Chapter 20: Dancing Distractions

I saw my reflection in the window.

A surge of confidence washed over me. Dressed up like Harley Quinn, I felt like a total badass. My outfit consisted of a red and black corset-style top, adorned with black sequins and contrasting red lace-up details. Paired with black and red striped pants that hugged my curves in all the right places, it was like I had stepped straight out of a comic book.

I looked hot as hell.

My hair was styled in playful pigtails, dyed in vibrant shades of blue and pink that framed my face in a riot of color. Dark, smoky eye makeup and bold red lipstick completed the look, adding an edgy vibe that perfectly suited the character I was channeling.

With fishnet stockings and combat boots adding to the ensemble, I felt every bit the part of Harley Quinn—fierce, fearless, and undeniably sexy.

Now, where was James?

Standing outside the party venue, the anticipation of the evening ahead coursed through me. James should be here any moment now, dressed as the Joker.

Tik…

Tik…

Tik…

The minutes ticked by. A sense of unease began to creep in. There was still no sight of James. I checked my phone, hoping for a message or a call. There was nothing.

Okay, he was only ten minutes late. Maybe I was just being impatient because I was so excited for this party. He’d show.

Tik…

Tik…

Tik…

Okay, he was twenty minutes late now. Frowning, I sent him a quick text, my fingers tapping anxiously on the screen.

Keily

Hey, where are you? Are you okay?

He didn’t answer right away. Time passed slowly. Each second felt like an eternity as I waited for a response. But still, there was nothing. My mind raced with a million possibilities—had he forgotten? Was he okay?

Keily

I’m waiting for you outside the party venue…

My fingers trembled slightly as I hit send.

I sat down on the steps, outside the party venue. The sounds of laughter and music drifting through the air. Loneliness washed over me. All I wanted was to be inside, enjoying the party with James by my side. But instead, I was left waiting. Was he coming?

Tik…

Tik…

Tik…

Okay. He was thirty minutes late. Feeling dejected and alone, I barely noticed Charlotte’s presence until she emerged from the party venue and approached me with her eyebrows pinching together.

“Hey, Keily, what’s going on?” she asked.

I forced a weak smile, trying to brush off my disappointment.

“Oh, nothing, just waiting for James,” I replied, my voice cracking slightly with emotion.

Charlotte’s eyes softened and she reached out to squeeze my hand reassuringly.

“Come on, let’s go inside and wait for him together,” she suggested, tugging on my hand. “I can introduce you to some of my robotics friends in the meantime.”

I was about to deny her and wait for James but then my phone peeped.

“It’s him,” I said. I pulled my hand free and proceeded to read the message.

James

I’m held up doing work for my classes. But I’ll be there asap. <3

“What does he say?” Charlotte asked.

“He’s a bit busy… but he’ll try to come as soon as he can,” I said, sticking my phone into my pocket.

“Then let’s party!” she said, grabbing my hand again and pulling me up.

As Charlotte and I made our way inside the Halloween party venue, the atmosphere was electric with excitement. The space was transformed into a spooky wonderland, with cobwebs draped over every corner and jack-o’-lanterns casting an eerie glow.

The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air as partygoers mingled and danced to the pulsating beat of the music. From vampires to zombies to superheroes, the costumes were as diverse as they were creative, adding to the festive ambiance of the event.

“Your outfit looks amazing, by the way,” Charlotte said.

“Thanks, Charlotte! You look amazing too,” I exclaimed. Her Optimus Prime costume from Transformers fit her personality perfectly.

As we navigated through the crowd, Charlotte introduced me to some of her robotics friends. They were all dressed up as different Transformers.

“Keily, this is Adam,” Charlotte said, gesturing to a tall, lanky boy dressed as Bumblebee. “He’s a whiz with programming and robotics.”

“And this is Joshua,” she continued, motioning to a shorter, more muscular boy dressed as Megatron. “He’s the master of design and innovation.”

“Hi! It’s nice to meet you,” I said.

“It’s lovely to meet you too, Miss Harley Quinn,” Joshua said.

I laughed. “Keily is fine.”

“I’ll call you that. But tonight everyone has to call me Megatron!”

They talked about robotics, but I was distracted. I offered the occasional smile or nod. But honestly, I wasn’t listening to what they were saying.

My gaze constantly flickered towards the entrance of the party, hoping to catch a glimpse of James.

He didn’t walk through the doors.

But Vanessa did. I excused myself from the group of transformers and walked over to her.

“Vanessa!” I exclaimed.

“Hi!” she said, pulling me into a hug. “You look so hot.”

I felt my cheeks get warm. “Thank you!”

“Let’s dance!” She dragged me to the dance floor. I let the music wash over me as we moved in sync to the rhythm. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to forget about my troubles and lose myself in the music and laughter.

But after a while, I checked my phone.

James hadn’t called.

He hadn’t texted.

It was also getting late, and I had class early the next day. I knew it was time to call it quits.

“I’m going to head home,” I told Vanessa.

“See you soon!” she said and gave me a brief hug.

Approaching Charlotte, Adam, and Joshua, I forced a smile, masking the disappointment that threatened to make me cry.

“Hey guys, I think I’m going to head out,” I announced.

“I’m sorry things didn’t work out with James,” Charlotte said sympathetically. “But don’t worry, I’m sure everything will be okay.”

“Yeah!”

“Night, Keily,” Adam said.

“It was great meeting you,” Joshua added.

I made my way out of the party venue. I yawned and slowly climbed down the stairs.

And there was James.

He ran towards me. His costume half on. He’d left his jacket somewhere and his shirt was unbuttoned. Despite his disheveled appearance, he still managed to look incredibly handsome in his Joker ensemble. He had green hair and a painted face.

A smile tugged at my lips as I watched him approach. A surge of warmth flooded through me at the sight of him. Without a second thought, I rushed forward to meet him, throwing my arms around him in a tight embrace.

“James, you made it!” I exclaimed.

Breathless and panting, James returned the hug.

“Sorry I’m late, Keily. Lost track of time with some last-minute work,” he said and ended the hug.

Despite how late it was, I felt a rush of joy at the sight of him. We hadn’t partied together but at least I got to see him in his cute costume.

And he did look very cute.

“Are you leaving?” he asked me.

“Yeah,” I said and wrapped my arms around myself. “I’m tired. But you go ahead and enjoy the party.”

James shook his head. “It’s not worth it without you. I’ll walk you back to your dorm.”

We linked hands and walked all the way in silence. Were we quiet because we were both so tired? When we reached my door, James kissed me. Having his lips against mine made my heart go wild.

He ended the kiss much sooner than I wanted him to.

“Goodnight,” he said.

“Goodnight.”

I watched him walk away. I sighed. This was harder than I thought it would be.