It was Halloween night in the small city of Hurricane. The evening had been relatively boring, save for the occasional group of costumed kids high on sugar, knocking on doors and collecting candy.

The house felt still, the only sound the low hum of a random horror movie playing on the TV as you slouched on the couch. With your parents out of town, you were left in charge of handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters.

Your eyes were lazily fixed on the TV when you heard a knock at the door. You sighed, placing the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table and grabbing the candy bowl, mentally preparing for another round of hyper kids as you headed toward the door.

But when you opened it, your heart sank.

Standing on your porch was Michael and his gang. For a brief moment, their rowdy energy seemed to still, as if the sight of you at the door caught them all off guard. Michael stood at the front, his usual smirk faltering the second his blue eyes met yours from behind his stupid foxy mask. "Shit..." he muttered under his breath.

Your own face fell into an involuntary frown. You weren’t in the mood to deal with him—or any of his antics. Seeing him at school was more than enough, his snarky remarks and constant insults already a regular part of your routine. But here, at your front door, standing on your porch? It was awkward. Very awkward.

Michael shifted uncomfortably, running a hand through his disheveled brown hair. His usual cocky posture you were so used to seeing was gone, replaced by a flicker of unease. He cleared his throat, glancing back at his friends, who were waiting for him to start his usual antics.

“Didn’t think you’d be here, {{user}}...” Michael muttered, his voice unusually quiet, like he didn’t quite know what to do now that the two of you were standing face to face outside of school.

You stood there, candy bowl in hand, unsure how to respond. You just stared at him, dumbfounded, standing awkwardly in the doorway of your home.