# whatever, Author's Choice! Happy Halloween! :D

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Let me be brave, just this once.

My hands are sweaty, so I wipe them on my pants. One hand brushes against my pocket, and a chill chases down my spine at the thought of what's inside of it. Why am I doing this to myself? Frustrated, I adjust my scarf and glare at my bedroom door.

He should be here soon. He'll ring the bell just to hear it, knowing he could just shout and I'd be there in three seconds (the walls in my dorm are pretty thin). But he'll ring the bell, and I'll be there in two. He'll grin at me, a little wild and ridiculously beautiful, amber eyes shinning, long hair the color of coal in the dim light of the hallway.

And what then?

We'll go to his dorm, of course, and I'll tutor him like I always have. We'll watch T.V. Maybe we'll play Halo for an hour or so. Eventually I'll have to leave. I'll end up sitting here on my bed, thinking about the way his eyes narrow a little when he's confused, about how when I get close enough I can see the feline curves of his ears, and wonder what it'd be like to touch them.

That's what will happen.

But I don't want it to.

The doorbell rings, and I'm at the door before the sound fully registers. I open the door and there he is- smiling, amber eyes, black hair.

"Ready to go?" he asks.

Am I?

I think about the night that's going to happen if I say yes. I think about what's inside my pocket. I watch as my hand drifts toward it, then reaches in and curls around cool silver. I bring the object into the light, smiling a little. It's a silver chain. Thin, but strong, a thousand silver circles interlocked. Even in this dim hallway, it shines so brightly.

"Come here."

Blinking, he steps forward, and bend a little to loop the chain around his neck.

"For courage," I tell him.

He blinks, his hand slowly coming up to feel the cool metal around his neck. There's something like amazement in his eyes.

"Courage, huh?" he murmurs, lifting his head.

His lips meet mine, warm and close.

"Thank you," he whispers.

I grin and steal another kiss, suddenly fearless.