Jo
I'M A WOMAN on a mission. That's right. I'm stepping into Cass's party with a purpose and I'll just need to follow three simple steps to achieve that goal.
1. Be at the party, obviously.
2. Spend at most, twenty minutes at the haunted house.
3. Bolt.
Voila. I'm chanting those words to myself while I swipe a bold red lipstick over my lips and King prances around the dressing table as The Beatles play loudly in my room. It's been a while since I've done a full blown makeover and when I look down at some of the brushes in my drawer, I realize how much I've missed this. Hana and I used to do this together for no reason before she left. We'd take pictures and all and laugh about it especially when we looked ridiculous. It makes me wonder if she remembers all these or not.
"Honey," There's a knock on the door over the voice of John Lennon. It's mum. "You're getting late. Thought you said it was starting by 8?"
I lower the volume of the music from the stereo until it's low enough that she can hear me. "Mum, it's a party. I can be there at any time."
I can already hear the multiple thoughts running through her mind. "Oh, okay. Nothing stopping you from being punctual though, just saying."
I roll my eyes and look at the time. "I'm almost done." And then I turn up the volume again.
Everyone knows the parties never really start at the slated time, especially not in Lakeville. Mum just has a thing for being ridiculously early at events, whether formal or informal. I shove my hands up into my hair and mess the curls up again until I'm satisfied. The freckles on my nose are concealed and my eyes are surrounded by dark, glittery makeup. It's perfectly smudged from my eyelids to a small part of my cheek so it appears like I've been crying and they're a few spots around my neck as well. Red smudges that are hopefully supposed to depict blood. The only part of my face that looks perfect are my lips. Red and fiery. I pout a bit and scrunch my nose before getting to my feet and standing at the full length mirror.
When I take in my attire one last time, I smile. I think I look good. I grab my already prepared purse filled with my usual diabetic kitâbetter to be safe than sorryâcheck my blood sugar and sigh once I see it's normal and then grab my phone. Flynn has already sent me a message, "I may or may not have hooked you up with David and bought you coffee. Do not fail me now."
I knew he was trying to bribe me. That god-awful odd number.
Right underneath the message, there's a little 'please' and I sigh before turning around to meet King's curious look.
"How do I look?"
He barks once, lowers his head a bit and bares his teeth at me before barking the second time and relaxing. Okay, so maybe I might look a bit terrifying but I guess that's the whole point of Halloween. Besides, I really don't think I look that different from my usual 'I hate the world' face. I unlock the door and slowly walk down the stairs when mum's spicy Halloween themed casserole hits me. I suddenly start having second thoughts about even leaving the house.
Apart from the occasional clattering of kitchen appliances, the TV is loud enough to be heard from any part of the house and apparently it's a vain commercial of incredibly muscled, shirtless guys advertising an underwear line and my grandmother is sitting on the rocking chair and knitting a brown sweater as she observes them. It's the kind of stuff she likes which convinces me that sometimes, my own grandmother can be a pervert.
"Oh, there you are," Mum calls once she sees me. I move closer to the kitchen just as she rounds the island and comes closer to me. She smells like food and dabs her wet fingers against her apron. Her curly hair that accurately resembles mineâonly shorterâis up in a knot that I see tumbling down her shoulders anytime soon.
"Ready to go?"
"Yup." I say before opening the fridge and grabbing a fresh, green apple. When I turn back to her, her face is crumpled in concentration. She must be guessing what I'm dressed as.
She archs a brow at me and asks, "And you're supposed to be?"
"Take a guess," I tease and turn a full 360 degrees. She's smiling but the evident confusion is still on her face.
"Is there some sort of ritual going on there? Why do you have a rope tied around your waist?" Grandma asks, her attention now on me. She narrows her eyes at me and then turns to her daughter. "Madeline, I told you not to let her go," A huff and then a grunt. "She looks like she's going to be sacrificed."
"Close enough," I bring my index finger and thumb close enough to describe what I mean and mum rolls her eyes at her mother.
"Mum, I told you these times are different. Kids don't think like you anymore," Then she turns to me and says, "I think you look great. You know, as whatever you are."
"I''m supposed to be a damsel in distress? I thought it was obvious." I toss the core of the apple into the trashcan and reach for my purse.
Mum laughs and her mother turns back to the shirtless, oily skinned men on the TV with a sigh. "I had my guesses. It was one of them." Then she makes it cheesy and adds, "Makes sense because you're my damsel."
"Oh god," I groan and leave the kitchen. "I think it's time for me to leave."
Her face turns serious now and she takes a hold of her spatula. "Insulin? Glucose gels?"
"Check."
"Blood sugar?"
"90mg/dL."
"Phone?"
I roll my eyes at her and show her my phone. Then she smiles and says, "Alright. Don't forget to have fun and be back on or before 12 a.m."
I nod and sling my purse over my shoulder. "Sure."
She points her casserole tainted spatula to her mother and says, "Your grandma and I are just going to eat and watch some horror flicks. I'll keep yours in the fridge."
"I thought she didn't like horror."
"It's got Tom Cruise in it."
Understandable. "Ah, alright then. Bye."
I turn around and kiss grandma on the head before heading for the door. Mum makes sure to shout, "Stay away from alcohol. I know you kids" and I grunt before hurriedly leaving the house. The cold wind bites at my exposed arms and I take in a deep breath as soon as I step away from the porch.
"You can do this Jo," I tell myself as I look at the invite one last time. "It's just one stupid party."
â
LAKEVILLE HILLS IS one of the most beautiful, yet expensive estates to live in town. It's literally on the hills and overlooks the ocean that stretches into and beyond Appleton and most of the houses look exactly alike. Cass's house is no different from the rest I encountered on my way here. A huge Victorian style mansion in the midst of many with a wrap-around porch and tall pine trees lining both sides of the road.
I'm standing right on the sidewalk that directly faces Cass's house and anxiety floods me as soon as I stare at the colorful fairy lights that surround the rooftop and porch. There are a bunch of teenagers loitering and hanging around the porch and the roof and I can almost feel the pound of the music beneath my feet. I don't get to look further because, a huge chest obstructs my vision and I have to crane my head all the way back to stare at the man standing in front of me. He's wearing a suit that hugs his stocky figure and his shades do nothing to hide the fact that he's glaring at me.
"Oh wow," is the first thing that leaves my mouth once I take a good look at this bodyguard who stands with his legs apart like I'm a threat.
"Invite." He demands and I take a step back and dip my hand into my purse. I hand it over to him just as a group of girls squealing from a bright pink sports car drive into the street and stop right in front of us. They get out, wearing all sorts of skimpy costumes that instantly make me feel jealous and wave their invitation cards at the bodyguard's face. I'm guessing this isn't their first rodeo at Cass's house considering the fact that they aren't as intimidated as I am.
He steps aside for all of us to go at once and I let out a sigh of relief as soon as I walk past him. The girls click past me in a flurry of wild hair and cheap perfume before disappearing behind the door. The banister is decorated with faux spiders and webs and there are bright orange pumpkin heads glowing all around the bushes surrounding the house. I observe the blonde who rushes out of the door with a male behind her and as soon as she ducks her head and throws up right into the pumpkin, I look away immediately just so I won't feel like throwing up myself.
I wrinkle my nose and push the door open and I'm still trying to come back from the effect that the deafening music gives my ears when a familiar guyâmost definitely someone from schoolâruns towards me with a hand in front of his pelvis. That's the only thing that covers his body. He's completely bare. Once he meets my stunned expression, he uncovers his junk and thrust his hips with a cheer.
"Jesus," I groan and shut my eyes so hard that I'm afraid it will melt into my sockets. A couple of goons cheer behind him and he rushes past me and I don't open my eyes until I hear the sound of the front door closing behind me.
Great. I'm barely ten minutes into this party and I already want to turn around and leave. It's crowded in here with The Weeknd's music pulsing in my veins. Strobe lights illuminate everyone's faces with different colors alternating every second, so it's a bit hard to recognize people at first glance. I scan the crowd for people I may know and sigh in relief once I spot Amanda waving me over. I hurry past a few sweaty bodies playing games and refuse a drink from a half-drunk girl who shoves it in my face.
"Hey, you made it!" Amanda shouts over the music as soon as I get to where she's standing with a group of girls and I nod with a disgruntled expression. I'm guessing she's dressed as Darth Vader because of the black outfit, cape, light saber and everything else that comes with it except for the helmet. She's cut her braids short and now they hover just above her shoulders.
"Wow, you look gorgeous," she praises with a grin and looks down at my outfit.
"Thanks," I shout back and discreetly look around for someone else. "You don't look too bad yourself."
"Girls, this is Jo. Jo, these are some of my friends." Amanda gestures to the three girls she's standing with and they all wave, each of them complimenting me before going back to their red plastic cups.
"I like your friends," I tell Amanda and she gives me a proud smile before flicking her hair back.
Amanda looks around like she's searching for someone and then she turns to me and shakes her head. "I swear, I didn't know it was going to be this wild. You've met Lance right? The naked guy? He's shoving his junk at everyone who comes in through the front door," her face crumples in displeasure. "Sorry you had to see that. He claims he's Adam."
I shake my head in an attempt to push back the dreadful memories and divert my attention to the plush furniture that has been pushed towards the corners and the golden banisters that wrap around the stairs. "Um, what does Cass's dad do again?"
"Nobody knows," she laughs and takes a sip of her drink again. "We just know he's a multi-millionaire. Oh, look," she points and grabs my hand. "That's Cass. Come on, let's go say hi and get you a drink."
We walk past a bunch of people in all manner of costumes before getting to Cass. Dracula, Shrek, An Astronaut, Cinderella, Prince Charming, A Nun, A witch, A scarecrow among many others. I'm pretty sure I saw Mel dressed as some hot diner waitress. When we finally get to Cass, my legs have began to hurt a bit. Cass looks stunning in a short, hot pink, lacy, ball-like gown with a sweetheart neckline that shows a decent amount of cleavage. Her raven hair looks extra shiny today and it falls around her shoulders in waves. She's standing with a shirtless Khalid and a couple of unfamiliar people who seem to be discussing something important.
I hate to intrude but Amanda doesn't seem to share my point of view because she taps Cass on the shoulder and successfully ruins their bubble. However, Cass's big, brown eyes widen when she seems me and the surprise turns into excitement in less than a millisecond.
"Jo, hey. Thanks for coming," she hugs me and then looks at me. "Whoa, you look amazing," she tells me and I narrow my eyes at Khalid who stares at me like he hasn't seen me before.
"You look even better," I respond, hoping I don't sound as awkward as I usually do when giving compliments or receiving them. "Happy birthday."
Her face becomes a beetroot red and Khalid walks over to me. "I didn't know you came to parties."
I look around again and turn back to him. "Me neither." And then I take in his outfit and start to laugh. "I also didn't know you were a man baby."
Cass and Amanda start laughing too and Khalid shoots us disgusted glares. "They dared me to do it. I hate them," he pauses and scowls at me. "You too."
He looks like a clown in an oversized diaper and alcohol stained bib under his chin. He raises the small, plastic baby bottle to his mouth and drowns his humiliation with the alcohol in it.
"Hey, I just realized you guys are matching." Cass tells me enthusiastically and I frown at her.
"Who?"
"You're a damsel in distress right? You know, the gown and the rope and all, really gives off that vibe," Cass says and I look down at my outfit and nod. See, mum and grandma are just too old to understand. I knew it was obvious.
I look up at her. "Yeah? Someone's dressed like me?"
"No," Amanda responds instead. "Flynn. I'm pretty sure he was here a while ago," she tells me craning her neck to probably look for him.
"Okay?" I say with my brows raised in confusion.
"Jo," Amanda says, looking a bit too happy to say whatever she wants to say. She grips my shoulders and the lights dance across her pretty face as she slurs her next words. "You're matching. He's a Knight."