After Ever finished feeding Mimi, he turned into reaper form and floated to the ice cream store. He did not count on the bed being so comfortable, the dream, Mimi’s kisses, Taylor’s call or being asked to come in on his day off. It was only fair that he was running late. He swished up to the window of Pagoto’s. Sure enough, Taylor was in there. She had pushed some of the tables and chairs to the side and was tiptoeing on a step ladder, hanging something on the wall.

  "‘Happy Halloween...'" Ever mouthed slowly. “Mentor, what’s Halloween?”

  Ugh. It was a sound he uttered whenever he was disgusted, which was somewhat often. It’s a stupid holiday that humans have where they celebrate spooky stuff.

  Ever floated through the wall into the ice cream shop. He didn’t need the scythe, so he pushed it away to bob in the corner. With his arms crossed, he spun in a slow circle, taking in all of the different decorations. There were paper bats with fangs, skeletons whose joints were held together with push pins and no shortage of ghosts - well, Ever presumed they were ghosts. They were paper cut outs that looked like sheets with long, oval discs for eyes.

  He then put his arms behind his back and glided a couple feet higher, hovering in line with Taylor. She was pinning up some black tinsel underneath the gaudy‘Happy Halloween’ text.

  “Damn it, argh!” Taylor grunted. She couldn’t quite reach across to attach the tinsel to the start of the second word. “Where is that guy?”

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  He turned to her, pressing his ghostly lips together to try and stifle a giggle. He floated down until he was level with the floor. If she wants spooky…

  “Here I am,” he said, turning into human form.

  “What the f–” her mascaraed eyes went wide as she slipped off the step ladder. Ever threw his arms out - and closed his eyes - instinctively. If this was a cute romance story, Ever would have caught Taylor perfectly then lowered her to her feet. Since it isn’t, Taylor fell side-on into Ever, knocking them both of them over. Ever was spread-eagled and seeing stars.

  “What the hell are you playing at?” Taylor screeched. She pushed off his tummy and as she was getting her feet back beneath her, forcefully kneed Ever in the privates.

  “Aaaaaa-oooooaaarrrrrhhhhhhh…”

  He turned to his side now in the foetal position.

  “Oh shit, errrr…” Taylor moved to help him up, then stopped, “my bad. Well, I guess that makes us even.”

  Ever squeaked, clutching his family jewels.

  *Mentor, why does this hurt so much?*

  Ahahahahahahahahaha… Amidst the pain that made him feel like throwing up, he could hear Death slapping his thigh bone. The quiet rattling sound was probably his pinkie finger coming off again.

  “I’ll get you a glass of water, hold on.” By the time she came back, Ever was already sitting up and had caught his breath. “Who asked you to do your peekaboo act anyway?”

  Ever gulped down the water and put the glass on the floor. “No one. I guess I thought it would be spooky.” He gestured vaguely to all the decorations. “Happy Halloween,” he said weakly.

  “Mm-mm,” Taylor said, shaking her head, her blue streak swishing left and right. “It’s next week - and we’re going Trick or Treating biotch.”