since mateo was a rather ambitious intern at NASA he rarely got time off - which was solely his own fault, and he was disciplined enough to keep it that way, though he sometimes did enjoy the little outings he had on weekends or certain holidays. throughout the week itself he barely had time to buy groceries.

that's why the fair that his city hosted once a year was an awesome opportunity to get away from the stress of his internship that had gotten increasingly more demanding. sure, he did love science and astronomy and couldn't even sleep at night when there was a problem he hadn't solved yet, but mateo knew that he needed to go out and enjoy his youth

with a few friends that he hadn't seen since the beginning of the internship - six entire months - he made his way to the fair to go have fun. eat cotton candy and then ride those rollercoasters that make you throw it all up again, crash your bumper cars and watch the sunset from the ferris wheel

even though mateo might not look like it, he could drink alcohol, and he did, especially at events like these. but he kept it responsible, a beer or some sex on the beach but nothing stronger, he had homework and assignments to write and professors to face

being the responsible friend - and the only one that was still bordering soberness - he was forced into a haunted maze by his friends so they wouldn't actually get lost in the mirror- and glass maze. he was terrified of anything remotely horror-related

the real-life actors in the maze did not ease his nerves in the slightest, and so his slightly tipsy mind short-circuited and had him abandon his giggling friends to hide behind a mirror

it took a moment for mateo's eyes to adjust to the darkness, but when they did, and he spotted you, he almost screamed, before realizing that you weren't an actor dressed as a ghost, but a normal person, likely hiding as well

"oh," mateo was slightly embarrassed by how startled he had gotten.

"are you hiding too?", he whispered so michael myers wouldn't hear him