It had been an uneventful day at the Lux. Lisa was getting some paper work done, when she heard a knock on the door.

"It's open"

A miserable looking Cynthia came into her office. She was staring at her Blackberry in disbelief "Hey Lisa, did you get an e-mail from Ms. Abrams about the costume party?"

"Sure, they've turned it into a fund raiser. Ava sent the email this morning."

"Shit, are you kidding me?" Cynthia slumped on the couch, visibly exasperated "Now we're stuck going!"

"Oh come on Cyn, it could be fun, you know, you can dress as your favorite TV character!"

"Wait, you mean you actually want to go?"

Cynthia was unprepared for the sound of Lisa's laughter dancing around the room "Of course not. I'm practicing sounding sincere just in case"

"Lisa, come on"

"Ok Cyn, for real" she looked at the redhead with a completely serious expression on her face "I'll be happy to go, I mean it is for a worthy cause and I've always loved dressing up for Halloween."

"Really?"

"No way, I'm just practicing for when we talk to Ava" Lisa displayed the best of her smiles "I really hate these things, though apparently not as much as you"

"I have no idea how to dress up! You won't have any problems with that"

"What do you mean?"

"Well Lisa, first of all, you could wear a burlap sack and it will look flattering" putting her head between her hands, Cynthia sighed in frustration "I don't think I've ever found a costume that really suits me"

"Ok thanks for the compliment sweetie, but don't you think you're exaggerating?" Lisa really thought that Cynthia was being too hard on herself this time, more so than usual "I mean, as long as you don't go as Raggedy Ann like two years ago, you will be fine"

"Not a chance"

"Look Cyn, as much as we both hate it, there's no way to get out of this, so maybe we can only try to make the best of it" Lisa patted her friend on the shoulder to get her attention "Unless, there is more to this than a costume?"

After a few moments in silence, Cynthia finally let it all out "Well, you know that everyone is bringing dates, or almost everyone. I've heard from a very reliable source that Matt will be dateless that night"

Lisa wanted to smile at the twinkle in her friend's dreamy eyes "Wait… Matt who? …the concierge?"

"Will you please keep your voice down?!"

"Oh my God Cynthia, that's great. He's a really nice guy"

"A really nice guy I'm not even dating. How is that great?"

"Listen to me. Maybe this whole costume party is actually a blessing in disguise. You weren't going to attend; now you have to, so…" Lisa stood pulling Cynthia to her feet "This is your chance, and you're taking it Cynthia Davis. This guy had better get ready to be amazed!"

"Gosh Lisa, are you serious?" she regarded her skeptically "Please, don't tell me this is another one of your jokes!"

"Of course I will help you, silly. You are my friend, and while it's true that I don't really see the point to Halloween right now I can't imagine anything else that could make this whole thing endurable" Lisa smiled at her friend's sigh in relief

"Well, surely it won't be the only thing Lisa. I mean there's your date too"

Wait… WHAT!

Lisa froze in surprise. She hadn't seen that one coming, and she needed to ask

"Hold on a second, Cyn. How do you know I have a date?"

"Oh please! It doesn't take a genius to see that you've got someone in your life" Cynthia winked knowingly. "You laugh more, you hum songs, you even joke, I mean, seriously whoever this guy is, he has breathed new life into you"

Lisa blushed furiously. Apparently the ginger was way more observant than she had given her credit for, but then again, maybe she just hadn't bothered with hiding her incredibly good mood. And as crazy as it could sound, he had pretty much convinced her earlier her during breakfast.

Think about it. Leese. No one's got anything on me, for all purposes I don't exist. Besides, it's fucking Halloween, we'll be in costumes. Unless, you want to go on your own, do you?

"So, am I going to meet your mystery man, too?

Cynthia's question brought Lisa back from her reverie.

"You know what Cyn?" She looked at her friend smugly "I think you will"