Halloween26 Ch 4

Stef returns, carrying two jingling twelve-packs of Bud Ice. The house smells like popcorn and the spicy, fall-scented candles Ellen’s mom likes so much.

“Guys,” Ellen says, emerging from the TV room. The TV is on in there, but she carries the tape in her hands, clamshell case open. “Isn’t this weird?”

The VHS cassette is dirty, scuffed, and unlabeled.

Carla and Billie emerge from the kitchen to look.

“I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t even look,” Billie its.

“Well, it’s supposed to be the right one,” Ellen says, checking the title printed on the outer cover. “It just—usually they have a sticker on it, right?”

“I bet people have been renting this one like crazy this month. Nobody’ll shut up about it,” Carla says.

“Yeah, just put it in,” Stef says, carrying the beer into the kitchen. Bottles clink as she loads the refrigerator.

“Think you brought enough?” Billie asks dryly.

“I wasn’t sure!”

“We have to get that out of there before my parents come back,” Ellen says.

“Dude, you’re 19,” Carla says.

“That’s the problem! And they don’t care.”

“Oh god, my parents are responsible and involved in my life and have a nice house. What will I do?” Billie asks.

Carla pauses what she’s doing. Come to think of it, does anyone know anything about Billie’s family?

“Thanks, Billie,” Ellen says as she kneels in front of the VCR.

“You really looked at the Army and thought… this will be fun?” Stef asks Billie.

Billie sighs. She’s watching Ellen load the tape and doesn’t look at Stef. “Guess so,” she says.

Carla can’t help but ire Billie’s tact. She wishes she had that kind of control. She’s more filtered than Stef, but that’s a low bar. If she had composure like Billie, she could get a job anywhere. Mary’s planning to go to law school. Jess is going to be an ant.

This is the wrong time for an existential crisis. Carla hurriedly chugs half her beer. When is the right time?

“OK.” Ellen hits play and hops up, turning off the lights. Only the kitchen light is on.

“Yo, make sure the porch light’s not on. Unless you want to give beer to trick-or-treating kids,” Stef says.

“It’s off. We’re good.”

Carla twists and parts the curtains. Ellen’s neighborhood is pretty good; it’s getting a little late, but some kids are still out, hunting for candy. She respects that. Eight or nine years ago, she and Stef were out there in appalling Ninja Turtle costumes. Things were more fun back then. Stef used to be really cute. What happened?

Stef kicks her.

“Huh?”

“What’s your problem?” Stef asks.

“Nothing.”

Stef is skeptical, but doesn’t push it. Ellen’s at the other end of the couch, and Billie’s in the chair.

The screen’s still black, even though the movie should be playing.

“Shouldn’t there be some previews? Or an FBI warning or something?” Ellen asks, stuffing popcorn in her mouth.

“Yup,” Billie says.

Are they really such losers that they can’t even get a movie night right? Carla finishes her beer.