Chapter Five: Spooky Season

It's been sometime since school started in August. Now we're entering the month of October or, what I like to call it, Spooky Season. Josh and I every year would always dress up in matching outfits. Last year we were a pair of detectives. This year on the other hand is gonna be different.

'Hey Josh,' I walked into the dining room. Going to the kitchen island I stared at Josh.

Looking at me, our parents walked in behind him.

'Hey kiddos,' my dad messed with my hair.

Turning my head to resist his fatherly love and affection I saw my mother play with her coffee maker.

'Nothing much dad,' Josh peered back at me, 'Actually Sammy was gonna tell me something.'

'Want us to leave princess?'

'It's all fine,' stretching my arms, I released a great yawn from the exhaustion I felt. Thankfully it was Saturday. 'Josh I wanted to let you know, I won't be able to go Tricking n Treating with you this year,' I stared into his blank expression. Beginning to wonder if he cared he responded.

'Alrighty.'

'And what do you think you're doing missy?'

My mother decided to chim in.

'Well I was invited to a party an-'

'Don't even think about going.'

'What, but why?'

My mother spun around with her mug in hand, 'You're a teenager going to a party, you do the "fill in the blank,"' her eyes held stern to me.

Thoughts raced in my head. I though her judgment was unfair and unreasonable. Calming down I found a way to convince her. 'And what if Josh was to act as my chaperon?'

'Wait what?'

'Doesn't sound like a bad idea honey,' my dad now looked at my mother.

'Huh?'

My mother thought about it long while Josh stood there like an idiot. 'I guess,' she shot her glance towards Josh, 'If our baby girl does anything shes not suppose to-'

'Yeah yeah,' Josh half turned his face to me.

Analyzing it I recognized that face from anywhere, it was his famous "I will kill you" face.

I just snickered to myself.

With my parents leaving the room, Josh approached me.

'What were you thinking!?'

'What,' I tossed my arms to my side.

'I know what party your talking about,' he turned away, walking with his hand in his face, then coming back.

'You do?'

He sighed, 'It's a senior tradition, always done with new groups of seniors at the richest kids house.'

I placed my finger on my chin, 'So that's why I got invited?'

He pulled out his phone, showing his invitation, 'Everyone recieves one.'

'We're definitely going then,' I pulled out my phone, 'By the way-'

'Yeah,' he walked towards the fridge, opening it.

'What's it mean masked?'

'Everyone has to wear masks to be unknown.'

My face went blank. I was going to meet up with my only friend, yet we won't know who's who. 'Then I'll-'

'If you're gonna ask your friend what she/he's wearing, that's going against the party rules, and the seniors tradition is very....sacred.'

I swallowed my fear and expressed my pride 'Guess I'm making new friends.'

Days went by, and nothing eventful happened in school, and I did my work, and attended my club like promised, and I did everything needed of me. It's now October 31st and I'm changing into my costume. Cat ears placed in my hair, a sweater with sleeves longer than my arms, jorts with a chain hanging from my front pocket, fingerless leather gloves, hair dyed bright red with black tips, socks stretching past my knees full midnight colour, plastic knife in one hand, and a half-mask splattered with fake blood. Grabbing my black boots, Josh came in.

Pausing at my door, he had a broken facial expression.

'Que pasa?'

'Hm,' he snapped back to reality.

Putting on my black boots, I stood hands on hips, 'What I learned from Spanish.'

With his hockey mask resting on the top of his head, he leaned against my wall now, 'What are you suppose to be?'

'A cute killer,' I puckered up my lips and kicked my left leg up behind me, like if I were a flamingo.

'Killers aren't cute,' walking off he stopped for a second, 'C'mon, let's get going.'

Kissing my mother on her cheek goodbye, we left out the front door. Climbing into the passenger seat.

Pulling out the driveway, Josh let out a sigh.

'Something bothering you?'

Waiting at the stop sign Josh tapped his hands on the wheels. Pulling out into the open road, Josh's body seemed stressed, stiffed.

'Josh?'

'If anyone tries to hit on you-'

'Josh!'

'I know your not dumb but-' his GPS told us we were about a minute or so from the house. The neighborhood was filled with lots of beautiful two story houses.

Thinking about it, it's funny how close the house is to us, gladly traffic was light.

'-Look, just don't do anything you'll regret doing.'

Taking a turn around the corner, a house triple the size of any of the other stood. Cars parked all over the property, Josh pulled up on the lawn and we got out.

Making sure my mask was on I stiffened. It didn't come to mind prior but now that I am here, so many people came and I've been humiliated first day of school and there were witnesses. Other than that, I'm not the most social person. 'Josh, could I-'

'Technically, I shouldn't know who you are,' he slipped on his mask and walked off.

'Damn him,' I thought before inevitably walking past the few individuals outside to get inside. Upon entering, people left and right of me were dancing and gaming and talking. Some of the bigger kids, who I assumed were upper classmen, talked to one another. They probably figured out who their identities were already. Only those who looked like freshman seemed isolated. Some tried to make friends with others while some kept to themselves. Seeing that, I choose to challenge myself to make new friends, no matter the grade level. Looking at the punchbowl, I saw skinny man approach it. Deciding he'd be my first new friend, I too approached them. Going up to their side, his mask conceal half his face as well. I tried to figure out their costume.

The person was wearing a plaid, red n black, flannel with skinny blue jeans. Wearing brown boots and his whole person was covered in fake blood. Their mask was a half-mask like mine. Looking at their long blonde hair,with a worn out beanie on top, I assumed he was in a band. Grabbing a cup of punch with his left hand, he turned and looked at me, but for a bloodied lumber jack, their lips were glossed and nails painted black.

'Hello,' I said in attempt to spark a conversation.

'How's it going,' his voice sounded feminine as well, he mustn't have a lot a friends because of that.

'Find, so, you find any friends here?'

'Mmmm,' he placed his free hand on his chin, and nodded, 'Nope, but you wanna chat?'

Thinking about walking off to find Sammy, but I told myself, 'I need to make more friends.' 'Sure,' I smiled at him.

Leaning against the table, he sipped from his cup, 'I know we just meet, but you look gorgeous.'

I began to blush, 'Well what can I say? Was aiming to be cute, but gorgeous is just to good.'

He stood and straightened his back, 'You should try this,' he reached his cup out to me.

'Not alcohol, right?'

He laughed, 'I hope not.'

Taking his cup, I took a sip of the punch. Tasting sweet and strongly like a tropical flavor. A mixture of fruits and added sugars, the punch made me feel like I was drinking Kool-aid, maybe it was. 'Good,' I gave him the cup back.

Recieving it, we heard someone yelling while walking down the staircase.

'If I could get everyone's attention!'

Looking at the person, I could recognize who they were. It was the senior who was running the party, or so that was my guess. He was the same man who invited me and many others, saying 'I'd love if you could come to my party.'

'I appreciate you all coming out to my party!'

Everyone stood in silence, punches in one hand, and some, costume props in the other.

'This party, for as some of you know, is a tradition done by seniors every year. This year is my generation, and it's now my turn,' He raised his plastic cup of punch, 'A cheers to previous generations!'

Everyone raised their cups and cheered with him, 'Yeah,' they yelled.

'Now, we'll all play a series of games, first being perfect for finding love-'

I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand. Turning around, Josh loomed behind me. 'J-Josh?'

'We're lea-'

'Closet kissing!'

I turned to the man again, 'Closet Kissing?'