Chapter Text
Halloween had always been Pete’s favorite holiday. As a kid, sure, it was because of the candy. Now that he was older, it was more a love for the costumes and general aesthetic.
Turns out, it was Steph’s favorite holiday too. Though for her, the reason was a combination of the parties and it being the only holiday her dad didn’t force her to go to a “nice” family dinner for.
It was October 30th, and Pete was sitting at his sewing machine, working hard to get their costumes finished. This is what he got for procrastinating.
“Steph, could you go get me a glass of water?” He shoved his glasses up his nose, focusing on the light pink fabric he was sewing currently.
“You got it, Spankoffski.” She tossed her phone to the side, using Pete’s desk to pull herself up from the beanbag.
Pete stopped for a moment, looking up at Steph as she left. “And while you’re up could you also grab a snack, check to see if the crown’s dry yet, and just bring the entire box of bandaids? I keep accidentally stabbing my fingers with the pins.”
Steph sighed. “The races you make me run,” she grumbled, but smiled nonetheless.
“Well you’re the one who encouraged me when I said I could make the costumes instead of just buying them from some store!” Pete sassily crossed his arms.
“I know, I know,” Steph sighed, leaving the room. Pete refocused on sewing, pushing his glasses up his nose every few seconds. He finished the stitch, snipping the thread and grabbing the bundle of pink that would (hopefully) soon be a beautiful dress and plopping it on the ironing board.
Steph returned to the room, dropping the box of bandaids on the ground. She had two glasses of water and a PB&J. Pete grinned, grabbing the sandwich and water. He took a long, grateful sip.
“Thanks Steph,” he smiled, taking a bite of the sandwich. Steph sat back on the bean bag, drinking some of her own water. “The crown’s dry.”
Pete sat next to her, scarfing down his sandwich. There was a moment of nice silence.
“Do you ever want to get married?”
Pete forgot how to breathe for a moment. He coughed, eyes wide, but finally managed to force down the bite he had taken.
He cleared his throat a few times, then looked over at Steph. “Couldn’t’ve waited for me to not be in the middle of a bite?”
Pete took a long sip of water, trying to clear his mind.
“Why, uh… why do you ask?”
Steph shrugged. “We were willing to die for each other. That feels like a bigger commitment than marriage. I’ve just always wanted to get married.”
Pete took a hesitant bite of his sandwich, afraid that Steph was going to ask another choke-inducing question.
“Um… I guess. Someday.”
Steph pulled her phone back out, slouching into the bean bag. “Sick.”
Pete finished his sandwich and went back to work. He ironed and sewed, ironed and sewed, finished edges, stabbed his fingers with pins way too many times, and finally, was done.
He held up the dress with a proud flourish. Steph clapped and cheered softly.
“And with that, the Princess Peach dress is complete! She is not in another castle!”
Steph snorted. “I keep telling you you’re funny.”
She stood, quickly kissing Pete. She’d never tire of that giddy, proud look Pete got every time they kissed.
Pete gently set the dress down on the floor. “C’mon, I need to go paint the final details on the crown!” He called, running out of his room. Steph laughed and followed behind him. Pete stepped outside the house, the cool night à wind tousling his hair as he picked up the crown he had previously spray painted.
He grinned, looking over the beautiful gold color.
Steph held the door open for him as he carried the crown and cardboard sheet it had been resting on inside. He tossed the cardboard down the stairs to the basement, rushing the crown to the dining room.
Steph laughed. “God, slow down Pete!”
“Can’t!” He called, setting the crown on the table. His hands flapped as he grinned. “I’m worked up. It’s too beautiful.”
Steph laughed, kissing Pete’s cheek. She grabbed the large bag of fake mustaches they had stolen from the theater classroom. “I’ll look for a good Mario mustache,” she said, sitting at the table.
Pete took a deep breath, sitting at the table. He grabbed some painting supplies and started working on the details of the crown.
They worked in silence for maybe a minute before they both grew annoyed by the lack of noise. Steph turned on some music, and they worked for about half an hour like that.
“Ha!” Steph cheered, holding up the perfect Mario mustache. Pete gasped happily.
“It’s beautiful.”
Steph nodded. “It really is.”
Pete painted on the finishing details of the crown and placed it gently on the table.
“I think we’re done.” He smiled.
Steph nodded. “I think we are.”
The next day, they went to Stacy’s Casual Halloween Party. The plan was to watch horror movies and hopefully not get actually murdered.
Which, unfortunately, wasn’t just an unrealistic, anxiety-induced concern in Hatchetfield.
Steph grabbed Pete’s hand right before they went in. “Remember,” Steph said, “if you want to leave, just tell me.”
Pete smiled appreciatively. “Same for you,” he kissed her cheek.
Steph rang the doorbell. Kyle opened the door, Brenda standing behind him. They were dressed as Jack Skellington and Sally respectively.
Brenda smiled at their costumes. “Nice Peach and Mario outfits guys! They look so good. Like, did you buy them from somewhere?”
Steph smiled proudly. “Nope! Pete made them.”
Kyle looked at him. “Really? I didn’t know you could sew.”
Pete shrank into himself slightly. The fear of bullying was still very much present in the poor boy’s mind; Steph could tell. But he still nodded proudly. “Yeah.”
Kyle smiled. “That’s sick, dude. My mom’s a seamstress, that shit’s super impressive.”
Pete beamed. “Oh. Thanks.”
Brenda pulled the couple into the house. “Honestly Steph, ever since homecoming I thought you looked great in red, and this is just proving it right. And Pete, the crown? You deserve it with how awesome these costumes turned out!”
Pete smiled, soaking up the compliments. Steph was proud of her boyfriend.
And he looked adorable in that Princess Peach dress.