Halloween Party

The legendary Halloween bash at Liam's house had been the talk of the school for weeks, right alongside the upcoming school fair. Every hallway conversation, every group chat—it all led back to either event. The excitement was contagious, and for once, I decided to let myself get caught up in it. I had every reason to—Liam's personal invitation was hard to ignore, especially after what he had done for me. Tonight, I wasn't just Grace, the bookworm. Tonight, I was stepping into something different. Something bold.

Sophie, my ever-reliable partner-in-crime when it came to fun, was beyond thrilled at my decision. "Finally! Took you long enough," she had said, practically dragging me into her room to plan outfits a week before the party. "You're going to look so good, Grace. No one will even recognise you."

That had been the running theme among our friends leading up to tonight—how different this party was going to be, how wild, how unforgettable. It was just what everyone needed to take a break from the stress of the school fair preparations and upcoming tests.

And now the night was here.

I stood in front of my mirror, staring at the reflection of a girl I barely recognised. My French maid costume was bold, the short black dress hugging my frame just enough to make me feel confident yet slightly nervous. The ruffled skirt barely grazed my thighs, and my sleek black kitten heels added just enough height to make me feel powerful. My dark hair cascaded over my shoulders, smooth and silky, framing my face perfectly. For once, I actually felt like I belonged at a party like this.

Sophie had outdone herself too. Dressed as a nun—but make it rebellious—her outfit was a perfect mix of scandal and charm, a mini skirt and a slightly exposed top, making her look like she had stepped straight out of a drama series. "If we're going to make an entrance, we're doing it right," she had smirked.

With my mom busy at the hospital and my little sister off at our grandparents' place, I had no excuse to back out. It was time to own the night.

Liam's house was already glowing with the energy of a hundred high school juniors, ready to unleash all their pent-up stress. Music thumped from the windows, and shadows of moving bodies flickered against the curtains. Sophie and I exchanged a look before stepping up to the door.

Liam swung it open, his signature grin widening as he took us in. "Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to join the fun."

I rolled my eyes. "What, surprised?"

"A little," he admitted, crossing his arms. "You're usually too busy keeping our GPA afloat."

"Shut up and let us in," Sophie laughed, pushing past him.

Liam chuckled, stepping aside. "Come on in, then."

"Where's your Halloween mojo?" I motioned to his usual suit and tie, throwing some playful shade his way.

"Nah, I'm all about that responsible host vibe. Someone's got to keep an eye on Sinister's drink game," Liam explained, motioning us in and handing over some drinks. "Everyone's kicking it in the other room."

He led us down to the living room, where our classmates were packed in, and the beats were cranking, shaking the walls and firing up the party vibes.

Liam leaned in close, his cologne hitting me with a subtle aftershave vibe. "Enjoy the ride!" he hollered over the tunes.

Just as I was about to dive into the crowd, he snagged my arm, pulling me a bit closer. "Oh, and by the way, you're killing it tonight!" he shouted with a mischievous grin, blending into the music's beats.

Sophia yanked me into the pulsating crowd, pulling me deeper into the music's rhythm. I let go and surrendered to the beats, my hips swaying in sync with the vibe. As I got lost in the groove, I felt the gaze of someone on me. Sneaking a peek, I spotted Sinister rocking a cop costume, casually posted against the wall, drink in hand. The dude looked sharp, the cop outfit highlighting his physique, and rolled-up sleeves exposing veins on his arms. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes lingered on me just a little too long. I kept dancing, playing it cool, pretending I didn't catch his eye to avoid any potential awkwardness. But the weight of his stare made it impossible to ignore.

After a couple of drinks and a dance floor marathon, Sophia convinced me to join some classmates in the kitchen for a round of Never Have I Ever. I knew right off the bat that my life choices were on a whole different wavelength. My classmates, veterans of youthful exploits, were a far cry from my more reserved lifestyle. But thanks to Sophia's relentless persuasion, I found myself reluctantly playing along as the drinks started to work their magic. A slight buzz crept in, making everything seem a little funnier, a little lighter.

"Grace, you in for the game?" May, one of my classmates, asked.

"Absolutely." I grinned, feeling a rush of reckless excitement. Maybe tonight, just for once, I wouldn't be the quiet, predictable one.

The game kicked off with a bold move from a classmate, declaring, "Never have I ever made out with a stranger." Shots went down, including one by Sinister. My fingers tightened around my glass as I watched him, unreadable as ever, tilt the drink back without hesitation. I, on the other hand, remained the lone holdout, gripping my glass and silently observing. The game continued, each round stripping away more secrets and revealing sides of people I never thought I'd see.

The next revelation hit the room: "Never have I ever done it outside." A quiet tension settled as Sinister confidently took a shot. My head snapped toward him, brows lifting slightly. He caught my stare, smirking just enough to make my stomach flip. There was something unsettling about how easily he played along, as if nothing scared him. I looked away quickly, focusing on my untouched drink, feeling oddly out of place. The game carried on, laughter and teasing filling the air, but I had enough. Sitting there felt suffocating; I needed a break.

Wandering through the expansive mansion, I felt utterly disoriented, on a quest for the elusive bathroom. The alcohol had its sway over me, and I found myself navigating through the party haze, my steps slower, my thoughts a little too loud.

"Everything good?"

That voice. Deep, smooth, and entirely too familiar. My pulse jumped before I even turned around.

Of course, my luck. The last person I wanted to bump into tonight. Sinister leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with that lazy confidence that always managed to unnerve me. His presence alone sent a jolt of awareness through me, though I refused to acknowledge it.

I reminded myself to keep my words in check; stirring things up with him wouldn't do me any favours.

"Sure, just a bit turned around," I confessed, keeping my voice even.

"Doesn't seem like it," he retorted, lips twitching into that all-too-familiar smirk—the same one from that night. The one I tried so hard to forget.

My breath caught, but I masked it with an eye roll. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm fine."

He chuckled, low and amused, clearly not buying it. "The bathroom's this way." He motioned for me to follow, his tone casual, but his eyes said something else entirely. Something unreadable. Something dangerous.

I hesitated, but eventually trailed after him; the only sounds filling the air were the click of my heels and the echo of his shoes. The hallway stretched endlessly, each step feeling heavier, as if I were walking into something far more complicated than just finding a stupid bathroom.

I couldn't keep the silence anymore, so I blurted out, "Where's Darla?" It wasn't something I normally brought up—especially since she'd moved away—but the alcohol was doing that thing where it made me forget to be careful.

"With her parents. She's doing okay," Sinister replied, his voice cool, like it was just another day.

"So... how's everything with you guys?" I asked, even though I knew I probably shouldn't. The words just slipped out before I could stop them. I tried to focus on not looking too eager, though I couldn't ignore the way his presence made my heart race. He looked perfect today—flawless, like he always did—and I had to remind myself that I wasn't supposed to like him, that I shouldn't get lost in his gaze. But damn, I could feel myself slipping.

Sinister gave me a strange look. "Are you really asking, or is this just a way to cover up... whatever this is between us?"

I froze. "What do you mean?"

He took a step closer, and my breath caught. He was inches away now, the scent of sandalwood mixing with the soft traces of cologne and liquor on his breath. It should've been weird, but it wasn't—it was intoxicating. He leaned in, bracing himself against the wall, boxing me in with his arms.

"Uh, Sinister," I whispered, struggling to make words come out. I never imagined being this close to him, especially not after everything that had happened between us. If anyone saw us like this, it'd be all over—everyone would start laughing again, teasing me. The thought of it made my heart race in a different way.

"Sin," he murmured, his voice soft, like a secret between us.

I shook my head quickly. "Sinister, I'm not interested. You're already with someone. There's no tension here." I said it like I meant it, but a part of me wasn't sure at all. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the way his eyes were pulling me in, but I kept telling myself that I couldn't do this. I couldn't fall for him. Not again. It'd only end in disaster. Sophia had warned me, and he'd hurt me before. I couldn't let it happen again.

I looked up at him, realizing I was practically talking to myself while he watched me with that intense gaze of his. He was so close, I could feel his breath on my skin. And his lips... they looked so... perfect. What the hell, Grace? I thought, trying to shake myself out of it. Get it together.

Sinister inched even closer, and I could almost feel the heat between us. My heart was pounding now, my body screaming at me to step back, but I couldn't. I was frozen, caught between the tension and something... else. I knew I should've pushed him away, but instead, I found myself closing my eyes, waiting for the moment his lips would meet mine.

Then, his voice broke through the chaos. "Here's the bathroom."

I opened my eyes, realizing I'd completely misread the whole situation. He wasn't about to kiss me—he was just showing me the way. I felt like an idiot. My face probably looked like a tomato, but he didn't even seem to care. He just kept his gaze locked on mine, like we were in our own little world, and that somehow made everything feel... complicated.

"Thanks," I muttered, my legs refusing to move. We both stood there, staring at each other like we were caught in some kind of time loop, his presence pulling me closer even though I knew better.

I leaned toward him, and in a moment of madness, our lips met—fierce, hungry. Sinister didn't hesitate; he pulled me into the restroom, shutting the door behind us with purpose. His hands cradled my face gently, but the kiss deepened, and I felt him guide me effortlessly against the wall. He lifted me with ease, and my legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, feeling the press of his body against mine.

His lips moved from my mouth to my neck, leaving a trail of heat that made my breath hitch. But inside, I was panicking. What if he found out? What if he realized that I was still... me? That I hadn't been with anyone before? His every move made my heart race, but fear gnawed at me.

Slowly, he lowered me to the ground, both of us breathing heavily. He didn't say a word for a moment, just studied me, his gaze piercing.

"Another time, Miss Grace," he said with that knowing smirk of his, and in an instant, I was alone with my racing thoughts.

I sat there, dazed. I had just broken every rule I set for myself. I kissed him—the one who'd hurt me, who'd always been cruel. And now, despite Sophia's warnings, I had crossed the line. One moment, one reckless kiss, and everything felt different. How had it happened? How had I let myself get swept up like that?

I was a mess, utterly wasted in more ways than one.

Then, to make matters worse, Sinister pulled away, like nothing had happened. It felt like I had just played into some weird fantasy of his and now, I was left to deal with the aftermath.

I made my way out front, needing space, needing to breathe. A butler, probably one of Liam's guys, stopped me and kindly offered to call a cab.

"Madam, with the amount you've had tonight, it might be best to arrange a ride for you," he said, pulling out his phone with practiced ease.

"Thanks," I replied, taking a seat on the cold bench outside. It wasn't the most comfortable spot, but I was grateful for the air. My mind was spinning, and the dark night, with only the party lights shining through the windows, didn't help my confused headspace.

Then, out of nowhere, Sinister appeared next to me, like a shadow.

"Did I spook you?" he asked, his voice soft but full of concern.

I blinked at him, trying to process. Was he serious? This guy never cared about anything—at least, that's what I thought. But now he was sitting beside me, acting like... well, like he was actually worried.

"You didn't spook me, Sinister," I said, my voice a little shaky. "It's just... we crossed a line. I'm not the kind of girl who just throws away her boundaries like that."

I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to let myself get lost in that gaze. The temptation was there, always there, but I had to remind myself that this wasn't me. Not anymore.

"You don't have to worry about that," Sinister said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm not with anyone. We called it quits ages ago. Just... call me Sin."

"Sinister," I said ignoring the way he wants me to say but his voice is making my heart flutter—God, why did he have to make everything so complicated?

I sighed, unsure of what to say next. "This just doesn't feel right. We're barely talking, and now... I'm just the subject of gossip because of you." I shook my head, but his fingers brushing my arm sent shivers through me, and I couldn't think straight.

"No one will hurt you. If you want them gone, just say the word," he reassured, planting a soft kiss on my neck.

"Sin," I moaned accidentally, my body reacting to his touch despite the signals my brain was sending to stop.

"Yes?" he groaned, pulling me closer as he licked the side of my neck.

"We can't," I cried or moaned, unable to let go of the situation. It felt like he had me under some kind of spell, and I found myself losing control. How had we reached this point in just five hours?

"Tell me to stop," he whispered, nibbling on my ear. "Say the word, Tell me to stop, Petal. Say the word, and I'll leave you alone. I won't touch you again."

I'm battling with a jumble of thoughts. Come on, Grace, just say it—tell him to stop. But no matter how hard I try, the words won't come out. Never thought I'd hit such a low point.

Sinister waited for my response, his hands sliding underneath my dress and caressing my thighs. He slowly slipped his hand inside my dress, teasing me. I shot him a look with wide, shocked eyes.

"Should I slip my two fingers inside?" he whispered in my ear, and I could feel the heat creeping up my face and the back of my neck. I glanced around here and there, checking if anyone was watching us.

"We're outside the house; no one's gonna notice us here," he whispered in my ear, teasing me further by pressing his finger against my clothed entrance.

"The only thing to note is that you will be a quiet baby," he whispered while I tried to deny trying to remove his hand, but his touch sent shivers down my spine, and I gasped at the pleasure. His other hand tightened around my neck as I leaned back against him.

"Tell him to stop!" I screamed to myself, but the words stayed trapped. My mouth and body seemed to be conspiring against me. I felt like a puppet in his hands, and it scared me. It was dangerous, not just for my current situation but also for my reputation.

*Beep beep!*

I practically jumped off, eyes wide as my cab pulled up. Fixing my dress in a hurry, I bolted away as fast as my heels could manage. Then it hit me— Liam's butler had been chilling by the doorway the whole time, playing watchdog for the boss's boss.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and my thoughts were too jumbled. But I ran. As fast as I could, I ran straight for that cab, not caring if I looked like a mess.

I slammed the door behind me, and the cab pulled away, but I could feel Sinister's eyes on me, burning through the window.

Tomorrow, it would all be forgotten. At least, that's what I told myself as the cab sped away into the night.