Me and Gabriella were preparing for the party when we heard a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Gabriella said as she opened the bedroom door, flashing a bright smile at me. The moment she stepped out, I went back to adjusting my costume, spraying fake blood across my face. The scent of the blood, mixed with the sweet floral perfume Gabriella always wore filled the air.

I was halfway through spraying my face when I heard Evelyn's voice. I froze, my heart racing. I knew Gabriella wasn't a big fan of Evelyn and I wasn't sure of what she needed. I hurried to the front door, feeling a strange knot in my stomach. Gabriella was already there, standing with her arms crossed, glaring at Evelyn. My girlfriend was dressed as a zombie, her face painted green with cracks of black running across her skin, looking menacingly cool.

Evelyn, however, was dressed... as the McDonald's clown. The sight of her in oversized red hair, a yellow jumpsuit, and a goofy red nose had me blinking in disbelief. What the actual fuck? I thought to myself, struggling to suppress a laugh.

"What do you want?" Gabriella asked coldly, her brows furrowed as she studied Evelyn, clearly confused by her costume.

"I-Is Mia here?" Evelyn stammered, her voice shaky. She was standing at the threshold, her eyes wide, clearly nervous.

I stepped forward, meeting her gaze. "Hey, Evelyn," I said, forcing a smile. "You look... cute?" I added, the sarcasm slipping out without even trying. Evelyn's eyes lit up in a way that made me cringe internally. She didn't catch the sarcasm.

"Do you really think so?" Evelyn asked, her voice bright and hopeful, her smile wide. It was almost childlike, like she hadn't noticed the slight edge to my words. I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

Gabriella raised an eyebrow at the interaction before turning around and heading back into my room without another word.

I watched her go, then turned back to Evelyn. "So... did you need anything?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible, though my mind was still reeling from the shock of seeing her dressed up like that.

"Oh yeah," Evelyn said quickly, her hands clasped in front of her, the smile still plastered across her face. "I was going to ask if you could give me a ride. If you can't, no worries, I'll just take a taxi!" She sounded so cheerful, yet there was something desperate in her voice that made me pause.

I hesitated, feeling the weight of the situation. Gabriella was going to drive me, but I wasn't sure how Evelyn would react to me telling her that.

"Oh, I'm not sure," I began, hesitating. "My girlfriend is taking me in her car, but I can ask her—"

"N-NO! It's fine," Evelyn interrupted, her voice suddenly shaky. She was visibly flustered now, her cheeks flushing. "I'll just take the taxi. No problem at all!"

She dashed back into her apartment next door before I could say anything else. I closed the door behind me, then walked back into my room. Gabriella was standing in front of the mirror, fixing her hair. She glanced at me as I entered, raising an eyebrow.

"So? What did she need this time?" Gabriella asked with a bored tone, clearly uninterested.

I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips. I walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind. I kissed her cheek, feeling the coolness of her makeup on my lips. Gabriella was trying so hard not to smile, but her lips twitched, and before she could stop herself, she laughed.

"So unfair!" she exclaimed, laughing as she kissed me back. I giggled, feeling the tension of the past few minutes melt away.

We finished getting ready, and by the time we were done, it was already 8:33. Mei had been calling me nonstop, sending texts like "Where are you?!" and "Get here already!" I had completely forgotten to respond to them lost in the chaos of getting ready.

We left the apartment building to find a group of kids and teens trick-or-treating outside. They were in the cutest costumes—some scary, others sweet—and I couldn't help but smile at how much it reminded me of my younger years. Seeing them run around with bags full of candy, laughing and calling out to their friends, made me feel nostalgic.

As we neared the party, the excitement in my chest twisted into something more unsettling. The thought of seeing people who used to make my life hell—the same ones who judged me for being different—made my stomach flip. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

Gabriella parked the car, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. My hands started to shake, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I wanted to turn back, but I couldn't. Gabriella noticed immediately and reached out to take my hand, squeezing it gently.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" she asked, her voice soft and full of concern. She didn't know much about my past, and I wasn't ready to share that with her. I'd always kept it buried deep, wanting to forget the years I spent being bullied and feeling like I didn't belong.

I forced a smile, though it felt tight on my face. "It's just... I didn't really have a good relationship with some of my classmates," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. Gabriella's face softened, and she leaned over to kiss my cheek. "Don't worry, babe. I'm here with you," she said, her words calming me a little. I nodded, trying to push the dread out of my mind.

The party was already in full swing when we walked inside. People were everywhere—laughing, dancing, talking—so much energy it was almost overwhelming. I clung to Gabriella's side as we moved through the crowd. The stares I felt on me, the whispers I imagined behind my back, made my skin crawl. Do I look good? Is my makeup ruined? Does my hair look weird? Or is it just me?

I felt like I couldn't breathe, like the world was closing in. Then I spotted Mei, waving excitedly, and I rushed over to them, eager to escape my own thoughts. But as I got closer, I saw them—Aisha and Kris.

"Aisha! Kris!" I called out, unable to contain my excitement. I hadn't seen them in months. They had been in Thailand for three months, and they hadn't told me they were back. I couldn't believe it.

Aisha and Kris had been my friends for two years. They were the kind of people who lived for adventure, constantly hopping from one place to another. They used to work at the café with Mei and me before they became somewhat of a viral sensation on TikTok.

After a tight hug, I realized Aisha and Kris were looking at Gabriella with confused expressions. Aisha raised an eyebrow, then glanced at me, then back at Gabriella. A wide smile broke out on her face.

"So, who's she?" Aisha whispered in my ear. I blushed, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Before I could say anything, I felt Gabriella's hand slip around my waist. I flinched, surprised by the sudden touch, and turned to look at her. Her face was tight, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"What's wrong, Gabriella?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though I felt my heart racing in my chest. She didn't seem to hear me, lost in the crowd. I yelled her name again, and this time she looked at me, her expression softening.

I introduced her to Aisha and Kris, and they seemed to warm up to her almost instantly. After a while, they disappeared to the dance floor, and Gabriella and I stayed in the kitchen. It was quieter there, just the two of us, and we enjoyed the peacefulness for a while.

But then, Evelyn showed up again.

"HEYY!" she yelled, practically stumbling into the kitchen. Gabriella's expression soured instantly. I forced a smile, but I could feel the tension in the air.

"Hey, Evelyn," I greeted her, though I was already mentally preparing myself for whatever drama she might bring.

Gabriella was not impressed, her smile vanishing as soon as Evelyn entered. I kept my eye on Evelyn, determined not to let her make things awkward. But she seemed intent on doing exactly that, so I told her to sit nearby. If she wanted to dance, I'd have to keep an eye on her.

The night continued, with Gabriella and me staying close, laughing, and flirting in between. Eventually, things escalated—though in a way neither of us expected.

As the hours passed, Gabriella and I ended up in a small closet, our kisses growing more heated. The heat of the room, the sounds of the party muffled outside, made everything feel even more intense. She kissed down my neck, her lips soft against my skin. I couldn't help but shiver, my body reacting to every touch. The tiny closet felt like it was closing in on us, but in that moment, I didn't want to be anywhere else. Gabriella's fingers ran down my spine, making me gasp. She pulled me closer, the air growing thick and heavy as we kissed passionately, losing ourselves in the moment.

I pulled her against the wall, my hands moving down to her waist, feeling the warmth of her body through the fabric of her outfit. She let out a small laugh, a teasing sound that sent a thrill through me. I leaned into her, my hands wandering to her neck, tracing the edges of her jaw.

She bit my lower lip playfully, a surge of electricity shooting through me. The small closet was getting hotter by the second, my skin slick with sweat. My heartbeat was erratic, pounding against my chest as if it could escape.

Gabriella's lips moved down my neck, sucking gently at the sensitive skin just below my ear. I moaned softly, pressing her against the wall as the kiss grew deeper. My fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her closer as she moved lower, trailing kisses down to my collarbone. I felt dizzy, my head spinning with the sensation of her touch.

But then, the loud crash of something breaking echoed through the air, followed by shouting. My head snapped up, and Gabriella froze. We both heard the chaos unfolding just outside the closet. There were screams, yelling, and the sounds of furniture being knocked over.

Gabriella sighed in frustration, her lips curling into a frown. "What the hell is going on out there?" she muttered, her eyes narrowing. I took a deep breath, trying to regain some clarity, but the loud voices and the growing commotion outside made it hard to focus. I grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards the door.

"Let's go check it out," I suggested, my heart still racing from both the kiss and the strange tension that had started building in the air.

We stepped into the hallway, and the sight that greeted us was nothing short of chaotic. People were gathered around in a circle, some filming on their phones, others yelling at the center. As we got closer, I saw Evelyn in the middle of it all, a bottle of vodka clutched tightly in her hand, swinging it wildly. She was clearly drunk, her movements uncoordinated as she laughed, oblivious to the chaos she was causing.

The moment she saw me, she spun around, nearly knocking the bottle into my face. I instinctively jumped back, holding my hands up to shield myself. Gabriella's face was a mixture of disbelief and anger. Without saying a word, she moved toward Evelyn, her fists clenched.

"Evelyn!" I called out, rushing to her side. "What the hell are you doing?"

She turned to face me, blinking rapidly as though trying to focus. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her smile was sloppy, almost manic. "I'm just having fun!" she slurred, raising the bottle high in the air. "Don't you want to have fun too?"

"Put that down," I said firmly, trying to keep my cool. But Evelyn was in a state that made reasoning impossible. She took a step toward me, swinging the bottle in a wild arc.

Before I could react, she shoved me hard, sending me stumbling backwards. I caught myself on the edge of a table, nearly falling over as my hand hit the corner. A sharp pain shot through my palm, but I barely had time to process it before Evelyn was on top of me, her body pushing me to the ground.

I gasped for breath as my hand slammed into the floor, the sharp sting intensifying. I looked up, only to see Gabriella's face twist into a scowl, her expression full of fury. She shoved her way through the crowd, her eyes locked on Evelyn.

"YOU! HOW DARE YOU PUSH MIA!" Gabriella shouted, her voice full of rage. Her entire body was trembling with anger as she stormed toward Evelyn, her fist raised.

I scrambled to my feet, rushing in front of Gabriella before she could do anything. "Gabriella, stop!" I cried out, gripping her arm and pulling her back. "This isn't helping!" Gabriella's eyes softened for a moment, confusion and hurt flickering through them. "She pushed you, Mia. I won't stand by and let her hurt you."

"I'm okay," I reassured her, though my body still trembled from the encounter. "We need to calm down. We don't want to make things worse."

Gabriella hesitated, her fists still clenched. Finally, she exhaled, letting her arm fall to her side. I turned to Evelyn, who was standing in front of us, looking more than a little disoriented.

"Evelyn, you need to go," I said firmly. "You're out of control."

Evelyn looked at me, her expression vacillating between frustration and confusion. "I'm fine, Mia. I just wanted to have a good time. Why are you all acting like this?"

"Because you're drunk, underaged, AND causing a scene," I shot back. "You need to leave before you make things worse for yourself. Just, go sit outside"

Evelyn's eyes narrowed, and she staggered backward. "Fine," she muttered. "I'll leave. You guys don't know how to have fun anyway."

With that, she stormed off, her clumsy movements making her seem even more out of control. The crowd slowly dispersed, some people still muttering under their breath, others turning their attention back to the music and dancing.

Gabriella and I stood there for a moment, catching our breath. I could see the frustration in her eyes, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she gently took my hand, her touch reassuring.

"You okay?" she asked softly, her voice full of concern.

I nodded, though the events of the night still hung heavily in my mind. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for looking out for me."

Gabriella smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "You don't have to thank me, Mia. I'm always going to have your back."

We stood there for a moment longer, the chaos of the party fading into the background as I realized how much Gabriella truly meant to me. The night had been filled with tension, drama, and unexpected surprises, but in the end, we had each other. And that was all that mattered.

We left the party shortly after, taking Evelyn with us to her apartment and making sure she was safe. By the time we got back to my apartment, it was late, and I was exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster.

I collapsed onto the bed, still in my costume, the weight of the night pressing down on me. Gabriella wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close. "You're safe now," she whispered, her voice soft and comforting.

I smiled, feeling the warmth of her embrace. The events of the night seemed distant now, fading into the background. For a moment, it was just the two of us, and nothing else mattered.

"I love you," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Gabriella squeezed me tighter, her lips brushing against my hair. "I love you too, more than you'll ever know."

We drifted off to sleep, the world outside forgotten for a while.

Extra:
It had been a few weeks since the party, but the memories were still fresh in my mind. Evelyn had texted me the next day apologizing profusely, promising never to drink that much again. I believed her—mostly. Gabriella had been distant at first but quickly returned to her usual affectionate self. I knew the incident had shaken her, but we were stronger for it.

One afternoon, as we sat on the couch binge-watching a new show, Gabriella turned to me. "You know, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me," she said, her voice soft but sincere.

I smiled, leaning in to kiss her. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me too," I replied.

We spent the rest of the day wrapped up in each other, forgetting the world outside. For all the chaos that surrounded us, moments like this made everything worth it.

*****

END OF CHAPTER 13!

Q: What's your favorite childhood memory?

A: Me and my best friend were in a hotel together for the first time ever!