Deborah was in the kitchen of Aaron’s apartment cutting vegetables for a stir-fry. It was dusk out, and already a couple trick-or-treaters had come by. Aaron, ever the good Christian, gave the kids something in addition to candy: a small travel-sized New Testament.
He was growing impatient with Brooke. The last text he got from her was early afternoon, when she said she’d be game to hang out for a while tonight. Aaron said the three of them could play Yahtzee or Monopoly. Brooke said cool, get back at you soon.
Soon had long come and gone.
Aaron decided to call her instead of text. He noticed his phone was nearly dead, spied Deborah’s iPhone hogging up the charger and unplugged it, plugged his in. He dialed Brooke’s number from the couch. She answered on the sixth ring.
“Yo, Brooke,” he said casually. “What’s up? Haven’t heard back from you.”
“I know,” she said apologetically. “Don’t be mad, but I can’t come tonight. I’m sorry. Next weekend for sure. Or tomorrow, if you’d like. I can’t stay out late tomorrow though, since it’s a school night.”
“Oh, okay,” Aaron said tentatively. “Did something come up? Parents disallow you to go out tonight?” He hoped.
“No. My boyfriend and I are going out. His friend is throwing a Halloween party. He really wants to go, and I want to make him happy.”
Aaron swallowed, felt a dry hard lump in his throat.
“Are you disappointed?” she asked and Aaron pictured her wincing. “I don’t blame you if you are. You’ve been talking about me coming over for a while, and I want to meet Deborah, too.”
“Truthfully, I am disappointed,” Aaron said gingerly. “I really want to see you tonight. Very much so. The three of us would have a good time. Couldn’t you just not go to the party? Please?”
She was quiet.
“Brooke?”
“Why is it so important that I come over tonight? Tomorrow doesn’t work for you?”
“No,” Aaron said sternly. “It has to be tonight! Must be tonight!”
“You’re scaring me a little.”
Maybe being scared wasn’t such a bad thing. “How about this: tell me where the party is and I’ll come. That would be fun, too.”
“It’s for high schoolers. It would be awkward if you came. I’m sorry, it’s not like I don’t want to see you. I’d love to see you. Listen, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Oh my…” Aaron muttered.
“What?”
“It’s Halloween. It’s a masquerade party, isn’t it?”
“No-no, it’s not. That’s why you’re acting weird. That makes sense. It’s not like that, Aaron. I’m sure a lot of people will be wearing costumes, but that’s different. What happened at Norrah’s, that’s not going to happen tonight.”
“I know it’s not. But something else might. Where’s the house? What’s the address?”
“I think you’re overreacting.”
“Brooke! I don’t want you going! If you must go, I’m going with you. If you won’t tell me where it’s at, I’m going to get the address from your parents. I still have their number, you know.”
“You’d… you’d do that to me? You’d get me in trouble?” She said with equal parts disbelief and hurt.
“I would.”
There was a stretch of silence. Brooke was now crying. “Don’t ever call or text me again,” she said. “We’re no longer friends.”
She ended the call.
Aaron cursed loudly, and looked over at Deborah in the kitchen, who was wide-eyed and looking quite scared of her boyfriend.
“It’s going to happen,” Aaron said to her. She had no idea what he was talking about and he didn’t feel like elaborating. “I’m going to find her, somehow. God led me to Norrah’s party, he’ll lead me to this one.”
“What are you talking about?” she said cautiously. “Is she in some kind of trouble?”
“Yeah.” He got his shoes from by the door and returned to the couch.
Deborah took a seat beside him, touched his knee. “What kind of trouble is she in? And why do you care so much for this girl?”
“I loved her. Love her.” He didn’t care for her expression just then. “Like a daughter, I love her. We have a history, I used to be her Sunday school teacher. Tinkerbelle I called her.”
“What kind of trouble is she in?”
“Paul Klein is going to seduce her tonight.”
“Seriously,” she said skeptically, “how could you know that?”
“I just do.” He laced his shoes and got up. “I’m sorry for this. I didn’t plan on this happening. She was supposed to come over. I’m going to try to find the party. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“May I come along?”
“Then who’d give the little cuties candy?” he said with a measured grin, and caressed her cheek. “You’re a sweetheart, Deborah. Thanks for being a part of my life; the best part of my life.”
She grinned at him. “Should I hold off on the stir-fry till you get back?”
“Unless you get hungry and can’t wait, sure. Be back in a bit.”
He unplugged his phone from the charger and headed out.