn't ask for your hot rack, either, but that doesn't stop you from using it." Jacquline blushed. Emma could be so crass sometimes.

"I dress for comfort," she said, but Emma just laughed.

"You dress for the boys, Jack, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"I dress..." She couldn't think of a good comeback. Emma smirked at her, obviously delighted at getting to be right. "Whatever," she said. "That still doesn't mean I want to do anything for Halloween."

"I've never really understood your aversion," Emma said.

"People pretend to be something they aren't," Jacqueline said. "It's creepy."

"Or is it fun?"

"It's creepy."

"Whatever," Emma said. "You and I are going to at least three Halloween parties this year."

"No."

"At least two."

"How about zero?"

"Fine," Emma sighed. "We'll settle on one, but it's going to be a banger."

"I don't love the way that sounds."

"You're going to love it," she says. "I'll win you over."

Jacqueline shook her head. She knew that when Emma got like this, there was no talking her out of it. They'd be going to a Halloween party, although it would luckily only be one party instead of three.

"What?" Emma said. "Don't act like you're bothered."

"I am bothered. You know I don't like Halloween."

"I just don't get why," she said.

Because Halloween was the night her life had fallen apart. She'd been a kid: too young to know any better. She had lost her dreams when her parents divorced. They'd told her on Halloween, right before Dad left. Mom promised to take her trick-or-treating, but instead, after Dad left, Mom had collapsed in her bedroom and spent the entire night crying. There was no candy to give out to the trick-or-treaters who came by the house, so Jacqueline had spent the entire night sitting in the window wearing her princess dress, and wishing she was anywhere else. She didn't want to tell any of this to Emma, so she pretended she had a stupid phobia, but the truth was so much lamer than all of that.

"Whatever," she finally said. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters a little," the bartender said.

They both looked to see Taylor Weston pouring us another round.

"We didn't order more," Jacqueline said.

"Doesn't matter," Taylor said. "It's on the house."

"Thank you," Emma said. She had better manners than Jacqueline, apparently, who stared at her drink, and wondered how she was going to finish it without getting sick. She was getting lamer the older she got, and considering she was only 26, that was saying something. She stared at the drink for a moment, decided it would be best not to be lame, and chugged the drink.

"Wow," Taylor said. "I thought you'd be sipping on that all night." She winked and leaned forward. "You seem stressed, Jack. What's going on?"

"She doesn't like being called that," Emma said.

"But it's such a cool name. Jack O. Lantern." Taylor sighed dreamily. "I wish my name was cool like that. No one even knows if I'm a boy or a girl with a name like Taylor."

"I feel like you are obviously a girl," Jacqueline said dryly, trying not to stare at Taylor's chest.

She laughed.

"That's kind of you, Jack. So, what's this I hear about you hating Halloween?"

"It's not that I hate Halloween," Jacqueline began.

"She does. She totally hates it, and she's trying not to dress up."

"You have to," Taylor agreed.

"I'm going to a party at Ian's on Halloween night. You should come."

"Seriously?"

"Come," Taylor said again.

"It's settled," Emma said. She looked at Jacqueline and mouthed the word "banger."