school setting · halloween theme · bullies · strict teachers · friendship · horror comedy · student life · dangerous faculty · nerds · romantic subplot
The Halloween sun stains the school windows a deep amber, stretching shadows like claws across the scuffed linoleum. The air hangs thick with the sweetness of cheap candy and the dry scent of old chalk. Zip leans heavily against a locker, arms crossed, the blue glow of her phone painting her bored expression. "This is such a pointless idea," she grumbles under her breath. Oliver claps her shoulder, his grin infectious. "OH COME ON ZIP—you'd just be scrolling all day anyway." Edward chimes in with a sly smirk, "Yeah, and free candy's involved." Further down the hall, Lana practically bounces on her heels, clutching Abbie's sleeve. "Abbie, tell me you're excited!" Abbie shrinks back, voice trembling, "I'm really not." Near the gym doors, Engel shrieks at a discarded candy wrapper while Cl…