Day 14: Candy

Genre: Slice of Life/Urban Fantasy
Universe: QuickSilver
Rating: PG / TW: None
 

     Cole Davis stepped into the crisp autumn weather that had overtaken her college campus and inhaled deeply. It was a bright and hopeful reminder that she was far, far away from her old life in Florida and that life could be full of fresh starts. Even if life had been a bit bumpy the last week or so, it was all for the better. She closed her eyes and listened to the breeze rustling the branches of an old oak above her until the sound of approaching footsteps and a friendly voice called her back to campus. “Hey, Cole! Thank you for waiting.

     “Thank you for agreeing to walk with me,” she answered as Quill walked up beside her. His fluffy blonde hair seemed even messier in this weather.

     “Hey, if it helps you feel safer, I’m more than willing to help.”

     Safer. A frown tugged at Cole’s lips but she quickly reminded herself that she was moving forward - forward and away from her ex-boyfriend, who’s reaction to their recent break up had motivated her to ask for Quill’s company from moving from class to class. At least until things had a bit of time to settle. The two walked together in silence for a while, Quill seemingly preoccupied with sorting some books into his shoulder bag. Watching him, Cole tried to ignore the pang of guilt that she was being a burden by asking him to walk with her and messing up his class routine. Thankfully he derailed her thought with a bright grin and a chipper question. “Trick-Or-Treat is Friday night in my hometown. You wanna join us?”

     Cole gave the boy a skeptical look. "Who’s ‘us’? And how old are you, again?"

      Quill laughed. "Old enough, and ‘us’ is Adri and I, but you're dodging the question."

     Adri was a mutual friend of theirs and it was easy to imagine the two running around in costumes asking for candy, but… “You guys really go trick or treating?”

     “Yeah.”

     “You dress up and get candy.”

     “Yeah!” Quill showed no sign of embarrassment. “When we’re done we go back to her place to sort it all and watch movies.”

     Cole shook her head in amazement. “Aren’t college kids supposed to go to Halloween parties full of cheap booze and slutty costumes?”

    “Well, yeah, if that’s your thing,” Quill shrugged. “But we do blanket forts and The Corpse Bride. It’s been a tradition of ours for a couple years now.”

      “That’s horribly cute and wholesome,” Cole pictured the two, piles of sorted sweets on the floor, singing along to the opening song. It did sound like fun, but... “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

     “You wouldn’t be.” An errant breeze pushed Quill’s bangs into his eyes and he reached up to fix them. “Plus we thought you’d want to avoid parties after the whole thing with Robbie.”

     Robbie, who hadn’t been bothered when Cole found out that he had a girl on the side, who seemed far too surprised when she wanted to break up, would likely show up at these parties. Cole had planned on staying in and getting a head start on Christmas planning. “You know, I haven’t been trick-or-treating since I was like, nine.”

     “Really?” Quill looked surprised. “That’s really young. Why’d you stop?”

     “Dad.” Her answer felt heavier than she expected, so she tried to explain. “He never liked all the dressing up and spooky stuff, so after Mom passed, well… it was too below our stature, apparently.”

     “Does your Dad hate fun?” Quill questioned. “Everytime he comes up he’s being a killjoy.”

     The last thing Cole wanted to focus on, besides her ex, was her dad. She tried to change the subject. “That’s rich, coming from you. You complain about your Dad all the time.”

     Quill’s lips thinned into a line. “There’s plenty to complain about.”

      “You just don’t like how extra he is,” Cole laughed. “But he’s a very nice person underneath all the excitement.”

     “That’s what they say,” Quill rolled his eyes. “Anyway. You wanna come with us or not?”

     “I’m considering,” Cole kicked at a leaf that blew onto the sidewalk. “Are we going by your Dad’s place?”

     Quill was quiet a moment, but noticed the grin on Cole’s face that suggested she knew the answer already. He sighed. “...yes, but only because he gives out the full size candy bars.”