“Okay, well, they have one mask for you,” she confirmed, grabbing a mask and bending the corner to search for something else.
Elise took another five minutes and grabbed a black angel costume and held it up for me to examine. “This is perfect. I’m kind of like a fallen angel. Right?”
“You’re not a fallen angel, Elise. You’ll always be an angel. You’ll never lose your halo. No matter what bullshit your parents beat into your head,” I leaned down and pecked her cheek.
“I still want to wear this. Their costume shelves are practically empty. The dress looks a little short, though, so I’m going to size up.”
Elise swapped out the dresses and then went into the fitting room to get changed. When she stepped out in the dress, fishnets, wings, and halo, all in black, my mood shifted. She did a little twirl so I could get a full view as I approached her. Her braids were hanging loosely over her shoulders, setting the costume off. Then her titties sat up perfectly in that beaded bustier top.
“My boobs are just out a lot so I need to put my sweater back on. Is the dress too short?” Elise inquired, placing her hands by her side to do the finger tip test.
“You look amazing, Elise. My angel,” I grinned, pulling her closer to me by her waist.
“Thank you. Not for just the compliment, but for coming all of this way when my emotions were out of whack. For always seeing the best in me. And going along with my sudden change in plans. I know you planned to go trick or treating with Nova tonight.”
“Elise, if you call, I’m coming. You don’t have to thank me for that. I’ll always be here to protect you and your halo,” I leaned down and pecked her lips that time.
“And today I actually have a visible halo,” she beamed, pulling out of my grasp to motion her hands around her halo.
“Alright, let’s check out. We have a long drive, and they close at eight. We will have about an hour and a half to enjoy ourselves if we leave now.”
“Okay,” Elise pulled away to grab her soiled dress and the costume package while I held onto the wreath and the scream mask.
We checked out and headed east towards Clermont in our respective vehicles. I called Elise, and we talked the entire drive. She told me about her first Halloween as a high school teacher and how warm ups went with her new team. The excitement in her voice made me happy. Elise was living her dreams, and I was enjoying every moment of them. Everything was coming together at the right time in my opinion. I couldn’t imagine sitting back on the sideline pretending my heart didn’t beat for Elise while she coached her girls. The sense of pride I felt when Elise told me she was the wrestling team manager was what confirmed I loved her ass even back when we were eighteen. I never even felt that for myself. Plus, I could listen to her go on for hours, just like I did during the drive to Southern Hill Farms in Clermont.
“Oh my God, Rashawn! Are the sunflower fields open?” Elise squealed when she realized where we were. “Am I going to be out of dress code for the farm, though?”
“No, they are having a Halloween event. The flyer said costumes were encouraged,” I clarified. After killing my engine and grabbing the mask off my seat, I went to Elise’s truck to help her out.
“I’m so excited,” she bubbled, brushing up against my arm.
I gripped her hand tighter as we approached the entrance. My mask sat at the top of my head; everybody would just have to get the vibes. I wasn’t about to suffocate in that shit. It seemed like a good idea in the store, but wearing it in the heat was a whole other thing.
The earthy dirt smell permeated through the night air while the bright stars twinkled in the sky. I paid for our entry and we entered the farm walking past the pumpkin patch. Families and a couple of dogs in costumes moseyed around, giggling and enjoying themselves. The farm had live music, a petting zoo, wagon rides, and photo stations, but for Elise, the sunflower field was the main attraction.
We hopped on the tractor just like the lady at the front directed and were transported to the flower fields, where we were given instructions for the U-Pick process, paid the fees, and then grabbed our scissors and buckets. The perimeter lights helped guide our way to the spot Elise picked to fill our buckets.
“Wait, before we cut them down, can you take a few pictures of me?” She requested, passing me her phone and scissors.
I accepted the phone and placed both of our scissors in the buckets.
“Ughhhh, now I’m mad all over again, my yellow dress would’ve really made these pictures pop,” she groaned, fingering her braids to ensure they were falling perfectly.
“This will be more memorable, though. Our first Halloween together,” I encouraged, snapping a few pictures while Elise posed. “We are going to have to come back during the daytime, and that’ll be the perfect time to wear something cute and vibrant.”
“You’re right. Now come over here so we can take a selfie together,” she requested.
“Do you guys want me to take a picture for you?” I heard a voice call over my shoulder.
“Yes, please,” Elise beamed.
I passed my phone to the woman, and we snapped a few pictures before she returned it. “Our first Halloween outside together,” Elise chirped, flipping through the pictures.
“And many more to go,” I affirmed.
“And many more to go,” she recited, peering up at me.
We turned in our scissors, then went to grab food before the farm closed. It was too late to drive back, so we stopped in Walmart to grab something to sleep in, then secured a room at a boutique hotel in Kissimmee. When we got settled in the room, I was dog tired. Friday was my longest day on campus. Back to back morning classes, a three hour gap, then two additional classes. I had to wake up at six to be out of the door by seven for the morning classes, and I didn’t leave campus until three o’clock. Damn near an eight hour shift.
