His bedroom door was shoved open with such a light force. The tap of it hitting his wooden shelf made him glare at the doorframe with annoyance. The girl stood before him, with a bright smile that screamed mischievous energy and he knew that if this ended badly. Sam would be over here in seconds and have a very long conversation with him.

Of course he wouldn't be caught if this situation was something reckless. Ever since Tara's attack last year, she's gone down a spiral of chaos.

Zachary sighed deeply as he threw his head back into his pillow. The rough material making the hairs on his head shift with such ease. That he wouldn't be shocked if they turned all types of directions.

"Tara, you're amazing and I absolutely love you! But I swear to god! if you get me involved with something that'll end with Sam...".

She cut him off by jumping onto his bed harshly. The ends of his legs being crushed as he let out a loud huff of annoyance. "Relax grandpa! I just need your help sneaking out, preferably to the store".

She grinned as he sat up pushing her off his legs as he rubbed the sweat off his forehead. With the ends of his sleeves, "let me guess, you need a costume for that frat party that's tonight?".

She nodded as she grabbed a hold of his arm, dragging him towards the door. He let the small girl drag him as he chuckled at her determination.

"I'll do it, but you better not say a word to Sam" Tara smiled and it was a genuine one. He had forgotten the last time he had seen her smile and it wasn't a fake one that covered her emotions.

It was nice seeing her happy, even if it was for a simple task that most didn't even care about. He grabbed his car keys off the dining table that laid before the apartment.

His fingers mended around a pen as he wrote a note to his roommates. That mainly being Chad and Ethan, he never got out of the habit of putting.

"Hey roomies, went out for a few!" Tara glared at him as she read over the words with confusion. "What? I don't feel like putting there names, it's more muscle movement required".

Tara laughed as he put his shoes on, the last thing he did before leaving was locking the door. He made sure it clicked completely, even turned the doorknob to ensure it wouldn't be opened.

He sighed briefly when he walked outside, the cold air nipped away at his face as he unlocked his car. "So I overheard Chad mention the other night, that you're seeing someone"

His heart ached as he put his seatbelt on, he felt her gaze on the side of his face as he started the car. It was bond to come up eventually, the last time his heart was this swooned by someone.

He talked endlessly about them, and on days he wanted them to himself. He'd sneak off into the depth of the darkness, so it was just him.

Wes, gosh he hadn't thought of that name in months. Whenever he thought about him his wounds would sting and he'd wanna cry.

"Uh yeah actually, I'm seeing someone. It's only been like a few months since we've made it official". Tara smiled as she rolled the window down "so who's the lucky guy? Is he cute?".

It was nice to talk about normal things with someone for once. Everyone was so cautious around him, but Tara didn't care. She would speak her mind, she was the sole reason he hadn't killed himself after what happened last year.

The blood taunted his dreams every time he closed his eyes. He'd wake up on cold sweats, begging for the world to grant him mercy as he cried.

"His names Ethan, he's actually my roommate.. you've meant before, he's around every so often whenever I'm over for game night".

He tapped his fingers along the steering wheel as he parked it neatly in between others. "I'm glad you're finally letting yourself out there... I'm glad that you're finally happy, Wes would've...".

He grew tense and she stopped talking when she saw his hands twitch. He cleared his throat as he took his seatbelt off "we're here".

He got out of the car so fast he didn't notice the figure that was hidden in the crowd of people. They watched him with such disgust as him and Tara walked inside the costume shop.

"So what are you going to be? A little princess?" Tara rolled her eyes as she patted his shoulder "I'm not eight Zach. Besides aren't you gonna pick something out too?".

He rubbed at the back of his neck "no, parties aren't really my thing anymore. But I'll still look around to kill time while you look about".

She seemed saddened by his response "you'll at least cover for me right? In case Sam goes over to your place trying to find me?".

He smiled as she raised her pinkie towards him he wrapped his around it "promise, my lips are sealed shut, I know absolutely nothing".

She wondered off into an aisle and he stood frozen for a moment. He wasn't really sure why he said he'd look around, the masks creeped him out.

He sighed and ignored his fears as he walked into a random aisle. He could see so many Michael Myer and Freddy Krueger costumes it made his head explode. He turned into the next aisle his entire body going absolutely feral and cold.

He felt like his wounds had ripped open all over again. His hands were shaking like crazy as he walked forward slowly. Rows and rows of the mask stared back at him as he grew stiff.

It's just a costume, his therapist told him that so many times whenever he'd mention the mask. It's just a silly costume people wear on Halloween.

"Zach, I'm ready" Tara's words made him snap out of the daze he was stuck under. He smiled weakly at her as he left the aisle in a fast pace.

She had seen what he was looking at, she smiled sadly as she walked after him towards the car. She had never seen him go so quiet before.

His entire mood and body changed, he was quiet the entire ride back and he didn't even laugh at Tara's lame jokes about pirates.

He parked the car outside of Tara's place, "you saw the mask didn't you?" her tone was low like if she spoke any louder he'd snap.

He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. He opened his mouth but no words came out, he felt like a fish out of water.

"It's okay to still be scared of it" his grip tightened and he felt like he was gonna faint. He sighed leaning back into his headrest.

"Just forget about it, it's just a fucking mask!" she opened the car door sighing deeply and he knew he had upset her. He opened his door fast leaning over the hood of his car. "Tara wait! I didn't.....".

She turned and looked at him "I've tried to be patient with you Zach, we all have...". His gaze grew numb, he knew they all talked about him whenever he wasn't around.

About that night he put a knife against his throat and damn near cut his head off. Tara was the one who found him on the floor, blood seeping out of his wound, and she saved him from himself.

His fingers ached as he leaned into the car for more support. "Go ahead and say it Tara, say that I'm overreacting! That it's all in my head!".

"It's been a year! They're dead Zach! We've all moved on, even if not by a lot, it's still something". He felt the throw up rising upwards and he tasted it on his tongue as he pinched his eyes shut.

The scar on his throat began burning, aching to be ripped open deeper then the last time. He ignored Tara's voice as he got into his car and drove off.