Trick or Treat Flash Fic

Happy Friday! 

I didn't get to share this flash fic on Wednesday, but to celebrate the first day of Fall I wrote a fun story about Amaya and Darren celebrating their first Halloween! This short story is kind of an AU situation. It's not really set at any particular time in the series, but incorporates all the characters from The Archive Series in a fun way. :)

I had the best time writing this. It just makes me so happy, so here it is! Enjoy the adorableness that is Darren and Amaya! 😍 

“Do I really have to wear this?” Darren asked from behind the closed door of the bathroom.

Amaya stifled a grin and nodded. “Yes! You have to! We have to match,” she insisted.

She heard an exasperated sigh come from the door and this time she couldn’t hold back a full-blown grin. He was going to look so adorable. They both would. He had no idea how long Amaya had been waiting to get a boyfriend so she could do a couple’s outfit.

Amaya took a step back and grimaced when the back of her full-length ball gown hit one of the many precariously stacked boxes in the hallway, making the space even more cramped than it already was. They were in the process of moving, her parents having secured a house in their aunt’s neighborhood across town so they would be closer to family. Moving made her already very messy and cluttered family members ten times worse. The had turned the house into a nightmare. The whole thing made Amaya’s eyes twitch. Her fingers itched all day every day to clean up and organize everything, but she knew there wasn’t any point.

She would have plenty of time to help organize and clean up when they did move. It was a bigger house that could accommodate their large family, so she would have more space to organize everything too. Amaya was a little too thrilled to unpack all of their belongings than a normal person should be, but whatever.

“Whoa,” Tyler said when he saw her as he stepped out of his room. “What the heck are you wearing?”

Amaya scowled as she spun around and the skirt of her dress flared, brushing more boxes. She planted her hands on her overly exaggerated hips. “A dress, duh. What does it look like?”

Tyler’s eyebrows shot up. “I don’t know… but are you sure that’s a dress? It looks like a circus tent.”

Amaya gave his own outfit an appraising look. He had decided to go as a classic zombie complete with the deathly pale skin and patches of gray, ratty, holey clothes, and black eye contacts. All courtesy of Cleo’s love for Halloween.

The minute Amaya had said something in front of her about trying to find Halloween costumes, she had insisted she help them all. Anything they wanted, she could buy for them. Amaya had said it was too much and it was just Halloween. They didn’t need anything fancy. But once Cleo got something in her head there was no going back. After she, Tyler, Darren, and Mateo took Tallulah and Jonny trick or treating, they would head over to Cleo’s for a Halloween party she was throwing. Jeromey had hinted that Cleo went all out with her parties and to come prepared for some serious Halloween festivities. Amaya couldn’t wait. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone to a party before. Kylie was going to meet them over there too, though she would be a little late since she had an actual Halloween party full of teenagers to go to first.

“You look great,” Amaya said with a grin.

Tyler beamed and turned his hands into claws, baring his teeth. “Brains!” he shouted. “I want brains!”

Amaya snorted and shook her head. “Don’t scare Jonny and Lulah with that.”

“Fine,” Tyler sighed, straightening out his arms. “But you like it right? Cleo showed me how to put it on so it would look realistic, and Mateo showed me some techniques cus he’s artsy and stuff.”

“It looks great. Now if only someone would get out of the bathroom and we could get going,” Amaya said loudly.

She could hear Jonny and Tallulah whining to go trick or treating. They were ready to get out there and get all the candy.

“I’m coming,” Darren called. “It’s not as easy as it seems.”

Amaya shook her head and folded her arms. If she could get herself into this ginormous dress, he could get into an old time-y suit. He grew up wearing clothes like that. It shouldn’t be so hard to put one on. Cleo had bought replicas of the suits and dresses they used to wear in 1865. The bodice of her dress was light pink, striped with dark green and ruffled down the middle while the skirt itself was a dark green satin that went all the way down to her ankles. Amaya had twisted her hair into an intricate up-do (she had practiced it for a week before being able to make it look halfway decent) and now felt like a princess or a proper young lady of society. Either one would do.

Just as Amaya was about to pound on the door again, the door swung open, and Darren stepped out. Amaya’s heart fluttered in her chest at the sight of him. He looked… dashing in a full black suit with a dark green cravat tied at his throat to make her dress and stood out nicely against his caramel skin. His black curls had been styled to perfection. Darren brushed at his jacket, glancing down at himself before looking up at her. He stilled, his eyes widening at the sight of her.

“Wow…” 

Amaya blushed at the way his lips parted, and his gaze took her in.

“You look… beautiful,” he whispered, gaping at her.

Amaya grinned and stepped forward. She brushed at his jacket and adjusted his cravat. “You look very handsome too.”

Darren blushed, ducking his head at her attention. “It’s strange to dress the way I used to and see you in a dress like that. Takes me back to a long time ago…”

“I’m sure. But I like getting to see you in the clothes you would have worn back then. Or would Warren have forced you into clothes like this?”

Darren seemed to think about it for a moment and then gave a sheepish grin. “He definitely had to force me to wear clothes like this. They’re rather restrictive and annoying. But I’m glad to wear them for you,” he said, reaching out and running a gloved hand down her arm.

Amaya beamed at him. They would have gotten lost in each other’s eyes and forgotten about everything else if Tyler didn’t clear his throat.

“What about me? What do you think, Darren?” He mimed clawed hands again and growled.

Darren slid his attention reluctantly from Amaya and winced when he saw Tyler. “That is… something.”

Tyler laughed and took a halting step toward them with his hands outstretched. “I want your brains!”

Darren wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Remind me what you’re supposed to be again?”

“A zombie, dude. Duh.”

“Ahh… right. A zombie. Not my favorite creature of the night.”

Amaya tilted her head at him. “You have a favorite creature of the night?”

Darren shrugged and smiled in embarrassment. “I’m partial to werewolves. Cursed creatures and all,” he said, wiggling his gloved fingers at her.

“Ahh, right. Well next year we can dress as werewolves then,” Amaya decided, looping her arm in his. “But for now, we should get downstairs before Jonny and Tallulah revolt.”

“And Mateo,” Tyler added. “I’m pretty sure he’s as excited as the kids down there.”

Amaya laughed as they made their way down the stairs to find that Mateo was, in fact, amongst her little siblings eagerly by the door. He had dressed in his Aztec clothes with his black hair slicked back and yellow and black paint decorating his face and chest.

“Finally,” he shouted, bouncing on his feet. “Took you guys long enough.”

Amaya rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help but grin at how adorable he looked standing with her eleven-year-old brother and nine-year-old sister. Jonny was dressed as Iron Man, his favorite superhero and Tallulah was dressed as Elena of Avalor who had become her favorite princess in the past year. Amaya had found Mateo sitting on the couch watching it with her little sister and eating popcorn last week. When Amaya had asked what he was doing, he had said the show reminded him of home. He had been a little too excited when Tallulah had decided to go as her for Halloween.

“It takes a minute to get dressed in all this,” Amaya said, gesturing at her and Darren’s outfits.

Mateo made a face. “Ahh you guys look so cute. All matchy and everything. Adorable.”

“Whatever. Just shut up and get out of my house.”

Mateo smirked and opened the front door. Jonny and Tallulah practically bolted out the door while they got down the stairs. Tyler slipped out behind them and ran to catch up to where they stood on the sidewalk.

“Oh my goodness,” her mom said, appearing from the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she saw Darren and Amaya. “You two look adorable!”

Amaya smirked at the word Mateo had just used to tease them with.

Darren blushed and cleared his throat. “Thanks Mrs. Wilson.”

Amaya’s mom waved her hand. “Please, how many times do I have to tell you, Darren just call me Leiah. You’re practically a part of the family now.”

“Right, of course… sorry. Thanks, Leiah. It was all Amaya’s idea really,” Darren stammered.

Amaya grinned at his adorableness. He was still nervous around her parents as if he kept waiting for them to disapprove or tell him to leave the house and never return. As if his parents would say Amaya couldn’t date him. They both loved him. A lot. Especially her dad. He thought he was a sweet guy. A real gentleman. But that didn’t stop Darren from getting all flustered and nervous around both of them.

Her mom gave him a knowing smile and held her phone. “Mind one picture?”

“Yes! Pictures,” Amaya squealed, grabbing hold of Darren’s arm.

Darren stiffened slightly. He also didn’t like any sort of touching or public displays of affection around her parents. Amaya wouldn’t go around kissing him or anything in front of them, but holding hands and arms, that wasn’t a big deal. She leaned her head against his shoulder, and she felt his hand rest against hers. Both of them smiled at the camera and her mom snapped a few pictures. Amaya could have sworn her mom’s eyes got all teary.

“So cute,” her mom said, shoving her phone into her pocket.

“Are we doing this trick or treating thing or what?” Mateo shouted from the front yard. “I want free candy!”

She could hear Tallulah and Jonny shouting their agreement. Introducing them to Mateo had been the worst mistake Amaya could have ever made.

Her mom grinned. “Alright, you two. You better get out there. Watch Jonny and Tallulah and have fun!”

“We will! See ya, Mom,” Amaya said, waving as she tugged Darren toward the door.

“Bye, Mrs… I mean Leiah,” Darren called.

He shut the door behind them and watched as Mateo and Tyler took the two younger kids to their neighbor’s house without waiting for them. All along the street throngs of little kids in all kinds of colorful outfits flooded the sidewalk with their parents following them and chatting with each other.

Amaya looked up to find Darren already gazing at her and she grinned, her face warming at his attention.

“Ready for your first ever time trick or treating?”

Darren grinned and offered his arm to her. “Of course, milady.”

Amaya beamed, taking his arm and letting him lead her down the driveway to the sidewalk. This would never get hold. Having him by her side would never stop being amazing. Their first ever Halloween together. Amaya wanted to cherish every second of it.

She leaned up and kissed his cheek.

He got a goofy grin on his face. “What was that for?”

Amaya shrugged. “Happy Halloween, Darren.”

The End 

If you want to know more about Amaya and Darren check out Golden Touch and get ready to meet Mateo in Emerald Phantom! Mateo doesn't show up until book 2 and he's one of my favorite characters I've written, so I'm excited for you guys to get a glimpse of him in this little flash fic and to meet him for the first time in Emerald Phantom! 

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What did you think of this flash fic?? Isn't Amaya and Darren adorable?