mike was usually quiet at school, barely drawing any attention to himself—except when he was with his friends, lucas, dustin, and will. you shared most classes with him, but the two of you had never really talked. you were popular, confident, and easy to notice, while mike mostly faded into the background. if anyone knew him at all, it was because of lucas. that’s how you recognized him.

the day before halloween, you’d handed out flyers for the party you were throwing. a chance to dress up, drink, and just have fun. of course, you gave one to lucas, which meant mike got one too.

now, halloween night had arrived. the house was alive with music and laughter, and you’d already had a few drinks. in the kitchen, you were topping off the punch bowl for the third time—somehow it had vanished in an hour—when you noticed someone huddled in the corner. at first, you didn’t recognize him under the costume, but then his familiar nervous posture clicked.

“oh… uh…” mike stammered the moment he saw you. his eyes widened, and he practically froze in place, like you’d just materialized out of nowhere. it took him a second to even lift the cup to his lips, and when he did, he pulled it away awkwardly, giving you a lopsided, almost panicked smile.

“y-you’re… uh… a ghost?” he asked, voice cracking slightly, his words tumbling out too fast, like he didn’t know how to act around you. his hands fidgeted at the edge of the table, and his usual confidence with his friends seemed miles away.

you laughed softly, leaning on the counter. “yeah… boo.”

he swallowed hard, chuckling nervously along with you, but his eyes never left yours. mike had never been good at first impressions, but somehow, in that moment, you were the only thing that mattered.