#rivervale_lodge

"Well, she was inside, of course, but she watched older kids through the window... started talking about their costumes in wayhs that didn't quite match...but then I squinted and I swore I saw it too. Like.. umhm some guy dressed like James bond... right? She swore he was supersmurf.. and when I looked at him a second time and squinted... boom"

He swallows. "Boom?"

"Well.. maybe not a boom but it was so clear.. the guy was taller and blue.. at least I think that's what I thought I saw"

"Huh." Adam shrugs nonchalantly. "Well, it was late, right?"

"oh I know it wasn't really real. Like I said, she got into my head."

"Huh. Weird. I guess I'm immune from long exposure?" He grins charmingly, crunching bacon.

She laughs

"That's a nice sound to wake up to." Adam smiles.

"So is ssizzling bacon, I think I just ate more than I should" A blush "Thanks. " She finishes her juice, "You're very kind. Your sister was okay too."

"Want a ride home?"

"Oh gosh no, you better stay here in case your sister needs someone with your parents asleep"

A shrug. "They wouldn't want you to walk. Let me go check. Stay here?"

"Okay, sure, but it's really no trouble" She smiles slyly

"Let me check." Adam bounces up and bounds upstairs. At his parent's door, he taps. "Mom, Dad?" Quietly, but intending to be heard.

((AFK))

There's a giggle.. then muttered voices...

then his mom says "Second."

A moment later she opens the door, hair mused, but wearing a thick comfy robe "Hey, oh goodness. What time is it?"

"No, it's cool, I just...." The door opens. "Hey, I was going to take Ramona home."

He can see his father looking pretty mused as well and under a sheet mostly

No, he can't, he's not looking, la-la-la....

"Ramona? Oh my.. I need to pay her, Please ask her to wait just a moment. I'll pay her extra for our delay"

"Tell you what, you can pay me back, I have money. Uh. How much?"

"Honey, just give me five minutes and I'll be right out." She says a bit more firmly

"Uh. Ok. We'll be downstairs in the kitchen."

His mother closes the door.

Adam heads back down. "They're here, be down in a minute. More juice?"

"Sure" She said, "your folks have a nice house"

Adam nods, then realizes. "You, uh, you want a tour?"

"Oh I already saw most of it.. not YOUR Room, of course" In case he feels his privacy would be violated, "Just your sisters, the kitchen, the living room.. obviously the couch"

"Oh, yeah, 'course." Grin, and he slaps his forehead "Duh."

Romana laughs "We all have brain farts."

Maybe she's prettier than he thought? She's got a glow about her.. or did for a second.

Adam gives her a cocky grin. "Maybe next time you're over you can see my room."

"I bet it's a mess most of the time and you're only inviting me now because it's actually been cleaned recently. Boys are slobs." A grin though.

A shrug. "What can I say, I got a lot of irons in the fire. I mean, there's nothing actually -growing- in there."

"That is better than a lot of guys, some girls too to be honest," She admits.

"Some stuff oozing, sure, but...." he teases.

That''s when Adam's mom comes out, "Ramona I am so sorry. We meant to wake you up when we came in." She's dressed, rather causually, a happy smile on her face, "You were a god send. How many teenagers baby sit Halloween?"

"Oh, it's no trouble, Mrs. Thomas. Your daughter was very well behaved despite the sugar rush."

"Kind of you to say, sometimes Adam has helped but he wanted this year to hang out with some of his friends."

"Did you have fun at the party?" Ramona asks.

Adam gives Ramona a sheepish grin. "It was, uh, a killer. Yeah."

"Great." SHe says, "And you, Mrs Thomas?"

"The Wayburtons throw a hell of a bash," Mrs. Thomas says, and hands over, "here, will another twenty cover the hassle of doing an all nighter?"

"Considering mostly I slept? MORE than, thank you!" Ramona takes the money

"Uh. You were at the Wayburtons?" Adam blinks.

HIs mom nods, "Yup. They held quite the party. Since Zane is a friend of yours I thought I'd get to know his folks. They're very nice"

"Uhhh.... yeah." Adam blinks. "Ramona, you ready?"

Then she turns back to Ramona , "Thanks, Ramona." Then a curious look at her son, "Ready for what?"