“Don’t be late, okay?” Brandi kissed Dustin once more. Some odd premonition happened to her this morning, and she felt that it had to do with Dustin. Something bad might happen to him…
“Okay, Mom.” Dustin slipped into his sneakers.
“Don’t drink…” she said ominously. “And, there’d better be no weed…”
“Okay, Mom,” Dustin said, irritably. Before she could say anything else, he flashed out the door. He stared straight ahead, and saw that Janie was locking her door.
Even though she was a high school senior, she still dressed up. She looked just like a little girl in her pink tutu, her pink leotard, and her laced up pink ballet slippers.
When she turned around, their eyes met and she was the first to smile. She quickly crossed the road. “Ready?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He got out his keys and opened the doors to his car.
She quickly slipped in, as did he. He started the engine and drove out of the driveway.
Along the way, Janie only stared out the window. She refused to look at him.
He knew that she still felt awkward from that Thursday that felt like a millennia ago. As a matter of fact, it made him feel just as awkward.
“Do-do you want to get something to eat first?”
“…You’re making it sound like prom…”
“I-I’m just worried that they won’t have enough food…”
“…No, I’m fine.”
“Oh, okay.”
She slowly turned to look at him. “How’s Angela?”
At first, he seemed too focused on the road ahead. Then, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “…Are you really going to talk about her when we’re together?” Without warning, he pulled over and stopped the hum of the car. He then turned to fully face her.
She looked into her lap.
“Well?”
She bit her lower lip, an act that made her seem even more vulnerable to him…made her seem more lovable to him.
He brought his hand and placed it on hers. “Janie, let’s never talk about the rest of the world. Let’s only talk about us.”
“Us?” She shifted in her seat. She softly laughed. “Do you know how wrong that sounds? Us?”
“Don’t tell me that there isn’t an ‘us’ in this place…”
“Dustin, there are too many things wrong with…whatever we have.”
“No. No, there isn’t.”
“You have a girlfriend.”
He nodded. “I know.”
“Your mom doesn’t like me.”
“I know.”
“And…and, face it, we’re just too different.”
He let go of her hand and placed it on the steering wheel. He then laughed. “You make it sound like Romeo and Juliet.” He smiled. “It’s kind of funny.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
She stared wide-eyed at him.
“I don’t think I care,” he whispered, “if you find this wrong. Because, honestly, I feel that I had nothing before I met you, and that everything right now is right.”
“…And, what’s going to happen after this? After I give in?”
He smiled, love oozing out of his eyes. “Well, we can say that it was all of my fault and that I would totally pay responsibility. Because, if it’s you, I think I can do anything.”
“And, how do I know you’re not lying?” She smiled a bit. “What if I’m knocked up and you don’t do anything?”
“Then, I’d allow you to kill me.”
“Really?”
“I promise.”
“Are you sober?”
“I haven’t even seen a bong or a Budweiser in a week.”
“…Are you in love?” She stared at him, while he stared back.
He brushed his lips against her lips. “I think I am.” He pressed them against hers, savoring their sweetness and tenderness. “Actually, I am…I love you, Janie.”
After picking up Lilith, Ginger and Gavin, and Jeremy, Dirk headed to Bluewater for the Halloween Party. It would take about fifteen minutes before they cross the Bluewater-Pleasantview borderline.
And, already, Jeremy was passing around a rolled up, expertly made, cigar filled with marijuana.
“Hey, have you heard from Janie, yet?” Jeremy asked as he gave the cigar to Lilith.
After a long inhale, Lilith exhaled. “Well, not today. And, I’ve tried calling, but she hasn’t picked up.”
“Will Alex and them be there?” Ginger asked.
Lilith snorted. “I hope not.”
Alexander Goth…if he was there, then his posse would be there. If his posse was there, then they’d only remind Dirk of the Warburton and Eckhart valedictorian—Stephen Chang. And, Stephen Chang reminded Dirk of Stephen’s girlfriend: Sunsanee Punyawong.
“Dirk, the light’s green!” Lilith shouted.
Dirk snapped out of his memories and stepped on the peddle.
“Don’t fall asleep on me,” Gavin remarked. “I don’t want to have to drive these three to the party by myself.”
“S-sorry…” I’ve got to stop thinking about her… But, just as sorry fate had it, they pulled up to another stop light. The car next to them was a Mercedes Benz.
The guy in the driver’s seat was dressed in some kind of Superman tee-shirt. The girl next to him wasn’t dressed up at all.
And, all it took was one glance. One casual glance that turned into a full on stare. “Susie…”
She was laughing with the guy in the driver’s seat. The invisible joke was most likely gut-wrenching. She was laughing so hard that Dirk swore he could hear her.
The stop light took forever. The guy reached out and grabbed her hand. From this notion, she blushed but didn’t take any action towards it. Then, she turned to look out of her window, a tomato-red blush well founded in her cheeks.
The tomato-blush instantly disappeared as her eyes lifted to meet Dirk’s in that encounter. The moment felt like a second; felt like an eternity. Suddenly, the Mercedes was already speeding away to that God-forbidden Halloween party that Dirk was going to.
“Dirk!” Ginger—from behind his seat—kicked his seat. “Go!”
But, Dirk didn’t start the car. He sat there, wondering what kind of feeling he saw in her eyes. He thought he saw sadness, but it was probably the sadness from his eyes being reflected by hers…
At the party, people were already flocking in. Club Heat was a three story club that could fill about three thousand people in it. And, it didn’t help much that three high schools in the surrounding area were having one major Halloween party in it…
Chase downed whatever drink that had been offered to him. It was some kind of bitter-sweet drink that was probably some kind of cocktail. Well, it didn’t matter to him. He needed it.
Omar patted his back. “Hey, slow down.”
“I’m fine,” Chase nastily replied.
“The good stuff comes at night,” Kyle admitted. “We’ve still got a good five hours.” Kyle passed the Buffalo wings. “Here, at least have something to eat.”
Chase took the offer and began nibbling the spicy pieces of chicken.
“Hey, check that girl out.” Greg quickly sat down and motioned towards the myriad of girls just coming in. “The blonde one. Oh, the brunette is my type too.”
“Hey, have a look, Chase.” Omar smirked. “Maybe you’ll find one you’d like.”
“I’m okay.”
“Why are you so depressed all of a sudden? You’ve been getting on my nerves since last week…” Kyle downed a shot of something wicked. “Is this still about Ashley?”
“Speak of the bitch,” Omar remarked as he motioned towards yet another myriad of girls clamoring into the front doors.
Ashley was dressed as some kind of slutty witch. Her skirt was leather and way too high to even be called a skirt. Her top showed a little too much skin, and her knee-high boots were too tight-fitting. She even went to the depths of wearing a neon-red wig.
Chase glanced at her, and went back to his wings.
His friends realized that it wasn’t about Ashley.
“So, this isn’t about Ashley.” Greg touched Chase’s arm. “So, I’m thinking it’s about the other one. Lee.”
Chase looked at Greg. He wouldn’t say anything, but the look in his eyes said everything.
“Do you like her?” Greg whispered.
Chase shook his head.
“Then, what is it?”
Chase sighed. “I-I don’t know…” He leaned back in his chair and caught a glimpse at the couple coming through the doors. He instantly sat up and quickly turned around to get a good look.
Lee was actually in a skirt…a dress. She actually was wearing high heels. She might’ve even been wearing make-up. Her eyes definitely seemed larger. She wore earrings, which she never did before. Her lips looked redder than usual. And…she had actually made her hair.
But, she was linking her arm into the nook of Jeffrey Sanders’ arm.
And, they actually looked good together.
“Trick or treat!”
Nita watched as Ali and Nick went to get some candy along with their friends. She still didn’t understand why the two had suddenly met on friendlier terms, though they had a rather big fight earlier in the week.
“You’re out too?”
Nita turned around and smiled as Quentin came towards her. “Just with Nick and Ali.”
Quentin nodded. “Just thought I came out and score some candy.”
She noted at how simple his costume was: a black sheet around him and candy fangs in his mouth. “And, my neighbor wanted to come too.”
“Oh? Where is your neighbor?”
Quentin motioned to the house that Ali and Nick had just gone to. “The girl dressed as a zombie.”
Immediately, Nita knew who she was. “Your neighbor is Raven Poe?”
“Yep.”
“Lucky you.”
“I know.”
The two waited for Raven and the Punyawong siblings to come towards them. Once regrouped and introduced, the group decided to trick or treat as a group.
The younger siblings were ahead, whereas the three older pre-teens sauntered behind.
“I heard that you were moving.” Nita looked at Raven and admired at how real of a zombie she looked.
“Who told you?”
“I did,” Quentin admitted.
Raven nodded. “I am. I’m going to Veronaville.”
“That’s far.”
“It is.”
“You’re moving over the summer, right?”
“Yep.”
As the conversation drifted from one topic to another, they were nearing Crumplebottom Park. And, as they were nearing the park, two familiarly painful faces appeared about a yard away from them.
The people were holding hands, and a small gasp escaped Raven’s lips.
“B-Beau?”
“Raven?”
“Nita…”
“Lawrence…”
Quentin didn’t expect the terrible tension that followed. He looked once more at the two boys holding hands. “Hey guys. We were just out trick-or-treating. How about you guys join us?”
Beau looked at Lawrence. “Well?”
“Um…I-I guess…” He looked up at Nita. “Is that okay, Nita?”
Nita looked the other way. “Whatever.” Such a cold answer…
The two boys lurked ahead, Quentin followed them with the Punyawong siblings, and Nita and Raven trailed far behind.
So, it was only Quentin who saw the frequent glances that Lawrence gave to Nita, or the infrequent and questionable stares that Raven gave to Beau.
Nothing could have been more awkward.
When they arrived at another house, Quentin darted away with the Punyawong siblings, leaving the girls to the boys.
“I-I didn’t know that you two were dating,” Raven casually admitted.
“We’ve been dating for about a week,” Beau coldly replied.
“Ah, so Lawrence is…that person…”
Beau nodded.
“That’s great that you two are dating.” Nita looked up from the ground. “I’m glad for you.”
Is that all you’re going to say? “So, you’re dating Quentin?” Lawrence fidgeted from holding hands with Beau to his bag of candy.
“He’s a friend. We’re not dating.” Nita looked at Raven. “But, aren’t you two dating, Raven?”
“…We’re neighbors. I would never date Quentin.” She looked at Beau. “But, yeah, it’s great that you’re dating. Does your mom know?”
“…She knows.”
Nita attempted to smile. “At least you guys are happy. That’s what we would want: for you to be happy.” She looked at Lawrence. “You’re happy, right?”
“Uh, yeah,” Lawrence lied, “I’m totally happy.”
About fifty miles away, a lone college student was working the night shift at a local café.
As she cleared the tables, she watched the local college students pass by the café in their ridiculous attempts of sci-fi characters, witches, vampires, and werewolves.
After setting the tray into the back, Sue sat down. She never expected that her first year at college would be going by this fast.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She looked through it, realizing that no one had called.
“Trick or treat.”
She looked up to see that annoying face that belonged to that infuriating man. She let out one hell of a sigh and sat up. “What do you want?”
“A treat. Or a trick. I’d rather take the treat.” He smiled.
“Shouldn’t you be somewhere?”
“And you not with me?”
She crossed her arms. “It’s Halloween. No one’s in here. If you’re here then my boss won’t close up shop. If he doesn’t close up shop, then I’m going have to stay here and possibly fail my exam tomorrow because I won’t have enough time to polish my studying for it.”
He chuckled as he slid into the seat next to her. “Listen, I’m having a frat party tonight. Are you coming?”
“Should I dress up?”
“As a slutty French maid.”
She punched him while he laughed. “Shut up, Ash.”
Ashley Pitts smiled. “Honestly, you should come. You never come to parties.”
“Well, I’m not a party person.”
“Figures. You are in the business major.” He sighed. “Thus, everything has to be serious with you. You’re just like my roomie—Castor. He’s in the law major and he’s going to be accepted into Edison & Co.”
“That’s nice.”
“Well, you should come. It’s Halloween, and there are better things to do than study.” On a naughtier note, he added, “Like pot, crack, and sex.”
“I can’t believe you take mathematics, when all you can ever think about are those three things.”
He snickered. “Well, when that’s all you can think about, that means you’re only good at those things. So, are you coming?”
“Well, if you get the hell out of here, I’ll consider.”
“Where’s Dustin?” Ashley innocently asked as she came up to Angela.
“He’s sick,” Angela smiled, “he said he couldn’t make it today.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Ashley took a seat next to Angela. “I like your costume.”
“Thanks.” Somehow, though, that seemed more like a sarcastic compliment. For one, what Angela was wearing was totally something that Lilith would wear: Army boots, black leather jacket, black leather skirt…the whole nine yards.
“If I didn’t know better,” the girl on Angela’s left—Taylor Hoeffel—began, “I would’ve thought that you were Lilith.”
“Haha, very funny,” Angela scoffed as she downed another fruity cocktail. She scoped the room, expertly, but didn’t see him or her.
Angela knew. Angela knew very well: she had eyes and ears everywhere, even if they were in that nerdy, first period, AP Calculus class. She knew what Dustin had done. She didn’t find it surprising at all.
Actually, she kind of anticipated it. Because, for the longest time, she liked someone else. She found this out after the third week of their dating. But, being the angel that she was—and watching out for her popularity amongst the people—she continued to date Dustin, waiting for him to call it off.
He never called it off. But, now, she was sure he was going to call it off.
And, when he did, she’d flock to that guy; she’d run to Alexander Goth with everything she had.
On the roof of Club Heat, the bong was being passed around. With each gulp of that infatuating taste, giddiness over-rode their senses. But, they didn’t care; they were just high-schoolers.
“This is good stuff. Where’d you get it?” Lilith passed the bong to Ginger.
“Damon gave it to me for a good price,” Jeremy admitted as he tried to yank the bong from Ginger’s hands.
She slapped his hands. “What the hell?”
He grabbed the bong and took one long inhale. She glared at him.
Dirk—sitting at Lilith’s right—shook his head. He was feeling a little bit dizzy; it had been a long time since he had a talk with pot. “I-I’m going to go to the bathroom.”
“Okay, but hurry up,” Lilith admitted. “We’ve still got a long night.”
Dirk stood up and nearly fell over. Jeremy helped steady him. “Need help?”
“Nah, I got this.” Dirk slowly walked downstairs onto the third floor. He looked around for a bathroom, and after successfully finding one, went in and did his business.
About a few seconds later, he noted the person next to him: Stephen. His senses came to him and he was no longer baked. He was fully aware that Stephen was right there; and if Stephen was right there, then Susie had to be outside…waiting for him.
Dirk quickly finished, washed his hands, and left the bathroom. He had to talk to her; he had to, tonight. He scoped the room and eventually found her, sitting alone, near the bar. He nearly ran over to her.
He didn’t even give her time to say a word to him; he grabbed her wrist and pulled her away. He pulled her on to the dance floor, where he knew that Stephen would have a hard time looking for her.
“Dirk-!”
He quickly cut her off. “I-I know what you’re thinking. But, I had to see you. Even if you have that-that guy. I’ve just got to tell you…”
“That you love me?” she whispered.
But, he heard her as if she had screamed it in his ear.
“I have a boyfriend; you got back with Lilith. What is there to love?”
“Did you like me? Love me?”
“I don’t know what you mean by love. I don’t love anyone.”
“You’re going to be stubborn now?”
“I don’t love anyone,” she restated, “whether it’s you or Stephen.”
“But, I love you.”
“…Don’t you know how much weight your words carry? Do you know how it sounds, to say I love you and not know what love is?”
“I-I might not know what love is, but these feelings that I have for you only belong to you. Not even for Lilith…no, not even for her or for anyone else.”
She looked away. “So, what do you want me to do?”
He grabbed her shoulders and shook her before bringing her closer to him. “You make it seem like you owe me a favor or you’re just accepting a command.” He looked at her. “But, I don’t want it to be like that.”
“Then, what do you want it to be like?”
“…I want it to be just us. Just the two of us.”
She let out an angered breath. “Didn’t you just hear what I’ve said?”
“I’ve heard. And, I don’t care. There’s no one else in the world that I’d rather be with than you…and I’ve realized that before Lilith and I got back together.”
“Then why’d you say yes to her?” Her glazed eyes looked like they were about to cry. “Why’d you say yes to her if you only wanted me?”
Dirk froze. He couldn’t answer that question.
She pushed herself away. She refused to look at him. “But, you’ve got me. I am a hypocrite to my own words because I love you, Dirk Dreamer. I really do, even if I don’t know what that means. But, I can’t see myself hurting anyone for you…for us. Lilith loves you, and I understand that, and that’s why I can’t will myself to be with you. It’s better if we just leave it like this…”
The two of them stood there on the dance floor, looking dumbfounded and confused.
She put her arms around his neck and pushed herself forward. She met her lips to his and kissed him with as much passion as her body would allow her. He brought his arms around her waist, and kissed her with equal passion.
She broke off first. “Yeah, I love you.” She let go of him and made way back to her table, where a worried Stephen waited for her.
For what seemed like an eternity, Dirk stood there, letting all she said sink in—her words and her invisible words exchanged through that kiss. And the word which hurt the most that she said through the kiss was ‘sorry’.
Quentin, Beau, and Raven had gone their separate ways. All that was left were the Punyawong siblings and Lawrence.
Ali and Nick raced on ahead, exchanging candies, and saying bye to their friends.
Lawrence was a few paces ahead of Nita, whereas Nita forced herself to stay behind.
He then stopped, turned around, and walked next to her. She distanced from him, by straying behind, but he followed her still.
“…I can tell that you’re mad at me…I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that it’s because of my messages…” He glanced at her.
She made no attempt of an answer.
“I know you didn’t expect this…”
Still no answer.
“I-I didn’t expect it either,” he chuckled. “But, what’s done is done…and there’s no way to undo it…”
“…If you could, would you?”
He slowed down his pace, until he eventually stopped. He grabbed her wrist and she stopped and faced him. “…I-I’m happy with him.”
“Really?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then, you wouldn’t change anything?”
“…Well, I’d be happier if it was you.”
The words that she had waited forever to listen to were being said. But, she didn’t want to hear them now—not when everything was officially too late. “So, you’re happy with him. It’s great to hear that.”
“That’s all you’re going to say?”
“Should I be saying more?”
“That’s all you feel? Even after I’ve said that?”
“What else am I supposed to feel? Relief? Happiness?”
“So, you wouldn’t want to be with me, like I’m with Beau?”
She looked away. “Look, it’s different. Beau wants to be with you…and…and I only want to be a good friend.”
“I heard from Quentin that you feel different about me.”
“You shouldn’t trust him.”
“But, I can’t help but feel that I should trust him…he knows us like a book.” He brought her hand closer. “So, is he right? Do you feel different about me?”
“…It wouldn’t matter if I did.”
“It would!”
“No, because then, Beau would still be here…And-and, you’re happy with him. And, if you aren’t, then he’s real happy with you. I’m okay…I’m happy, even by myself.”
“Why can’t you just say it?”
She shook off his hand and headed towards her siblings. “I’ll see you later.”
“Don’t just leave the conversation.”
“…I think it’s best if I did.”
