It was Halloween night, and the neighborhood was glowing with jack-o’-lanterns, string lights, and kids running around in costumes, their plastic buckets clinking with candy. Jake stood on the front porch, arms crossed, dressed in an oversized tunic, brown pants, a droopy red hat, and a fake beard that kept itching his chin.

Next to him, Raelene—his girlfriend, shining and smug—twirled in a bright yellow skirt, a blue corset top, and a red bow in her hair. She looked every bit like Snow White, and she loved it.

Jake, not so much.

“I still don’t get why I had to be a dwarf,” he grumbled, adjusting the scratchy beard for the tenth time.

Raelene grinned. “Because I’m Snow White, and someone had to match me! Plus, you look cute.”

“Cute?” Jake raised an eyebrow. “I look like I got kicked out of a Renaissance fair for stealing snacks.”

She giggled and linked her arm with his. “You’re Grumpy, aren’t you?”

“Obviously,” he muttered. “Should’ve been Snow White. Or at least the prince. Something cool.”

“You? In a ballgown?” she teased, raising an eyebrow. “Now that would’ve been a look.”

Jake smirked. “You know I would’ve rocked it.”

They started walking down the street toward the party they were heading to, passing kids in skeleton pajamas and inflatable dinosaurs. Raelene kept waving at everyone like she really was royalty.

“I could’ve been a princess too,” Jake muttered.

“Next year, we’ll both be princesses,” Raelene said, laughing. “Deal?”

He looked at her, beard now crooked, tunic slightly wrinkled, and sighed dramatically. “Fine. But I’m wearing the crown.”

“Deal,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Now come on, Grumpy. Let’s go steal candy from children.”