On Halloween, at least half of my professors are dressed up, most of them as as some nerdy science pun. Mrs. Howard isn't, of course. She doesn't even crack a smile before starting the lecture. If anything, she gives us more homework than normal.

The campus is muddy and cold, a chill settled over the city. Still, that doesn't damper anyone's spirits about the holiday. It's all anyone seems to be talking about - what the plans are for tonight, who's wearing what, who's going where.

After my last afternoon class, I manage to fall asleep in the dorms until someone pounds on the door. I jerk awake, blinking groggily, fumbling to pause the old movie murmuring quietly on my laptop. "Come in?"

Eliza sticks her head in. "Hey. Where's your costume?"

I rub my eyes, my head spinning. Shit, that was a good nap. "I - what? Nonexistent?"

Her mouth drops open. "What?"

"I don't really dress up for Halloween."

"That's the entire point of Halloween, Sam."

"What are you going to be?"

"My roommate and I - you know Julie - we're going as cowgirls."

"Oh. Neat."

Eliza shrugs, bored. "It was Julie's idea. I wanted something cooler, but Julie was dead set on cowgirls."

"No, cowgirls are really cool."

She grins, rolling her eyes. "Shut up. That's not the problem here, anyways. The problem is that you don't have a costume."

"It doesn't really matter," I say. "Lots of people don't wear costumes. Besides, I won't stay at the party long. I'm tired."

Eliza marches in the dorm and flings open the wardrobe, her ponytail bouncing. I sit up straight, yawning, and watch her comb through my limited collection of clothes.

"How many hoodies do you have?" she asks, flicking through the hangers.

"Three, I think."

"Okay, rhetorical question. Hey - what about this?" She pulls out Cameron's jersey, and my face burns. She notices and smiles.

"That's not - that's -"

"I know," she says. "It's your boyfriend's. But why not wear it tonight? You can be a hockey player." She holds it up and inspects the jersey, the blue and white cloth stitched with Cameron's name. "Beckett," she reads out loud. "Twenty-one."

"I'm not going as my boyfriend for Halloween," I say. "That's weird. Why can't I just go as an English major or something?"

She throws the jersey at me and I catch it clumsily, hugging it to my chest. I like the feel of the fabric underneath my fingertips.

"I'm gonna go get dressed, and I'll be back in an hour," Eliza says. "You better be dressed up!" She winks theatrically before leaving the dorm room. As the door swings shut behind her, I flop back on my bed and breath in the jersey.

~

An hour later, I'm wearing the jersey. Technically it works out, since Cameron has a game tonight. He has games all the time now - Toronto tonight, then New York in a couple days, then Florida, then Raleigh, then Nashville - he's always travelling, always on the road, always playing hockey. I think he's loving it. And I'm so happy for him, especially after all the shit he went through last year.

Eliza, Julie, and I walk to some frat house, and I tuck my hands in my hoodie pockets, exhaling white clouds. I should've brought something heavier than a light jacket. The evening air is cold, trees whistling in the breeze, and nearby dormitories are lit up brightly.

Beside me, Eliza and Julie talk excitedly. They're both wearing red cowboy hats and leather boots, and their hair is tied back in braids.

I wish I was even half as excited as they are about the party - I would just rather be in the dorm room, watching a movie, studying chemistry, talking to Cameron, trying to fall asleep. But okay. I'll be social.

I hear the frat party before I see it, a rhythmic beat pounding steadily, voices and laughter flowing from the house. We turn the corner, and colorful lights flash from the front door onto the street.

"I'm so excited!" says Julie, slinging her arm around Eliza's shoulder.

Eliza grins. "Me too."

We push our way inside, the house crammed with people, most wearing elaborate costumes. I squeeze past a couple making out, the air thick and smoky, the temperature hot. A speaker is blasting music so loud I can hardly hear the words. Eliza leans in and squeezes my arm.

"We're gonna go chat with our friend quick," she shouts in my ear. "I'll be back in a minute."

I smile and nod, then watch her slip through the crowd of people. Uncomfort crawls down my spine, and I lean against the wall and look around the living room, wondering if I know anyone here. I catch a glimpse of Pierce on the other side of the room - the house is a decent size, but it feels so small with so many people inside. Someone pushes a drink into my hands.

"I love this song," a girl says beside me.

I nod like I know what it is. "Yeah, me too."

"Have we met before?"

I glance at her. She's pretty, with long black hair and a wide, flashing smile. She's dressed up as Catwoman.

"I don't think so."

"I'm Marly." She sticks out her hand, and I shake it. I don't know many people that shake hands anymore. I like her already. "You seemed lonely, and I was lonely, so I figured it was only logical we should talk."

"I'm not lonely."

There's a beat - she leans against the wall beside me and smiles. "If you say so."

I clear my throat and glance out into the living room, students mashed together so tightly I don't understand how they can breathe. "So... what's your major?"

"Psychology. Yours?"

"I'm double-majoring in chemistry and physics."

"Oh, shit. Is that tough?"

I glance down at the drink in my hands and take a sip before replying. "It's not so bad."

"What are you supposed to be, anyways?" Marly reaches out and pulls aside my hoodie to see Cameron's jersey underneath.

"I'm a - well, it's a hockey jersey."

"Hockey?"

"Yeah, my boyfriend - he's a hockey player. This is his jersey."

"Oh, that's so cool!" Marly smiles genuinely, the lighting pulsing against her face, making her hair shimmer with streaks of orange.

"Yeah, I'm not... I'm not a Halloween person."

Out of nowhere, Marly reaches out and brushes the back of her hand against my cheek, her fingers smooth and warm. My skin immediately starts tingling. "You're blushing. Your face is all red." She pulls her hand away and laughs. "How cute."

"I'm not blushing." I am. "I'm just hot. It's hot in here."

"Are you a freshman?"

"Yeah."

"I can tell. You look young - not in a bad way."

Before I can reply, Eliza steps up beside us, saying hello to Marly. I clear my throat and scratch my head, glancing around the room for an escape before I get sucked into a long conversation.

"So how do you two know each other?" asks Eliza.

Marly smiles. "Sam and I just met."

Eliza reaches out and ruffles my hair like I see moms do, and I pull away, a small smile breaking on my face.

"He doesn't like when I do that," Eliza explains, leaning in towards Marly as if she's telling her a secret. "He's very sensitive about the hair, you see. He spends hours on it every day."

Marly laughs, her eyes flickering from Eliza to me, and I roll my eyes.

"Not true," I say.

A new song begins, something upbeat and fast, the bass sending vibrations through my body. Marly bobs her head to the beat and grabs Eliza's hand. "Come on, let's dance!"

"Yeah!" Eliza turns to me and juts her chin towards the middle of the room. "Come on, Sam. Don't be a baby. We all know you love to show off your moves."

I stuff my hands in my hoodie pockets and smile apologetically. "I actually think I'm going to head back now. I have a lot of work to do, so..."

Eliza sighs dramatically, and Marly smiles at me. "Well, it was nice meeting you," Marly says. "Maybe I'll see you around."

"Yeah, definitely. You guys have fun."

It's not until I'm out of the house that I realize I was holding my breath - I exhale deeply, relieved to be alone. With every block, the music gets quieter and quieter, until I can no longer hear it at all.

~

Two hours later, I'm still studying for chemistry in my dorm, angrily erasing, rewriting, then erasing again. As I scan through the lecture notes, I chew anxiously on the bottom of my pencil.

The door swings open, and I glance up. Eliza leans against the doorway, clearly drunk.

"Hi," she whispers loudly.

"Goodnight, Eliza."

"You missed a good party. Julie threw up."

I look down at my textbook and make a note in the margins. "Huh, sorry I missed that."

"You're still wearing the jersey?"

"It's - it's comfy."

"Marly's so in love with you."

My eyes snap back up. "What?"

"She's in love with you, is all. I mean, lots of people are in love with you. I mean, sometimes I think I'm in love with you... but not like that, Sammyyy..." Eliza holds out a hand and steadies herself against the wall. "Anyways, goodnight goodnight goodnight."

"Goodnight."

She leaves, and I shut my eyes, a headache pounding between my temples. I need to work on chemistry, but I can't focus on anything other than - how could anybody love me?

A/N meet marly! she'll definitely be back.. thoughts on her? also sorry that i'm posting chapters a bit randomly, if i make a posting schedule i will immediately break it lol. watch out for the next chapter in a few days!