A/N - Well this is a little something that came to me the other day. It's in the spirit of Halloween and just a little two parter. The next half will be posted tomorrow. Enjoy...

"So, what the hell are you dressing up as for Halloween man because I'm totally stumped?"

Eighteen year old Paul Levesque looked up from his book and smiled at his best friend John Cena. They had been partners in crime since they could walk and were pretty popular guys in their High School. John played football and wanted to go pro if he could make it. That had been his most important factor when deciding for College. Paul on the other hand played for the baseball team although his heart wasn't in it. He loved to draw and wanted to be a graphic designer. That had been the most important factor for him. With such different paths the two boys had been led to very different Colleges. Paul was applying for schools on the East Coast while John was applying to the top football Colleges. Despite that, both vowed to remain friends.

"I don't know, John. I haven't really thought it about to be honest," Paul answered, watching as his friend sat down in the seat in front of him. And he was being honest. Lately there was only one thing he could think about but he wouldn't dare tell anybody, especially not his buddy who seemed to know already but he'd never admit it.

"You haven't thought about it? Come on man! We usually have the best costumes. Last year we were Kickass and Avatar and the year before we were Dick and . We have a reputation to live up to here!"

Paul was just about to reply he saw her walk into the cafeteria. His eyes followed her as she walked with her friends to sit at the table right in front of them. She laughed at something somebody said and her beautiful smile almost made his heart stop. Stephanie McMahon, the girl that was driving him crazy.

John looked at his friend in confusion before he realized that he wasn't even paying him any attention. He followed his gaze until it fell upon Stephanie McMahon and her friends at the table beside them and couldn't help but roll his eyes. He knew that his buddy had a thing for her no matter how many times he denied it. He looked like a God damn lovesick puppy right now. He promptly reached over and slapped the back of his head.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?" Paul asked as he rubbed his head.

John rolled his eyes again and pulled his chair closer. "Why don't you just go talk to her?"

"Who?"

"Who?" John scoffed. "You know who! Stephanie!" he whispered incredulously.

Paul shook his head and tried to look as disinterested as possible. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh come off it! I always thought you had a thing for her man but now I know you do. You haven't taken your eyes off her since the second she walked through the door."

"Will you keep your voice down! Jesus!"

"Look," John sighed. "Why don't you just go talk to her? You guys have been friends since your freshman year. We used to hang out with Shane before he graduated. Your parents know her parents for God sakes! I don't understand why you won't just ask her out."

"Because!" Paul cried in exasperation. He wanted to. He had been trying to work up the courage to ask her on a date or anything for the past year when this whole attraction began. Until then she had just been a friend. But somehow those feelings had developed on his side to the point where he realised that he wanted to be more than just friends. But he didn't want to screw up what they already had, that's why he never asked. "Don't you think I want to? I just..."

"What! Man, you have never had problems with girls before. What the hell makes her so different?"

Paul lowered his head and stared at the table before slowly lifting it to look his friend in the eye. "She's...special. I don't want to lose her as a friend so..."

"So you're too afraid to ask her to be more?" At his friend's nod John continued. "Then grow a damn sack and just ask her! Would you rather stay like this for the rest of the year and your life and never know or would you rather bite the bullet and find out. It may come as a shock to you but she just might like you back, man."

"It's not that easy."

"Yes! Yes it is! Just look at me and Trish. You know how tripped up I was over her until I just asked her out and now look at us, we've been together almost a year now," John tried to reason. He had no idea that his buddy had it this bad. Out of nowhere a plan started to form in his head. "Hey wait!"

Paul looked at him in confusion and caution. He saw the light bulb go off in John's head which usually spelled trouble. "What?"

"I have the perfect plan for you..."

"No! Whatever it is the answer is no," Paul said firmly as he got to his feet and started clearing his tray.

"What! You haven't even heard me yet!" John cried as he too leapt to his feet and began doing the same.

Paul walked to the trash can and emptied his tray inside. "I don't need to hear you to know that whatever you're thinking of is either stupid or dangerous so no." He was so preoccupied with trying to make John realise that he wasn't going to hear him out that when he turned around he crashed right into one Stephanie McMahon. "Shit!" he yelped as he automatically reached out to grab her and stop her from falling on her ass in the process. His arms gripped hers as they just stood there for a few seconds before he realised who he was holding and quickly let go. "Steph! Oh crap, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you, I..."

"Hey, it's OK. I wasn't looking where I was going either," she smiled, finding his stuttering extremely cute. At one time she thought that there was a chance they could have got together but he obviously wasn't interested because he never made a move. They had been good friends for a few years and if there was one thing she knew about Paul, when it came to girls he didn't wait about.

"Still, I didn't mean to knock you over like that..."

"Really, Paul, it's fine." She rubbed his forearm and held his gaze for a second before finally seeing John in the background. "Oh hey John! I didn't see you there."

John stepped forward and slapped his friend on the back. "That's because you were too busy almost getting knocked on your ass by this guy!" Paul shot him a death glare and he chuckled. There was definitely some chemistry between the two of them, that much was obvious. And if he wasn't mistaken, he was pretty damn sure that Miss McMahon was rather taken with his friend. All the pieces of the puzzle were set. All he had to do was put them together. "So Steph, what are you dressing up as for Halloween. We were just discussing it there and we have no idea what to be."

"Really? You two don't have your costumes picked out already? But the Halloween Dance is next week!" she asked incredulously. Paul and John always came up with the best costumes. The year they dressed up as two huge penises never failed to crack her up. Dick and . The second they walked into the party there was a momentary silence of shock and surprise before everybody burst out laughing. That was the year they went to a private house party instead of the school sanctioned dance. She didn't think their teachers would have appreciated costumes like that on their campus.

"Yeah, well, we've just had other things on our mind. Right Paul?"

Paul tried his best not to glare again as he nodded his head and managed a small smile. "Right."

"So anyways, what are you being, Steph?"

Stephanie almost bowed her head in embarrassment. Like her friends, she too had left it to the last minute and the only things left for a decent price were either extremely slutty or a Roman Queen. She was forced to go with the latter. "Well I kind of left it a bit late too so the only thing left was to be a Roman Queen so..."

"A Roman Queen, huh? That's not bad. I'm sure it will look great on you," John said distractedly. A plan was already forming in his head.

"Yeah well, if you guys need costumes I suggest you go soon because they are running of stuff and fast."

Paul nodded his head and smiled. He'd be damned if she wasn't beautiful with that slight blush staining her cheeks. "Thanks Steph. Maybe we'll go look after class today to sort something out."

"STEPHANIE!"

Her friend's loud call interrupted their little conversation and she grimaced. "That's my cue. I'll see you in French later John. Paul, I guess I'll see you tomorrow in Economics. Bye guys!" She quickly dumped her bottle into the trash can and gave them a small wave before she turned and went to join her waiting friends.

Paul's eyes followed her out the door. When she was out of sight he promptly punched his friend on the arm. "What the hell was that? I should kick your ass for being such a damn smartass!"

"Hey, easy now! Hate me now but you're about to love me in a second when I tell you my plan."

Paul shook his head and grabbed his bag. "Ugh! I already told you, I don't want to hear your stupid plan."

"Actually, I think that you do, especially considering that it has a hundred percent chance of you hooking up with Stephanie included in it." John smiled when his friend faltered. He ignored the sceptical glare thrown his way. Paul didn't tell him not to speak so he happily took that as an invitation to spill. He threw his arm over his buddy's shoulder as they began to walk. "So here's the deal. We need to go to the costume store and..."