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Cold winter air drifted into the second-floor bedroom of the Foley household. The light was on past curfew. The low hum of music could be heard from down the hall. The owner of the room, Tucker Foley, had his head buried in his hands as he sat in front of the computer. He has spent the last four hours putting the finishing touches on the perfect date with no success.
Out of the three of them, Tucker was born first. His birthday was twelve days ago on February 1st. Since the day he turned fifteen and got his permit, he has been saving up money for tomorrow, February 14th. Yesterday, without telling Sam and Danny, he bought his first car. It was step one of his plan to sweep his partners off their feet with the perfect Valentine's Day date.
The car was actually an old van that took hours to wash and clean, but it was his. He was the first of them to get a car. Sure Sam could sneeze and say the only remedy was a new car and have one by dinner, but he worked hard for his and that made it more meaningful. For the past year, he worked odd jobs around town, had a job over the summer at the small movie theater in town (he almost got fired once when he got caught sneaking Sam in), and saved all of his allowances. All of it leads to him meeting a sketchy man in the town next to theirs that he found online to buy it. Despite being the oldest he was not the first to drive. That pleasure went to Danny, as his parents thought him learning to drive was an important ghost-hunting tool. However, calling what Danny does "driving" is a huge overstatement.
The gift he wanted to give them this Valentine's Day wasn't the best date ever, though he would give them that too, it was an escape. A day away from ghosts, a day away from Amity Park. That was what the van was truly for. If they ever needed an escape then they would have one. They could have a place just for them where the rest of the world couldn't bother them. A safe space just for the three of them. The actual date was eluding him. He knew how he wanted the date to end. And he had a reservation for the three of them that was booked months in advance at a fancy restaurant that was vegan-friendly. He even bribed asked Dani and Val to watch the town while they were gone. He wanted the date to be perfect but something was off. If only he could find out what.
~~~
Keeping the secret during school was the hardest thing he had to do in a while. All day he was bombarded by other couples sharing cute gifts and over-the-top declarations of love. His ears were still ringing from Pauilina’s screech when she was given a huge teddy bear by Dash. But he was here now leading his partners to the school parking lot. “Ta-Da!” He said motioning at his van.
“You are kidnapping children in your spare time?” Danny joked confusingly. Tucker hit him with his elbow.
“No man. I'm taking you two on a date in my new car.”
“Congrats on the new car, but did you have to buy a murder van?” Sam questioned.
“It's the only thing I could afford. If you guys keep complaining I'm not going to let you help me paint it,” he pouted.
Sam shrugged her shoulders. “Shotgun!” She announces. Their hands were intertwined together as she pulled them towards the passenger door.
“It's all one big seat so shotgun is impossible,” he explained.
“Where are we going?” Danny asked after he climbed in after Sam.
“Out for dinner in Elgin. And before you asked I got Dani and Val to watch the town. Also, the place is Vegan friendly.” He started the van.
“So what are you planning to paint the van?” Sam asked as they were out on the open road.
He had some ideas but wanted to hear what they had to say. “I'm open to suggestions.”
“Paint it the starry night. That way it can be The Van Gou,” Danny stated.
“No puns.” He and Sam said at the same time. Danny just stuck his tongue out at him.
“The best thing you could do is be a roaming billboard. Let the town know about all of the things they are blind to. Be the change,” Sam said.
“If I can't have puns you can't have a portable protest,” Danny said lightly shoving Sam.
“Your ideas suck,” he teased, “I thought maybe one of those cheezy murals of wolves howling at the moon.”
“You're forgetting that the van has two sides. We could have a cheezy wolf painting on one side and on the other a classy ‘Eat The Rich’.” Sam waved her hand in a imagine this gesture.
“I'm not a eat the rich kind of guy Sam,” Tucker states.
“That's not what he said on Monday,” Sam muttered under her breath and bumped her shoulder with Danny’s.
“Present company excluded.” Tucker would have rolled his eyes at his girlfriend if he wasn't currently driving.
“Oh! Building off of Sam’s idea, what if we make up a fake company ad and put Vlad’s number on the side,” Danny piped up.
“Do people even call the numbers on the sides of vans?” Tucker said through his laughter at Danny’s idea.
“No idea. The company has to be ludicrous enough that Vlad feels dread whenever he picks up his phone or else it will only be funny the first time,” Sam states.
“Oh of course,” Tucker says with a solemn nod.
~~~
They arrived early to their reservation so they decided to do some window shopping. The three of them wandered into a thrift shop that was a block away from the restaurant. They decided to split up and find the best item in the shop. Whoever had the best thing gets to pay for dinner. Something they all feel guilty for not doing. Usually, they were happy to let Sam pay, but on big dates like these, it was a battle for whoever got to treat the others. Tucker was determined to win. This is his date after all.
He walked past rows and rows of clothes. There were some gems, but he knows his partners. There was no way they wouldn't love a fucked up haunted-looking doll. It's a known fact that every thrift shop has at least one. He just has to find where they hid it.
In the back of the store, he found it. The most beautiful thing he has ever seen. It was a tiny doll with lopsided unbrushed hair, a long noose around her neck, glittery blue shutter shades covering her lifelike eyes, a shirt and overalls with the words “Cool Guy” written on it, and a shoe was missing (letting one set of detailed toes hang out). She was only a dollar. What a steal! Also better not actually be haunted.
The three of them convened in the front of the store. Sam showed off her item first. It was a plain white T-shirt with the words “I Like Your Jugs” written on the front. Each letter was in a different font. She flipped it around to show the back. It said, “Do You Like Mine?”. Sam was beaming in pride. It was good but he knew he has her beat. Danny went next. He showed them a mirror with the center part of the glass cut out and replaced with a picture of Jesus. Entirely unuseful. He loved it, but he knows his is better. Tucker pulls the doll out from behind his back and lets her dangle from his hand.
Sam gasps in delight. “It's the perfect mix of haunted doll and radical nineties teen. Unfortunately, I thought we banned haunted dolls after the last time. Danny still has bite marks on his ankles.”
“Danny?” Tucker swung the doll in his hand closer to his boyfriend.
“Not technically haunted,” Danny said to Sam with a shit-eating grin.
“I guess I can let it slide this time, but no more after this.”
“Okay. Okay.” Tucker concedes. “Does this mean I win?” Danny and Sam nod their heads. “Hell yeah! What should we name her?”
“You're actually buying that thing?” Danny questions.
“Dude, of course.” He begins making his way to the cashier.
“She looks like a Tabitha,” Sam says.
Setting her on the counter the cashier looks up at him. “One Tabitha please,” he says. The cashier rolls their eyes at him and takes off the dollar sticker on her. Tucker pays and they exit the store. He hangs her on the rearview mirror. A place of pride.
~~~
Tucker felt underdressed in the restaurant, but they didn't turn him and his partners away so he thinks it’s fine. They were tucked away in the corner next to a huge window. Soft orchestral music played. Their waiter brought them a plate of complimentary warm bread and soft honey butter. Sam only ate the amazing bread, but Danny and him made sure she knew how delicious the butter was too. They finished the whole plate.
The menu wasn't all that complex. Just sticking to what they are known for. Sam ordered pan-fried Tofo which was covered in a brown sauce and vegan mushroom risotto. She made Tucker take a bite of her dish and even he has to admit it was pretty damn good. Meat was better than Tofo any day, but he was happy that Sam had food she was enjoying, even if it was vegan. Since Danny lost a bet with Sam a few months ago he has gone vegetarian. That traitorous fool. He was holding out on becoming full vegan like her though. Danny ordered vegetable lasagna. He cleaned his plate. Tucker the only smart one in the group ordered a mouth-watering steak dish with a side of potatoes. It was heaven on earth. The meat melted in his mouth. Unfortunately, it was too much for him to eat in a single sitting. He put the rest in a to-go bag.
“There is no way you are bringing your meat smells into the van,” Sam complained.
“It's my van Sam.” Tucker reminded her. Sam pouted in her seat knowing it was a losing argument.
“Why don't we get ice cream for dessert?” Danny suggested. Probably to stop a fight before it breaks out.
“How can you possibly eat anything else?” Tucker groaned.
“You were the one who wanted a three-pound steak,” Danny reminded him.
“I don't regret anything. I'm too full to move.” Tucker left the full amount of their meal and a sizable tip on the table. “Pull me up so we can leave and get you two some ice cream.” He hung his arms out in front of him. Danny pulled him up with ease. He probability weighed nothing to him. Stupid super strength.
They were standing in front of Tucker’s new van. He rested his head on the vehicle. “Too full. Can't drive,” he complained.
“I can drive,” Danny happily piped up.
“NO!” Tucker and Sam quickly shut him down. The van was about the size of the GAV. They knew how well he drove that thing. They don't need to lose the amazing meal they just had. Tucker handed the keys over to Sam.
~~~
Sam brought them to a mom-and-pop ice cream parlor that was a few miles away from the restaurant they were just eating at. They had a few tables set up outside, but the winter night air made them inhabitable.
“You two stay here I'll grab us stuff,” Sam says noticing the long line of couples and the small space left in the building.
“You're just trying to pay for dessert. I see right through you Manson,” Tucker snarks. Sam laughed but didn't deny the accusations. She left to get their treats.
Danny grabbed Tucker’s hand and gave it a strong squeeze. “Thank you for the night off.”
“I just figured you two could use a break.”
“You didn't need to buy a van for that.” Danny tried to joke.
“That's not what the van is for. Well, it sort of is, but it's more than that. I wanted to give you and Sam a place to escape to. I know how much her parents drive her insane and how she needs time away from them. This can be a place for her to have that time. And your parents…” He trailed off. They both knew how many times it wasn't safe for Danny to go home. How many times has he crashed at Tucker’s place to get away from them now? Everything from Danny needing stitches to him setting off a new ghost-hunting device. Hell if things with the Guys In White go south the van can take them far away.
Danny was looking at him with wide teary eyes. “Tucker that's so sweet.” Danny pulled him into a kiss. “I love you,” he said before pulling him into another kiss.
“I love you too,” Tucker says before pulling himself into Danny’s lap and fully making out with his boyfriend. Danny’s lips tasted like the sauce on his lasagna.
The van door slid open. A loud sarcastic gasp was heard. “Are you stealing my boyfriend?” Which one of them Sam was talking to was unclear.
“You’re just jealous,” Danny says pulling away from Tucker.
“Of course I am,” Sam jokes. “One chocolate shake for you.” She hands Danny his drink. “And a vegan banana shake for me.” She made an annoying slurping sound with her shake. “Do you want me to drive us back?”
“Nah, we need to stop somewhere first.” Tucker took the keys back.
“Sam wait until you hear how much of a sap Tucker is,” Danny teases.
“Oh do tell,” Sam says taking another slurp from her drink. Why does he love these jerks again?
~~~
Tucker pulled off the road back to Amity Park. He stopped the van at a clearing surrounded by tall trees. He took the keys out. “Everyone out.”
“It is a murder van,” Danny joked.
“No one is dying.” Tucker rolls his eyes.
“Says you,” Danny counters.
The three of them exit the van. Sam was shivering from the cold air and the ice cream she was finishing off. Tucker pulls a large thick blanket out from the back. He wraps it around Sam’s shoulders. “What are we doing out here?” She asks.
“I figured Danny would like to star gaze without being interrupted by a ghost for once,” Tucker said. Danny looks at him as if he hung the stars. He floated up and landed on top of the van. He lies down watching the stars above them. After a quick half a minute, he looked over to him and Sam and patted the spot next to him. Sam huffed in amusement and climbed up. She pulled Tucker up after. They sat next to Danny as he went back to watching the stars. Sam rested her head on Tucker’s shoulder. She draped part of the blanket over his shoulders and held his hand.
Sam brought his hand up to her lips and gave it a soft kiss. Her lipstick black left a mark. “I love you both.” She announced as if she doesn't tell them every day.
“You're only dating me 'cause I have a car,” he joked as he planted a kiss on her temple.
“What about Danny,” she joked back.
“He’s hot. Duh,” Tucker replied.
“You know it.” Danny stuck his hand out for a high five. Tucker easily gave him one.
“Nevermind you two are dorks.” Sam scrunched up her nose playfully.
“Too late you already love us,” Tucker informed her. Sam snuggled in closer to him.
Danny spent the next hour telling them space facts and pointing out constellations. Sam fell asleep snuggled up next to Tucker. Her body heat kept him warm. It was the perfect quiet night. Tucker wouldn't trade this moment for anything. If Clockwork wanted to make this moment last forever he would be happy with that.
It turns out the thing he was missing from his plans was the chaos and love Sam and Danny brought to his life every day. How could he forget something that important?