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Saila was cleaning up after the final show, casting a quick glance around the dressing room space to make sure she had everything, when her phone went off. Fishing the monstrously sparkly assault brick out of her pocket, she read the message on its display screen, a grin spreading over lips still painted stage-red.

Text from Jackie (Coffins!): "OMG Let's GO! Bring extra panties if you get scared by evil kids!" Text from Jackie (Coffins!): "See you out front in five!"

The mercurial teen had learned some time ago not to question The Jackie, no matter how perplexing the message, so she shoved the phone back into her bag, said goodbye to the few people still milling about backstage, and headed for the front door.

There was the little red sports car, pulling snugly up to the curb just as Saila stepped onto it, its driver grinning like a maniacal death pixie."Get in!" called Jackie cheerfully, the top down and the music blasting. And that's precisely what Saila did.

On the way to the theater, Jackie bubbled effusively about the movies, the month, the season. As usual, riding with her was a little like trying to drink from a firehose, but the purple haired girl held on and absorbed as much as she could. It wasn't until she'd heard the word for the third time that she finally interrupted the stream of ebullient chatter.

"Wait, Jackie, hang on. What's Halloween?"

Oh man, the look her driver gave her.

The introductory lesson on The Most Wonderful Time of the Year lasted all the way into their designated spot in front of the big screens. The girls spilled out of the car, chattering and laughing in a constant stream of enthusiasm, made their way into the theater to choose seats that were within prime viewing range but also close to the bathrooms and the concessions, . Jackie rounded up one of virtually everything at the snack bar, and Saila for her part got one of each of the three featured cocktails, because trying to decide between them seemed silly. In the end, it was the coffee-tasting Midnight's Shadow that made the muse go back for seconds (and thirds and fourths).

Staying way late into the night, the teenagers watched both of the double feature movies and then stuck around for Carnival of Souls, too. Jackie, helpful as always, explained all the parts that didn't make sense to Saila, and half a dozen other things besides. They were knee deep in Lesson Four on Why Halloween is the Best Ever by the time the third set of credits rolled, and they expounded at length on the subject the whole way home.

If this beginning was any indication, October was guaranteed to be Saila's favorite month yet, and never mind that it was technically, probably, also her birthday.

(Shout out to Jackie Von Tombs!)

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The Exorcist was her favorite movie of all time. She parked herself in a seat with a Black Devil martini and proceeded to enjoy the hell out of herself.