Summer put her hands on her hips and surveyed the room. False spiderwebbing in all the corners, little dishes of snacks and nibbles on every table, orange, purple and white fairy lights strung about in place of the lamps, faintly spooky or hallowe’en music cued up on the computer … yes, it looked like everything was ready.
She put a hand to her chest, willing her heartbeat to slow down. Even if no one came, she had done good unpacking and cleaning and arranging everything, so it wasn’t a total waste. Doc sat by the door, pale-tipped tail wrapped around her feet, looking for all the world like she was ready to greet any guests instead of go darting off the moment some stranger came in.
Summer smiled and tightened the laces on her leather coat once more. Scooping up the little calico, she unlocked the door and opened it just an inviting touch.
He’d sworn to Elena that he’d be working on Halloween, but unfortunately work had decided they didn’t need him and she had dragged him along, irritated at her for taking away his chance of a proper night’s sleep. “Can you let go of my arm?” Mordred asks, attempting to free himself from her grip but he was too tired to put more effort into it. “No, you’re going, that’s it,” she tells him, bringing him to a halt outside the door and he pulled his arm free, brushing the lint off his uniform.
She hadn’t even given him time to change.
When the door was pulled back Mordred gave a small smile, his eyes wandering down the hall to the stairs, perhaps, if he tried he could get back to their apartment and lock Elena out. “Hi,” Elena says with a smile, and it’s then he realizes whatever hope he had diminished.
“Hello!” Doc takes the momentary distraction of the door opening to make a giant leap out of her arms, tearing off to the kitchen. “Whoops, sorry, that was Doc, don’t mind her. Come in! I’m Summer, I live here now.” Summer knows she’s babbling, but sheer nerves have control over her voice.
She looks the pair over quickly, impressed by the uniform — is it real? It reminds her of her dad, when he would simply put on his hard hat and claim it was a costume for Hallowe’en. She offers a hand to each.