IF LOOKS COULD KILL
ix. Drinking Life Away

scream vi,
chapter nine

✸

It was no surprise that Starr Kimens wasn't a party kind of girl. Everyone knew that. Even Mindy, Chad, Tara, Sam, and Arlo. They all knew the Starr back in Woodsboro, California, would never be doing what she's doing now.

But this isn't Woodsboro, isn't it?

This is New York fucking city and Starr Kimens was a young college girl on a Friday night, during one of the best times of the year.

Halloween.

Starr was now being held upside down as she downed the cold beer—this game (known to the college students) was the Keg Stand. The other students cheered her on before she was slowly let down by Arlo, who raised his sister's hand in victory.

Arlo knew he should be telling his sister. "Don't act out, don't do anything dangerous." but he couldn't help it, this was fun, partying is fun!

It was no secret that the Kimen siblings had made a major reputation for themselves. Everyone loved them, they were fun and nothing but that.

Starr groans a little when she felt the back of her throat burn. "Hey—hey—water—I'm gonna get water, Kay?" Starr slurred to her big brother.

"Alright!" Arlo yelled over the music.

Starr made her way across the college house, letting her smile spread across her face. That euphoric-like smile did not last long when she felt a cold liquid spill across her red and black Harley Quinn costume.

"Holy shit!" Anika Kayoko hissed, quickly setting her spilled cup on the table and grabbing the nearest cloth. "I'm sorry, Starr, I didn't—"

"I get it." Starr takes the cloth from Anika, trying to contain her annoyed expression, "shit happens."

Anika sighs, she didn't understand why Starr hated her so damn much. From the moment Starr saw her, it was like an admitted deep hatred.

"Is everything okay?" Mindy runs over to her girlfriend, trying to figure out what happened.

"I—uh—I didn't see Starr and I accidentally spilled my drink on her. Sorry, Starr." Anika apologizes.

Mindy frowns, "you know she didn't mean to."

Starr sent them both a tight smile, "I'm gonna walk away now." She turns.

Anika groans once Starr's out of earshot.

Mindy sent her a soft smile, "Everything's fine, Anika."

"I don't get what I did to her." Anika shakes her head.

"You didn't do anything," Mindy chuckles, "it's Starr, she's just—she lost her father, and she's still grieving in her way."

For some reason, Anika craved the approval of Starr. The entire friend group talked about her as if she was this amazing human being. With that being said, the fact that Starr doesn't like Anika, only made her feel like complete shit.

Starr went into the kitchen and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. She took a deep breath, her eyes wandering the room to make sure nobody was around before she took out two antipsychotic pills that hid in her pockets.

She quickly popped them into her mouth and swallowed them with more water.

She sighs, feeling her body relax. She turned to head back towards her brother but was met with a ghostface mask inches away from her.

She dropped her open water bottle, feeling her heart skip a beat.

The person in the mask laughed and Starr rolls her eyes.

"Dude, what the fuck?" Arlo pushes the masked person, shoving him so hard he falls to the floor.

Arlo doesn't even blink, he turned to his sister and placed his arm on her upper back. "You alright?"

Starr just nods, not bothering to give a verbal response.

Arlo then sighs, "You know I'm getting kind of tired, all the dancing wore me out. You wanna leave?"

"Yeah," Starr agrees, "but we should probably tell everyone we're leaving."

They both look around, seeing Chad speaking to some weird-looking guy on the stairs, his hand was gripped tightly onto Tara, making Starr frown.

Chad was leaning against the wall, his worse light denim jeans and no shirt, showing off his abs and muscular upper figure. Along with that, he wore a similar fake smile Starr was giving earlier.

Starr looks to see Mindy, Anika, and Ethan Landry all standing by and watching. "What's going on?" Starr asks.

"This dipshit is trying to take advantage of Tara." Anika scowls at the guy.

"No, he's not." Tara slightly stumbled down the stairs but caught herself before she could fall, "Guys I want to, okay? I want to."

"Yeah, it's okay," the guy grins, eyebrows raised. "she wants to." He begins walking up the stairs, hand still tightly gripped with Tara's arm.

Tara slightly hissed at the unexpected pull, sending her tripping back against the stairs.

That was enough to make Chad snap.

Chad yanked the guy so hard, his fingers automatically released from Tara, sending him flying off the stairs.

The guy got on his feet quickly, eyes directly set on Chad. He shoved Chad and Chad responded with a harder shove.

"Guys!" Tara yells.

"Who the fuck do you think—"

"Hey, hey." a calm voice came between the two. Starr focused her eyes to realize who it was and she smiled.

Sam.

"Don't panic, I'm just gonna tase you in the balls real quick." Sam didn't waste any time for a taser to come directly between the boy's crotch, sending him doubling over. "Don't ever lay hands on her again." She mumbles.

"You bitch." The guy cups his crotch. Face scrunched.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" The furious voice of Tara Carpenter made Sam turn, eyes soft. "You're stalking me now." Tara scoffs as she flees the party.

"Holy shit, it's that psycho girl!" Someone realizes, pointing straight at Sam.

Arlo holds his sister's arm, "we should go before—"

"Wait! Isn't that the lunatic chick who decapitated her friend!"

Starr felt herself tense. This is not good.

Ever since the news got out about Sam being behind the Woodboro killing and Starr fully snapping off someone's head, they'd both been put in the spotlight that they didn't want to be in.

Arlo is quick to hit the door, following behind Sam, who was chasing after Tara.

✸

          "I should've punched one of those pricks' faces off." He hisses.

"It's fine—it's whatever." Starr runs her fingers through her loose hair.

"Come here." Arlo pulls his sister off to the side and away from the group who'd followed.

"Please, don't give me that talk." Starr chuckled even though she didn't find anything about the situation hilarious.

"Listen, I am the last person to judge you on how you deal with your grief, if you want to drink life away, I get it. If you want to be pissed off at the entire universe, I damn sure get that." Arlo placed his hand on his chest.

"I just want you to know that you don't have to grieve on your own. I'm here, I'm right here."

"Arlo, I'm okay." Starr felt a soft smile tug at her lips. In a way, she was okay, physically at least. "Yes, I am dealing with Dad, but at least I'm dealing."

Arlo felt himself quiet down, "I just feel like there's something you're not telling me. Like your dealing with something you don't want me to know about."

Ophelia giggles, "he's smart."

Starr closes her eyes, "there isn't." She lies.

Arlo decided to let it go and not bother his sister for longer. "Okay."

They head back over to the group, Chad, Mindy, Anika, and Ethan all watched as Tara and Sam argued back and forth.

When things finally settle between the two on the busy streets of New York City, it seemed that group of college girls walking by, some girl in a blue dress scowled before throwing her drink at Sam's chest.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Sam shoves the girl before Chad grabs her.

"Murder!" The girl calls back. "She knows what she did!"

Starr runs over to Tara and Chad to help keep Sam away from hurting the girl.

"I didn't fucking do anything!" Sam yells.

Another girl in the group stops, her eyes landing on Starr, "yo look, it's that other psycho chick!" Her accent was much thicker and naturally sharp-toned. She had black volumed curls that almost covered her face.

Starr felt a familiar burning in her chest, her throat, her stomach, everywhere. Like a rage sitting on the tip of her tongue.

The girl tries taking a step towards Starr, probably trying to tease her more, but Mindy steps in front of her. "You take another step and I promise you it won't end well for you or your friends, step the fuck back!"

The girl's eyes flutter and her lips part. She turns back to her friends and leaves.

"What is wrong with people?" Anika cringes in disgust.

"Everything," Mindy mutters before letting signaling Anika to follow her down the sidewalk and head back to the dorms.

"Everyone's heading back to Sam's place, you wanna go?" Arlo questions.

"No, I'm gonna head back to the dorm, Arden's probably missing me."

Starr saw Arden's face soften at the name.

Starr smirks.

"What?" Arlo crossed his arms as if he was a five-year-old.

"Nothing." Starr scratches the back of her neck, "you still mad at her?"

"Maybe." Arlo shrugs, "She finished watching breaking bad without me, how am I not supposed to be upset?"

Starr palms her face. "Right. Such a tragedy." She exaggerates.

"I know, I know," Arlo agrees before chuckling, "I'll walk you back, it's late."

"No, I'll be fine," Starr suggests.

Arlo sent his sister a blank expression mixed with a Are you serious? Expression. "Starr, I'm—"

"No," Starr raises her finger, "you head back with the group, I'll be fine. Seems like everyone wants to stay away from me anyways, their too scared I'll chop off their heads."

Arlo sighs, "Call me as soon as you get there or else I'm gonna call Arden while freaking out."

"Promise." Starr blows her brother a kiss before they went separate ways.

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word count: 1688

SIREDNOTES !—
What's your favorite scary movie?