Page 73 of Between Us

Margo, Meera, and I are standing in line, waiting to order apple cider. We only come for the haunted house, but every year the event seems to get better. Stanley Maddon—the owner of the construction company and hardware store—has started to include concession stands and extra displays. Like a makeshift pumpkin patch during the day, and a few showings of Halloween classics throughout the month of October.

The Maddon’s are nice, but I don’t know them as well as other people in town. So since I was little, I’ve always associated this time of the year with Stanley and his company.

“I don’t love the idea of a maze,” I admit. The line moves at a snail’s pace, but it’s typical for Halloween night.

Looking up at me from her phone, Meera nods and says, “Buddy system.”

“It’s not all a maze,” Margo insists.

That’s true, but a section of the large warehouse is a fake corn maze that requires a warning about how people have gotten stuck in there for up to thirty minutes and requires a waiver.

And sure,maybe, the thing requires a waiver every year; I’ve never given it much thought. Stanley’s good at what he does, but even I can handle walking from point A to point B with props jumping out.

The thought of being stuck somewhere? Alone and lost? That’s a big fucking no from me.

“I’ll wait with you, if you want,” Meera insists. Margo doesn’t say anything, but she’s looking at me over our friend’s head with soft, assessing eyes. I know she would skip the whole thing if I wanted to leave now.

There’s a big part of me that would love nothing more, but I’m also aware that we’re lucky to be able to continue some of our traditions this year. And it won’t always be like this. Tonight could be the last time things are really the same.

So, I pretend to pull on my big girl panties—which makes Margo fucking cackle—and demand, “Buddy system.”

They nod emphatically, looking relieved and excited, but I squint at them in disbelief. They’re the best friends I could ever ask for, but sometimes they’re like trying to hold onto two ferrets in a public place.

Intruetypicalfashion,as soon as we moved into the corn maze section, the two of them were off in different directions.Neitherwith a fucking buddy.

Though, that could be because Jatin and Dev went their own ways without a look back too.

Once we got back in line, I was feeling more anxious after committing to the haunted house. Adrian didn’t ask, but he tucked me into his arm while we waited for our turns. And as expected, I was doing fine up until now.

Too nervous to take the first step in, I feel Adrian’s strong chest meet my back. “You good?” he murmurs behind me. Thankfully, they let the groups in at a staggered pace, so I have a couple of minutes before someone runs into us.

I start to nod and say yes when I hear someone scream, the noise echoing in the warehouse. I’m pretty sure it’s Margo, but it’s not even the sound that makes me flinch.

Looking up at Adrian in the low-lit room, I admit, “The idea of being stuck in here is making me panic.”

It’s a quiet confession, one I’m not even sure he can hear over the noise surrounding us. Before the last word leaves my lips, his hand slips around my waist and he pulls me into him.

“I’ll turn around right now and say I’m too scared to go through there,” Adrian insists, bending down to rest his chin on to my shoulder. “Or I’ll hold your hand the entire way and swear not to let go until we’re out of this room.”

His offer makes my heart melt, but all I say is, “This is important to them… me too.”

“Ready when you are, brave girl.” The variation on my nickname sends a new spark of resolution through me.

“Okay. I think I’d rather follow you though.”

Without a word, Adrian moves in front of me. One of his hands reaches behind and grabs one of mine. My other one tangles into the back of his shirt. “It can’t be that difficult.”

He sounds confident, and I hate to burst his bubble, blurting out, “You weren’t even in Boy Scout’s.”

With one final look over his shoulder, he teases, “It’s a good thing we aren’t really outside then, huh?”

Even though I want to chuckle, the best I can do is let out a huff of breath. We make a plan to walk straight, but either the room’s bigger than even I expected, or the actors are really good at their jobs. Probably both.

My emotions have been extremely turbulent since we walked into this portion. First, I was panicking at having to enter the maze, then for about ten minutes I actually had fun. Now it’s been about fifteen minutes since we were turned around by someone in a mask. I can hear people all around us, but I don’t see anyone.

About five minutes ago, it occurred to me that is probably exactly what the actors are told to do.

“The haunted house is always massive, but I don’t understand how they can buildthis.”

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