"Kat, wait," Sebastian ran after her as she stalked up the pavement. Her heels clacked with each step.

"Friend," She scoffed, "Friend? I'm your friend?!"

"You don't understand."

"What don't I understand Sebastian? That you don't see me as your girlfriend? That you never introduce me to anyone you know?"

"But come on! We've only been going out for two weeks!"

Kat stopped and turned abruptly, her eyes smoldering. Sebastian almost slammed into her. His eyes locked on hers in a silent, heated exchange.

"You know what I've heard about you Sebastian Spencer?"

"I can take a guess." He clenched his jaw and not entirely out of frustration over the situation.

"I've heard that you chase after hot girls, you show them a good time, you make them like you and then you dump them like trash. You've never once introduced a girl to your friends and you certainly don't let them come near your family."

"Katrin—"

"I can't be one of those girls Sebastian. I like you. But you've got issues and I don't have time to solve them for you. You want non-serious? You want a friend? You go find someone else."

She walked away, leaving Sebastian speechless. When he turned he saw Matilda standing there, watching gloomily. She made a sympathetic face and he couldn't take it. His eyes started to water but he forced them back.

The fact that he felt like crying was a shock to him. He never cried over a woman. Never.

"I'd tell you to chase after her but..." she sighed, "I think you need to let her cool off first."

He looked away, red in the face.

"Come on," She gestured, "lets come up with a game plan. We can fix this."

They went to her place since it was nearer. It was smaller than Sebastian's and would have been a pig sty if Matilda did not know the spell for things organizing themselves.

Sebastian unabashedly went for her fridge, a gestured Matilda loved; there were no formalities between them.

"You don't have any beer," he said dejectedly.

"Can't drink it, remember?"

"Don't you keep some for guests?"

"What guests? You're the only person who comes over."

He shut the fridge and slumped against it, inclined so steeply that he would slip if he let go just a little.

"That is sad Matilda. You should have people coming over. Men." He raised his brows

"I'd rather not."

"Women then."

Matilda let out a groan.

"I meant friends," he held his hands up defensively.

"Well I have soda if you want," She shrugged off her jacket and fell on her sofa. Sebastian rifled through her fridge again till he found the soda can. He opened it with a single hand and Matilda eyed his arms. He sat beside her. Matilda waved for him to put up his feet and he obliged, delivering them on her knees.

"So." She began.

"So."

"You wanna tell me why you didn't just say Kat was your girlfriend."

Sebastian only gulped down the soda. Never before had Matilda been so aware of someone's Adam's apple.

"Okay. You wanna talk about something else then?"

He held the can in his hands thoughtfully. She let the silence stretch.

"You know I don't do serious, right?"

"Uh huh."

"But since I met Kat I... I don't know it's like a light just came on and... I'm confused and..."

Scared. He didn't need to say it for Matilda. She just knew.

"I like her, Till. I really like her." He said with a small chuckle.

"Yeah, I can tell that."

"But I can't... I don't know how to do this. I've never actually had a serious girlfriend before, at least not like this. What if people don't like us together? What if Alton doesn't like us? What if we don't work out in the end? I don't know how to act, how to introduce her to everyone. I'm going to mess it up. I don't know how to do serious, Matilda. I don't know." He rambled.

"Well... why don't you ask?"

"Ask who?"

"Ask her. Kat."

"What exactly do I ask her?"

"Ask her what being serious for her means. Does it mean she wants you to be exclusive and acknowledge that she's your girlfriend or does she want something more? And then ask yourself if you're ready to give her that. And if you're not... then tell her."

"What if she leaves me?"

"Well if you haven't already noticed..." Matilda opened her palm to prove her point. Sebastian nodded and finished the soda in a single gulp.

"Why didn't you just say she was your girlfriend? It's not like Cara would tell." She would but that was beside the point Matilda was trying to make.

"I just... I don't want to rush into things. I wanna do this properly this time." He smiled shyly. The sight made Matilda smile.

"Listen, tonight was not about you calling her a friend."

"It wasn't?"

"Nope. Tonight was about you not being clear of what you want."

"How so?"

"Well... if Kat were aware that you weren't ready to parade her around as your girlfriend, or that you were afraid of what it all meant and wanted to take it slow, then she wouldn't have been so blindsided. She got mad because she thought you guys were on one page when you weren't even reading the same book. You just gotta talk to her, explain yourself. And tell her how you really feel."

"Yeah but... what if she doesn't want what I want."

"Then... you decide whether you like her enough to give her want to give her what she wants or not."

Sebastian slumped back with a sigh.

"You know for someone who doesn't do relationships, you're pretty good at this."

"Eh," Matilda shrugged, "it's a gift."

*************

The Annual All Hallows Eve Gala was held by the Kinghaven Museum of Cultural History. Both Eric's and Phil's families were patrons of the Museum so naturally they were always invited and naturally the invitation was extended to the rest of the gang. The party was less of a celebration for Halloween and more an excuse for rich people to dress up in sexy and grandiose costumes.

The gang usually dressed up in predictable costumes; celebrities or movie characters. Matilda went in her usual costume; the wicked witch of the west. Every year the girls groaned over Matilda's uniform choice and every year she promised she would be different next time.

This year she had planned to dress as a pirate. She did not know how to sew and would not spend cash on a costume. Magic allowed her to form her own clothes with a special thread that could be reshaped into anything she wanted—it was how she got such expensive looking sharp suits on such a tight budget. Very few of her suits were actually bought.

"You know this is why we're friends. I get to go to all of these cool parties because of you guys." Matilda told him. They were in his office, enjoying takeout since both had to work late that evening.

Sebastian chewed mindlessly as he looked into his takeout container searchingly.

"So what are you going as?"

No response. She snapped her fingers in his face which jolted him out of his reverie.

"Earth to Bas! Helloooo."

"What? Sorry. I'm just..."

"What's up?"

"Nothing."

"Ugh, you're why do we have to do this every time? I'll just keep on asking you what's wrong. And you'll keep saying nothing is wrong and after an hour of me pestering you, you will finally spill. So why not skip the pestering part and just spill?"

Sebastian slowly chewed a bite of his noodles.

"Fine then. We don't have to talk about it." He looked up at her. "I was thinking of dressing up as a pirate but the gala is in three days and I don't have the time to prepare anything."

"Tilly..."

She ignored him, "I told Ursula that the whole dressing up as movie characters was so old. Like what happened to good old fashioned scary costumes? Like ghosts, witches, monsters. Why doesn't everyone every dress up as the bad guy for once?"

"Till."

"It's all about being sexy and trying to show off as much skin as possible. Which is fine like go naked if that's what you want but don't disrespect witches by wearing a hat and some string and calling it a costume. Like that's not how a witch would dress you know?"

Witches wore clothes according to their magical needs. Certain potions required you to cover your hair otherwise the vapor would make it all fall off or change the color. Pointy hates helped channel energy into the spell.

Long sleeved black gowns were needed because back in olden times, protective clothing for women had not existed and gowns were all witches had to work with. Black was a predominant color in clothes and cats because it acted as a conduit for magic. A witch's black robe with full sleeves was more akin to a lab coat than anything else and it being used to sexualize women was offensive.

Sebastian sighed and said nothing. A smile threatened to escape Matilda's lips.

"So you're ready to talk now?"

"Kat's not returning my calls." He started. "She's not letting me into her apartment either. I've even tried email."

"Well that's excessive. If she likes you she would at least let you talk things out."

"Oh no we talked." He paused. Matilda had to wait a long minute till he continued.

"We talked, like you said. We talked for hours actually, about what we wanted out of this... thing we have. She said we should at least acknowledge that we're dating when we're in public."

"Sounds fair." Matilda said, although she understood that this small acknowledgement was a big step for Sebastian. She hoped Kat would get that too.

"She also said she wanted me to meet her friends."

Uh-oh. Jules.

"And so I did. We had drinks two days ago. It turns out she's friends with one of my exes; Jules Cardani."

"Oof. How awkward was that?" Matilda said sympathetically.

"Very. Did you know she was there for the movie? Casablance?" Matilda shook her head, lying, "Well she was the woman with Kat. I got worried when she told me who she was but, she seemed okay, oddly enough."

Matilda sat up, "She did?" Sebastian chuckled at her abrupt surprise.

"Yes. Does it sound so weird that I would be on good terms with my exes?"

Matilda was replaying what she had overheard Jules tell Kat at Captain Flint's. He's a total ass who leaves women after promising a life together, these did not sound like the words of someone who would be okay with their ex.

"Not weird but I don't think you should let your guard down around that woman just yet. She might still resent you."

"She seemed fine to me. She was even happy that Kat and I were together."

Matilda snorted, "Okay, that I don't buy."

"She was!"

"Maybe she forgot you."

Now Sebastian snorted haughtily, "Nonsense. Girls don't forget me. I'm just so charming that even girls who hate me, love me."

"Dude, you're such a dork," she threw a ketchup packet in his face. It hit him on his nose. He threw it right back but Matilda dodged it.

"So what's got you so worried? The meetup went fine right?" Matilda asked once the mood settled again.

"It did. But then she said... that she wants to meet the gang."

"That sounds fair."

"But..."

"Please tell me you were not stupid enough to say no."

"You said I should tell her what I was comfortable with!"

"But she asked you outright, dumbass! You're supposed to say yes! Now she's going to think you don't really consider her as your girlfriend."

"Oh! That's what she said." He sounded surprised.

"Because that's what it looks like, genius!"

"Alright! Jesus, I get it." He sank in his chair.

Matilda dropped her mad face, "By the way you just made a 'that's what she said' joke."

"I know."

They fist bumped in a moment of levity that broke the tension.

"What do I do now? She's already mad at me."

"Bring her over to dinner sometime."

"I don't think that'll be enough. She pissed at me now."

"Well... make a grand gesture or something."

"Like what?"

Matilda tilted her head, pursing her lips.

"Bring her to the Halloween Ball."

"Till I can't do that. Everyone will be there."

"Exactly! Everyone will be there. It'll be like a statement to her, that you're in this fully. And it's not like you have to go around the room meeting everyone." It was exactly like that. A man of Bas' stature had to socialize, it was in the upper class rule book. But Matilda felt she shouldn't point that out just yet. "And the gang will be there so she can spend time with us and we can hang out. It's perfect."

He thought about it for a minute, "Okay... Okay yeah. I bring her over, we'll be in costume anyway so maybe it won't be that big of a deal. But... I still have to introduce her to the guys." He twisted his mouth sourly.

"And that's bad because..." she trailed off.

"I don't know. I've never really introduced a girl to the gang you know? I mean how do I even do that?"

"You don't know?" Matilda said, surprised. She sat up, looking serious and all business like, "Okay this is important. Are you ready for this?"

Sebastian looked confused, "Wha—"

"You gotta follow these steps exactly," she said in her presentation voice, "If you skew even an inch you will mess up."

Sebastian straightened too, hearing intently.

"You ready? Okay." Dramatic pause, "So you make sure that everyone from the gang is present."

Sebastian nodded, "Um-hmm."

"You bring Kat over."

"Yes?" He kept nodding.

"And you say..."

"What?"

Matilda put on an accent, "Hello, I am Inigo Montoya—"

Sebastian threw a report in her face. Matilda dodged it.

"—you have killed my father—"

Another report, "Matilda you ass!"

"—prepare to die!" She laughed and he soon joined her. They were lucky no one else was around otherwise this kind of behavior would have led to a warning from HR.

"I hate you." Sebastian said, red from laughing.

"No you don't." Matilda smirked, "Now stop being a baby! And bring her over. It'll be fine."

"Yeah?"

"Of course!" She said. Then she started giggling.

"You remember when Professor Cade said this joke in class?"

He giggled too, "His accent was Italian though."

"Is that what that was? I thought he sounded like a vampire."

They both laughed.

*************

"This is such bull shit." Cara scowled as left with yet another last minute task. "If they had to pay us overtime they wouldn't ever make us work so late."

Matilda frowned, thinking about the cut out pieces of the pirate costume she had barely begun working on.

Cara huffed some more and Matilda looked at her cautiously. She had not spoken to Cara about what had happened to Captain Flint's yet. She wasn't even sure she wanted to. But Cara had been acting on edge ever since that night and it was getting on Matilda's nerves.

"Relax," she told Cara, "I'm almost done with my cases. We can do yours together."

"I can't ask you to work overtime for me."

"Well you're not gonna get it done on your own. Not tonight at least. Let me help."

Cara looked over at Matilda gratefully, "No Tilly. You go. I'll be done with this soon enough."

But Cara wasn't done by the time Matilda was wrapping things up.

"Gimme." She swiveled her chair around their desk, and bumped it against Cara's, laptop in hand. Cara didn't argue.

It took the two of them three hours to finish. Cara stretched her arms up and a symphony of cracks released from her back.

"Ah! Finally." She slumped forward on her desk.

"See. Told you it was easier together."

"You know you can't do this for other people. Me, I'm your friend. But you can't just go around being nice to everyone."

Matilda chortled, "When am I ever?"

"You can't fool me. You act all tough and badass but you're a softie."

"Sure I am," Matilda said in good natured sarcasm.

She started packing up her things but noticed that Cara wasn't doing the same. She was staring blankly out the window. Her bag lay limp on her desk.

"You wanna grab a drink?" Matilda didn't know what else to offer.

Cara looked at her, "I can't go to Captain Flint's anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because I slept with the bar tender." She said it plainly. But then her face became red and she cringed in embarrassment. She buried her face in her bag.

"What? Which one?"

"Jim. Tall, dark, usually wears red plaid." He was the hot one.

Awwww, I liked that one. Matilda thought dejectedly but decided she wasn't much bothered by it.

"He's hot. What's the problem?"

"It was a one-night stand Matilda!" Cara looked up, her lips trembling.

"So?"

"I do not have one night stands!"

"So don't. Ask him out for a two-night stand." Matilda winked.

"Matilda!"

"Cara!" Matilda matched her tone mockingly.

"What am I going to do? What if I run into him?" Cara buried her face in her bag again.

"What does it matter? Lots of people have one night stands."

"Well..." she looked up sheepishly, "I don't exactly think he wanted a one night stand."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean he cooked me breakfast and tried to ask me out to dinner before I told him I was late for work and just... left."

Matilda blinked rapidly.

"And he might have called a couple of times since then. And I might have ignored him."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? I can't go out with somebody! I'm still working things out with Calvin!"

"You got back together with Calvin?"

"Well... no. Did I tell you about what he said at the bar that night? He told me I was too neurotic and that I had become hysterical. He basically called me a crazy person. And that bitch with him laughed at me."

"And you still want to be with him?"

"I love him!" Cara whined.

"Cara... are you sure you want Calvin back, or are you just afraid to be alone?"

"What?" Cara said in a small voice.

"I mean. The guy treats you like shit."

"He was really nice in the beginning."

"They all are sweetheart. But he's being a dick to you now. I mean he cheated on you. And trust me, I know how that feels. Do you really want him back or are you just afraid that he's all you'll ever get?"

Cara sniffled. Matilda pulled a couple of tissues from the box and handed them to her.

"Think about it. And if the answer is yes then maybe you need to look for someone who actually likes you. Maybe give Jim a call."

"Oh he won't want to hear from me." Cara blew her nose.

"Who cares? Find someone else to have a one night stand with." Cara punched Matilda in the shoulder.

"Okay, okay, no one night stands." Matilda cackled.

*************

Since Matilda didn't have time the previous day, she had to don her old witch get up. The pointy hat and her broom were her actual witching gear. She decided to go for a vintage black gown with a layered tulle skirt that gave her a witchy look. She colored her skin green with magic and painted her lips red. She wore red shoes to finish the look; an homage to Dorothy.

The gang went together, taking Eric's limo (which he happened to own). Since she was the last to be picked up, she was met with a loud cheer from everyone. Ursula dressed as Morticia Addams with a plunging neckline that really favored her figure, Eric of course was Gomez, he had even drawn on a thin mustache. Phil was Mark Anthony and Mal was Cleopatra. When Matilda saw Sebastian, sitting at the very end her heart stopped.

There he was, in white frock coat uniform with a red sash. His hair fell in glorious brown waves and gloves completed the look. If anyone embodied Prince Charming™, it was Sebastian in that moment.

But he was alone, sans a princess. Matilda gave him a look but said nothing. He gave her a look back.

The gang exchanged flattery about everyone's costume. Except Matilda's.

"Matilda, you're a witch again!" Ursula groaned.

"You should've dressed up as the district attorney. That guy is scary as hell." Mal commented.

"Can't blame her. Her coven will kick her out if she doesn't wear her uniform." Phil said jokingly and Eric high-fived his raised hand, laughing. Only Sebastian seemed out of spirits.

"You didn't invite her?" She whispered to him as soon as everyone else got busy in their own little conversations.

"I did. She didn't show."

Matilda's mouth shrank. She held Sebastian's hand.

"Oh look, the witch is romancing prince," Phil said in his frat boy tone and everyone laughed. Matilda joined in with a dry, humorless laugh of her own but Sebastian pulled his hand away, quite coldly.

"You two should go in together," Eric suggested seriously, "subversion of tropes is a popular thing these days."

Matilda made a face.

"Was this the big date you were talking about?" Phil chided Sebastian.

"What big date?" Ursula asked.

"It's nothing." Sebastian said.

"Bas here told us he was bringing some hot date to the gala." Phil informed.

"And you didn't tell me!" Ursula scolded Bas. Mal was indifferent, sipping at some green juice from a glass bottle.

"It doesn't matter. She bailed." Sebastian muttered.

"Aw honey," Ursula grabbed his hand. He didn't turn her away and Matilda noticed.

"Screw her Bas. We'll have more fun if it's just us anyway." Mal said. They all consoled him the rest of the way.

The gala was a red carpet event which meant sudden flashing lights from the cameras as soon as the limo door opened. Ursula and Mal moved out effortlessly, on after the other, with their arms linked with their beaus. Sebastian got out, leaving Matilda to contend with her dress and her broom by herself.

She had felt ridiculous and excessive in her small apartment. Right now she felt she hadn't done enough. Everyone was dressed to the nines. Long, over the top gowns, eccentrically structured suits, masks and/or face paint and lots of shouting to pose. It was suddenly overwhelming. Matilda quickly reached forward for Sebastian.

"Don't leave me," she said desperately, blinded by the flashing lights. On one corner she saw Phil giving an interview to a reporter. Eric and Ursula were off to one side, posing for pictures. Sebastian offered her his arm. He did not give any interviews or stop for any poses, despite a lot of reporters trying to get him to pause for a picture. Some even asked him (more like shouted) whether he had starred in a movie or not. But he kept his head down and kept walking. His fast stride was a little hard for Matilda to keep up with, especially on the stairs.

She almost tripped when she lost a shoe on the top steps. Sebastian turned and quickly bent over. He shoved the red heel on her foot quite painfully and then guided them inside. Once in, he let her go and without a word walked towards the bar. It made her feel a little humiliated but she pushed the feeling away.

The entrance led them through a marbled arch that opened into a large hall with Greek columns holding up the roof. The museum had brought out pagan themed exhibits especially for the night. There were two flights of stairs on either side of the entrance arch that led up to another floor. The lights were low, reddish orange which made it hard to see who was who. Matilda didn't even know how to find their table—Is it up the stairs? Eric had the tickets with their table number and he hadn't seemed to have come in yet.

The affluent and the elite were mingling while Matilda stood awkwardly on one side. She was hoping to catch either one of the gang once they entered but they seemed to be taking their time.

Or had Matilda missed them? There were so many people around and in such strange getups it was likely she didn't notice when they had come in.

Matilda decided to go to the bar and look for Sebastian but he wasn't there. She thought being up higher would give her a better view so she went up the stairs. And sure enough she spotted the white uniformed prince. He was standing with someone else wearing white. This person's uniform seemed more elaborate than Sebastian's but was cut in a similar fashion. And unlike Sebastian, this person wore a crown.

You have got to be kidding me.

There he was, Alton Spencer, the ice king. And the moniker fit; his light blonde hair and pasty skin added to his icy composure. He was sans glasses and his steely blue eyes seemed piecing even from across the room.

The brothers seemed to be in a heated exchange. Alton looked around and deciding for a more private place to talk, led Sebastian through one of the inner corridors, towards the toilets. Matilda followed after them.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" She heard Alton's voice and hid in an alcove in the wall where she could just see the two brothers. She hugged her broom to her chest.

Alton kept his voice harsh but level so that they would not attract attention. "First Camilla, then Jennifer. Need I remind you about your history with problematic women?"

"Excuse me?" Sebastian asked calmly.

"You arrive here? With that woman? In front of everyone?"

"What woman. What are you talking about?"

"There were pictures Sebastian! Do you realize how this looks for me? I can't keep paying off your gold digging whores."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"That inbreed, Matilda Merryweather. You came here with her as your date." Alton hissed through clenched teeth.

"She's not my date, man," Sebastian seemed quite relaxed with the whole situation.

"You both came in arm in arm."

"So?"

"So how does that look like? I already know you two are romantically involved. Why bother lying? I don't even know why I believed that woman's claims the last time."

Matilda thought that Sebastian would ask "what last time?" and Alton would have to reveal what a jerk he had been to her. She thought Sebastian would punch him or at least tell him off for her.

He did neither. He only laughed.

"Alton... have you finally lost your mind?" He said between gurgles of laughter, "I am not dating Matilda Merryweather." He said her name like an insult, like it was unthinkable.

"I have it on good authority that you are involved with that woman."

"Oh yeah? Whose authority?"

Alton Spencer was silent.

"Riley. You can't trust other people over your own brother. I am telling you, I am not dating anyone right now. Okay? Least of all Matilda." He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

This seemed to calm Alton down. He nodded in acceptance.

"Why are you here with her then?"

"I'm here with my friends. She happens to be one of them. You would have known that if you actually tried getting to know my friends a little better."

"The only friends of yours worth knowing is the Montfort kid and the Alderon heir." He says with his arms crossed.

"You're so petty at time, Ry. Maybe try getting to know people before dismissing them." With that, Sebastian walked out. He didn't notice her as he passed by her. Alton seemed stunned into silence. He went into the toilets leaving Matilda all alone in the hallway.

She slumped against the cold wall, trying to take in what she had just witnessed.

Alton Spencer still believed she and Sebastian had something going on between them.

Why?

And Sebastian... he had laughed at the thought of liking her.

Well... of course he would laugh. We're just friends. The idea of the two of us together is ridiculous. She told herself, sniffling. She did not allow for any tears to fall, but her lashes were still wet. She gate herself a minute before forcing her legs to walk.