Velma & Scooby: A Night of Unexpected Turns

October 31st rolled in, wrapped in excitement. And cold wind, blowing leafs.

Get ready, this is going to be a LONG post. Big night.

Anna and I, in the spirit of adventure, decided on a coordinated costume: Velma and Scooby from Scooby-Doo. I pulled on the orange turtleneck and red skirt, the thick glasses perched on my nose adding the finishing touch as Velma.

Anna, in a snug brown leotard, bodysuit and brown turtleneck, her face painted with playful dog features, embraced her inner Scooby, her amazing natural brown hair mimicking Scooby’s fur perfectly. Only Anna could pull off a glam Scooby-Doo.

As Anna and I crossed the threshold into her office, the atmosphere instantaneously transformed. The dull, everyday workspace was now a vibrant realm of fantasy and celebration. The air buzzed, electrified with unrestrained laughter and the euphoric rhythms of a lively dance track.

We entered a sea of inventive and colorful costumes, each one more eye-catching and imaginative than the last. What a blast!

We navigated through clusters of colleagues, unrecognizable as they assumed their Halloween alter-egos.

A trio of witches, draped in ominous black, cackled while stirring imaginary potions.

Pirates, adorned with tricorn hats and fake, hefty swords, gallantly traversed the crowded space, intermittently breaking character to share a joke or two. Characters ripped from comic book pages and blockbuster films added a modern flair to the festive tableau. Ghosts of 80s pop stars floated by, their vibrant attire clashing brilliantly with the subdued office decor.

I didn’t know much about Anna’s work, but they seemed like a pretty creative bunch, tbh.  They also weren’t shy about dancing and drinking with co-workers.

Amidst this lively maze, Anna and I danced and mingled, our own costumes getting constant nods of approval.

As we moved together through the sea of color and pulsing beat of dance music, we were flagged down by one of Anna’s favorite coworkers, Mike, a tall guy dressed as a hippie. Not exactly a Shaggy look-a-like, but close enough for us after a few drinks.

Mike’s eyes were lit up as he recognized our themed outfits, and he playfully challenged Anna to do her best Scooby impersonation.

With a laugh and a roll of her eyes, Anna agreed. She gamely got down on all fours on the office floor, her Scooby outfit making the act all the more hilarious. She crawled around with exaggerated, goofy movements, imitating the beloved cartoon dog with a playful “Ruh-roh!” sending bursts of laughter through the nearby crowd.

I couldn’t help but get drawn into the playful act, patting Anna on her head in affectionate amusement, mimicking the way Shaggy would to Scooby. Anna’s willingness to embrace the silliness brought a new layer of affection in my eyes for her. Her face, painted with the endearing makeup of Scooby-Doo, beamed as she rose from the floor to applause from her entertained coworkers.

But then, the unexpected struck amidst the revelry.

After a bit, we found ourselves alone in the office kitchen, away from the bustle.

The dark, wanna-be creepy lighting cast a soft glow, highlighting the specks of gold in Anna’s eyes, transformed into a friendly canine for the night. Our drunk laughter echoed in the quiet space as we exchanged stories about things we’d seen so far at the party.

But a sudden shift, a fleeting yet intense look from Anna, stopped the laughter. The air seemed to hum with a different energy, a palpable tension wrapping around us in a gentle embrace.

She was giving me an intense look.

In that lingering silence, our eyes held a conversation of their own, a dialogue beyond words, filled with surprise, uncertainty, and the whisper of unexplored delights.

The party around us seemed to fade, the laughter and music a distant hum as we stood enveloped in the bubble of shared connection and unexpected warmth. I noticed a little floating dust mote settle on the black part of her nose, and gently nudged it away with the back of my knuckle. I didn’t want anything spoiling the way Anna looked to me in that moment.

Buuuuut, the moment dissolved as swiftly as it had formed.

The kitchen door swung open, a couple of zombies barging in, shattering the delicate silence with laughter and chatter. Anna and I exchanged a soft, knowing smile, an unspoken agreement to let the night roll on, keeping the shared moment tucked away. For now.

We rejoined the dance and laughter, the insanely loud dance music. The night unfolded in a dance of shadows and lights, the moments of connection and shared laughter adding hues of warmth and depth.

By around 2 am, tired as zombies, the party winding down, we headed out to grab the subway home. We took opposite trains, but she came to my platform to wait with me for my train.

In the embrace of our friendship – and the hint of something more, Anna and I sat together on the platform bench, waiting for my train, leaning close to each other just to stay upright

K.