The Halloween Party: Fern's Adventures: Nine

The costume lay on Fern’s sage green comforter. He stared at the plant leaves, almost blending in with the comforter but the slight difference in the greens was noticeable enough. He had his arms crossed and was staring at his handy work.

The costume was a giant fern plant. He had made it for Halloween weekend at his job at the florist shop next door. His manager requested that everyone wear a cute Halloween costume to keep the soft vibes of a florist shop and embrace the Halloween spirit.

Fern’s coworkers dared him to dress up as a fern plant, which Fern accepted because his whole life goal is to make others like him. He had spent the past week designing the costume, and now it was finally done. He had sewed everything by hand because he couldn’t afford a sewing machine.

The costume included a cute little terracotta colored pot. The pot mostly covered his gentialia region, starting around the middle of his thighs and ending right below his hips.

The plant made up most of the costume and had a little head hole so his face would still be visible. He had to make the costume flexible so he could still work in it, so the arm holes were bigger than he designed originally. Mobility was a large factor in the design, because he didn’t want his manager to make him take it off.

The fern leaves were around a foot long, with some of the leaves around his head being a foot and a half long. The costume was definitely silly, but Fern thought it showed off his personality quite well.

One of the leaves in the middle also had a name tag that said “Hi! My name is:” and “Fern” written in Ferns overly nice handwriting, cursive to look cooler. The red part of the nametag had been changed to a sage green color to stand out a little against the leaves, but still blend into the passing eye. It was sewed on so it wouldn’t fall off.

It was October 27th, and he wasn’t scheduled to work until the 30th. So, you may ask, why is he putting on his Halloween costume on this Thursday night?

Well, Fern had made a friend, and that friend had invited him to a little Halloween get together that night. He decided to go because 1) he wanted to show off the costume he had spent hours making and 2) he thought it was a good opportunity to make friends. He also assumed the get together would be like the ones he saw on TikTok, with everyone in silly costumes so he knew his costume would be a conversation starter.

PBNJ watched as Fern struggled into his costume. He had his tongue sticking out and was panting slightly, not a single thought in his brain. PBNJ yawned as Fern finally got the costume on properly.

“How do I look?” Fern asked PBNJ, who stood up and did a spin. Fern chuckled and looked at himself in the mirror. He was starting to get nervous about attending the party and let out a breath of air. “It’s okay, there’s only going to be like 5 or 6 people there.” He reassured himself.

His legs were covered in green tights, because it was cold, and he didn’t want to look like an idiot. He topped the costume off with his new forest green Doc Martens, and knew he looked silly. His curly hair was sticking out a little, luckily, so he didn’t have a giant forehead on display. The leaves wacked things as he turned different ways.

Fern grabbed his tote bag, threw his phone charger, wallet, and phone in, and started to head out the door. He put a headphone in before tossing his air pods into the bag as well.

He locks his door and leaves down the stairs, the leaves hitting the railing as he walks. His spooky playlist was playing as he pulled out his phone again, texting Clayton for the address. Clayton sends the address immediately, along with a kooky smiley face. Fern chuckles as he steps off the staircase and onto the sidewalk, inputting the address into Waze.

The walk was 20 minutes, so Fern knew he was going to have some blisters on his feet after he got there. He prepared himself for them as he turned the way his app told him to and started walking.

He had never walked this way before, so he actually was admiring his scenery as he walked. There were more trees on this street than his, and it made him feel a little sillier than normal as he was literally dressed like a plant.

“Calling All the Monsters,” by China Ann McClain came through his headphones, and Fern started head bopping as he got closer to the house. He noticed the noise level of the house almost immediately, and the flashing lights through the windows made him gulp.

There wouldn’t be a real party on a Thursday, Fern thought as he took out his headphone, stopping the song midway through. It’s just a small friend party, not a real party.

Fern holds his tote bag tight as he walks up the stairs of the front porch. There was a beer pong table in the front yard, and lots of discarded cans of who knows what laying around. Fern kept telling himself it wasn’t a real party, though.

He knocks on the door and waits for a response. The music is pumping through the door, and Fern could almost feel his heart beating to the beat of the music. He instead rings the doorbell and waits for a response again.

Within about a minute, the door opens to a girl holding a red solo cup and dressed like Karen from Mean Girls at the Halloween party. She was wearing a black body suit that showed off her ass, and some black cat ears. She looked Fern up and down before speaking.

“Why the hell did you knock?” She said in an annoyed tone, obviously changing her voice to be higher pitched than it actually was. Fern didn’t answer and was just astonished at how rude she was. He didn’t even notice that she had stepped to the side for him to come in until-

“Well, are you coming in or not freak?” She rolled her eyes before strutting away in her fishnets. Fern, still in shock, steps inside to see his worst nightmare.

He cautiously closes the door behind him, beginning to let it sink in how wrong he was about college students partying on a Thursday night. He was at a frat party, and he was the only one dressed in a funny/weird costume. Hell, some people just straight up didn’t have a costume on.

Basically, Fern stuck out like a sore thumb. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t put it together when he saw the beer pong table, and almost turned around to leave. He wasn’t going to be able to make friends here, dressed like this. He started to imagine explaining to people that his name was actually Fern, and he wasn’t just introducing himself as his costume and he saw it going to absolute shit, and he started to turn around to leave.

“Fern?” His head whips back around as he sees his new friend Clayton dressed as a sexy fireman. It was more like he had on a fireman’s hat, with no shirt and tan baggy pants. He did have red suspenders as well, but one was hanging down. Clayton was pretty muscular, and Fern had to admit he looked hot as a fireman, even if it wasn’t realistic. But Fern also had other things to worry about – his stupidly big costume.

“Hi...” Fern said in response, avoiding eye contact with him. For a moment all they heard was the party music, and then Clayton’s laughter was in the mix. He laughed, and even bent over a little holding his stomach as he laughed. It was a friendly laugh, though, not a bully laugh. It was a laugh that made Fern smile and start to laugh as well, some of his worries melting away.

“Please tell me you are a fern plant,” Clayton said in between laughs, looking Fern up and down. Fern felt his cheeks get warmer as he looked down at his costume. He hadn’t thought about the fact that some people might not get what he is, and that his costume may be a little too niche.

“I’m a fern plant,” Fern confirmed, but the statement sounded so strange coming out of his mouth that both burst into another fit of laughter.

“Why man?” Clayton managed to get out while laughing, but it still felt nicer than the sorority girl’s response. His response felt joking and inviting while hers was cold and … uninviting.

Fern just threw his hands up in response, deciding to embrace his weird costume instead of spending the entire party embarrassed.

“Why not?” He teased in response before pointing to Clayton’s outfit. “At least I’m creative. I saw like 3 sexy firemen on the way in,” He hadn’t actually but he could see at least one in the background. Clayton fake gasped, pretending to be hurt.

“I’ll give you creative points, but you’re gunna knock over everything you pass with those leaves.” Clayton flicks a leaf. “I will simply be stared at by all the girls and have to tell the brave ones I play for the other team,” This makes Fern laugh again. Clayton extends his arm to Fern. “Now come in and let’s have some fun!”

Fern takes Clayton’s hand and Clayton leads him into the living room. Fern expected it to be like a movie scene where everyone stops and looks at him in his weird costume, but almost no one bats an eye. They were all doing their own thing and couldn’t care less about what Fern was wearing. Clayton’s hand felt warm in his and he tried to ignore the feeling.

Clayton leads him to the backyard, where string lights were lighting up everything. There was a good amount of people in the back and Fern was surprised he didn’t hear them down the street – they were loud. There was no music playing outside, probably to avoid a noise complaint, but the conversations all blended into one loud sound.

“Now you’re in your natural habitat,” Clayton grinned at Fern and Fern playfully punched his arm. Clayton sat with a group of people and motioned for Fern to sit with him in the lawn chair. “Just don’t poke my eye out,” Clayton winked.

Fern felt like his emotions were being played with as he sat with Clayton. The group had started to look at Fern strange, probably because of what he was wearing, and it was making him self-conscious. He wasn’t his usual bubbly self around strangers – surprisingly Fern was actually an introvert.

Clayton easily joined the conversation, not even mentioning Fern’s costume. Fern sat back in the chair while Clayton leaned forward a bit, so he wasn’t stabbed by the leaves of Fern’s costume. Fern wasn’t really listening to the conversation as he held his tote bag close to his chest. He bounced one knee clothed in the green tights with the other leg crossed over it, so he was very obviously anxious or out of his comfort zone here.

He felt something cover his knee and press gently, and he noticed it was Clayton’s hand. He wasn’t making a scene, but he was acknowledging to Fern that he could tell he was uncomfortable. It made Fern relax a bit, but soon Fern’s anxiety would take over.

Everybody’s staring at you.

They all think you’re weird.

You should leave, no one wants you here.

You probably embarrassed Clayton and he’s never going to talk to you again-

Fern had enough of his own thoughts, which were bringing tears to his eyes. He swallowed his pride and stood up, quickly telling Clayton he forgot to feed his dog and started to leave. He assumed Clayton would leave it at that and just tell his friends he made a mistake inviting the weird guy dressed as a plant.

Fern kept his head down as he crossed back through the house, making his way to the front door when-

“WATCH IT!” A guy with a red nose yells as Fern accidentally knocked into his drink. The man’s (Fern decided he was dressed as Rudolph as the man’s seeming girlfriend was dressed as sexy Santa) mystery drink soaked through Fern’s homemade costume and immediately all he could smell was the terrible smell of beer. He looked up to meet angry eyes and he just tore away and left as quickly as he could.

At least he finally got his movie moment.

Fern knew his costume-

“Wait! Fern!” Clayton’s voice interrupted Fern’s narrative as he walked down the porch steps. He turns around to see Clayton with a red coat following Fern out the front door. “Sheesh you walk fast,”

Fern was stunned. He didn’t know what to think as Clayton caught up to him with his hands stuck in his pockets.

“What?” Clayton asked when Fern didn’t reply.

“What are you doing?” Fern asked bluntly.

“Coming to help you feed your dog!” Clayton grins and points over his shoulder back at the house with his thumb. “Wasn’t having much fun there and I could tell you weren’t either,” Clayton shrugged, sticking his hand back in his pocket. “Guess frat parties aren’t our thing. At least we can say we tried it now.”

Fern was still in shock but replied this time.

“T-that was your first frat party?” He was dumbfounded. Clayton looked so natural. Clayton just laughed, nodding.

“I only dressed as a sexy fireman because I wanted to blend in, your costume,” he motioned Fern up and down, “was super great though. I was jealous of how confident you are!” Now it was Fern’s turn to burst out laughing, and he motioned for Clayton to walk with him.

“Cute that you think I wore this to a frat party on purpose,” Fern felt like his confident self again now that it was just Clayton. As they walked to Fern’s apartment, Fern told Clayton about how he was convinced it was a small party, and everyone would have silly costumes on. Clayton apologized a thousand times for the misunderstanding, and even offered to help Fern get the beer out of the costume.

Despite the shock of being at a frat party in a costume that will get him blacklisted from parties in the future, Fern found himself enjoying the night with Clayton. He was most excited about the fact that Clayton said it wasn’t his style, so they never had to go to another frat party again.

Hurray!