Time neared midnight, staining the night sky a plum wine hue. The moon was a mere rolling, circular fog in its orbit, which followed Aurora, Beck and as they rode a haunted hayride Only a few other students accompanied them, sitting at a distance and enjoying the ride.The tractor hastened up a hill, leading them to what would be a corn maze ride.

Bestowing an ambience of eeriness to the ride was fraught violin music; Aurora's muscles were as taut as the strings of one. A witch's laughter sound effect echoed and Aurora gasped, her muscles clenching, followed by a sound effect of screeching. She whimpered, covering her ears momentarily. Her arms wrapped around Beck's bicep without thinking.

"It's dark," Aurora blurted.

"It's okay," Beck pat her thigh. "None of this is even real, A. It's all props and stuff meant to scare you."

In truth, Aurora only agreed to go this hayride because Peyton was too scared to go with them, leaving her out of the picture. And Aurora had had enough of her.

"You smell good," She blurted to Beck.

He sheepishly blushed at the attention. "Thanks, A," He mumbled, softly pinching her arm at her silliness.

Aurora was usually too anxious for something like this - she still was - but she wanted to have some alone time with Beck and Hadley.

Speaking of Hadley, Aurora looked over to her friend across from her. Hadley was zoned out into space, eating sour gummy worms.

"You good?" Aurora inquired, still rocking lightly back and forth.

"Yeah..." Hadley monotonley replied, sitting perfectly still.

Her red-stung eyes met Aurora's, they glowed like Christmas lights, and she noticeably reeked of cannabis. "It's just like...why," Then her eyes dropped to the pumpkin cupcake in Aurora's hand. "You gonna eat that?"

Aurora peered down to the dessert and back to Hadley, leaning over and handing it to her friend.

"When Had gets high, she pretty much talks nonsense and eats for hours," Beck murmured to Aurora.

"I don't not," Hadley tried to defend herself, before her eyes fell to the bag of candy corn in Beck's lap. "You gonna eat that?"

Beck rolled his eyes, taking a swig of his beer.

"I AIN'T AFRAID A' SHIT! COME AT ME BROSTS!" Hadley yelled, gesturing outwardly with her arms. Then, her nose scrunched as he doubled over in chuckles. Turning to her brother across from her, she clarified, "Brosts...get it? Like ghosts?"

"I don't get it," Beck narrowed his eyes.

Hadley's face fell.

"It's like bro, but," When she sensed he was being sarcastic, she fell into a ridiculous giggling fit. "Oh..."

"You still don't seem like a light weight," Aurora studied Beck. "I think Hadley was lying."

"She's not lying," Beck admitted, giving a half hearted grin to Aurora.

"But...you're not even drunk. Maybe a little tipsy," Aurora pressed.

Beck sighed softly through his nose.

"I'm not getting that drunk tonight. I wanna be able to look after you and Had, I don't feel comfortable just letting you guys get abliterated and not having someone to watch over you."

Aurora frowned.

"You don't have to do that."

"I know."

Aurora slumped against her seat, feeling bad. However, the feeling was quickly replaced by fear as the hayride entered the dark corn maze.

A cold trepidation pooled in Aurora's gut as she anticipated another noise; If she mentally prepared herself, it wouldn't startle her. She observed props passing her by. A scarecrow sat slumped against a cornmaze wall, its eyes black. She bit her lip, feeling uneasy. Then, its entirely white eyes blinked open wide, and she let out a loud yelp as black veins beginning to crawl into them until they were black again. She tore her wide-eyed gaze away, huffing dramatically.

A rustling noise caught her ear. Leaning up, Aurora observed it behind her; It appeared like some animal quickly dashed through the woods, making her whimper. Was it a fox? A bear? A person? She was fearful, what was that? Who was there? With a pounding heart, she sat back down. Her arm wound around Beck's arm again, licking her lips.

A blaring siren noise had her gaping for air as she gasped and jolted. With a whine she muffled her ears from the noise, helplessly looking around. The sound effect of thunder cracked the air, the young girl whimpered loudly.

"It's only forty-five minutes more," He cooed while pressing a reassuring hand to her thigh.

"F-forty f-five minutes?" Aurora stammered, head snapping up to him, her skin growing clammy and icy. "B-Beck, I-I don't think I can do this. I just wanted to get away from Peyton," She blurted.

A loud laugh rumbled from Beck's chest, he was amused. Then, his knees separated slightly to open his legs.

"Come, sit on my lap," He beckoned her.

And without a second thought, Aurora was there.

Beck gripped her thighs to position her sitting sideways and her arms wound around his neck tightly. She snuggled into him, the drinks in her body making her feel heated and giggly. She was slightly embarrassed by how heavily she smelled of alcohol, but she loved being so close to him. She even wanted to be silly and lick his neck, but restrained herself. She found her hands unconsciously burying into his curls, tugging them playfully.

"My boyfriend's ugly as fuck," Aurora stated, locking her fingers roughly in his hair.

Beck let out a startled chortle, surprised by the harsh comment. He took hold of her hands and lowered them from his hair, as it was starting to hurt.

"Uh...?" He trailed off, looking down at her with a perplexed expression. "Don't you mean, he was ugly?"

Drunk Aurora dismissed Beck's confusion. Dejectedly, Aurora let out an exasperated sigh, slumping against him with her head on his broad chest.

"Sooo ugly, Beck. He doesn't even play piano."

"What...what does that have to do with being ugly?" Beck implored, not following.

"It just makes a man ugly."

Beck shrugged a shoulder, not necessarily knowing how to add to the conversation.

Then, Aurora twisted around to gaze at Beck. "Beck, can I move in with you?"

He gave her a lopsided, goofy smile, patting her head.

"No. I don't think that'd be a good idea, Aurora."

She frowned and overexaggeratedly sighed, slumping against his body once more.

"Why notttt?" She drawled, rolling her head side to side on Beck's abdomen. "Is it because of Peyton?"

Hands caught Aurora's hips and switched her body over. She gasped lightly, now she was facing Beck. Her bare legs under her tight dress straddled his strong thighs. The bumping of the hayride caused a slight bounce to her position on his lap, making her cheeks go red and her stomach feel hot, hot, hot. She wanted to ride his lap, make more friction, her heart was pumping - hot, hot, hot. A horniness was stirring in her core. She wondered if Beck felt the same. But with Hadley behind her, she decided against it.

"Peyton and I aren't dating."

"But she's your girlfriend," Aurora countered.

"She isn't. We're friends who study together. I don't like her like that, I'm just awkward and don't know how to reject people. I keep giving her the hint and she doesn't seem to leave me alone."

Aurora's face visibly lit up and she didn't even try to hide it, seeing as though she was intoxication.

"You know that," He said pointedly.

Aurora felt taken aback.

Did she know that?

Aurora maneuvered her body to sit next to Beck's, sighing as her head fell on his shoulder.

"How's your music going?" She wondered, aimlessly lifting Beck's hand to play with his fingers. She admired his smooth, fair hand that was just skin, liking it so much more than Arlan's heavily tattooed hand.

"It's good," Beck nodded. "I actually wrote some stuff the other day. It's more of a poem, though."

Aurora felt her body freeze and go numb.

'You are poetry, Aurora.'

Her sex dream. She had completely forgotten, and now remembered. Beck wrote actual poetry..?

"Ya'wanna read 'em? It could distract you from the ride," He smoothed her hair delicately.

Aurora smiled giddily and nodded, taking the phone from him. After he put in the password and got to his notes app, she intently started reading.

'She's the purest thing I've ever breathed in

Raspberry romance with satin for skin

Her laugh is soothing like Manhattan October air

I want to write it in the clouds: I'm in love, I'm in love with her'

Aurora meekly peered up, eyeing Beck. His words were sensitive, sweet, romantic. He was soft and sweet, a poet, a vegetarian who cared for animals, a song writer; He took care of Hadley, he took care of Aurora, he was everything Aurora wanted in someone, the complete opposite of Arlan. She wanted someone considerate, someone to look after and care for her happiness and wellbeing, she knew that was Beck and she was beginning to wonder...

Am I in love with him? Or just wasted?

Is there a difference?

"What?" Beck laughed, she was just staring intensely at him. "Did you...did you like it?"

Aurora bit her lip, searching Beck's hazel pooled eyes. Then she gave just one single nod. Then, another screeching sound effect rang out and Aurora squealed and jumped, clutching Beck.

"Beck," She whimpered harshly, "I wanna get off, now."

"Hey, hey, shhh, it's okay," Beck brought her into a tight hug, smoothing her hair. "I'm right here, I'm right here. Breathe."

But Aurora was having a difficult time doing so, her anxiety spiking. She didn't like the dark, or feeling trapped in the enclosed space of the cornmaze. She didn't like the props jumping out or the noises.

"Hey," Beck pulled her apart from him. Gingerly he tipped her chin up so her watery eyes could meet his. "You can't move into my house, but you know what would be super fun?"

"W-what?" Aurora trembled slightly.

"A cotton candy house!" He wiggled his eyebrows, causing Aurora to elicit a gasp. "Can you imagine that?"

"Like the one I just had, the orange one," Her eyes lit up, distracted.

"Mmhmm!" Beck insisted. "It would have the softest cotton candy beds and carpeting, you would feel like you're walking on clouds every single day."

"What if it rains?" Aurora tilted her head.

"Oh no, this is the most durable cotton candy house you've ever seen," Beck promised, and to Aurora's surprise, she giggled through her hair. "No storm, nor wind or hurricane could shake the walls of this cotton candy house. And it's protected by a fluffy puppy, so no intruders will ever get to you."

"Like Cannoli," Aurora cooed.

"Yeah, or even your own puppy. It would keep you company and lap around your feet as soon as you wake up, ready to lick your face. And the doorknobs, they're all made of candy corn. Everything smells sweet and feels soft, and nothing can ever hurt you."

Aurora's eyes widened wistfully, then she pouted.

"I wish this place was real."

Gently, Beck placed his hand at the back of her head.

"It can be, in your mind. It's called a safe place. When people are scared, they often locate a safe place in their mind to soothe them. For me, it's Weezer's Buddy Holly music video."

Aurora tilted her head. "Buddy who?"

Beck grinned coyly, looking down. Suddenly, his face grew shy.

"Well, speaking of music...I sort of made something for you."

The ginger haired boy fished around his jean pocket and pulled out a shiny CD tape. It was labeled 'M.A.A'.

"Beck...it's not even my birthday," Aurora gasped, holding the tape. She wistfully peered up to him.

"I know, but, well, you don't have a phone, so I can't share my Spotify with you. So I just thought I'd make you a little mixtape. Since it's the Fall Back and tonight's all about paying homage to nostalgia, I figured this just made sense. It's only ten songs."

She held it to her like a prized stuffed animal, hugging it to her chest. Beck cleared his throat, seemingly a little embarrassed.

"Anyway, just picture the cotton candy house and close your eyes. Nothing can hurt you. Say it," He gently encouraged.

"Nothing can hurt me," Aurora repeated, staring into Beck's hazel pools. "Nothing...nothing can hurt me."

***

"Alright, you might've beat me at ski ball, but that doesn't mean you're more coordinated than I am," Nate bantered, cackling.

"I'm pretty sure that's exactly what I am," Elise prodded playfully, her voice still slurred, before something caught her eyes behind Nate. "There it is, bop-a-apple!" She squealed.

Nate twisted around to see the familiar station, the burly football bros still there as a few people played. He turned back to Elise, his expression tentative and uncertain.

"I don't think it's a good idea," He muttered.

"Come on! You promised like four times that I could go back!" Elise begged like an insolent child, tugging at his arm. "I got something to prove."

"Elise," Nate said firmly, stepping forward in front of the short girl. "I don't want those idiots to make you uncomfortable. I won't have it."

"Nate, I had three brothers. My mom pushed me to be this flowery, soft little girly girly because I was her only daughter. But I know how to protect myself! Now cmon!"

So there's where the strong willed part of her came from, Nate thought to himself. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly lining up. He sighed reluctantly, allowing her to tug his wrist all the way back to the Bop For Apples. Dread pooled in him; Nate had been trying to distract her from going back to this all night, but she was relentless. Even if Elise could allegedly protect herself, she had only ever attended an all girls school in her life - she had no idea the menace of young college boys. They approached the station as a different couple left, and once the two football players saw them approach, they immediately smirked.

"Ginger!" Blonde guy greeted emphatically, smirking, making Nate's blood boil. His eyes then flicked to Nate's hard ones. "Ginger's boyfriend," He deadpanned.

The muscles of Nate's biceps strained against his flannel as he physically resisted beating the shit out of them to a pathetic pulp.

"You both," Elise poked at the blonde's chest, shocking him. He looked down at her with an amused grin. "Apples. Now. Against me."

Her drunk words weren't clear to follow but they assumed she was challenging them.

"Uh," The brunette laughed. "We don't compete, little girl. We just mandate the station. You can entertain us with your mouth, though."

The blonde tried to hide a creeping smirk but was unsuccessful, chortling under his breath.

"I guess you both don't know how to use your mouth," She retorted, eyeing them down like prey. "Typical. Scared guys like you don't get laid."

The football dudes exchanged quick, offended looks with each other as Nate's mouth fell open in shock.

"Uh, we know how to use your mouths," The brunette assured, gesturing with his hand in offense. "Probably a lot better than your emo prick boyfriend," He shot Nate a glare, whose arms flexed in defense.

"Then challenge me. Now," Elise crossed her arms before Nate could shout anything. "Whoever gets the most apples works their mouth the best."

The bros exchanged one final look between themselves.

"And," Elise continued. "Whichever of you two comes closest to me, I challenge you to a drinking contest."

"Elise," Nate growled in a demanding shout.

"No," She held her hand up towards Nate. "I got this." Then, she turned her glare towards the two boys. Her arms wrapped around them in a folded stance above her chest. "Do you?" She challenged at them.

"You're challenging us...to drink against you?" The blonde implored incredulously, scoffing a humorless laugh. "We're not trying to have your stomach pumped in the hospital, babe."

"I guess if you're better with your mouth and beat me at apples, and you won't have to," Elise shrugged. "Sounds like you're both scared of a 5'2 girl."

"We're not," The brunette quickly said, his face hardened. "Right Jaxe?"

The blonde swallowed, shaking his head. "No."

Elise smirked. If there was any way to get under a man's skin, she knew it was his ego.

The two football guys shuffled around from the back of their station. Elise's heartbeat ticked in anticipation, but excitement. Meanwhile Nate was prepared to throw them across the floor and stomp on their throats. Elise stood in the middle, her hands on the cold exterior of the apple barrel as the brunette stood on her right and the blonde on the left.

"Nate," Elise spoke, lowering into position and getting the seething boys attention. "Put a timer for a minute on your phone."

"A minute?" Jaxe incredulously echoed from her left. "For every single apple?"

"I mean, that's usually how long it takes you to finish," She replied.

A silent chuckle slipped from Nate as he smirked. After he set everything up on his phone, however, he sighed. The amusement was fleeting as he grew nervous for Elise.

"Alright. Ready...and...go," Nate announced.

The three dunked their head quickly into the water, mouths widening to fit the Macintosh's and Red Delicious. Nate brought a fist to his mouth, anxiously rubbing it back and forth. Jaxe was sloppily moving his head around like a drunk dolphin, which did bring some amusement back to Nate, gripping no apples with his teeth. Elise, on the other hand, emerged with an Apple in between her teeth. Nate's face lightened as he grinned. She dodged to the side and spat it into the bucket below the barrel.

The brunette emerged, spitting an apple into his bucket. Elise bobbed back up, spitting a Red Delicious into her barrel. Just as quickly, she was back in the water, bit onto another apple, and spat it into her bucket. Nate's heart was ticking.

Jaxe, the blonde football bro, had picked up no apples. Figures, Nate thought to himself. He peered down at his phone. It was forty seconds in, twenty left.

Nate was quickly entertained by Elise clearly beating them that he seemingly forgot if she did, she'd do her drinking contest. Now he grew worried again, silently hopping the boys would pick up the pace.

But they didn't. Elise was beating them by a landslide. She had at least thirteen apples in her bucket, Jaxe had four, the brunette had six. When he peered down at his phone, it read 00:00.

"Time!" Nate called, and the three breathlessly snapped up from the water barrels, wiping their mouths.

Elise turned to her bucket, then to look at the others.

"Well," She smirked, crossing her arms, looking up at the two beside her. "Isn't that interesting. Guess we have to drink now."