October 2015

The smell of coffee drifted into the bedroom, making Callie's mouth water. She frowned and opened her eyes, blinking in the bright sunlight. Matthew didn't have any curtains to block the sun in his bedroom. 

"I like to wake up with the sun," was his response the first time Callie had spent the night and woke up to the blazing Los Angeles sunshine. 

Callie was not as much of a morning person. It was one of the reasons she liked staying over at her place with Matthew more. She enjoyed total darkness in her bedroom thanks to several black out curtains and extra soundproofing around the door and windows. But with Tessa practically living with Aya now, it felt more and more like she was an unwanted guest in her own house. At least, it seemed like that whenever she was there. 

Bird chirped outside the window and she sat up, her hair falling wildly around her shoulders. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her neck and shoulders. It was one of her rare days off since filming for SANCTUM had resumed and she had hoped to sleep in. 

"Good, you're awake," Matthew said, coming into the room with two cups of steaming coffee. 

His lanky frame was covered in a well-worn t-shirt and pair of plaid pajama bottoms. He had a grey pair of bunny slippers on his feet and his hair was still unruly from sleep. He placed a kiss on her lips as he handed her one of the coffee mugs. She took it gratefully. 

"Morning," she smiled. The coffee hit her like a volt of electricity and she blinked rapidly as caffeine began to course through her veins. 

Matt sat next to her and ran a hand over her bare shoulders. "What time do we need to leave for tonight?" he asked. 

"Jared said to get there any time after eight. So I was thinking around nine," she replied, taking another sip of coffee. 

"Sounds good," he laid back on the bed. "You got your costume, right?" 

Callie nodded. "I picked it up yesterday when I got off." She looked over her shoulder at him for a moment before turning to face him. "I still think its hilarious that Halloween is your favorite holiday."

"Why?" he asked, sitting up. "The costumes, the ghost stories, the candy, the decorations - what's not to like?"

"Yeah, its all nice, but why is it your favorite?" 

"Because I love all things macabre," he joked, sticking his tongue out at her as he laid back down. "Will we know anyone else at this party or will it be one of those boring ass things where we spend the whole night shmoozing executives?"

"I mean, Jared invited me," Callie explained. "From what I've heard, his parties are always really fun. It sounds like its a big deal to get an invite." She sighed, took another sip of coffee, and stood up, taking the white sheet with her and wrapping it around her body. "I'm going to shower. Meet you downstairs for breakfast?" He nodded and watched her go. 

Matthew's bathroom was every bit as quirky as he was. It had the essentials: toilet, shower, bathtub, vanity, and sink, but it also had several hand-drawn pieces of his hanging over top of some very odd wallpaper. When she first saw it, Callie thought the little circles were flowers, but upon closer inspection discovered the were eyes. It wasn't as unnerving once you got used to it, but it took several trips before she was able to actually use the bathroom.

The shower was narrow, but served its purpose. Matt had bought the house because of how unique it looked, and he wasn't wrong. The master bathroom was in need of updates, but he didn't seem to care. He liked the quirkiness that the house had, and in reality it definitely suited him. It wasn't Callie's style, but she wasn't the one who had to live in it every day. 

Once she was done, she raided Matt's closet for something to wear and settled on a t-shirt that read, 'Mr. Haha's Hot Dog Hacienda', a reference to Golden Girls. She paired it with some navy blue boxer shorts and headed for the kitchen, going down a wooden spiral staircase. The polished hard wood floors creaked as she walked. The walls were covered in artwork, photographs, and wood paneling that had been painted a forest green. 

She passed a brick fireplace with all manner of tchotchkes  lining the mantle and two overstuffed leather armchairs that looked like they had been around for several decades. She could hear eggs sizzling in a skillet and felt her stomach rumble. 

"Scrambled OK?" Matt asked over the hum of the vent hood as he manned a skillet on the 1940s style Chambers stove. 

"Yeah, sounds good," she said, opening the refrigerator and pulling out a bowl of strawberries. She put some in a bowl and sat at the dining table in the small eat-in kitchen. A second later, Matt sat next to her, placing plates of scrambled eggs in front of both of them. 

"Want to go for a walk after this?" he asked, taking a bite. 

"You want to look at the Halloween decorations don't you?" she asked with a smile. 

"Yes," he admitted sheepishly. 

***CELEB SIGHTING***

Criminal Minds star Matthew Grey Gubler was spotted out for a walk with his Emmy-winning girlfriend Callie Morrison. The two took a stroll around his Pasadena neighborhood before hitting up a cafe for lunch. Things looked awfully cozy between them and it looks like the lovebirds have been soaring high since the Emmy Awards last month. 

***

"Cal, come on. We've got to go. The car will be here in five minutes," Matthew called up from the first floor. 

Callie did one final check of her makeup in the bathroom mirror before rushing downstairs. Rushing was an overstatement. Her high heels made rushing impossible and she settled for picking her way down the stairs carefully. Matthew was waiting for her in the living room, fake blood trailing out of one corner of his mouth, cowboy hat in hand. 

"So you're really going as a vampire zombie?" she asked, pulling her skirt down as far as it would stretch. 

"Yes. You're really going as a sexy nun?" he asked, raising one eyebrow. 

"Why not? Shannon texted me that Jared was planning to go as the Pope. What harm could it do?" she asked, sliding the black veil over her hair and pulling her knee socks up. 

"If we get struck down, at least we'll know why," he said with a chuckle. "Weren't you raised Catholic?"

"Its supposed to be fun," she replied, sticking her tongue out at him. "Most people there won't be in full costume, anyway. You know how these types of parties are."

"Which is exactly why we should just stay home, hand out candy, and scare small children as they come to the house," Matthew quipped. A car honked outside. "That's us," he said, leading her to the door. "Got everything?"

She nodded and walked out onto the small stone porch. The front of the house was covered in ivy, giving it more of a spooky look. Matt had added to the picture by putting fake cobwebs in the large bushes lining the stairs down to the driveway and putting plastic skeletons along the walkway. Several headstones stood out on the sloping front lawn, illuminated by small flickering lights.

He held her hand and helped her navigate the stone steps to the driveway. Their driver was wearing a cat ear headband over top of her bright green hair. She greeted them happily and fell into an animated conversation with Matt about the glories of Halloween. Callie tuned them out and looked at the houses as they drove down the street. 

Over sized inflatable spiders and ghouls were anchored in people's lawns and spooky music could be heard from outdoor speakers as they stopped at crosswalks. Children and their parents hurried across the streets in costumes. It reminded Callie of her childhood when she and her sisters would go trick-or-treating. Dinner usually consisted of a pizza and other sugary foods. They'd get dressed in their costumes and Mamie would do their face painting or make up. For a few years, her father had taken them out, but once Belle was old enough to manage all of them, she became the one in charge. 

They'd split into two groups - Belle and Callie (and Lilia later on) and their dad with the little girls. There was one year when Callie had filled two whole pillow cases with candy. They would go back home and dump all their candy out on the living room floor of their old house and trade with one another, exchanging nougat for caramel and dark chocolate for milk. They'd have so much candy, especially when the younger girls got old enough to go, that her father would end up having to take some to the base to share. 

One year, her mother actually made it out to trick-or-treat with her. They went around to every house within four blocks and Callie's feet hurt by the end of the night. But it was a rare moment of complete attention from her otherwise-distant mother and it was easily one of the best Halloweens she'd ever had. 

They wound their way from Pasadena up into Laurel Canyon. By the time they pulled onto Jared's street, most trick-or-treaters had gone home and their parents had gone out instead. The narrow street was mostly empty and it was easy to tell that they were getting close. Cars lined the street, sometimes blocking driveways and making it hard for them to pass easily. People were getting out of cars and walking the rest of the way. 

"This is fine," Callie told the driver. "I don't know if you'll be able to pass all of this and I don't want you to get stuck."

"Are you sure? I think I could get you a bit closer," the driver asked. 

"No, its fine, really," Matt urged. "Thank you so much!"

He got out and hurried around the car to help Callie out. They waved to the driver and waited for her to move forward so they could cross the street.

"Must be some party," he muttered, taking her hand and leading her across the street.

As they approached the front gate, they could hear music blasting from inside. The darkness was pierced by flashing lights and screams of surprise and fear. They were greeted at the gate by a man in a skeleton costume checking IDs and names against a guest list. He stamped both hands of those who were not legal to drink, but let Callie and Matt go ahead after checking the guest list. 

The music was louder, playing a mix of classic Halloween tunes from speakers placed carefully behind pillars or in bushes. Fake cobwebs were wrapped around decorative lanterns and dangling from a long arbor, catching in people's hair as they walked through. Matthew took it all in appreciatively, letting out a yelp of surprise when a zombie jumped out from behind a tall shrub. 

"Jared went all-out, didn't he?" he asked, leading her into the entryway of the house. 

"Looks that way," she said.

Callie had only been to Jared's house a few times, and always with Shannon, always in the daylight. She could only speak to the two or three spaces she'd seen when she came by to drop off or pick up her furniture from storing it in the basement. 

The entire common space of the home looked to be transformed into a dark nightclub atmosphere with a dance floor and flashing lights. Bowls of candy were dispersed around the room and people had gathered in small groups with drinks or plates of hors d'oeuvres in their hands. House music made talking difficult in the main space, but as they moved through the party, they came across a quieter space that had been set up as a bar area. 

"Do you want something to drink?" Matt asked, dodging a guest dressed as Cyrano de Bergerac.

"Yeah - a rum and Coke, please," she said.

Callie watched as Matt made his way to the bar. She looked around, noting that several blank white walls had been transformed into screens for old Halloween films being projected silently. She wondered where Jared was - or if he was even going to make an appearance. Part of her got the feeling that the party was more of a chance for him to connect with certain people rather than to have fun. 

"Young Frankenstein! I love this movie!" Matt said as he returned to the corner she was standing in.

Callie looked at the projection,  smiling as Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman had an intense conversation at Frankenstein Manor. She'd seen the film once, staying up late one Halloween with her dad. The absurdity of it all had made her laugh and she fought back a laugh even now as she watched. Matt mouthed the dialogue as he watched for several minutes. Callie downed her drink quickly, heading back to the bar for another one. While she was there, a voice met her ear. 

"Jessica, I can't believe you came," a woman in a cowboy hat said. 

"Why would I miss this? Jared throws excellent parties," Jessica replied. 

The first woman spoke again. "Its a shame he invites all these models though. Like I know he doesn't actually know half of these people. Still, he knows how to fill out a guest list, I guess."

"Did you bring Blake?" Jessica asked. 

"Yeah. He's somewhere by the pool I think," the woman gestured with long false nails over her shoulder. "I just came to get drinks."

"Have you seen Jared at all?" Jessica asked. 

"No. But I'm sure he's just out mingling. I wish I knew what to look for though. He always surprises people with his costumes," the first woman said, craning her neck to look through the crowd.

"He's coming as the Pope, apparently," Callie heard herself offer. 

Both women turned to face her and her jaw nearly dropped. Gwen Stefani (dressed as a dead Annie Oakley) and Jessica Alba (as a cheerleader) both looked at her in surprise. 

"How do you know?" Gwen asked. 

Callie picked up her drink, hoping to slow her heart rate slightly and delay a rushed response. "Uh - his brother told me. We're friends."

You idiot. You don't tell famous people you're friends with other famous people, she thought, mentally kicking herself. She fought a cringe as the two women appraised her for a moment. 

Callie's good luck must have kicked in because two seconds later, a large cheer and a lot of applause filled the room. Everyone looked over and saw Jared, making his way through the crowd, crossing guests and sprinkling Holy Water over them like His Holiness himself. His mitre glittered in the flashing lights of the room and the white of his robes reflected the lights of the film projections. 

Gwen and Jessica burst into laughter and cheers, clapping. Jared spotted them and headed over toward them, stopping on the way to greet a few other guests first. Callie took the opportunity to down the rest of her drink and put the glass back on the bar. She signaled the bartender for a third and turned away from Jared, needing a bit more courage to face his attention. 

"Hey, guys!" he said, greeting Gwen and Jessica. "How long have you been here?"

"A while," Jessica said. 

Jared must have caught sight of Callie's outfit, because he turned his attention to her back, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Well, sister, have you sinned yet?" he asked.

She turned around and tried to smile. "Not yet, but I'm on my way."

He smiled when he recognized her. "Callie! Hey! Good to see you!" His hug surprised her and she struggled to keep her drink from spilling as he embraced her. "Great costume! Did you come alone or with other people?" he asked, looking around. 

She saw Gwen and Jessica exchanging a look of confusion over Jared's shoulder. "Uh, yeah. With my boyfriend," she said as he released her. 

"Where is he?" he asked. She pointed to the other side of the room where Matt was fully engrossed in Young Frankenstein. "Get him to come over!"

Callie got Matt's attention and waved him over. He made his way through the crowd to stand next to her, putting an arm around her waist. "Matt, Jared. Jared, Matt," she said, introducing them. 

"Oh shit, we've met, haven't we?" Jared said, shaking the younger man's hand. 

"I think so. At one of Terry's parties, I think," Matt said, nodding. 

"You're right! Its good to see you again!" Jared said, a smile coming across his face. "Having fun?"

"Absolutely! I love Halloween and you've really outdone yourself," Matthew assured him. "10 out of 10 stars," he added with a thumbs up. 

"Good!" Someone called his name from the other side of the room. "Hey listen, it's great to see you here," he told her. "Great to meet you again," he told Matt. "Have fun. Be safe. I'll see you around, OK?"

Callie didn't get to respond before he was swept up into the crowd again. A photographer came by and snapped a photo of her with Matt, leaning against the bar. She felt him put his arms around her and nuzzle into her neck. 

"Wait, I know you!" Jessica Alba said, nudging Matt gently. "You're that nerdy guy on that criminal show, aren't you?" she asked. 

Matt blushed and pushed his hair back from his face. "Yes. Hi," he said with a surprised smile. 

"And you won an Emmy this year, didn't you?" she asked, looking at Callie. "SANCTUM, right?" Callie nodded. "You were great in that show. Is there another season coming?"

Callie nodded again. "We're in production right now," she explained. 

"Nice. I hope to catch it soon," Jessica said as she moved away. 

Callie sighed and finished her drink. She was starting to feel the effects of all of the alcohol on a relatively empty stomach. She swayed in her high heels, feeling lightheaded.

"Are you okay?" Matt asked.

"Yeah. I think I just need some air. And maybe something to eat," she said weakly. 

"Come on. Let's go outside," he said, leading her out of the bar area and through a set of French doors. 

A long dark hallway was decorated with ghouls and goblins, witches hats and skulls. A line of windows high up on the wall let in the moonlight, casting short strips of light on the tiled floor. Another set of doors opened to a patio area near the pool. The property was cut out of a steep hillside and trees and shrubs covered the back part of the garden. A pool shimmered in the dark, reflecting the string lights above it. 

The crisp Fall air helped Callie clear her head as she sat on a wooden lounge chair. Matt disappeared to get something for her to eat, so she pulled out her phone to check her messages. As she scrolled through a few photos Aya had sent her from a party in Malibu, her phone began to ring and Shannon's face flashed on her screen. 

She hesitated to answer it. Though they had spoken a bit more since that day in the coffee shop, she was concerned about his behavior recently. He had dodged the last leg of the tour in September and he'd been pretty secretive about things beyond that. When he told her about the party, she assumed he'd be coming, but he had balked when she asked what he was wearing. In truth, Shannon was acting stranger than he ever had and she suspected something was up with him. On the last ring, she answered it. 

"Hello?" she asked. "Shannon?"

After a moment of silence, Shannon spoke. "I -uh - I... Where are you?" he asked. 

His words were slurred and she assumed he was drunk. "At Jared's Halloween party. With Matt."

"Oh..." he was slow to respond. "I thought...Never mind."

She struggled to hear him over the music. "Are you OK?" she asked.

He didn't respond immediately. "Yeah...yeah. I'm...fine," he said slowly.

"Where are you?" she asked, suddenly concerned. She pressed her finger into her other ear to hear him better. 

"Home," he said with a cough. 

There was silence for several seconds while she waited for his reply. "Shannon - are you OK?" 

He didn't respond, but she could hear him breathing on the other end of the line. She saw Matthew coming and quickly hung up. 

"Everything OK?" he asked, handing her a plate piled with fruit and a few nibbles of food. 

"Yeah. Just voicemail," she said, taking a bite of fruit. 

The nagging feeling in her stomach didn't go away as she ate. When she finished her plate, she set it down between herself and Matt on the lounge chair. 

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"Yeah. I think I just got a bit lightheaded," she said. "I think I should head home."

"Yeah, let me get us a car and we can go," he said, pulling his phone out. 

"No, its fine. You can stay. I think I just had too much to drink and I should lay down," Callie insisted. "I can call a car and head home. You should stay, though." 

Matthew looked at her for a moment. "You sure?" 

She leaned over and kissed him deeply, pulling him closer to her. She let her tongue run over his lips before pulling away. He tasted like beer and peanut butter and chocolate. "Really. I'm fine. Stay and enjoy yourself."

He nodded dumbly as she pulled away. "At least let me help you to the door," he said, standing. 

She allowed him to take her hand and pull her up before leading her to the door. They made their way through the house and back out to the front gate. After a long goodnight kiss and several promises to text when she got home, Callie got into her waiting UBER and drove off. It wasn't long before she arrived at the address she put in: Shannon's house. 

***GOSSIP BOARD***

SHANNIMAL360 POSTED: I guess Shannon sat this Halloween party out this year? I didn't see him in any of the pictures from Jared's party. Was he out somewhere else?

BUBUKITTYL490 POSTED: He better not have been after skipping out on those last shows of the tour. It would have been such an asshole thing to do to skip the shows and then crop up at parties a little over a month later. Especially since he claimed he was sick.

SHANNIMAL360 POSTED: How is that an asshole thing to do to? He was sick. Its been a month. Obviously you can recover from an illness in a month. Just because he misses a couple shows, it doesn't mean he has to stay holed up in his house forever. 

BLACKBYRD45 POSTED: I think what she means is that he has a history of missing shows due to "illness" and its kind of shitty to skip a show for being sick when Jared has literally performed with fevers and without a voice. He's skipped shows before and been spotted out with girls right after a show. He's skipped meet & greets and been seen at clubs the night after. He just has a very spotty reputation when it comes to the band unfortunately. 

BUBUKITTYL490 POSTED: So Shannon might not have been at Jared's party, but Callie Morrison was. I wonder if she and Jared coordinated their costumes. He came as the Pope and she came as a sexy nun or something. Kind of odd, don't you think?

BLACKBYRD45 POSTED: A bit, but she wasn't there alone; her boyfriend Matthew Grey Gubler was with her. They're cute together, but I'm not sure I really believe they're a long-term thing. He always struck me as very eccentric - kind of like Tim Burton. She seems much more interested in things like motorcycles and clubbing. I don't foresee them lasting too long.

SHANNIMAL360 POSTED: I don't care who she dates as long as its not Shannon. I know they're friends, but I hope it stays that way. Other than motorcycles, I don't see what else they could have in common with each other.