XIV- Halloween Pt. 2

The limo pulled up in front of a large gothic style mansion, people mulled around on the front lawn in small groups and loud music erupted from the house. Pete wasn't looking forward to this… there was way too many people for this to be a nice experience. But he followed the others out of the limo anyway. As the small group made their way across the lawn Pete tried to muster all his confidence so that maybe, just maybe, the night wouldn't be a complete drag… Petey jumped slightly when he felt Gary's hand slip into his, their fingers intertwining. That came in handy when Pete stumbled over his skirt; Gary was able to make sure he didn't fall.

"You okay?"

"Yeah…"

"We don't have to stay, you know… we could ditch these losers and go."

"And do what, exactly?" Pete asked, not really in the mood for Gary's dumbass plans.

Gary shrugged. "Didn't think it through that well…"

Pete rolled his eyes and entered the house, Gary in tow. Inside, there was even more people, music pulsed through all the speakers that had been mounted on the walls and people were dancing to It Ends Tonight by the All-American Rejects. Peter looked around, just taking in his surroundings. It was a rather big house, lots of space. Most of the furniture had been moved and replaced with tables and chairs that were pushed up against the wall. All six of them just barely managed to squeeze around a table, but then Josh stood up and went off to look for the "bathroom". Peter glanced at Blake, who was scowling but wouldn't say much about what was wrong. Pete sighed. He and Blake both knew Josh had gone off to find Deleon, the infamous ex-boyfriend. While idle chatter started up, Pete was looking around and seeing people from Bullworth… Derby, Gord, Bif… it seemed like most all the Preps had come to enjoy the festivities for the evening. He shuddered when he felt Gary's lips brush his bare shoulder.

"Something wrong, Pe- uh, Philomena?"

Pete growled low in his throat, starting to get really annoyed with that name.

"Call me that again, see what happens…" he warned.

Gary chuckled. "What's got your panties in a bunch?"

Pete blushed at that, and he was just about ready to punch Gary in the face when Josh returned.

"Pete, can I see you for a minute?" Josh asked, not bothering with the stupid name.

"Of course." Peter said, standing and following Josh into a secluded nook just down the hall.

"Hey, um… did you know Derby was here?" Josh asked, looking rather flustered and agitated.

"Yeah… I just saw him… do you want to leave?"

"Well, I don't want to ruin you guys' fun… maybe I should go sit in the limo…"

Pete knew that Josh and Derby had named themselves each other's mortal enemies earlier on in the year, knew that the battle between the two was ongoing. Josh and Derby were each a force to be reckoned with by themselves, but if you got them together in the same room things could get catastrophic... this theory had been proven earlier on in the year in the only class the two shared together, speech/debate. The topic had been gay marriage. Josh had been for, Derby against. The debate had ended in a shouting match that even the teacher wasn't able to stop, with swears and other things being flung around the room. Pete had been called out of study hall to end it ("Guys, for real? Its fucking debate, it's not like it really fucking matters. It's not going to change fucking anything."). It had only been the start of a long list of times Pete got called out of study hall. Almost every day after that Pete had had to stop something between the two…

"Hey, I doubt if he'll notice you, it'll be fine."

"Doubtful… he'll notice me, he always notices me, and it irritates the shit out of me..."

"I don't know why the two of you don't get along. I mean, fuck, the two of you are almost exactly alike!"

If looks could kill, Pete was sure the look Josh gave him at that moment would have made all his internal organs burst and he would somehow have magically caught on fire.

"We. Are. Nothing. Alike." Josh growled out each word, his teeth and fists clenched.

"God, one little debate and you hate each other for life. How did that work out?"

"It's not just the debate, it's that he's a condescending asshole with a knack for tacky blue madras sweaters… I hate his guts because he thinks he's better than me."

"Oh, is that all? He thinks he's better than most everyone he comes into contact with…"

"Not you… He doesn't think he's better than you…"

"He does too…"

"No, he doesn't… he worships the ground you fucking walk on…"

"Josh… you're being silly. Look, just try to enjoy yourself, didn't you want to find Deleon?"

"Well, yeah…" Josh said, blushing.

"Then go find him, ignore Derby. Have fun, okay?"

Josh nodded. "Thanks. Just keep Blake distracted for me, understand?"

Pete frowned, but nodded. He hated the way Josh was, at times, a man whore. But it was not really any of his business.

"Alright, see you later then." Josh said cheerfully before turning and walking away.

Sighing, Petey returned to the table. His irritation flared up again when he saw Gary had disappeared.

"Jimmy?"

"Yeah, Pete?"

"Where's Gary?"

"Um… I'm not sure." Jimmy replied sheepishly.

Pete rolled his eyes and sat down; hoping Gary wasn't off getting into trouble. Pete glanced at Blake, who seemed to be bored out of his poor little mind. Pete couldn't blame him; the party wasn't quiet what people like himself and Blake were able to get into. Had there been a live band, drugs, sex, and beer, it probably would have been something much more interesting. Peter saw Blake's head suddenly jump towards the stair case, glaring. Pete followed his gaze in time to see a black haired man leading Josh up the stairs… Pete had never seen Deleon, but if he had to venture a guess he would have put money on Josh having found him. He glanced at Blake again, who was looking thoughtful… and somewhere between pissed and hurt. Pete wasn't doing his appointed job very well…

He jumped suddenly when Gary slid easily into his abandoned chair, smirking.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Sight seeing…"

"… … …"

"What?"

"You're fucking weird…"

"Gee, thanks… I was just looking around. I think this could possibly be the biggest residential home I've ever been in."

Pete shook his head, bemused. He watched as Jimmy led Zoe off to go dance, and he remembered his great desire to leave… he would have had tons more fun on campus.

"So, are you enjoying yourself?" Gary asked, still smirking.

"Fuck no… We should have stayed on campus."

"I agree, want to ditch them? We could go sit out in the limo, at least until these people want to leave." Gary suggested.

Peter wanted to take up Gary's offer, but knew he couldn't just abandon poor Blake there to sit by himself.

"Can Blake come?"

"Why not…"

"Blake… Blake!"

"Yeah?"

"Come with us."

Blake didn't ask any questions, but followed the two out into the limo. The driver was leaning against the front of the car, smoking. He paid them no mind as the three slipped into the back seat.

"God, it's boring in there." Blake said, pulling the wig off his head and throwing it randomly.

"Yep, should have stayed in town…" Gary said, looking up through the sun roof at the night sky.

"Josh seems to be enjoying himself…" Blake said, staring at his boots.

Pete sighed. "Yes… let me go work my magic. I can have them all convinced we need to leave in fifteen minutes."

"Really? Great, go then!" Gary said, laughing.

Peter climbed back out of the car, went back across the lawn and into the house. He found Zoe and Jimmy pretty easily, they were on the dance floor grinding against one another unceremoniously. Pete tapped Jimmy on the shoulder.

"We need to leave…" Pete said, keeping his voice low so only Jimmy and Zoe could hear him.

"Why?"

"Just trust me on this one, okay? It won't be… good… to still be here in twenty minutes or so."

"What did the psycho do?"

"Don't worry about it, just go get into the limo. Now, please." Pete said, keeping his voice in a whisper and glancing around as if to make sure they were not being overheard.

"Right. C'mon Zoe." Jimmy said, taking Zoe by the wrist and leading here back to the limo.

Pete smiled. It was all too easy to lie to Jimmy… Oh, God. He was getting more like Gary every day it seemed. He walked over to a table, pouring himself some punch. Josh would be harder to find… he could go upstairs and start opening doors, but that wasn't a very smart idea. He tensed when he felt an arm snake around his waist.

"Are you here alone, darling?"

"Derby… I advise you to let go, now." Pete said, feeling his eyebrow twitch.

"Kowalski? What the hell are doing dressed like that?" Derby asked, quickly pulling his arm away before he got punched in the face.

Pete sighed. "I lost a dare, okay? Look, just don't tell anyone… why are you here? I've noticed a few others too, but…"

"Well, this is my uncle's party. Obviously I was invited."

"Your uncle?"

"Yes, my uncle. My father's younger brother, Deleon Harrington. Surely you're not surprised?"

Peter grinned. "Oh, so Deleon's your uncle… Thank you, Derby. I believe you've just made my predicament much easier." Pete said, patting Derby's shoulder as he went off to find Josh.

Pete made his way up the stairs, rounded a corner, and was not at all surprised to find Josh and Deleon making out in a secluded corner.

"Josh!"

Josh jumped when he heard his name, then glared at Peter. "What?" he asked, pissed as hell.

"Guess what I found out?"

"What? I don't want to play this game right now, go away."

"Oh, but I'm sure you'll want to hear this, though."

Josh glared at Pete for a minute more. "Well, what is it then?"

"Deleon is Derby's uncle."

Josh paled considerable, looking like he was going to be sick any moment. He grabbed Peter's hand and led him quickly down the stairs, not bothering to ask Petey were he had acquired his information. He slammed the door as the two left the house for the last time. Once inside the car, Josh started taking long deep breaths.

"What's wrong with him?" Blake asked.

"Doesn't matter, where are we going?"

"Home." Josh whispered.

Peter gave the driver those instructions before settling into the back beside Gary.

The ride back was silent, Josh's deep breathing the only audible sound over the car engine. Pete gently leaned his head against Gary's chest, sighing.

-Later-

Blake, Gary, Josh, and Pete were all in Pete and Gary's room. Blake had managed to swipe some booze and they were all now sitting around on the floor, swapping what little insight to the world they had, telling about were they all came from and about past relationships.

"I've got an idea…" Josh said, surprising everyone. He hadn't spoken much since they had come back to the dorm, still in shock from the information he had been given earlier.

"And that would be…?" Blake asked.

"Let's play truth or dare."

Pete had played with the two of them before, but Gary being of an impulsive nature, agreed instantly. Pete sighed, he had learned from past experience that this game was usually brutal and degrading. But then he realized he didn't have much dignity left to loose, seeing as he had been forced into a dress and panties earlier in the evening.

"What are the rules?" Gary asked.

"Well, someone asks truth or dare. Pick truth they'll ask you a question you must answer, pick dare you have to do it. If you fail to complete your mission, you take a shot of whatever it is Blake brought with him tonight." Josh explained.

"Okay, sounds easy enough. Who starts?"

"I'll start… Hm, Gary, truth or dare?"

"… Dare."

Josh grinned. "Let me think… any ideas Blake?"

"What the hell… Josh I don't think you're allowed to ask for help."

"Right, right. Hm, here. Call Jimmy, tell him you love him." Josh instructed, handing Gary his cell phone.

Gary grinned. "Right, hold on… Jim? Yeah, hi. It's Gary. I just called to—mother fucker, hung up on me."

Blake and Josh laughed.

Gary called him back, wasting no time when Jimmy picked up this time. "Jimmy I freaking love you. Bye." He hung up.

"Okay now, ask someone."

"Yeah, I know. Peter, truth or dare."

Peter had been prepared for this, knew Josh would pick Gary and in turn Gary would pick him. "Truth."

When Gary grinned that malicious grin, Pete realized his mistake.

"Wait, no. I-"

"Uh-uh, Pete. You said truth, no changing."

Peter sighed. "Fine."

"Okay, Petey. Tell me this 'everything' you've been keeping from me."

-End Ch. 14-

I'm dedicating this chapter to Ms. Lacy Carroll (September 13, 1971- July 7, 2009). The reason this chapter took so long was because I had to attend her funeral. I didn't have the pleasure of actually knowing her on a personal level. She was my mother's cousin, my cousin too in essence. I heard a lot about her in the day I spent with my family. She was strong, nice, friendly, and spirited. I only wish I could have spent time with her, got to know her. It is so very true that you don't know what you had until you lose it. I know that she will be greatly missed and forever loved.

Reviews would be much appreciated, also I again apologize for my late chapters as well as my bad spelling and grammar.