�They aren�t weirdoes, they�re my friends!� Madison cried.
�Well, you can�t be friends with them and us at the same time. You�re just gonna have to choose!� another girl by the name of Diane exclaimed.
Madison went beet red, �A real friend wouldn�t tell me who to be friends with!� she yelled back, �So I guess you guys aren�t my real friends!�
�Go, Mads!� Alyson cheered under her breath. Siobhan flushed with pride, and Tara grinned. She�d never been stuck up for like that, except, of course, by Alyson on numerous occasions.
All five of the girls at Madison�s table walked off in a huff, and Madison stormed towards the three girls, her face red and her eyes filling with tears.
�Madison?� Alyson asked as the girl reached them, �Come on honey, let�s go somewhere more private.� she said, leading Madison off in the direction of the same bathroom they�d been in only 15 minutes before, Tara and Siobhan following.
�I can�t believe that Theresa! It�s her fault, you know, she�s the one who thinks she�s in charge. Diane was my best friend and she�s turned her against me!� Madison cried, as soon as the bathroom door shut behind them.
�Oh, Mads.� Tara whispered, and hugged the girl. Alyson smiled. Her best friend had amazing empathy for others, that she herself didn�t posses.
After a few moments, Madison pulled away, �How much longer until the masses come back?� she asked.
Siobhan checked her watch, �12 minutes. We�ve got time.� she assured the taller girl.
Madison sniffled, �I guess we�re on for Thursday night.� she smiled at Alyson, Tara, and Siobhan in turn.
�Yeah, okay. It�ll be a lot of fun with the four of us.� Alyson grinned.
* * * * *
�I gots a wowwipop!� 3-year-old Peyton Wyatt crowed, as he held it up for Tara to see.
�Wow, that looks yummy! Why don�t we rest a bit before we go to the next house?� Tara asked Peyton, placing him in the wagon along with his goody bag. Peyton pulled at Tara�s butterfly wings as she sat him down.
�Pitty wings!� he said, excitedly.
�You�re such a cute ghost!� Madison exclaimed. She was dressed in a cat costume, complete with a tail that kept falling off.
�I know!� Peyton exclaimed indignantly, which set his sister, dressed as Buffy and Siobhan, dressed as a piece of candy corn, into giggles.
�Peyton, what�s your favorite kind of candy?� Siobhan asked him.
�Toclate!� he smiled.
Alyson laughed, �Peyton, you like anything chocolate, right?� she asked her baby brother.
�Yeah!� Peyton smiled and then held out his arms to be picked up. Alyson scooped her brother in her arms, and he nestled his head on her shoulder.
�What do you say we go home and count the candy then go to B-E-D?� Alyson asked her brother, who was already looking sleepy-eyed. Peyton nodded, snuggling against his sister.
Later on, after dropping Peyton off at home and counting his 26 pieces of candy; Alyson, Tara, Siobhan, and Madison all walked down to the elementary school for the Haunted House.
�I just have to warn you guys, I�m a fraidy cat.� Siobhan said, as they drew nearer, and could hear ghostly wails coming from within.
�You�re not the only one.� Tara said, �I�m scared of spiders, clowns, you name it. I�m only going because Arielle wants me to see what her class has been working on.� she explained.
�Arielle�s 10 years old, right?� Siobhan asked.
�Yep, Ari�s ten. Alyssa�s almost thirteen- the horror age. Pretty soon she�ll be into boys and makeup and such.� Alyson shuddered. Madison and Tara both laughed, and Siobhan smiled weakly.
�What�s wrong?� Tara asked her.
Siobhan shook her head, �I�ll tell you guys later, okay?� she said.
�Okay, honey.� Tara said, even though she didn�t look all that convinced. She sighed and Madison, Tara, Siobhan, and Alyson all walked into Arielle�s school, searching for Alyson�s dad and two sisters.
THE END, THANK YOU FOR READING