SSSD Halloween Epilogue Ch3

“Ugh.” Alison rips the curtain open and steps out, nearly running over a little girl dressed as Elsa.

Ro emerges from the other stall, and they face each other.

Ro quickly hides her cringe, then fails to stifle her laughter.

“You are busting out of that,” she cackles.

“I know!” Alison scowls down at herself. The Poison Ivy costume consists of a leafy, low-cut singlet, greenish pantyhose, green boots, and green gloves that go to the elbow. There’s a sort of leafy tiara too, but Alison can’t be bothered to fuck with it.

She is indeed busting out of it. This isn’t even the slutty version, but she’s having that effect on it.

Meanwhile, Ro wears a child-sized Batgirl costume in bright purple, and it looks a little baggy on her. It’s cute.

Ro plants her hands on her hips and looks up at her.

“Was this a good idea?”

“Look, I just Googled a theme for two redheads. This is what Reddit came up with.”

“You’re sure it was Reddit and not the AI answer? You have to watch out for the AI answer,” Ro warns. “These boots feel weird.”

“This all feels weird. Does my butt look OK?”

“It looks big.”

“Well, you look especially narrow.”

“I think we look good.”

“Maybe we will after a few beers.” Alison smiles at another passing mom. “OK, let’s go. I can’t stand it in here.”

Florida isn’t great for cozy Halloween vibes. It’s humid and most of the trees don’t turn, but a few do in Gurlberg, a little college town that keeps telling itself it’s not in the middle of a swamp.

“Don’t act like you didn’t miss it,” Ro says as they roll past the diner in the middle of town.

“I can see five Deadpools from here,” Alison says, poking the window. Lots of kids are trick or treating. “Do I need to see those movies?”

“No. I kind of missed it,” Ro admits. “Things are slower here. More chill.”

“Than Tampa? I’ll bet.”

“You know the way?”

“Of course I know the way. How many times do you think I Googled it back then?”

Alison snorts. “That is so cute. And sad. I’m very sad for you.”

“Don’t be.”

“Right. Well, you better bring Marit to the wedding. I’m making her a bridesmaid. I’m making her wear pink.”

“She just wears whatever at home. She wears my clothes.”

“She cannot fit in your clothes,” Alison says disdainfully.

“I have stuff. She’ll look cute in whatever.”

“I can’t wait to tell Signe.”

They’re through town and coming out the other side. The road slopes upward, and Alison feels a kick of nostalgia.

“It’s good to be home. I’d rather be in jammies though,” she says as they turn into the driveway, which only gets steeper.

“Jammies are a weak ass costume,” Ro tells her as they come into view of CCL House. The old place is as tall and spooky as ever, although the jumbled collection of cars crowding the gravel out front lessens that effect. The whole house glows, half a dozen Jack O’Lanterns flicker on the porch, and Alison notes that there are new gutters.

“Looks like we’re doing OK,” she says as Ro squeezes the car into a spot.

“You’re sure it’s OK for me to come?”

“You’re my plus one. Look at all this. It’s not just CCL girls,” Alison says, taking off her seatbelt. “Let’s go. I can deal with this costume, but I can’t deal with it sober.”

“You don’t find it fun at all?”

They emerge into the cool air and face each other over the car.

“Honestly?”

“Please,” Ro says.

Alison sighs. “It would be fun if I was getting laid. But I have a fiancé waiting for me. No fun to be had here.”

“Getting drunk and partying isn’t fun?” Ro laughs. “Don’t you have friends here? Girls in costumes are only interesting if you get to sleep with them?”

“See? You understand me.” Alison yawns and starts to trudge toward the house.

Laughing, Ro hurries after her. A couple of years ago she’d lacked the courage to walk into a CCL party. Now, it’s nothing. She grabs Alison’s hand and together, they climb onto the porch. Danny Elfman music blasting inside. Ro is ready for a drink.