Lilith Torres had always loved Halloween. As a child, she would sneak out of her house and head to the library to immerse herself in horror stories or research the different meanings of the holiday across cultures. Her heart would race with excitement whenever she dressed up as one of the mysterious characters of the night. The real thrill came when the moon replaced the sun, and she, along with her two best friends from California, wandered the dark streets, joining the other kids in their quest for candy. But this year was different. Her friends weren't with her because she wasn't home.

Six months had passed since she moved away, and settling into the new town hadn't been easy. When Lilith arrived at school dressed as Wednesday Addams—a character from an old comic her father had lent her, The Addams Family—she quickly realized she was the only one in costume. A wave of embarrassment and loneliness hit her as she walked through the halls. The move had left her feeling disconnected from the life she knew. Though she had made a few new friends, like her sister Emma and their small group, no one filled the gap left by her California friends. Today, neither Emma nor any of her new companions—Brooke, Veronica, or her younger siblings—were by her side. And it sucked.

As she wandered through the school, trying to ignore the stares, she overheard a group of four kids dressed as Ghostbusters—the only other students in costume—talking nearby. She recognized them from the school's radio club, famous for the mysterious disappearance of one of their members last year.

"It's a conspiracy, I'm telling you," one of them whispered urgently.

"Just act cool," another said, clearly trying to downplay the conversation.

Suddenly, a boy a few feet away yelled, "Who you gonna call?" pulling her out of her thoughts.

Lilith felt a twinge of irritation. She always hated the lack of respect, especially when it came to personal interests and likes. What if she were a girl who liked comics and played video games at the arcade with her sister? "The nerds!"

"Hey, Todd, why don't you keep your stupid comments to yourself?" she shot back, unable to hold her tongue. She could see the boy's sneer growing as he approached.

"Said the other nerd dressed up like a psychopath," he laughed, stepping closer to her. Normally, she would have retreated, thrown a few words back, and found Emma to help back her up. But today was different. Today, she wasn't just Lilith—she was Wednesday Addams. She felt empowered by the character she was embodying, hidden behind Wednesday's dark, stoic mask. Dressing up wasn't just fun; it was a way to channel strength from the characters she admired. Her sister had told her that was one of the best parts of playing roles in theater—learning from the characters, even adopting their courage.

"Oh, yeah, psychopath," Lilith said, her lips curling into a dark, sarcastic smile. "You know what this psycho brought to school? Want to find out, Todd?" She pulled out a very realistic-looking clasp knife from her bag.

Todd's cocky expression faltered as his eyes zeroed in on the knife. His bravado shattered, and he quickly backed away, running off with his friends as Lilith toyed with the blade. A small cut appeared on her hand, where what seemed like blood began to drip slowly down her wrist.

"Yeah, run!" she called after them, laughing under her breath. "Chickens." The four boys scattered, leaving the group of Ghostbusters staring at her in stunned silence.

"It's not real," Lilith assured them, stabbing the knife into her hand to demonstrate how the blade disappeared and reappeared without causing any harm. "The blood's fake too." She pulled a small packet of fake blood from her pocket to show them. "It's just a costume."

The boys seemed to relax slightly, though they still looked a little rattled. The curly-haired one, however, was grinning ear to ear. "Wednesday, right?"

"Yeah!" Lilith smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Finally, someone who gets it."

"Wait, you're Lilith Torres, right?" one of the boys, who wore a Venkman label, asked, still puzzled. Lilith frowned at his tone. "Who's asking?"

"I'm Mike Wheeler," the boy introduced himself. "Your sister frequents my house." Lilith realized the truth in his words. Emma had told her about them—the freaky friends of Nancy's brother and the nights they spent in the basement playing D&D, a role-playing game she used to play back in Sydney.

"Oh, yeah, you're Nancy's brother," the brunette confirmed. "Your sister frequents mine."

"Thought you were a preppy," Lilith grinned at Mike's out-of-place comment.

"And I thought you still played with toys, but it turns out you have good taste and can say more than two words without stuttering," the other boy with a Venkman label tried to hide his laugh.

"No one's gonna talk about how freaking amazing that was?" the curly-haired boy interrupted, looking at Lilith with sparkling eyes. She stared at him, confused. "What?"

Mike couldn't believe what his friend was saying. "She literally threatened someone with a knife. What's cool about that?" he jumped in, offended. But Torres couldn't help but correct him. "A fake knife."

"Does it even matter?"

"I mean, it technically emphasizes the difference between self-defense and being a total psycho," the other Venkman pointed out, being the smartass he was.

"Who cares? That was awesome!" the curly-haired boy stated. Mike, seeing his defense crumbling, turned to the last boy, who hadn't said a word until that moment—Will Byers. Lilith knew him from the news and constant rumors; it was impossible not to remember his name or face.

"I mean, she defended us. That's cool. At least we should thank her." The brunette smiled softly at Will, then glared back at Mike, who was freaking out.

"You know, you should learn to say thanks from your friends."

The sound of wheels rolling through the halls distracted two of the boys, who stared at a red-haired girl with sparkling eyes. Lilith followed their gaze to the front lockers to analyze their sudden change in behavior. It was Max, the new girl. She didn't know her well but had exchanged a few words with her the previous afternoon at the arcade. She seemed cool—short words at first, but cool. They both had spend around two hours playing together, they both even played the table football together. It had been hartwarming for the girl, it seemed she was finaly starting to make friends.

"Why are you guys staring at Max like lost puppies?" Lilith asked, watching as the two boys' faces turned red. Max noticed their gazes and shot them a confused look before offering Lilith a small, hesitant smile in recognition.

"Wait, you know her?" asked the boy with the Venkman tagged.

"Not much, just talked to her a bit," Torres shrugged.

"You talked to her? Was she cool?" The cap kid rushed to question excited.

"Don't ask stupid questions." his friend cut." Of course, she was cool." he stablished as if that was extremly obvious to stop himself and look at the brunette not entirely convinced. Both kids practically followed the redhaired to the arcade an spy on her to prove she was MadMax but Lilith was no where around. "Wait, when did you talk to her?"

"Yesterday at the arcade." she shrugged simple.

"You like to play video games?"

"I mean, yeah, the arcade isn't totally my style; I'd rather play something at home than go out, but sometimes my sister takes me there to spend quality time together." the brunette explained. "But you still haven't answered my question."

"Oh, right," the curly-haired guy said. "We're trying to invite her to go trick-or-treating with us," Venkman label guy answered the question.

"Yeah, but I think we better ask her later," the curly-haired guy nodded. "Hey, you should come with us."

Lilith gazed at both of them, fully convinced to invite her and the red-haired girl. Then she realized something even more important. "That'd be cool, but you guys haven't introduced yourselves yet."

***

"Why the hell have your family casually got three Pink Ladies Jackets?" Brooked questioned unbelivabled grabbing one of the jackets in her own hands. "I though you were joking about dressing up like the Pink Ladies, didn't know from where we would find those Jackets. " Veronica tried one to see if it suits her well. Emma jumped into her bed getting comfortable. "Well, one's my sister's, the other's mum's and the other..."

"Yours, I guess." Ronnie looked at her reflection at the mirror Emma's wardrobe had, fixing her short hair to make it look more like Rizzo.

"Actually, it's from my best friend, from California. We used to dress up every Halloween from the past three years as Pink Ladies, so we found funny to exchange jackets." The blonde stretched her arms before taking the jacket her brunette friend was holding to roll up the left sleeve. Jenny's name was embroided there. "She embroided her name, and I did with mine before exchanging it. That way life would have no other option than bring our ways back together." blues embraced her eyes at the memories with the perfectly brushed and curled brown haired girl.

"That's so cute. I want to cry." Brooke testified with some tears poking her eyes. "Come on, you cry at almost everything." Ronnie pin on her before turning back to her blonde friend. "But she's right. That's a cute detail."

"Are you guys still in touch?" The dark haired girl sat next to Emma and grabbed her hand in a suporting manner. "Yeah, we call each other when we find some free time and exchange some letters." The girl wrinkled her nose feeling weaker at some point. "But you know I still miss her."

"Awww." Brooke sat by the other side of the blonde to stretch her between her arms. "That's normal, she's probably feeling the same way." "And if she doesn't she's stupid." Veronica supported the brunette's point joining the hug.

"Okey, now, less tears more pink." Emma clapped her hands getting up from her bed to brush the tears acumulated in her eyes and take her Pink Ladie Jacket. Two knocks at her door interrupted her when the door opened.

"Wow, Brooke, you really nailed Frenchy with that wig." Lilith appeared in front of the three girls, still dressed up as Wednesday Adams. "Yeah, right? I bought it a few years ago to dress up as Anne from Anne with an E."

"Cool." The eleven year old girl gazed at Veronica with wide eyes. "Your, hair is way shorter than earlier in the morning, Ronnie."

"I just curl it, don't worry, I love short hair, but this heigh is a lot for me." The snow skined girl assured the little Torres. "Still looks pretty, though." Brooke shrugged. "You think?" Veronica looked once again at herself in the mirror, not so sure. "Rizzo, I guess." Emma nodded at her sister.

"And you are...?"

"Marty." Em girded herself to the jacket. Lilith raised her brows.

"Because she's blonde."

"Because I casually have this tube skirt and purple scarf." Her sister corrected. "Okey..." The little girl looked around the room once more before focused on her original aim.

"I'm heading into the Wheelers, Dustin and Lucas invited me to go trick or treat with them." She informed. Emma frowned.

"Though you were spending the night with mum and dad."

"And I will, after going trick or treat with my new potential friends." Lilith clarified playing with her hands, quite nervous. And the blonde gifted her a soft smile. "Are you nervous?"

"Terrified."

"Why?" Brooke joined the conversation quite worried about the little girl.

"Mike sucks, and that cool girl from the Arcade is coming too. I want to at least be acepted by her." The girl explained her worries.

"Okey, first, If the wheeler kid sucks why are you even heading at his house?" Veronica interrupted not getting the point. "They told me to meet there, so it would be easier for me."

"Second, if that girl does not acept you by who you are she sucks as much as that Mike you mentioned." Brooked ignored Lilith explanation.

"And, third if Dustin and Lucas have invited you is for one good reason. They are both good kids, capicci?" Lilith pressed her lips and wrinkled them while nodding to her sister, processing all the information. "Now go call mum and dad. And remember to take your secret walkie, I'll leave mine down stairs at the livinroom so if something happens you could talk to them... If we don't get too early home." The blonde glared at Veronica shamessly.

"Hey!"

***

After a twenty-minute photo session taken by Emma's mother, the three girls headed to Carol's party. The number of teenagers hanging around the house raised the serotonin in Brooke's blood, while Veronica's heart seemed to have run a marathon due to the anxiety the crowds produced in her. Taking one step towards the building, Veronica froze. "Do we really need to do this? Robin's plan seems better right now." Brooke and Emma turned to face their hesitant friend with empathetic grins.

"Come on, just a few minutes at least," Brooke conceded.

"Yeah, there's music inside and lots of sweets," Emma added.

"Are you trying to buy me?" Ronnie raised an eyebrow at the blonde's words.

"Is it working?" Emma smiled innocently. Veronica sighed before stepping determinedly towards their goal. Victorious, both girls followed her steps.

Once inside, the music hit hard, beating in their heads. Teenagers were dancing, playing drinking games, and hooking up around the place. It was exactly as Veronica had imagined, and she was still trying to figure out if she was okay with it.On the other hand, Brooke seemed to be in her element. Three people greeted her, one gave her a glass of beer, and the other two reminded her they needed to hang out. "We won't; we haven't talked in months," the brunette made clear while handing the beer to another person. She disliked beer and would choose whiskey over beer a hundred times, even though she despised whiskey. After chatting briefly with another teenager who seemed to be on top of the world with alcohol, the now red-haired girl dragged her friends to the kitchen where the food and drinks were kept.

"Finally," Emma sighed.

"Why do people like these parties?" Veronica gazed around the crowds while Emma filled a red plastic cup with punch. Brooke shrugged and followed the blonde's example."Want some?" Ronnie frowned at the offer."What is it?"

"Fruits, grenadine, Sprite, and..." Emma took a sip, "I think it's tequila."

Brooke handed a glass to the undecided Veronica. "Take it; you'll love it. Believe me, it tastes like sweets." Two minutes of hesitation later, Veronica tried the liquid, and the punch lasted only one more minute in her glass. "It tastes like raspberries."

"Yeah, right?" Emma smiled at her friend and turned back to Brooke, whose eyes were still scanning the crowd. "Who are you looking for?" she asked.

"The leader of the Hellfire Club. Black long hair, dark eyes, bad reputation..." Ronnie answered in place of her friend while serving herself another glass of punch.

"The one who got a perm a few weeks ago?" Ronnie snapped her fingers in confirmation.

"Why would you be looking for him?" Emma asked, puzzled.

"Because he plays guitar, likes metal, and he's so hot," Brooke explained excitedly.

"She wants to hook up with him," the black-haired girl simplified.

"No way, really?" Emma ironized. "I deduced that from how she emphasized how hot he is." She clarified before taking a sip of her punch. "My point is, why would you look for him here? Doesn't everyone hate him? At least Carol does."

"I'd rather say they judge his way of life than despise him, but yeah," Ronnie corrected, pondering the differences between hating, fearing, and judging. She had an extened monologue being recited inside her head that she would have exteriorized if it wasn't from Brooke getting to the initial point. "I heard Jules say he would probably stop by the party with some friends," She answered the blonde. "Also, Carol hates almost everyone and do you really think she gives a fuck right now about anything?" She gestured towards a quite drunk ginger dancing in the middle of the living room.

"Touché."

I Was Made for Lovin' You by Kiss started playing over the speakers, and before Brooke could jump onto the dance floor, Veronica grabbed both girls' hands and dragged them there. "Oh, my God, I love this song!"

"Wait, wait, my drink..." Emma nearly spilled her drink into someone due to the sudden pull.

"Emma?" The ocean-eyed girl she knew from biology class, Nancy Wheeler, stared at her, surprised, holding a red plastic cup in her hands.

"Nancy!" Emma exclaimed, bringing her into a quick hug.

"I didn't know you were coming!" Nancy said, her gaze shifting to the two girls in pink jackets dancing ridiculously as Emma gestured towards them. "Pink Ladies." Nancy guessed.

"Cool, right?" Emma smiled, showing off her jacket with pride and playfullness. However, she couldn't help but notice Nancy's frown and the absent look in her eyes taking another sip from her cup. Before she could ask about it, Nancy joined the dance floor, leaving Emma behind with Steve, who was trying to follow Nancy in a more fraternal than jealous way. He was worried about her. But why exactly?