The Halloween festival came and I decided to dress up as a goth. All I did was wear a black shirt, a black skirt, black tights, and black boots. I also found a choker in the drawer of our vanity so I decided to wear that.

As for makeup, I just wore a black lipstick that for some reason Chelsea used to have. I never saw her wore that, she just bought it from our New York trip. Nothing more than just that black lipstick.

I went downstairs and mom gasps at my getup.

"Are you really going to school with that costume?" she asks, brushing my hair behind my ears.

"Uhm, yes?" I say and she just sighs.

"What are you even dressed up as, Amelia?" she says. I didn't miss the disappointment in her tone.

"A goth, mom," I reply, walking away from her and grabbing my favorite Kellogg's corn flakes. I pour myself a bowl of cereal with milk.

After eating, I get up and place my dish in the sink before jumping on the couch. I impatiently waited for Paula to pick me up as I play with my bangs.

"If Chelsea were here, I bet she won't let you dress up as a ghost," she says, mistaking on the goth part.

"It's a goth, mom, not a ghost," I say with disgust and she just sighs.

"Whatever. She probably forced you to come as a unicorn or something," she continues and I just stand up from the couch, grabbed my bag, and went outside.

"Shut up," I mutter under my breath before leaving. Paula soon pulled over in our driveway. I immediately get in before mom could say goodbye.

"Ooh, goth girl sure suits you," she comments, eyeing my whole getup.

"Thanks?" I say and she just chuckles. "So, you went as a...," I stare at her. She was wearing a red top which seemed like a bustier?

"Devil," she tells me, pointing to her hairband with two little horns. "I got the iconic pitchfork in the back," she says. I look behind us and there I saw a pitchfork.

"Damn, you really are serious about this whole costume shit," I remark.

"I know, right?" she says and we keep silent for the whole ride.

Once we got to school, Cole immediately approaches me. Did he actually dress up as a soldier?

"What are you supposed to be?" I ask, really putting a disgusted tone in my voice.

"I'm a soldier from World War II, Ms. Goth girl," he replies. "So, let's take a picture, shall we?" he says and when I give him a confused look he adds, "For the scrapbook!"

I just nod my head and he asks Paula to take a picture of us. He hands her his phone and Paula suddenly takes a picture even though we weren't ready at all.

"Hey!" I shouted, pretending to kick her. She just laughs and asks us to get ready. Cole puts his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Paula takes the picture and when I looked at it, I saw that my face looked surprised. "Let's take another one," I tell Cole.

He just furrows his eyebrows at me so I swat his chest.

"I said, let's take another one," I reiterate and he just swallows nervously.

"Okay, fine," he says. "Paula," he calls out, handing the phone back to her. Cole puts his arm around my shoulders this time and I mustered up the courage to put my arm around his waist. I can feel his shock as I did so. Before I realized it, I was giggling like crazy.

When I looked at our picture, I can't help but notice how happy I looked. I threw the phone back to Cole and he almost missed it.

"Hey! What if I hadn't caught that?" he says.

"That's your fault then," I scoff and his jaw drops. Paula and I walked inside the school and when we arrived at her locker, I leaned on the locker next to hers and crossed my arms.

"Why are you looking at me like that," she says, even if she wasn't looking at me.

"Why did you act like that around Cole the first time I saw you," I say.

"Like what?" she asks, closing the door of her locker. We walk to my locker.

"You hugged him and all that," I say, opening the door of my locker. It was so disorganized I feel like if Chelsea were here, she would beat me up just so that I'd clean it up.

"Oh, it was just some small experiment," she brushes it off.

"Experiment?" I say, grabbing my English book from the locker and hugging it to my chest before banging the door close.

"Every girl Cole has hung out with falls in love with him," she starts. "So, I thought why not see if you're one of those types of girls," she adds.

"I'm definitely not one of those "types of girls"," I say and she nods.

"I knew right away, don't you worry," she assures, touching my cheek lightly.

Classes ended and the Halloween festival came right up. They awarded the best female and male costumes as well as the most-extra female and male costumes.

I was getting myself some "Halloween blood punch" when someone taps me on my shoulder from behind. It's Avery.

"Hey," he nervously greets, scratching the back of his neck. He dressed up as a zombie.

"Hey," I say, my voice flat.

"It's been a while, huh?" he says. I haven't talked to him ever since the kiss.

"I think it's better that way," I say, walking away. He grabs my hand and when I try to remove it, he just looks at me straight in my eyes.

"If you're acting like this because of the kiss, then I'm sorry," he says, brushing his hair up with his other hand.

"I don't give a fuck about that kiss, Avery. We both know how much I hate you," I spat and he gives me a hurt look. He lets go of my hand.

"Can we talk?" he asks and I just cross my arms. "Just for at least five minutes?" he pleads with his eyes and I found myself nodding. We walk outside the school court and he buys us drinks from the vending machine nearby.

He hands me the can of sprite. I opened it and took a big gulp.

"My time's precious, you better speak up," I say, the carbonated drink tingling in my throat.

"The first thing I want to do is apologize. I'm sorry for kissing you out of nowhere," he says, sitting on the ground, across me. "Also, I still can't believe you rejected my ass for the second time," he chuckles halfheartedly, shaking his can of cold coffee before bringing it to his lips.

"If that's all you have to say, then I'm going back," I tell him and he stops me with his eyes.

"That's not all. Would you at least tell me what you truly feel about me? Do you think I stand a chance with you?" he asks and I look at him with disgust.

I walk towards him and kneel in front of him. I can see how his eyes lighten up with hope. I give him a fake smile.

"Okay, first of all, Avery James," I start, waving a finger to his face. "You are— were my sister's boyfriend," I stop and I can see how the hope in his eyes starts to fade. "Do you really think I'd date you? Being my deceased former boyfriend and all that?" I say.

"I mean if you're in love in me, then why not?" he says and I just let out a loud snort.

"Me? In love with you?" I poked his chest lightly. "No way in hell, Avery James," I declare. "Second of all," I start once again. "You were my childhood friend. That's weird as fuck," I say and add, "And lastly, you know why I won't date you, like, at all?"

"Why?" he says, breathing heavily.

"Because," I poke him on his chest. "You," I poke him again. "Are," I poke him for the last time. "An asshole," I finish off before standing up and leaving him speechless. I turn to look back at him. "Any more questions, Avery James?" I tease and I can see how the color fades from his face.

I laugh with myself on the way back to the court. I can't believe I just said that to him.

"He was still once your friend," I hear someone say from behind. I immediately swung to see who said that but I can't see anyone anywhere. 

"And he was also my boyfriend," the voice adds. I can feel her voice in front of me so I turned to look again but then she was gone.

"I'm here, Amelia. It's me, Chelsea."