Josh and Emma had been waiting downstairs at the dorms for what felt like forever, but Jason Carter still hadn't shown up.
Then, out of nowhere, a familiar figure appeared at the edge of the courtyard. The guys leaning over the balconies, who had been laughing at Josh kneeling earlier, all froze — their eyes practically lit up.
It was Quinn, the finance department's star beauty.
The late-October chill had settled over campus, and Quinn walked up in a cream-colored wool coat that gave her a mix of elegance and warmth. In her hands, she carried a neatly folded bundle of clothes. Standing on tiptoe, she peered into the dorm building, her hopeful expression almost childlike.
Finally, Jason came down from upstairs. Without even glancing at Josh and Emma, he walked toward Quinn.
"I told you not to bother bringing it," Jason said casually, "I usually don't do Halloween."
Quinn gave him a playful look. "Just try it. I picked the size to fit you. Yours is a prince costume, mine's the princess. Unless…" Her tone softened into a teasing lilt. "Unless you already have another partner. Then I'll just forget it."
Her words hung in the air, clearly testing him, her eyes fixed on his face.
Jason smirked faintly. "Not at the moment, but…"
Before he could finish, Quinn was already smiling, relief spreading across her face as she pressed the outfit into his hands. A rosy blush crept across her cheeks, making her look even more delicate.
Jason knew he couldn't truly view her as a girlfriend, not after everything that had happened with Ivan. But still, looking at Quinn standing before him — beautiful, eager, hopeful — even he had to admit it was hard to resist her charm. The effort she put into preparing this was not something he could dismiss lightly.
When Jason took the costume, Quinn didn't back away. In fact, she leaned closer, as if her body instinctively wanted to fall into his arms.
"Well… I guess I'll head back then," she murmured softly, though her body language said otherwise.
Jason gave a small nod. "Go back, it's getting cold out here."
Just those few words warmed her heart. She nodded, letting out a gentle "mm" before turning. Still, she glanced back at him every few steps, reluctant to leave.
From the side, Emma's nails dug into her palms. The sight made her blood boil. The first time, it had been casual greetings. Then dinner together. And now Quinn was giving Jason matching couple outfits. Her intentions couldn't be clearer. Emma was about to rush forward when Jason simply turned back and disappeared inside, ignoring her completely.
Upstairs, the guys had been watching the whole scene unfold, and the air was practically buzzing with envy.
"Holy crap, Quinn just gave him clothes?"
"I saw with the binoculars — it's a prince costume. That's basically her saying Jason's her prince. Did you see how close she leaned in? She wanted to hug him!"
"I used to feel sorry for Jason, after Emma ditched him. Now? Emma's crawling back, Josh is kneeling to apologize, and Quinn is openly shooting her shot. Meanwhile, Jason's just standing there. Man, this is insane."
"Damn it, I'm sour."
Jason returned upstairs, where Mike and his other roommates were waiting, arms crossed, eyes sharp enough to cut glass.
Mike raised an eyebrow. "The first time, you swore it was just a hello. Then you said it was only dinner. Now she's giving you couple outfits. You gonna explain that, Third Bro?"
"Yeah," one of the others chimed in. "Don't hold out on us. Just tell us straight — are you and Quinn a thing or not? Save us the suspense."
"Even if it's not official," another added, "that was basically a public confession. She was two seconds from throwing herself at you."
Jason only shrugged, playing it off. "What? It's just a Halloween costume. You guys are overthinking."
The roommates all groaned in unison. Same words, same poker face, but the more he denied, the more they wanted to strangle him.
And then, before they could press further, Jason's phone buzzed. He set the prince's costume down, glanced at the screen, and immediately headed back downstairs.
His roommates dashed to the balcony again, craning their necks.
This time, it was Megan, the design major from the art school. She stood waiting gracefully at the entrance, her poise unmistakable, as though the night itself had arranged her arrival.
Megan didn't linger long — she left soon after dropping her gift — but by the time Jason came back to the dorm the three roommates looked ready to explode.
"Dude," Mike snapped the second Jason walked in, "why did Megan give you clothes too? You said it was just a hello, just dinner. Now you're collecting matching costumes? You're not seriously dating two girls at once, are you?"
Jason set the Jack-from-Titanic suit on his bed. Mike picked it up, eyes widening. "This isn't some cheap gag — that's a proper period jacket. So Megan's outfit was the matching Rose costume? Again with the couples set?"
Ryan collapsed back onto his pillow. "Man, I'll kneel for you if you want."
Before Jason could answer, his phone buzzed again. He glanced at it, dropped the Jack suit, and headed back downstairs. Mike and Ryan shot to the window and peered over the balcony like hawks. Shouldn't he be done?
Outside, a few other guys in the building were already gossiping. Quinn had given him a prince outfit earlier; Megan had just handed him a Jack suit; and now someone else was arriving. The air was electric. "Dude, I'm so jealous," one of them muttered. "I shouldn't have felt bad for him earlier. Now he's got girls throwing themselves at him."
"You think it stops there?" Ryan said. "Wait—someone else is coming. Who is that?"
A hush fell as another figure appeared — Holly Larson, holding a vampire costume in one hand. She had that exact confident swagger that made the boys' stomachs flip.
This time, Jason didn't stay at the door to flirt. Holly hooked his arm and steered him into the little courtyard between the dorms — a dim place with a few trees, quiet and shadowed. The guys upstairs let their imaginations run wild. They watched intently as the two disappeared into the darkened grove.
When Jason rejoined them later, his cheeks tinged with color in a way that made Mike choke on a laugh. "What happened in there?" Mike demanded. "Did you two —?"
Jason shrugged, holding up a slightly crumpled zombie costume. "Nothing happened. It's just Halloween stuff."
"That's what you say now," Ryan shot back. "First it was a hello. Then dinner. Now outfits. How do you explain getting three different couples' costumes in one night?"
Jason gave them a helpless look. "It's just clothes. Don't make a big deal."
The roommates exchanged looks, clearly not buying it. Mike poked the Jack jacket with a conspiratorial grin. "You're not telling us everything. If you and Megan… if you and Quinn… if you and Holly are all flirting with you, promise me one thing: be honest. Don't string anyone along."
Jason rubbed his forehead and grinned sheepishly. "Fine. I'll be myself. But seriously — how am I supposed to wear three costumes on one Halloween?"
Ryan put an arm around his shoulder. "Simple. Pick the one that's got the best plot line. Or just show up as three different people. We'll help with the changes."
They all laughed and shoved Jason playfully. He set the three costumes on the bed — prince, Jack, and zombie — and felt, for a second, the absurdity of college life: chaotic, awkward, and somehow intoxicating.
There are 80 chapters ahead in my Patreon, with 2 daily chapters. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439