"It's Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare." 

***

We won the game. 

After the Teaneck High School's football won their championship in their division, Jack immediately sent the invite to the party, including me. That was the only thing anyone could talk about for the past two days and the high school team were treated like heroes for making it to the next round of games. 

"Who is ready to party?" Annabel cheered loudly. 

 I could hear a rhythmic beat coming from one of large home. Because Asami, Annabel, and I arrived late to the party, Jack's house party was already happening. Despite being only a mere fifteen minutes late, there was already groups of students scattered around the street, all dressed in their costumes and walking towards the large home streaming different lights. 

Asami nodded absentmindedly, her eyes flickering between her phone and the street. Out of our six years of friendship have I ever seen her so quiet. Her eyes fell on my own, and a smile appeared.  

"I need to look for Devon. I can't be Little Red Riding Hood without my wolf. Then it's only half of the costume," she responded with worry, touching her red coat that matched the ends of her hair. When our eyes made contact, she gave me a tight smile that left me with discomfort. 

The smokey eye makeup she applied did not hide the bags that were flawlessly covered by lots of concealer. The truth sat on my mind that something was wrong, but she hasn't brought up anything- nor does it seem like she intends to. 

I looked at Annabel who was a few feet ahead of us, chatting about something that neither of us was listening to. 

When we are in private  I decided to myself. 

"If you say so," I said, biting back any other comment I had. Annabel turned around  to look at us and rolled her eyes. 

"I was just talking about whether my sailor look is good," Annabel repeated, gesturing to her dark blue short skirt and her white top with blue stripes. Her sailor hat contrasted with her dark brown curls. "Also trying to figure out what France is suppose to be." 

I pulled up my tambourine and gave it a shake. 

"Esmerelda," I pointed out obviously. I looked down at the costume with its obvious purple skirt and white top. Mom, like every Halloween I participated in, insisted she make the costume of my choice, which was an easy feat for her. 

I thought it would be more obvious. 

"Who is that?" Asami asked. 

I refrained from rolling my eyes. That did not appear to be the case. 

"Hunchback of Notre Dame."

Annabel shook her head. "I think I have heard of it."

"Are you guys serious right-"

Loud shouting not so far from us interrupted my sentence. We all turned to see three figures running in our direction. Akito, who was in a scientist costume, was the first to appear under the dim light, laughing loudly and pointing at the rest of us as he reached. This was followed by France and Devon, almost colliding into Annabel when they reached us. 

"I told you I was going to get there first," Akito cheered, throwing a fist in the air. France and Devon groaned loudly. 

"Shut up," France said, rolling his eyes. He wiped the sweat collecting on his forehead with his large fur coat that was wrapped around his entire body.  

"You're mad because you're slow," Akito joked, which was rewarded with France giving him the middle finger. I watched France crouch to take a few deep breathes before pulling himself up. Our eyes made contact before he shook his head and focused on Akito. Devon stood there quietly, heaving to himself. 

"Where's Alex?" Asami asked, peering down the dark road. 

"Pretty sure he tripped on his coat while we were running a few blocks back," Akito answered, glancing at the road as well. 

"He could be just lazy," France suggested. 

"I'm not lazy. I'm just friends with assholes," a voice appeared with a spirate costume. The lamp post near us provided enough light to see Alex's scowl. Despite his intimidation, France snickered. 

"You're just upset because you lost the bet so now you are tonight's DD," France pointed out with a stupid grin on his face. 

Alex gave him the middle finger. "Piss off Mackelmore." 

France rolled his eyes. "For the last time, I am suppose to be a pimp," he insisted loudly.

All chatter silenced when France pulled out black sunglasses from his pocket, and placed it on his face. I look at the beige fur coat all the way up to his hair now slicked back obviously with generous amount of gel. 

He didn't look half bad.

"Why? Did you lose a bet or something?" I asked. 

Akito shook his head. "That is all him. I tried to talk to him out of it. No bet there. It's all him."

France frowned. "Better than yours. You're just wearing your dad's scientist stuff. That's just you being cheap," he accused Akito.  

I briefly looked at Akito's costume. His googles were perched on his forehead, slightly matting his jet black hair. He shoved the beaker in his hands into his lab coat's pocket and wagged his glove-covered finger in France's direction. 

"Better than being a pimp," Akito countered. 

France shook his head. 

"It's freezing right now so don't come crying to me when you're cold," he warned, wrapping his coat tighter around him. "I know you will because you always-"

"Get a room, you two," Alex groaned loudly. "Let's just talk everyone else's costumes. He pointed at Annabel and Asami."You're a sailor and you're little riding riding hood." 

He pointed to me before his eyebrows furrowed. 

"And you're...homeless?" he guessed with a questioning tone. 

I sighed. "Esmerelda," I repeated.  

He nodded his head slowly, though the confusion was still apparent. 

"Nice," he said as if he understood the reference. "Anyways, we should get going inside the party." 

"Where's Archy though?" France asked, turning to Alex. Alex frowned that was followed by a shrug. 

"He's probably with his team so let's go inside for now," Alex brushed off, gesturing to the large home. "We can just enjoy ourselves and if he comes, he comes. And I need-" 

"To use the bathroom," the rest of us finished. Alex fake laughed before he gave us all the middle finger. 

Before anyone could say anything, Alex walked quickly to the house. We all gave each other a look before ushering into the house. Couple of unfamiliar faces greeted Alex at the door, cheering him and greeting him with loud joy. 

I looked around the house party, noting the large amount of people gathering around the home. Most of the faces were not familiar but I heard from others that students from other schools would join as well, including the rival team. Music was pounding loudly, and I saw sleeping bags neatly rolled up next to the couch for those sleeping over.

"Here we go." Akito handed me a paper shot glass. Akito was handing each person a small shot glass like mine before he opened the bottle of vodka that appeared magically in his hand. With a look of excitement, he poured alcohol into each cup before pouring one for himself. 

Akito put the bottle on a nearby counter, and help up his glass. 

"To us being seniors," he toasted.

We all held it up. 

"Cheers," we all said with the rest before downing the shot. I swallowed the alcohol, holding back any gag reflex from the burning sensation down my throat. I put the cup aside by the bottle, holding back any urge to gag from the cheap vodka. 

Alex grabbed the nearest bottle to pour himself another shot. He downed it immediately and tried to reach for the bottle. Devon snatched the bottle from him with a look. 

"Easy there," Devon cautioned. "You're going to make yourself sick. Don't forget you're designated driver and you need to pee." 

Alex shook his head, his smile turning into a straight line. 

"I'm Russian, so no need to worry about me." he asked before getting louder. "Let's fucking party after I use the the bathroom!"

Before Devon could say anything, Alex walked towards the nearby hall. France's eyes widened before hitting Akito in the arm and jutting his chin out in some random direction. 

Devon coughed. "So I won't drink then." 

Asami frowned. "Devon-" 

"Someone needs to be sober to drive us back and we all know that Alex is lightweight as shit and the bladder of a toddler," Devon asserted. Asami looked at him before she sighed and nodded her head in acknowledgement. 

France elbowed Akito. "Akito, check her out," he told them, gesturing out there. 

We all followed France's line of direction at the girl he was referring to. 

"Holy shit."

I wasn't sure who said it. Maybe it was all of us sharing the same collective thought of the girl in the Wonder Woman costume. From their reaction, she probably is not from our high school, though that did not matter to them. They were probably more focused on her breasts that were pushed ridiculous high from her costume and her short skirt that showed off her toned legs from her black heels. 

To say the girl was just attractive was an understatement. Her dark hair was curled and fell just a little past her shoulder. Her brown eyes suited her sharp cheekbones well with the perfect nose and mouth that girls would kill for and guys are currently ogle for. It also helped that her boobs were very pushed up in the corset. 

"Damn, that girl is...." Devon began before looking at Asami's look and coughed. "Average."  

She rolled her eyes at his unconvincing tone. "Smooth."

Akito touched my shoulder and tilted his head towards the girl's direction. "Hey, if you were a girl-" he began. 

"I am a girl." I reminded him. 

"I mean a girl like that, you think you would be into me?" Akito teased, fixing his hair while looking at the girl standing there. 

"It looks like Wonder Woman is staring at you. You might have a shot," I mentioned, noticing her looking at Akito from the corner of her eye before giving a smile and drinking from the beer in her hands. 

"So does her boyfriend, Superman," France also mentioned, gesturing to guy standing next to her. His eyes were staring intensely at Akito before leaning to whisper something to Wonder Woman . His arms crossed over his chest as he continued to look down on Akito. After a moment, he turned around to resume his conversation with Wonder Woman.

Akito reached for the closest beer and opened it.

"I am going to investigate. Wish me luck friends," he announced, holding up his beer. 

Devon shook his head. "You're going to need it." 

Akito turned to France. "France, I need you to be my wingman. Come join me," he insisted, gesturing to Wonder Woman who was walking to the outside patio. 

France immediately shook his head, taking the drink from Akito's hand and took a swig. 

"I'm not trying to get my ass kicked by her boyfriend," he said. Akito snatched the drink from France's hands and rolled his eyes. 

"Suit yourself. I'll catch you guys later tonight," Akito said, waving goodbye to us before following Wonder Woman out to the patio. Devon and France looked at each other before turning to look at us. 

"I'm going to get another drink," Devon announced suddenly, taking a step back. "Boy France do you want to join me?" He looked at me before nodding.

"I thought you were designated driver," Asami asked with concern, reaching out for Devon. He nodded. 

"One drink won't kill me. Don't worry about it," Devon said with an awkward smile before he ushered himself and France off to the other side of the room where the drinks are located. I watched them walk away before I turn to look at Asami, who was watching with a look of longing. 

That was it. 

"What is going on with you and Devon? You guys are being weird," I repeated, looking around for him once again. 

 Asami shook her head. 

"I'm fine.  He's fine. We are fine. We are just tired," she muttered with observation, taking another shot I did not realize was in her hand. 

"What's wrong?" I repeated, not letting her retreat when she's upset like she always does. 

She gestured to loud music and people talking and gave a cynical smile. She stood a little straighter with a new look of determination on her face. 

She turned around and got another paper shot glass and poured alcohol. 

"Let's talk about this later," Asami said, giving me a saddest smile I have seen on her face. "This won't change tomorrow so let's not focus on that now. Right now, I want to enjoy myself."

And with that, she took another shot.

Confusion knotted between my brows. Her smile belied her sadness, and it was apparent. A loud song suddenly blasted through the speakers, breaking my thought and realizing how loud the room was.  

"Promise we will talk about this later?" I asked her. 

She nodded her head. 

"Deal. Take another shot with me for now," she said, grabbing the closest vodka bottle on the kitchen counter and pouring a small amount into the shot glass. I sighed as she poured it. 

She held it up.

"Cheers to senior year and us being together again," she said, this time with a genuine smile that coxed a smile out of me. 

"That is something I can cheer to," I agreed before taking the shot. I gagged at the sensation once again, this time more visibly. Asami laughed, knowing that I cannot drink vodka well.  

"That will hit the spot soon enough," she mused. She looked around. "Where is Annabel?" 

We both turned to look at Annabel standing next to Alex, talking and laughing at whatever he is saying. He has an arm around her neck, playing beer pong with his other hand. Asami shook her head. 

"That does not surprise me," Asami managed to comment, shaking her head with a smile. "Want to make a bet that they will totally make out?" 

I laughed. 

"Funny. I'm going to use the restroom and pass on the bet," I answered instead, feeling the urge to use the bathroom. "I will be right back." 

I left her to go down the hallway. The hallway down to the bathroom was too narrow compared to the number of people using it. The dim lighting made it perfect for some people to very obviously make out against the walls and some of the moans I was hearing from the slightly ajar doors. 

I blocked my ears, looking at the ground while navigating the bodies. Besides my party, this is the first party I have gone out to. 

I don't normally do these type of things, mostly because the last time I did, I did it with-

My thought stopped when something pushed me a few steps back. A can dropped on the floor. Not looking at the person, my cheeks burned with embarrassment. 

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry-" I tried to crouch before someone touched my shoulder. 

"No worries" the stranger said, picking up his beer can on the floor. "It's empty anyways." 

He shook the can for good measure, and giving a smile. His brown eyes flickered with recognition when he smiled at me. He leaned onto the wall when he said. "You're the new girl right?" 

I shrugged. 

"I guess. I am from the area but I switched from private to public school." I stuck out a hand. "I'm France." 

His large hand firmly wrapped around me, and he shook it. 

"Chris." 

I looked up at him. He was good looking guy. He was dressed as Elvis, so his hair was slicked back with sharp features. Not as much my type, but he seemed friendly to get to know. 

"Hey babe. Where have you been?" a blonde girl in a sailor costume came out. Her blue eyes slightly narrowed at me as she wrapped her arm around the boy's waist. 

"Just talking to the new girl," Chris said cheerfully. He gestured to the girl. "This is my girlfriend Valerie." 

She gave me a look up and down. I looked at her strangely, obviously sensing this girl has some major territorial issues for no reason and don't have time to entertained this. 

"Pleasure," she said to me. She turned around to Chris. "The football team is coming soon so let's go up front." 

Trying to also find a way out, I also agreed with that. 

"You should do that," I agreed. "I will see you around." 

"See you, new girl," he joked before turning away. 

Shaking off that weird interaction, I managed to walk down the rest of the hallway to the only door that had the word bathroom labelled on a piece of paper. There was only a handful of people in line, so I joined in the back, praying that the line moved faster. 

To keep myself distracted, I checked my phone. I scrolled past the social media posts and comments to look at the texts I got. 

The first one that appeared was from Asami. 

Where r u? I need you.

I was typing out a response to explain I was waiting in line before something stopped me. 

"France? Is that you?" a deep voice asked. 

My blood turned cold at the voice. Every memory from the past came right to this moment. My breath grew laborious, and when I looked up, it might as well just stopped. 

It couldn't be. 

"Joey?"

Author's Note: Will be editing it because I'm sure there are grammar issues everywhere and it's 3AM where I am. I'm too tired to look at a chapter with 3K words.