**This is a Halloween story that I decided to leave out of the 2020 contest since I wanted to make it a series. Like my other series, it starts out with a loss of innocence and gets hotter with every chapter. Enjoy! Love, Chloe Hunt**
Chapter 1
Flower of the Field
"He looks familiar. Was he at the party?" Emma whispered to Kate as they stood in line at the movie theater.
It was Halloween night, and they were going to the Nightmare on Elm Street Retro Show. They escaped their friend Justin's notorious Halloween party before the cops arrived. Kate's boyfriend was keeping her updated on the fiasco since he lived next door.
"Who?" Kate asked as she looked up from her phone, smiling. The bell on the top of her witch's hat smacked Emma in the face for the fifth time that night.
"Kate, please take off your hat before I give it to the first random toddler I see," Emma threatened. "Do you see that cute guy in the white shirt leaning on the wall? The one with black hair. Was he at the party?" she asked as she tilted her head in his direction.
"Oooh... That's Ivan. The heir to the horse ranch next to your aunt's farm," Kate said as she looked at him oddly.
"What's wrong? Is he bad news or something?" Emma asked.
"He's a snob. I've never seen him out on the town like this. It's bizarre. I'm tempted to believe he's here because of you," she whispered.
"What?" Emma asked in surprise.
"Don't play dumb. He's been staring at you since you pointed him out. Miniskirts have that effect on men. You were supposed to dress as the Good Witch of the South, not the Slutty Witch of the Trailer Park," she grumbled as she looked Emma over.
"Sorry, Kate. This is the one night of the year I get to dress however I want. Wait... he's staring at me?" she squeaked.
Emma cautiously glanced over her shoulder and met his striking eyes. She gasped and quickly looked at Kate again.
"He is staring at me," she whispered in alarm.
"Don't act surprised. He's been gawking at you all night," she grumbled.
"Seriously?"
"Emma, how can you be so clueless? Your mom messed up, sending you to an all-girls school," Kate sighed.
"Um, is he still staring?" Emma asked nervously.
"Uh... he's walking over here," she chuckled.
Emma gasped and spun around to find Ivan standing right beside her. She gave him a comical deer-in-headlights look. He smiled at her in amusement.
"Happy Halloween, ladies! Am I interrupting something?" he asked.
Emma opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Ivan was way more handsome than she first thought, and she seriously lacked communication skills. His eyes were big and pale gray under dark shapely eyebrows. His face had seductive angles that sent Emma's heart pattering.
"You're Ivan," she said a little dreamily.
"Yes... and you're Emma, right?" he asked as he glanced at Kate in amusement.
"How do you know my name?"
"Your aunt's field manager pointed you out yesterday. I was looking for your aunt, but you had detained her all afternoon," Ivan explained.
"Oh, sorry. She was helping me with my costume," she said in embarrassment as she looked down at her tight white skirt and low cut blouse. Aunt Caroline knew how to throw together a slutty outfit.
"No problem. She did an excellent job," he said with a pleased grin. "So, what are you ladies up to?"
"We're here to watch the retro show," Kate interrupted. "It's our Halloween tradition."
"Oh, cool. Um, I hate to impose, but would you like some company?" he asked as he turned his daunting eyes on Emma. She was immediately flummoxed.
"I uh... um... sure," she stammered. She glanced at Kate to see her frowning.
It was supposed to be a girl's night, but Kate's constant texting to Jim had already annoyed Emma enough for a week.
"Oh! Will you look at that!" Kate announced as she held up her phone. "Jim's car broke down on the bypass. Sorry, Ivan. We need to go get him. Come on, Emma," she ordered as she took her hand, ready to pull her across the parking lot.
"Wait! Does Emma have to go too?" Ivan asked, prompting them to stop. "If it's a ride issue, I can drive Emma home after the movie. If that's all right with Emma, of course," he said as he looked at her with big helpful eyes.
Emma smiled at him and nodded. Then she looked at Kate to see a shocked expression on her face.
"What's wrong, Kate?" Emma whispered.
"Uh, excuse us for a moment, Ivan, girl talk," she said with a polite smile. She quickly pulled Emma a few yards away from him.
"What is your problem?" Emma grumbled as she pulled her hand away from Kate.
"Emma, listen to me. I know he's cute and dreamy, but everyone says he's a creep. He's a social elite. He doesn't hang out with normal people, but I'm pretty sure he wants to get with you. I saw him following us at the mall earlier. It was totally weird," she whispered urgently.
"Kate, he was probably collecting candy from the kiosks like we were. It is Halloween. Also, he knows my Aunt Caroline. He wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I promise I'll be fine. You go help Jim," she insisted before she walked back over to Ivan.
Poor Kate sighed in defeat. Her plan had completely backfired.
"Fine. I'll see you guys later. Enjoy the movie," she called as she watched them buying tickets.
Before Kate turned to cross the parking lot, she saw Ivan glance up at her with a triumphant smile on his face. It sent a chill up her spine.
Ivan and Emma made themselves comfortable in the theater. Ivan had purchased a large bucket of popcorn and some cherry flavored icy drinks. Emma felt anxious as she sat in the dark with him, waiting for the movie to start.
"Have you seen this movie before?" Ivan asked as he offered Emma his popcorn.
"Uh, no. I'm not a big horror fan, but Kate said it's awesome and has Johnny Depp in it," she said with a shrug.
"It's pretty brutal. I hope you're ready for it," he said as he reached over and brushed a golden curl off her shoulder.
She smiled in embarrassment and turned her attention to the screen. The movie turned out to be more than Emma bargained for. It was too sexy, too gory, and way too scary for her. She was trying to be brave in front of Ivan. He was laughing at some of the most horrible parts. Emma suspected he was actually laughing at her reactions to them.