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I burst out laughing. “Nathan,where did you bring me?”

I edge in front of him to get a better look, craning my neck to the right and left to see everything. It’s both bizarre and hysterical.

“Wow…what do you think the thought process was here?” I ask. “A mannequin world record?”

“No idea. The creepiest costume party the world has ever seen?”

“Ooh, good point—do you think they rotate the costumes every year? Maybe we could sneak a few off and use them for our show. We have a bunch of fairy-tale creatures to clothe, and these would work nicely.”

“Of course that’s where your mind would go.”

“When you’re a musical fanatic, costumes become a big part of your thought process.”

He laughs and his T-shirt brushes up against my left arm. It’s only then that I realize how close I’ve gotten to him as I tried to see more and more of the yard. I’m practically lying across his lap now. I look up at him and take a quick breath. If I lifted my face another inch, our mouths would be perfectly aligned.

Orange lights flash on in the yard. We both turn, eyes trained on the front door.

“Do you think anyone is home?” I whisper.

“I don’t see a car in the driveway and the windows are dark. Those are probably just security ligh—”

A large silhouette suddenly fills the doorway to the house and I jump, falling directly into Nathan’s chest. I pop up and scoot over to my seat before this becomes any more awkward.

“Do you think he can see us?” I ask.

But the man answers my question by waving at our car. There’s something in his hand I can’t make out. Then he steps out onto the lawn and I bite back a shriek.

“Is that…”

“Yep. That’s Michael Myers coming toward us in the middle of nowhere.” The man strides quickly toward our car, and Nathan pulls his seat upright and turns the key in the ignition. “Aaaaaand he’s holding a knife.”

“Nathan!Is it fake?”

He slams the car into drive, and we zoom down the road. “I’m not waiting to ask him.”

“Go, go, go!” I yell as I scurry to refasten my seat belt.

Nathan bursts out in frantic laughter once the house is in the rearview mirror, and I do the same despite how fast my heart is racing.

“Oh my God, that was freaky! I’ll be up all night with that image in my mind!”

“I swear no one came outside last time I was here.” Nathan lays a hand lightly on my knee. “Are you okay?”

Heat radiates through me, but I try to ignore it. “Yes, I’m fine.” I glance over my shoulder. “No famous horror movie murderers are following us. Do other people know about this place?”

“I’ve never heard anyone talk about it. It might be our secret.” He looks in his rearview mirror. “The owners switch it out for every holiday. You should see the Easter bunnies.”

“Creepier than the princess mannequins?”

“A hundred times worse. I’ll show you in the spring if you’re still up for it.”

He glances at me with a small smile. It’s such a simple statement, but it shakes me. Spring is half a year away. Will we still be friends then? Will we still want to spend time together?

More and more, I’m really hoping so.

Chapter Eighteen

I’m able to secure the auditorium for a short rehearsal Friday afternoon before the D&D game. There are a few grumbles about extra rehearsals, but everyone knows we need as much practice as possible.