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Ivy was helping Hannah put on her blonde wig making sure her costume and makeup didn’t get messed up.
“Do you also go this crazy for Halloween?” Hannah asked whilst looking in the mirror not recognizing herself then back at Ivy in her tin man, or should she say tin woman costume, amazed by her silver skin.
“Oh Hannah, once you get into the theatre business, this is one of the most important nights of your life. I mean you could dress up as your dream role even though you never had the chance to play them.”
It was Ivy’s idea to do a group costume for Halloween this year, only problem, she didn’t know she had to get ready at 9am. Her pink sparkly dress itched her armpits and breasts. She at least tripped over her own gown 4 times now, not to mention the actress tried to convince her to wear high heels, luckily she fought back and ended up wearing her white sneakers.
“Okay, now where is Tristan, they need to be painted green.” Ivy walked away in attempt to find the fashion designer carrying a face paint pallet and paint brush.
“You think it’s bad that the paint is already itches love?” Benji spun the stool he was sitting on around to face Hannah.
The Filipina observed her partner’s scarecrow makeup closely. Man Ivy has steady hands. Hannah then leaned her body down to collect the loose straw from Benji’s costume and opened his hand to sprinkle some of the straw onto his palm trying, chuckling.
“I still don’t get why Ivy made me dress up as Dorothy, I’m the oldest out of all of us.” Jade leaned against the doorframe, adjusting her pigtails.
Most of Vibe Tribe were apprehensive on the idea to reconnect with other people from the camp, especially with someone like Jade who had a part into eliminating all 5 of them somehow. To their luck, Benji kept pushing to plan a hangout including Jade until one day they all agree to it. Jade didn’t really want to reconcile with most of the people from Disventure Camp, expect for Benji, Spencer, Diego and Isabel but she also considered reaching out to Natalia and Logan as well, but after some time, she agreed to Benji’s offer. Surprisingly enough, the reunion went pretty well and Jade would occasionally hang out with the group, since she lived only 2 hours away.
“Wait you are?” Hannah questioned the marine biologist.
“Yeah…? I’m turning 31 in a few months.”
“JESUS I THOUGHT YOU WERE 25 OR SOMETHING.”
“Seriously—are you wearing sneakers that gown?”
“Mhm, did have to a lot of convincing though.”
“So Ivy allows you to wear more comfortable footwear and I’m stuck wearing these uncomfortable red heels… did she expect me to have narrow feet.”
“I mean, you wouldn’t be Dorthy without the red ruby slippers.” Benji added on joining the females conversation.
“Plus I wouldn’t say they are called “heels”” She made air quotes making herself and her boyfriend giggle. Hannah stood up and walked over to Ivy’s bench gesturing to Benji to sit next to her.
It was quiet for a moment until Jade spoke up again. “I’m guessing you guys and Tristan really like this holiday.”
“Yeah…what makes you say that?” Benji asked in pure confusion glancing at Hannah.
“I mean each of you has a color that represents you. Benji, obviously you are orange. Hannah, purple and Tristan would be black, and those are the colors of Halloween.”
“I thought Tristan was purple and Han—“
“WE CAN’T KEEP HAVING THIS DEBATE!”
“Hey guys,” Ivy came back into her dressing room after being gone for a few minutes, “Do you know where Zaid is?”
The three of them paused until Jade gave a simple shrug, “Wait where’s Tristan?” Benji finally asked.
“They’re in the bathroom.”
Immediately after she said that, Hannah and Benji walked out of the room leaving Jade alone with Ivy.
————————————
“You—uh, uncomfortable?” Ivy tried making small talk with the other woman. This is how most of their conversations were. Only a few “how are you’s” is all they ever said to each other. However Ivy wished they could conversant more, truthfully, she’s always had a thing for her. Even though they were rivals for most of the time on the show, she’s always admired her, she didn’t know what it was that drew her attention to the marine biologist but she can confidently her adoration for the woman was definitely not platonic. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know how to approach her boyfriend Zaid about these feelings.
“A little bit… I haven’t worn a Halloween costume since I was 9.”
“Seriously? Why’s that?”
“Well—“ Jade stopped herself realizing her story was stupid to say out loud. “Never mind.”
“Never mind?”
“I forgot.”
Ivy suddenly moved next to Jade still leaning on the doorframe, “No you didn’t.”
“L-l-look… it’s a stupid reason…”
Ivy immediately sensed Jade didn’t feel comfortable with her explanation. She put a hand on her shoulder, speaking in a sympathetic tone “Jade, have I ever judged you before.”
“Yes actually.”
The actress removed her grip on Jade’s shoulder. “You don’t have to share why, s-sorry if I was being too pushy.”
“No it’s fine Ivy, it’s just… Halloween becomes boring once you realize you had no friends, like I wasn’t invited to parties or I had no one to go trick or treating with, which I’m okay with now, obviously, but I hated being lonely during my childhood,” Tears instantaneously formed into her eyes, dripping onto her cheeks, she couldn’t cry in front of her. “A-a-and the last time did anything like this on October 31st, I was dressed as Princess Tiana… except, I hated the way I looked wearing that dress, I kept crying on how weird my stomach and arms looked trying it on… but my moms wasted a lot of money on it and I didn’t want to make them upset. Also not to mention I wore it to school and some of the kids in my classes kept making j-jokes on—“
Jade was cut off by the sudden movement of Ivy tightly hugging her. She couldn’t hold in the rest of her tears anymore, she couldn’t control the fact that she was already sobbing into the Hungarian women’s shoulder, slightly ruining her costume. Eventually, she hugged her back, not wanting to let go of her, she wanted to stay like this forever, sparks started to form in her stomach, she felt her face getting hotter and hotter by the second.
What are these feelings, “Sorry about that.” She finally spoke up grasping harder on Ivy.
“No,no don’t apologize Jade. Your classmates were just bullshit. I mean I would have kicked their asses for saying such rude stuff to a very pretty girl like you—“
“Wait you think I’m pretty?” Jade eyes widened as she let go of the hug.
Ivy face was burning red despite her skin being painted silver, she covered her mouth for a beat until she panically asked. “D-did I say that out loud?”
“Yeah, it’s not every day I get compliments like that…”
A wave of confidence plastered on Ivy’s face. “Maybe it should be every day.” She intertwined her fingers with Jade’s.
WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOIN—Wait…why does this feel… right? Could—NO, NO NO NO NO, THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
“Geez someone’s silent” Ivy giggled as she walked out of her dressing room still holding Jade’s hand, finger interlocked. “After this we are going to take some photos once everyone is in complete costume, hit up a few houses—“
“As in trick or treating, Ivy there is no way they’ll give candy out to us, they are going to think we are on crack or something.”
“Sometimes they make an exception for us. Okay, instead there’s a carnival like 45 minutes away from us—Oh and since are staying multiple nights here, we can watch a scary movie after.”
Jade noticed Benji and Hannah staring at the television, unable to see their faces. “I heard Scream is a good Halloween movie don’t you think Benji?” She suddenly teased.
“I-I-I-I-I, UH….”
“Is this because of that one time me, you, and Tristan watched that movie and you—“
“WE DON’T TALK ABOUT THAT SHHHH.”
“Hey, eyes on me when I’m talking to you guys.” Jade joked hoping she get a reaction from the pair. However the two just stood still, staring at the television, which was turned off by the way, like zombies. “Um hello.” The Nigerian woman snapped her fingers to get their attention. That’s weird.
Zaid was walking over to the coffee table in his Cowardly Lion costume. “Excuse me guys I forgot my—OH MY GO—TRISTAN.” The Moroccan chef was pointing at the green-skinned Tristan slowly unwrapping another miniature cupcake wrapper.
“Oh shit…” They whispered
“Tris…what happened.”
“Well you can take a look for yourselves.” Zaid turned both Hannah and Benji around to face Ivy and Jade. They both gasped at what they saw.
Both of them were covered in green lip-stick marks and smudges around their face, neck and along some areas of Hannah’s chest. Each of them also had two hickeys along the sides of their necks, making them look like a colorful mess.
“So uh…how about those cupcakes… really tasty.”