15. 730 AM

fifteen

7:30 AM

Amanda

I t’s Halloween. One of my favorite days of the year, or maybe it’s the celebration of fall leading up to it. Halloween is like one last big shebang before snowflakes blow through the air and Jack Frost paints the world for winter. I blink my eyes open slowly, still unsure if I’m ready to greet the day yet. It’s bittersweet really. The days are dwindling away as my time on leave runs out, and my boyfriend’s offer remains unclaimed. I have to decide soon. There’s Erica’s offer too, and part time. My brain is chiming off, running down an entire list of possibilities, and my day is only just beginning.

Ugh, I scoff at myself. Why am I like this? I rub my eyes and focus on clearing my mind, then open them again for a reset. This time, I notice purple and orange sticky notes everywhere. My hands fly up to my mouth in surprise as a million-dollar smile slides across my lips. This is seriously cute. A giddy squeal escapes my mouth as I leap to my feet and bolt across the room to collect a sticky note and read it. Good morning, beautiful. I look around the room for another one. I spot one on the TV Halloween date night in? Say yes! I can’t stop smiling.

“Yes,” I whisper to myself.

There’s another note on the wall by the bathroom. Happy Halloween! On the mirror I find another note. Have a boo-rific day. Once I’ve washed my face and put a face mask on, I head downstairs for coffee. It’s a misty, drizzly morning outside and it calls for my favorite Halloween mug. On the banister is a bright orange sticky note. Find the boo basket. Wow! I can’t believe he made me a boo basket. At the bottom of the stairs, a purple sticky note waits for me innocently on the floor. Check your email. I sent you book money. I place this note in the pile I’m holding and continue into the kitchen. On the fridge there’s a note waiting. Breakfast will be delivered at eight. I check the time. It’s almost eight. Ten more minutes. I continue my scavenger hunt, wandering into the family room and spot a sticky note on the couch. Quit your job. I had to try. I toss my head back and laugh. He’s persistent. My eyes sweep over the room in search of more notes or a boo basket. Eventually, I spot it nestled next to the fireplace, all cozy and perfect for fall. I skip over excitedly, only to find one last note. I love you forevers and evers.

I bite my thumb, feeling my eyes fill with burning hot tears, but I fight them back. The basket has some calming tea, and all kinds of Halloween themed snacks and treats. There’s a spooky themed white fluffy blanket with black bats on it, and a pumpkin bath bomb. There are so many amazing things in the basket. I can’t believe he made this for me. I send him a quick thank you text.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. I panic for a moment and then remember it’s breakfast. I check the doorbell camera to be sure, then realize how ridiculous this all is. After accepting the breakfast from the delivery woman, I breathe a sigh of relief. Answering the door shouldn’t be terrifying, but it absolutely is. I have all day to prepare for date night and I want everything to be absolutely wonderful. Once I’ve finished my breakfast, I unpack the boo basket, setting up the holiday-themed snacks and treats in the kitchen. Then I prepare the candy bowl for trick-or-treaters tonight. I love trick-or-treaters, but we agreed with how unsettled I’ve been. It’s probably better if I sit trick or treat out this year. At first I was disappointed, but deep down I knew my boyfriend was right. It’s sweet of him to go through all this trouble to make up for missing out on some of my favorite Halloween things, like passing out candy and enjoying all the kid’s costumes. Besides, there will be plenty more Halloweens in the years to come. Missing out on this one won’t be that bad.

I spend most of the morning making sure everything is perfect for our date night in. My stomach gives a grumble reminding me I need to take a break and get something to eat. Coincidentally, the doorbell rings again. I’m not expecting any packages or anyone. Hesitantly, I check the camera, but there’s nothing showing up. No one is there, and it didn’t even capture anything ringing it. That’s weird, I think to myself, but I decide to check the porch for a package or something, anyway. What with all the other surprises I woke up to, I can’t just ignore it. We have porch pirates all over the city.

You can do this, Amanda. It’s just like when breakfast arrived. I think giving myself a pep talk. I walk to the front door. My fingers brushing over the cold metal handle and wrapping around it. I swing the door open and look around the front yard, down the street. My eyes flit over every detail, looking for someone or something out of the ordinary. It’s not until I look down that I notice it. A shrill scream departs my body and I slam the door closed. My hands shake as I work to spin the lock. I blink a few times, before finally brushing the curtains aside to look out the long floor to ceiling window. I didn’t want to believe it, but there is absolutely no mistaking what is laying on my front porch.

Stiff, lifeless, and somewhat bloody, there’s a large black raven smack dab in the middle of my front mat. If I were to take one singular step out the door, my foot would no doubt land against its dead body. Why is this happening? Who would do such a thing? My mind races with question after question, each one leading me to the same answer. It’s the masked man. My masked stalker. The one and only person I can’t get out of my mind. I’ve been thinking about him and all our encounters, but especially the time at the gym. Blood pumps through my veins mixed with fear and adrenaline as my heartbeat races. Am I afraid of him? Or am I secretly hoping he might show up to ravish my body again? My pussy tingles at the thought of him, remembering once again how good it felt and how thrilling it was to be fucked by a masked psychopath.

I squeeze my eyes shut, angry with myself and these thoughts of being with another man. My man, my sweet, thoughtful boyfriend, who might be the most amazing human in the world went through great lengths to make sure I had an amazing Halloween day while he is away working to support us both right now, and here I am fantasizing about cheating on him with a mysterious masked man. Damn, I’m just the fucking worst. The tear drops drip down my face and fall from my chin onto my T-shirt, and I hastily wipe and dab at them. I shouldn’t feel guilty, I tried to tell him, but he doesn’t believe me. Maybe I need to try to tell him again, or perhaps I should just force myself never to think about him again. Can I do that? I wonder. My mind immediately retreats to think about his piercing and how much I’ve always wanted to have sex with somebody that has their dick pierced. I’ve begged and pleaded with my boyfriend to do it. I even got my nipples pierced as a trade for him, but he completely chickened out and refused to do it.

My phone chimes, pulling me from my thoughts. It’s him which only makes me feel worse. His text says he’s just checking on me. I decide to lie and say I’m fine, then ask if he’ll be home soon. I wait for him to reply, but he doesn’t. Or at least not right away. I convince myself to make something for lunch and end up curled up on the living room couch in what has become my favorite afternoon spot. Feeling restless and unnerved, I remember the tea in the boo basket is calm down tea and decide to brew a cup. I could use some rest, especially if I want to stay up late enough and try to satisfy my body’s cravings to be stuffed full of a nice fat cock.

“Cheers,” I say to myself, holding up a Halloween mug filled with piping hot relaxation tea. “Bottoms up, and I better take the best nap ever.” I tip the contents into my mouth and have to choke it down. I always forget how much I don’t like tea. Yuck. I feel my stomach give a lurch but manage to keep myself from vomiting its contents. I grab my brand new boo blanket then snuggle in for a movie and a nap. The sunset will wake me later, like it does everyday around four o’clock.