“Are you all set for Halloween?”

Lyric shrugged. “Don’t know what I’m going to be.” She admitted.

“What?” Michael laughed. “I find that hard to believe. The Lyric Rivers I know decides on her Halloween costume a year in advance.”

Lyric forced a chuckle. She tried not to let his innocent, friendly words hurt. But really, the Lyric Rives he knew? Was that person even real?

But he was right. Usually, by this time of year, she would have finished making her costume. In truth, she did have a costume ready to go. She just didn’t want to wear it anymore. She had planned on being Ariel from The Little Mermaid, only now every time she looked at the costume all she could think about was the photo of Melody. Melody would have looked more like Ariel.

So she had no plans for Halloween, and only ten days to come up with something.

“What about you?” She asked Michael as they reached the arena.

“Football player.”

“Wow.” Lyric let her voice drip with sarcasm. “That’s so original.”

“Hey, it’s easy.” Michael shifted his equipment bag. “I’ve already got most of the equipment.”

“There’s a huge difference between hockey equipment and football equipment.”

“This coming from the girl who didn’t know the difference between hockey and figure skates.”

Lyric turned to see Luke grinning at them. He was half way through emptying a trash can, but abandoned it to wave at them. Lyric returned the wave, glad that their encounter in the graveyard hadn’t made becoming friends more difficult.

“What are you doing for Halloween?” Michael asked him.

Luke quickly hoisted the full bag out of the garbage can. “Working.”

Michael dropped his equipment bag on a table and took the garbage bag. “You’re not dressing up?”

Lyric didn’t miss how Luke stared at Michael in stunned silence for a moment. She was still trying to decide if he was uncomfortable around Michael, or if he liked having him around. She guessed there could be an element of both, but that made it even more confusing.

“Rick will.” Luke finally answered, turning away to put a new bag in the garbage can. “I won’t.”

“Why not?” Lyric had never met anyone who willingly chose not to dress up for Halloween. Luke would be missing out if he didn’t. “You could be that cute Olympic figure skater.” She suggested.

Both Luke and Michael looked at her in confusion.

She wracked her brain, trying to remember his name. She had seen photos and videos when she googled figure skating after seeing Luke skate the first time. She had been amazed by the images, but hadn’t paid any attention to the name.

“I don’t know his name.” She finally gave up and admitted. “He skated to a rock song, though, which I think was a big deal.”

“Oh.” That must have been enough, because Luke’s face lit up. “I know who you mean. I don’t think anyone would get it though.”

“Doesn’t matter as long as you like the costume.” Michael shrugged. “A few years ago, Lyric dressed up in some sort of tattered toga with singe marks. What were you supposed to be again?”

“The end of the world.” She laughed. “Hey, it was the end of 2012, what else would I be?”

Luke laughed. “Alright, I’ll try to put something together.” He reached for the garbage bag, but Michael held it away.

“I’ve got it, just point me in the right direction.”

Luke pointed to a back door past the locker rooms. As Michael left, he watched him go.

“He’s a great guy.” Lyric mused, throwing an arm around Luke’s shoulders. “Want some help with your costume?”

Luke shrugged her arm away, but nodded.