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Charlie never cared for Halloween and costumes. Sometime around high school he sort of phased out of it, and looking back on it he was grateful. Scrolling through Instagram or god forbid Facebook to see old costumes of his peers resurface scrutinized. Though seeing his friends and colleagues dress up made him realize what a bummer he was being sometimes. The fact that even Allan could find the Halloween spirit last year with his joker costume and Pims carefully made cowboy getup didn’t make him insecure, but almost left out.
When he had broken up with his girlfriend a few months prior (though it was mutual, and on good terms) she hadn’t forgotten to remind Charlie the reason why things didn’t work out with others was for his lack of effort. His pessimistic view was off putting and in these few months of singlehood, Charlie had done his best to make strides in bettering himself. Now with the annual Halloween party coming up Charlie had done his best to find the least offensive costume that he would be comfortable enough wearing.
Anti-Charlie.
It was perfect, making fun of nothing, nobody. Just his normal clothes but on the opposite sides of the color wheel. His brown cap was swapped for cyan one, white undershirt replaced with a black one and his black jeans replaced with light gray ones (white pants are a little too ridiculous for him to wear), and Charlie's classic orange hoodie changed for a blue one. Anyone who knew him would know he was at least trying to dress up.
This year, in the efforts to spare the Smiling Friends the world's worst clean up after the party, Mr. Boss decided that this year he would rent out a bar for the night. After last year's massacre on the man in black face (or was he a demon?) and the bonfire had made him think twice about having it on his own property. Charlie arrived a bit earlier like all the Smiling Friends were told, as the critter walked through the door he saw Mr. Boss dressed as some kind of baby cupid while he talked to the bartender scheduled for the party. Charlie waved to him briefly and walked over to help Allan, who this year was some kind of Sith Lord he thinks.
“Hey man, you need help?” Charlie asked, putting a hand on the chair Allan was standing on, steadying it as the tall critter was hanging the second half of a banner up on the wall.
“Not really.” Allan replied, stepping down once the banner was pinned and returning the chair to its rightful table. He pulled his hood off and looked Charlie up and down. “What are you supposed to be?”
Charlie held his arms out and smiled proudly at his zero effort costume. “I'm anti-Charlie.”
“Those are just the clothes from the back of your closet.” Allan noted, emphasizing on each word as if he were saying them all individually on their own and not as one whole sentence.
Charlie waved his hand dismissively, “ Pshh- No it's not.” He said defensively. It totally was. “What are you supposed to be?” He asked, though the yellow critter was entirely sure of what Allan was supposed to be.
“A Sith Lord.” Allan said.
Glep came out from the bathroom, dressed as what Charlie can only assume is a hippie.
“Hey dude. Where's uh- where's your girl?” Charlie asked. He had remembered last year with a taller blonde woman. She hadn’t spoken much, Charlie didn’t really know her name. Glep spat out some gibberish as he tapped on his ipad.
“Ouch, dude food poisoning on Halloween has to be the scariest thing.” Charlie muttered, putting his hands into his pockets as he looked around the bar. “Where's Pim?” He asked. It was out of character for Pim to be the last to arrive. Even more of Charlie to not be last.
Almost appearing magically behind Charlie, Mr. Boss put a hand on his shoulder and Allans to make his presence known, making Charlie jump. “Pim is on a special mission for the party tonight, he’ll be here by the time it starts though!” Their boss said enthusiastically.
The yellow critter jumped at the contact and grabbed his chest through his hoodie, his small eyes shaking as he panted a bit. “You can’t sneak up on people like that- I have a heart condition man!” He gasped, glaring as Allan and Glep seemed to laugh at how easy he was startled.
“Sorry boys!” Mr. Boss giggled almost childishly.
Glep muttered, pointing outside as he looked up at Mr. Boss.
“No, I didn't send him out to get firewood this time.” Mr. Boss answered, gesturing to the pile of wood a few feet away set in the center of the bar. “Tonight he’s working on entertainment, you could say.” He said with a grin.
“What? Did you forget to book a band?” Charlie asked, he didn’t even know they were doing live entertainment this year but I guess it made sense with it being a bigger venue, outside of their business.
Mr. Boss shrugged. “You could say something like that. Either way we have another 2 hours before people start getting here. Allan and Charlie make sure all the tables have tablecloths, decorations, and push them to the side to leave the center open. Glep come help me with the fog machine?” All the critters dispersed into their teams to continue setting up.
By the time the party was meant to start, there was a huge turnout through the door. Charlie recognized a lot of the people attending from previous years. The entire time he was just sitting at the bar, texting Pim.
C: Where are you??
C: I’m stuck setting up with Allan dude please get here soon.
C: Hello??
The lack of response from Pim was also uncharacteristic. For a minute it made Charlie's chest heavy with worry, where was he? Pim never left him on delivered. He tapped his foot as the lights got dimmer and the fog got heavier as people piled in by the second. All the seats around him at the bar had been taken up quickly. He was on his second Yuengling while chatting with the girl sitting at the stool next to him. Her blonde hair had pink highlights and was tied back into a ponytail while she wore a full Playboy Bunny costume. A little basic in Charlie's opinion, but he didn’t mind the view.
“So what are you supposed to be?” She asked, raising her voice loud enough so Charlie could hear her against all the talking and music playing throughout the bar.
“I'm like uh- anti me!” He responded, raising his voice also. “Like I wore all the same clothes but the opposite color!”
“OH! That's cool I guess!” She responded as the lights started to dim, and a bigger spotlight focused at the center stage at the front of the bar. “Do you know who’s playing tonight?” She asked.
Charlie looked down for a second at his phone, no new messages. Not even a thumbs up to let the critter know he was okay. Charlie wasn’t sure why but Pim's silence bothered him. Not worried anymore but petty and irritated. Was Pim too good for his company now? Yeah he was a little depressing to be around, but Charlie wanted Pim to see his attempt at a costume. Looking back up at the girl, he shook his head. “Nah, but uh, can I buy you a drink?” He asked before a hush fell over the guests, now captivating even Charlie's attention towards the stage.
“Ladies and Gentlemen…”
Charlie raised an eyebrow. He recognized that voice…that accent…
“Ghost and Ghouls…”
Charlie's grip tightened on the bottle.
“Give it up for your entertainment of the night, she's come a longgg way!”
His interest peaked, had Pim not answered because he was driving their esteemed entertainer of the night to the bar? If that was the case why didn’t Pim just tell him?
“Pearl!”
Pim's voice rang through the speakers, rolling his tongue on the R.
What Charlie saw next he could not believe. For several heart beats, he could have swore he was imagining it. Pim, his colleague, who Charlie considered his best friend, makes confident strides out onto the stage. The shoes he had on were at least 5 inches, not making him taller than Charlie, but definitely closer in height. Covering Pim's exposed nerve ending was a blonde wig that sort of reminded Charlie of Pim's sister, Amy, but it was much bigger, and sort of had a strawberry tint to it. The sparkling dress with the fake knockers effortlessly attached to Pims chest, you’d believe they were
real.
The whole thing was so insane from the makeup to the clothes and hair, Charlie thought he might be dreaming.
He walked out, holding a bedazzled microphone, clapping against it gently as the crowd began to copy and do the same.
“One, two, three, not only you and me
Got 180 degrees, and I’m caught in between.”
Shit the voice too?! Charlie was left slack jawed, standing up. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and he looked back for a minute to see the Playboy bunny girl. “Charlie? About that drink?” She asked with a smile.
He shook his head and moved her hand off his shoulder. “S-sorry one sec-” Charlie muttered, mindlessly walking away from the stage. The critters' feet moved on his own, getting closer, sliding through the crowd as they clapped along with Pims angelic singing. Charlie knew he wasn’t a bad singer, the pink critter was always humming a tune when they drove together, mumbling off the lyrics if he knew them. Charlie never minded it because it was pretty relaxing and nice. But now, like this he felt like a moth drawn to a flame, walking up to the stage and setting his hands on the edges as he looked up.
“Three is a charm, two is not the same
I don’t see the harm, so are you game?
Let's make a team, make ‘em say my name…”
Charlie was in mere awe the entire time. Something about the whole performance was so hypnotic and he wasn’t really a fan of this kind of music. Typically he’d call it shallow corporate music Britney Spears was forced to make by her label but now he felt like a sailor being swayed by a siren. Heat flushed to the bigger critter's face as Pim glanced down for a second and met Charlie's gaze. Charlie could feel the little thump of his stubby tail in beat with the music and Pim. How could someone be so incredibly outgoing? How could Pim of all people be getting him worked up like this?!
Charlie wasn’t gay, not that he thought anyways. His attraction to women had never been less than subtle. He had never dated anyone other than women but in fairness he had never thought of any other option. Not that he wasn’t open to the idea or that there was anything wrong with being gay, but it had never crossed Charlie's mind until now. Pim knelt down for a moment, outstretching his hand to curve under Charlie's big nose as if it were his chin, redirecting his head upwards to meet him for eye contact. Charlie wanted to sink into his hoodie as his legs felt like jelly, but he pressed into Pim's hand so mindlessly he was upset when Pim moved his hand away, walking along the edge of the stage and touching hands with everyone reaching up to him.
Charlie followed his movements as the music began to close out, and Pim laughed. His laugh was almost infectious, entering in through Charlie's breath and infesting his lungs, filling them with butterflies.
He began to walk down the stairs, passing the microphone to Mr. Boss on his way down, as Charlie pushed through crowds to meet him at the bottom.
“Pim Pimling everyone!” Mr. Boss introduced with a clap and Charlie found himself quickly at his usual place by Pim's side.
“Dude!” Charlie exclaimed, trying to find the words. Did he compliment him? Should he ask why Pim was blowing him off?
“Charlie!” Pim smiled, giving the yellow critter a hug. Charlie gave an awkward side hug in return as a smile crept on his face, looking away. He wasn’t used to Pim being nearly as tall as him. “Sorry for not answering your texts, I was busy having all this set up!”
Charlie laughed hoarsely, breaking their hug as he made physical distance between them, his hand grazing the fake boobs of Pim's costume. “I-its fine dude, but how did you get roped into all this?”
“Oh well this was my original Halloween costume! But when Mr. Boss came to me with the task of finding entertainment for the party! So I just decided to do it myself!” Pim said proudly.
“Your costume idea was to come dressed in drag?” Charlie clarified.
“Yep! Oh and look at you! Even you found the Halloween spirit Charlie!” Pim chirped, wrapping an arm around the other critter's shoulder with a grin.
Charlie flushed, feeling that little wag in his tail again as Pim pulled him close. “Yeah dude- don’t make it a whole deal-” He stammered, as they walked through the party, Pim with his arm wrapped around Charlie's shoulder. His stomach was doing flips, as he fought off a helpless grin the entire time.
Pim would converse with other party goers, Charlie following him around like a lost puppy. At some point he decided getting lost in drunkenness felt better than addressing this sudden growing attraction towards his best friend. Drink after drink, Charlie forced these feelings down farther and farther.
“Just try and enjoy this night with your friend.” He thought to himself.
“It's just a gag costume, there's nothing more to it.” Charlie tried to reason with the part of him that wanted to treat Pim like any other girl in here.
Even Pim was going pretty hardcore with the partying this year. Charlie hadn’t seen Pim drink like this since they were abducted by those aliens. But even when he thought for a moment he was getting over the knot in his stomach, Pim's hand grazed Charlie's shoulder. Or pulling Charlie under his arm, leaving him face to face with the fake boobs.
Charlie mourned the fact that his alter ego would disappear by tomorrow, ashamed he wasn’t gay, because if he was, he’d be all into Pim. A part of him wanted to commend Pim on how hilarious the costume itself was but it was drowned out by the part of him that made his tail wag from the moment Pim was on that stage.
The worst part of it all was that Pim's persona of the night of a fabulous and seductive woman absolutely crushed every part of Charlie. Typically he would consider himself a ladies man. He didn’t have trouble getting a girl to go home with him for a night. But the way Pim was almost toying with him made him go all sorts of momma's boy.
Was Charlie gay?
Maybe not gay but a little bi-curious now.
He needed another drink.
Downing another shot with Pim, he sluggishly reached his hand out to touch his shoulder. “Pim- Pimmm-” Charlie hiccupped with a laugh.
Pim leaned his head back with a laugh. “What? What Charlie?” He slurred a bit.
“Did- hic did you know you’re my best friend dude?” Charlie confessed. “A-and you’re so funny man-” It came out in sharp exhales of wheezes.
“Charlie what are you on about?” Pim laughed, pressing his palm to his own forehead and shaking his head.
“Dude I’m so serious if you were really a girl I’d be all over you right now-” Charlie slurred out, pressing his shoulder against Pim's.
Pim sat up. Clearly one critter was more sober than the other, as he looked at Charlie's head pressed against the bar counter as he laughed into his arms. “ You’re so drunk. ” He said, grateful Charlie couldn’t see the warm pink colors rising in Pims cheeks.
Rubbing circles into Charlie's back, Pim could see the little thump of Charlie's tail for the first time all night. His gaze softened as he laughed.
“I'm s-serious man hic -” Charlie sat up to meet Pim's gaze. “Y-you’re so pretty-”
Pim avoided his eye contact and just grinned awkwardly. This wasn’t Charlie, this was drunk Charlie. When he got all loopy and flirty, which Pim preferred over violent Charlie waving a knife in his face. Either way, this wasn’t the real him. He was pretty sure Charlie was straight and if he wasn’t, he wasn’t as comfortable in his sexuality as Pim was in his own bisexuality.
“I think you’ve had enough for one night.” Pim laughed a bit as he stumbled off the barstool in his heels, then tried to help Charlie down and steady himself.
“No dude- I’m so forreal-” Charlie muttered, as Pim wrapped an arm over Charlie's shoulder. The two drunk critters made their way out of the bar and Pim fumbled with his phone for a minute. Both were far too intoxicated to drive, but despite Pim having enough clarity to have half a mind to call an Uber, his phone was dead. He looked over at Charlie, leaning forward heavily. Pim thought for a moment about trying to get Charlie's phone off him, but after these drunken confessions and rising emotion he dismissed the idea of trying to search the larger critter for it.
So they’d have to walk. Charlie's apartment wasn’t that far. Pim could get him home and in bed, charge his phone and call an uber. Half way down the block Pim was forced to abandon his heels, carrying them over one shoulder, supporting Charlie over the other.
Drunken murmurs slipped out between Charlie's lips and Pim could already picture the hangover the both of them would be fighting off tomorrow. Looking up at him, Pim found the yellow critter kind of cute like this. Stumbling over himself and relying so heavily onto Pim to keep him up, when any other day a sober Charlie would be the one shoving Pim off, enjoying his personal space. Shaking his head, the October breeze felt good against the beads of sweat rolling down their faces.
Getting Charlie up the stairs had been Pim's hardest task. “C’mon Charlie- one foot after the other!” He encouraged, gripping the railing as he dragged the bigger critter up one step at a time.
“Nah dude- y-you got it!” Charlie hiccuped, allowing himself to be dragged up the stairs like the dead weight he was.
Pim let Charlie go at his front door, grabbing the spare key from under the mat, and opening the door. “Alright Charlie lets get you to bed-” Pim muttered, a drowsiness starting to overcome him.
Charlie stumbled inside with Pim, swaying back and forth as he looked at the pink critter, blinking slowly. “T-thanks dude…” He slurred.
Pim wiped his forehead and just nodded. “Of course Charlie-” Pim didn’t get to finish his sentence before Charlie bent down, pressing his lips gently to the corner of Pim's mouth, as if he was so sloppy and missed his cheek.
Warmth spread from his head to his toes, staring up at Charlie. Watching his large figure sway with instability, but that grin on his face made him pretty proud of himself. Pim touched the spot where Charlie's lips kissed him softly, his gaze softening.
“Charlie…” He said so softly, Pim wasn’t sure the critter heard him. After a moment of silence he repeated himself, though more in a questioning tone.
“Charlie…?”
Charlie blinked slowly, as it felt like all the emotions from tonight finally bubbled up coming up his throat. He opened his mouth, about to spill everything out.
How he felt watching Pim up there. How seeing Pim like that almost awakened something in Charlie.
Then he threw up.
The last thing Charlie remembered from last night was vomiting all over his carpet. A pain seared through his head, a harsh throbbing pain. Charlie groaned as he rolled over, he reached around for his phone. What time was it? He squinted at the brightness of his screen. 1pm? Jesus he must have been a mess last night.
The blur began to clear in his mind, as he remembered Pim, the peck on his cheek as warmth filled his face again. What was he thinking?! Charlie pressed the back of his head back into his pillow and groaned, rubbing a hand down his face.
Those feelings weren’t drunk thoughts, Charlie was sure of it. He could picture Pim's stage persona clear in his mind and it made his heart flutter. He pitied the fact she was never real, and all he had probably mouthed to Pim last night. Pining away forever more for Pim in drag.
Looking at his hand, Charlie noticed a red substance smeared on it. It wasn’t blood, too thick for that, and clearly it had picked it up from rubbing his hand over his face. Opening his camera, Charlie saw several smears of red across his face. Whatever they had once been was ruined by rubbing his hand over it. In the corner of his screen though, Charlie saw a glimpse of the last photo taken, and tapped on it.
The last picture taken on Charlie’s phone had been Charlie, with his eyes half lidded as he laid in bed. On his cheek was a lipstick stain, with another on the corner of his mouth. His whole body burned with embarrassment, everything after him throwing up had been a blur, but he definitely didn't have a girl over last night, just Pim who brought him home. And Charlie still had his hoodie and jeans on- though his shoes were left behind somewhere between the front door and his bedroom, so nothing happened. Muttering with confusion his eyes widened as a text from Pim appeared.
P: Morning Charlie! I left your place a few hours ago. There's a glass of water and Advil on the counter for you. Txt me when you wake up!
Charlie groaned and curled back into his sheets, grabbing a pillow and pressing it against his face, hoping to smother himself to death from sheer embarrassment.
Would he be pining away forever more for Pim in drag.
Charlie had a lot to think about.