Nothing felt better than walking out of the school doors knowing I didn't have to go back home immediately after because I was officially ungrounded. To celebrate I was going to the arcade and splurging on my favorite games. A whole freaking month of being grounded had me going stir crazy. The only highlight of that time had been when Willow visited me and we played video games for hours. She hadn't come by again because my mom had realized she had lied about the assignment just to see me. It didn't matter though because the memory of that day stayed with me for the next two weeks.

Willow was absolutely amazing, she had defied my mom and lied just to check up on me. Discovering that she was as good at virtual online games as she was in vintage arcade games didn't come as that big of a surprise but it had been a huge turn on watching her play. I had been so distracted the whole time I was with her, I wasn't on my A game thus she beat me a lot. I didn't mind though because I got to spend the afternoon with her.

The fact that it was on Friday too meant that I could stay at the arcade for as long as I wanted since I didn't have any classes the following day. I got into my car, turned off my phone so my mom wouldn't bug me before backing out of the parking lot and driving to the arcade.

When I arrived, I parked outside before walking in. I felt like I had walked into an alternate universe because I'd never seen so many people at the arcade before. It was bustling with customers which was good for Jack but I felt bad because I was used to having the whole place to myself. I had helped with all the rearranging but the fluorescent lights that bad been added weren't there when I last visited. They added an ambience to the place making it look better. There was also music playing in the background that had never been there before. It was all so strange but the good kind.

"The prodigal son returns."Jack exclaimed happily once he spotted me.

"Hi Jack."I waved with a chuckle happy to see him too.

Jack left the counter just to come and hug me. It felt good to be missed.

"So what do you think of the place?"Jack asked pointing around.

"I love it, looks like business is picking up."I replied hiding my disappointment of having too many people for his sake.

"It's doing more than that, I've already managed to pay part of my loan and at this rate I'll be done paying the rest of it soon. Willow is a miracle worker."Jack gushed.

Hearing her name stirred something in me and I realized that as much as I was at the arcade for the games, I was also hoping to see Willow. We ran into each other at school but never really got the time to talk and catch up. I'd missed her.

"That's good Jack, I'm happy for you."I expressed honestly.

I was about to ask Willow's whereabouts when someone crushed into me. I looked down to find Willow hugging me. It took me by surprise but I recovered quick and hugged her back. Jack looked at us, made kissy faces before getting back to work giving Willow and I some time to ourselves. Willow and I had never actually had physical contact before so I had to admit that it felt good holding her in my arms. Her purple hair smelled like peaches which I'd never really liked before but on her smelled really great. That was my crush on her talking so please excuse me for that. We pulled away before the hug got awkward.

"Hi Henry, welcome back. I got you a balloon to celebrate your freedom."Willow said excitedly holding out the balloon in her hand for me.

It was a bright red balloon with the words, printed on it. No one had ever done something so thoughtful for me before and even though balloons were considered childish, Willow's gesture pulled at my heartstrings.

"Thank you for this."I replied smiling at her.

"You're welcome. I would have gotten you a bunch of them but that would be too stressful to lag around so this one won the trophy."She grinned.

"It's more than enough."I assured her.

I wanted to say more but there were too many people around and she was in the middle of her shift.

"I really want to catch up more but I've got to get back to work. But if you stick around after everyone has left we can hangout and play a few games together."She suggested looking at me hopefully.

"I would like that."I replied that idea appealing to the side of me that wanted to spend some quality time with her.

"Great, I'll see you later. The Mortal Kombat machine at the corner is free and in the least crowded place so have fun."She directed before patting my arm and going back to work.

I smiled to myself when I realized that Willow knew me well enough to inform me of the game where I'd be most comfortable. If she kept at it my crush on her would evolve to deeper feelings and I wasn't sure if I was ready for that just yet.

"Boy you are smitten."Jack exclaimed loudly capturing my attention.

"Mmh?"I murmured wondering what he was talking about.

"I can literally see the love hearts playing in your eyes when you look at her."Jack explained pointing at Willow who was serving popcorn to two boys.

"I don't love her."I denied quickly getting defensive.

"I didn't say you do, but she's amazing you two will make a cute couple."Jack gushed like a ten year old girl.

"Shut up, now hold this for me please so I can go reclaim my crown."I requested Jack handing him my balloon.

I wanted to avoid the awkward conversation he was about to bring up so I excused myself. As I passed by all the games I found that Willow had actually beaten all my high scores putting her name at the top. It made me smile thinking of all the fun I'd have beating her.

I found the game she had directed to and after putting a few coins in the slot I went ahead to loose myself to that game for the next few hours. As the crowd thinned out, I was able to move around and play other different games. Willow had no idea how true the words on the balloon were when she gave it to me. The arcade was my home since it was the only place I felt like I could really be myself without feeling guilty. When I was younger I used to wish Jack was my dad but then I realized we couldn't choose where we were born. It was hard but I learnt to accept it and enjoy the little blessings that came my way like beating Willow's high score for example.

By nine pm the place had completely cleared out so Jack decided to call it a night leaving it to willow to close up. I decided to wait for her in the hangout room as Willow had decided to call it. I still disagreed with that name but she was the boss. I served myself a blue and red slushie before making myself comfortable on the sofa.

She came in twenty minutes later looking tired but still beautiful. She propped herself next to me with a sigh, took my slushie cup from my hand and continued to take a sip. I didn't even fight her on it, just watched as her lips wrapped around the straw where mine had been a few minutes before. I didn't want to read too much into that action so I decided to bring up something for us to talk about instead of sitting in silence. It was good silence but I liked talking to Willow, she listened.

"Where's Charlie? I didn't see him here today."I inquired about the bubbly little boy who infected everyone around him with his smile and positive attitude.

"He had a sleep over at his new best friend's house."Willow replied.

I hummed acknowledging that I'd heard her but didn't say anything further.

Willow took a few more sips of my slushie then handed me my cup back.

"I've got to admit, I've never tried that combo before, it's great."Willow exclaimed as she got up walking towards the foosball table.

"Wanna get your ass kicked at foosball by a girl?"She asked wriggling her eyebrows at me.

"You wish you could beat me."I chuckled getting up.

I finished the rest of my slushie, tossed the empty cap in the trash before joining her. We both took separate ends and began playing thus setting the motion for the next hour we spent together.

"What are your plans for Halloween?"Willow asked as we stood playing darts.

I had beaten her at foosball so we moved to darts after she couldn't take any more losing. I tried taking it easy on her but there was only so much I could downplay my skills. She was good too just no match for me especially after she had worked a five hour shift.

"My parents usually host a Halloween party so I'm always stationed at the door handing out candy while they mingle with the rest of the guests."I replied.

"Sounds really sad but if you're feeling rebellious this year I talked Jack into throwing a Halloween party and you're most welcome to join us."She invited.

I weighed my options; sucking up to my parents and handing out candy to mean kids all night or hanging out with my friends at the arcade.

"Count me in, I'll be there."I agreed.

"Great, now since I've talked you into coming maybe I can talk you into wearing a costume."Willow said her amber eyes looking up at me hopefully.

"Not gonna happen."I replied rejecting the idea.

My mom always made me wear ridiculous costumes for Halloween making me hate dressing up for that particular holiday. When I agreed to the party, I thought I'd just slap on a cap and and say I was the pizza delivery man or something. The hope in Willow's voice meant she had something more elaborate in mind but too bad for her, my mom had already ruined costumes for me.

"Before you say no, at least hear what I have to say first."She requested.

"Okay fine."I replied knowing I'd not give in either way.

"The theme of the party is obviously Halloween but we added a twist to it. We're requesting people to come dressed as any superhero group of the twenty first century. The best dressed group will be awarded at the end of the night. People will most likely come as the avengers or justice league so I was thinking we could dress up as fantastic four. Jack will be The thing, Charlie will the the human torch and I will be Invisible Girl obviously which leaves Mister Fantastic to you. It's only four of us which will be the perfect fit. Please say yes."Willow pleaded looking at me hopefully.

She seemed like she had put a lot of thought to the whole idea and I hated to say no but I really wasn't a group thing kind of guy let alone one who liked costumes.

"I already know that face, don't worry I understand, we'll find someone else to play Mister Fantastic."Willow concluded for herself before I could even turn her down.

She looked so disappointed, I almost gave in but I would be putting too much pressure on myself.

"I'm sorry Willow."I apologized feeling guilty for letting her down.

"It's okay, let's just finish this round and call it a night, I'm exhausted."She shrugged.

The mood had decreased tremendously because of my refusal. I wanted to make it all better but that meant agreeing to dressing up and I didn't want that.

We finished up the game and I helped Willow close up. I grabbed my balloon on the way out intending to keep it for as long as I could.

"Goodnight Henry, it's nice having you back."Willow said as we stood outside in the cold next to our cars.

"Goodnight, thanks for the balloon."I replied smiling.

She gave me a tight lipped smile back that rubbed off me all wrong. I watched her get into her truck and drive away before I got into mine and drove behind her all the way home. The balloon kept reminding me of all the good Willow had done for me yet I couldn't do the one thing she requested of me. I desperately wanted to say yes but something was holding me back.

When I got back home I was surprised to find my mom in the living room sipping wine. It was past eleven so I was shocked to see her awake.

"I see you've been out celebrating being officially ungrounded."My mom commented pointing at the balloon.

I shrugged not really in the mood to deal with her.

"Why was is your phone off?"My mom asked.

"Battery died."I answered shortly.

"Really now?"She inquired not buying into my obvious lie.

I wasn't going to confirm nor deny so I kept my mouth shut.

"Well if you're not going to say anything, I might as well tell you what had me waiting till this late for."She informed me getting up.

She could have waited till morning but my mom liked being extra so I let her be. She grabbed a garment bag that had been draped at the back of the sofa and handed it to me. I unzipped it to find a court jester's costume.

"What's this?"I asked already having an inclination of what my mom was hinting at.

"Your Halloween costume of course. Thought I'd get ahead of time and get our costumes early."She replied with a smile.

"I'm not wearing this."I denied tossing the costume away.

"Yes you will, it's not up for debate."My mom demanded.

"I already have plans that night."I answered realizing that as much as I hated costumes, I hated being made a fool out of even more.

Willow's costume idea was great but my mom just wanted to embarrass me.

"Cancel them."My mom ordered as if her wishes were law.

"Is Matthew going to be there?"I asked already knowing the answer.

My mom dressed me up in ridiculous costumes year after year while my brother got to attend parties with his friends. It was not fair and for the first time I was going to speak up for myself.

"This is not about your brother, it's about you."My mom declared.

"No mom this is about you and your obsessive need to make my life miserable. I'm not wearing the clown costume and you can't make me. Ground me for the rest of the year if you want to but I am not going to play puppet for you again."I spoke up.

Once the words were out I felt as if a load had been lifted off my shoulders. I had been holding in those feelings for so long that it felt good to finally be able to say them out loud. Still feeling high from the adrenaline rush of standing up to my mom I turned around intending to make one more thing right.

"Where do you think you're going young man? Come back here, we're not done yet. And its not a clown costume, it's a royal court jesters uniform you....." My mom yelled after me but I was already too far to hear the rest.

I knocked on the Millers door hoping that Willow was still awake. The house was quiet but the kitchen light was on. I knocked again and before I could do so a third time the door opened revealing Willow with a chicken wing in hand. She looked irritated but her face turned to confusion once she saw that it was me.

"I'll come to the party as Mister Fantastic."I informed her before she could even ask me what I wanted.

"Really?"She asked her face lighting up in joy.

That was the kind of emotion that I always hoped would never leave her face especially because of me.

"Yes."I nodded.

"Thank you."She gushed launching herself at me for a hug.

"My pleasure ."I replied with laugh hugging her back.

Pulling apart I wished her goodnight before leaving her to enjoy the rest of her late night snack. I realized I hadn't eaten myself so when I got back home I raided the fridge for something to eat. My mom was long gone so I carried my balloon, that had been in my hand the whole time and the spaghetti I'd warmed up in the microwave to my bedroom.

I knew that my mom would probably not ground me because deep down she knew I was right. If she did I wouldn't care anyway, I would still find a way to get to that party and be a member of the fantastic four. That thought had me smiling even in my dreams.