Chapter 18: Blackwell after Dark
This was it; Blackwell's annual Halloween blowout. On this frightful Friday, the school would host an epic pool party that would be on par with many of the shin digs that the Vortex Club would throw. No matter your social circle, you would be in attendance. It was a glorified excuse for kids to get drunk and party all while celebrating one of the best nights of the year, Halloween.
Now this would obviously lead the way for all flavour of mischief and excitement but how exactly will this night unfold? What costumes will everyone be wearing? Who will throw up in the pool? What music will they have blasting from speakers within a very questionable distance to a large body of water?
The dichotomy that was Aaron and Kate would obviously be in attendance. Aaron was not one to miss anything to do with Halloween and Kate was happy to be able to experience a social function without being a bag of nerves. That tied in with the fact Aaron hadn't stopped going on about it for the last hour really made her happy to accompany him to something that would bring him such joy.
Max had no choice; Chloe was going to go regardless of her standing as no longer part of the student body so the only way she wouldn't get in trouble was if she was accompanying Max as her plus one. The irony that Max was more like Chloe's plus one in this situation obviously escaped the blue haired troublemaker. Max had fully accepted the fact she was boring and would much rather spend her night curled up watching shit on TV but here she was, cobbling together a costume that she had no choice in wearing. Chloe had already decided on what they would be going as.
Victoria was the master organiser of the whole thing so she, as expected, was freaking the fuck out over all the tiny details that were not worth all the fuss. Taylor and Courtney were being run ragged, as they usually were while Victoria pondered over things such as decorations, guest lists, costume finalisations and all other things related to social decorum that would make the Queen B(itch) lose her mind. As was her nature as a perfectionist, everything had to be the way she envisioned it in her head.
Of course the more social rejects of Blackwell would relish in the opportunity to show off their insane cosplay costumes. No detail or expense would be spared as they each wanted to top their fellow friends' costumes to have the most accuracy and wow factor. It was more than a friendly competition between friends, it was who would be crowned as king/queen nerd. And of course, teenagers and alcohol is just an obvious pairing.
The faculty had their hands fuller that they would care to admit with this party. Risk assessments had to be drawn up, chaperones had to be put in place and all the other bureaucracy that came with avoiding a lawsuit. While the school had nothing to do with the party in an official capacity, as it was on school grounds all the T's needed to be crossed and all the I's dotted. Principle Wells was already one breath away from a heart attack as it was. All he needed was another scandalous incident and his stress levels would be higher than Hayden on a Sunday afternoon.
As the afternoon sun shined for what could be the final time before winter, everyone was truly in the Halloween spirit.
Aaron's room was surprisingly as normal as any teenage boy, albeit more cleaner due to the lack of time he spent there nowadays.
He had a light grey carpet cover the floor with a metal framed double bed in the left corner that had sheets that were also grey, just lighter. The bed went lengthways along the back wall, Aaron hadn't planned on anyone using the other side of it so it was pinned up against his dark blue painted walls. The roof was slanted here, tucking the head of the bed into it as it gradually inclined the more right you went.
At the foot of the bed was a black set of drawers with silver handles on them, matching up to the silver vase he had rested on top of it. Inside lay a fake cherry blossom tree that was very small and very neatly kept despite needing no actual attention. Aftershave and deodorant ran along the back and sides of the dresser that gave it such a masculine look.
Along the left wall was a series of skateboards of various colour and design that ran up to a long mirror that was simply just a rectangle on a wooden stand. A large window that ran from the floor to the roof was to the right of the mirror. A single blackout curtain, pulled to the left side of the window that was also a dark shade of blue.
A small black table with silver legs was central in the room but pulled closer to the window as to allow for the light from the outside to shine in and illuminate whatever was being done on it.
A black wardrobe with one door and an open rack of shelves was in the bottom right corner of the room, opposite the dresser. The door opened into the centre of the room as not to encroach on the flat screen TV that was mounted to the wall.
Despite being very clean and neat, it was still very Aaron Heartfield. From the colours to the layout, one would easily be able to guess this was his room just by looking through the door.
"Ok, so I was thinking about maybe bringing this up here? I just want it to look a bit tighter is all" Aaron stated as he zipped up his red bomber jacket.
His costume would be that of Jim Stark; famously played by the late, great James Dean from Rebel Without a Cause. It was simple, not what people thought someone of Aaron's extravagant nature would do. But it was also exactly what he would do, something so subtle that would actually create waves with no extra effort on his part. He had a way of innocently making things larger than they were and it was always never on purpose.
"I think you'll look fine no matter how you zip it" Kate replied with a cute smile. The light shone through the window and brightened up her whole face, Aaron really thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
"You sure, I mean the hair is already way off, I don't want people thinking I'm, I don't know, Danny Zucko" Obviously Aaron's black hair was the main problem and his anxious little heart was making him overthink the ramifications of it.
"You know I love your hair" Kate said as she rustled it with her hands. "So will everyone else, even if they won't recognise you. Hell I bet this will be the first time most of them would've seen you without a fringe.
"Oh god, not my forehead" Aaron cried out as he dramatically fell back on his bed, prompting Kate to laugh once more. "What about you, you happy with Princess Ann"
Kate smiled as she picked up the striped ascot from the table and wrapped it around her neck. "Very, and if I'm not worrying about my hair, you shouldn't worry about yours" Kate would not be styling her hair any differently, it would be the same bulb it always was.
Aaron had suggested that Kate dress up as Princess Ann, played by the famous Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. It was a simple costume that fitted Kate's fashion. A nice white shirt, long neutral skirt and that stripey ascot to add more detail to what otherwise would be considered a bland, old fashioned outfit. Aaron knew who she was and that's all that mattered but there was bound to be eagle eyed students that also put together who she was portraying.
Everything about them was just simply cute. Their costumes were cute, their energy was cute, hell even the two of them were facially cute. It was so nice to see Kate be able to express her beautiful soul that she had kept hidden for a while. Kate was just happy that she was able to direct all of Aaron's pent up energy on more positive things than fighting and all the aggressive things he gets up to. Putting together costumes were far more Kate's speed and as pure as anything she could hope to do with someone who brings her so much joy.
"OK, so the plan of attack is meet some of the guys at Warren's room for a lil pre game. Just like a warm up beforehand so we can ease into the social environment" Aaron explained as he tried on the red bomber again, checking its fit in the long mirror he had besides his window. "Alternatively, we could skip that and just head straight to the pool hall. There's some area's we'll be able to sit down so we're not so close to the water"
"Warren's sounds more my speed, I'm not keen on jumping head first into a room full of sweaty teens listening to loud music and possibly ruining their lives" Kate jested as she framed Aaron up with her fingers as he posed.
"Ok ditto; I'll do whatever makes you comfortable so you're the boss, even if it's just for tonight" He replied as he flexed his muscles for her, doing his best to keep a straight face.
"Oh, like I'm not the boss all the time" Kate chuckled as she approached the budding thespian that continued to make her laugh, even now. She kissed him as he held her tight, no two kiss ever felt the same yet they always felt perfect. She had never felt safer than when she was in the arms of this lanky boy with fluffy hair.
"Well, in that case, would madame like for me to fetch her the finest meal she has ever had?" Aaron said as he bowed down before Kate. "We have McDonalds, Wendy's or Chick Filet" one of the perks about being home was Aaron had his car so popping out to grab greasy fast food was so much easier.
Kate at this point couldn't contain her laughter. She sat back in her chair as she burst out laughing. Aaron smiled as he looked down at her. He felt like he'd made the most important choice in his life when he found himself with this literal angel that sat before him.
"You are such a goof, come on" Kate replied as she grabbed her bag from the floor. She didn't realise but this would be the first time she had driven with Aaron and not taken the bus.
The two made their way downstairs, passing Aaron's dad, Eric who was just coming in from the front garden. He was offered food but of course declined. He was more of a giver than a taker and never liked having to accept things from his son. He was his dad and despite how quickly he was growing up, he would always be his little boy.
Chloe was hard at work measuring up a pinstriped jacket and pants in Max's mirror while her partner typed up her Drama essay that had to accompany her live performance. The contrast between super serious and carefree chilling was again, on full display here. Max did enjoy time with Chloe and doing fun activities, she just prioritised her studies more. Then again, seeing Chloe happy was enough to make her cave and follow her along on whatever dumb scheme she had planned.
In truth, Max was excited about getting time to chill out and relax. She just had a problem being able to initially switch off. Once she was focused on something, she painfully had to see it through. Chloe would no doubt snap her back to reality out of the world of work and when she did, Max would be able to lie back and breathe.
"OK, so this navy and white go and I was thinking like red or something to match your scarf and bonnet?" Chloe called over from the mirror, as she looked at a tie and bracers on the floor.
"Chloe, you spend four hours searching in charity store's, you already know what you wanna do" Max shouted back without taking her eyes off the laptop that was on her lap.
"Yeah, but I want us to look awesome" Chloe said as she turned around, dropping the items in her hand to her sides. "If we don't do it properly, there's no point in doing it at all, Max"
Max sighed and closed the lid on her laptop before standing up off her bed. "Chloe, I trust you, I follow your lead all the time so I know this won't be any different. If you really want my opinions, I'll give them to you but you honestly don't need them" Max said as she placed her right hand on Chloe's cheek. "You got this, I wouldn't have agreed to this if I thought it was dumb"
"OK, OK, I'll trust you and trust myself" Chloe muttered before kissing Max on the forehead. "Did you at least get the shoes?
"Yes, yes I got the shoes, they had red trims, just like you suggested" Max replied as she pointed to a pair of creamy dolly shoes with red trims in the bottom of her wardrobe.
"Max, we are gonna look one hundred percent straight fire!" Chloe exclaimed as she saw the shoes. She was really excited about their couples costume and now that Max was actively getting more involved, she couldn't contain her excitement.
"You wanna grab a bite to eat or wait a bit?" Max asked as she sat back on the bed, looking at the script for the play instead of the theory work.
"Eh, let's wait a bit. We can eat then get back here and shower before changing into the best costumes Blackwell has ever seen" Chloe chimed as she put the dark red tie and braces aside. She had decided they would be the perfect accents.
"Ok sweet, I gotta go over some of the lines from Act 2 anyway" Max replied as she flicked the pages over, looking for the highlighted lines that would tell her what she needed to remember. "What do you fancy anyway?"
"I'm not bothered, Wendy's?" Chloe asked, turning to face her girlfriend.
"Let's do it! I just gotta remember theses ques in the scene where Hamlet tries to send me to a nunnery" Max trailed off as she highlighted some more lines.
"Now sending Ophe-what's her name away would be one thing, but you? That's downright criminal. Think what the world would lose? Nah, screw the world, think about me?" Chloe jested, getting a small giggle from Max. "Fine, you hit the books up until we grab a bite, then you stop and relax, deal?"
"I think I can live with that" Max said as she looked up at Chloe. The synergy the two of them had was undeniable.
Victoria stood firmly as she looked up at the decorations that adorned the Blackwell swimming pool. There was fake cobwebs, glow in the dark ghosts hanging from string, pumpkins waiting to be light messages written in fake blood and so much more. It was a happy kind of decoration, not to gory yet not as juvenile as you'd find in a middle school.
She had arranged for the DJ booth to be far enough from the water without compromising its ability to connect to the speakers that they had placed up on the walls. This much electrical equipment near a large body of water wouldn't bode well so Victoria made sure to take every measure she needed. The pool cover was placed across the end of the pool, effectively closing half of it off. This made sense due to its proximity to the DJ booth and initial wiring. The bottom half would remain open for anyone who would want to take a late night dip.
She set up the usual velvet rope to the VIP area where your name had to be on the list to allow entry. It was pseudo celebrity bullshit that kids this age shouldn't really care about but Victoria Chase wasn't just anybody so of course she was going to be extra. It was a usual Vortex Club party but with the bells and whistles of Halloween. There was cause for it to be extra and Victoria was going to make sure she outdid herself.
"Courtney, what are we doing about beer?" she asked sharply as she looked over the guest list.
"Zach's bringing some kegs, I told him and Logan to bring them at six, just before everyone gets here" Courtney replied as she placed a stack of stereotypical cups on the floor besides the table they were at. Various spirit bottles and cartons of juice already littered the table.
"Ok, are we missing any names here?" Victoria asked as she handed it back to Courtney.
"If they're not on here, they're not worth getting in. Oh wait, Nathan came by and asked if I could put Brooke Scott on here. I said I'd have to check with you though"
Victoria was admittedly puzzled by what she had heard. She could think of no logical reason why Nathan would want someone like her to come. "Nathan asked you? Did you see him or was it a text?"
"No, I saw him outside on my way over, weird right?" Courtney replied as she looked up at a standing Victoria.
"Nathan must have his reasons, add her to the list" Now to anyone on the outside, this looked like Victoria making a decision and moving on but inside she was scheming, for lack of a better word. She wanted to know why Nathan would wanna mix with someone as lowly down on the social ladder as Brooke.
As if on que, Taylor turned up with several bags in her arms. They were brimming with fabrics of various texture and colour. It was obvious that these would be the costumes for Victoria and her entourage. This was how she operated; think of something, have Taylor do the legwork, Courtney do the headwork while she just complained how it didn't suit her vision and change it along the way.
To her credit, Victoria had thought of the costumes for her trio and it was something spectacular that anyone would find surprising that they haven't done this before.
They would be playing the terrible trio of 'Heathers' with Victoria as Heather Chandler for obvious reasons, Courtney as Heather Duke and Taylor as Heather McNamara. It was so obvious that you'd be forgiven for not seeing it earlier. Their outfits would be the same, just the colours would vary. Red for Victoria, green for Courtney and Yellow for Taylor. They would have a turtleneck, plaid skirt, knee high socks and shoes.
"About time, Taylor, at this rate I thought I'd only have time to turn up with only half my face done" Victoria complained as she looked through the bag. "But I must admit, you did a good job"
"Thanks, V, how are the decorations looking?" Taylor asked, beaming with pride.
"As good as we can do on this kinda budget, what time is it?" Victoria asked no one in particular as she looked at her phone. "Ok it's just gone 2pm, we need to be done in here by three the latest and back here for just before six so we can sort out all the booze the boys are bringing" Taylor and Courtney were listening with rapt attention. "The party starts officially at 7pm so expect people to be turning up just before then. If their name isn't on this list, they do not, and I cannot stress the NOT enough, cross this rope" Victoria sighed and caught her breath as she took another walk about of the pool.
"V, will there be like a prize for best costume or something?" Taylor asked as she scanned over the guest list that lay on the table in front of the seated Courtney.
"That's not a bad idea, let people know as they come in that the best costume will be announced at the end of the night. I mean, it'll most likely be us but we gotta give them some hope" She said in her usual condescending tone.
There was still more for the trio to finish before the party, they really did have their hands full. Despite all the social groups in Blackwell, this was a chance for them all to essentially come together. It would be akin to an old masquerade ball; everyone concealed by a costume, hiding their identities and affiliations. It was drawing closer and it was all anyone could think about.
18:54pm Friday evening
Marcus watched with rapt attention from the other side of the street. His eyes fixated through the binoculars that were pinned to his face as he counted every individual student that walked across the school grounds to the swimming pool. His focus was that of a laser; one continuous, unbreakable beam.
Jake breathed into his gloved hands in a frivolous effort to keep them warm. The shift in temperature saw the wolfpack wearing black jumpers an gloves with their trademark red vested jackets over the top. Despite the short number of years that he had been in acquisitions, he still hated all the waiting around, especially in the cold.
He knew there was bigger things at play, there always was. He knew he was there to follow orders and do his job but that didn't mean he had to like it. Marcus had enough of that kinda energy for the both of them. The good little lapdog, doing whatever the Alpha told him with devout faith, never questioning anything. Jake obviously respected him and would never say this to his face. It just made him feel better in times like this.
"This is our opportunity for close observation" Marcus said as he threw his cigarette butt on the floor. "The masks will allow us to blend in with everyone and keep an eye on him from up close.
Jake rummaged through the black bag they had and pulled out a cheap wolf mask that you could buy at any costume store.
"Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me" He called out as he saw the mask. It was a little too on the nose for him.
"Shut up and put it on!" Marcus barked back as he pulled his own mask from the bag. The irony wasn't lost on him either but again, he doesn't ask questions, he just does what he's told. "When we're inside, don't speak to anyone, keep your mouth shut. If all goes well, no one will know we're here and we can get out before midnight" Marcus said as he pulled the mask over his face.
The two men made their way onto campus under the cover of darkness and headed for the swimming pool. They would look like anyone else at the costume party and the masks would hide the fact they were clearly years older than the teenagers at this college. The stakes were high but Marcus wasn't worried. He was used to this, he'd done it enough times that nothing would surprise him. Jake on the other had wasn't as emotionally disconnected from reality and still had that slight sliver of fear on his spine.
Many things could go wrong then you have the trouble of correcting your mistakes. A task that certainly wouldn't be easy in the slightest. The only outcome here is to not get made and hope they could complete their observation without any complications.
"I'll take the inside" Jake said as he looked around him
"Noted, I'll maintain a perimeter outside and keep you updated with everyone's coming and goings" Marcus replied as her turned his radio on and fastened it to the back of his belt. "Make sure your earpiece stays connected, it'll be loud in there"
"I got it, you don't need to worry" Jake called back as he opened the door and began to enter the swimming pool.
Marcus grabbed him firmly by the forearm, prompting Jake to turn back and face him. "You can't be made, Jake, for both of our sakes. Need I remind you what will happen if we fail?" Marcus sounded more serious than ever. Despite the mask covering his face, Jake could feel that intense gaze burning a hole through him.
"I got this, relax" Jake simply replied before Marcus let him go.
The world they lived in was one of extremities. Nothing would ever be done in a minute way, it was all or nothing in every situation. They were part of something larger than themselves, something that could not be explained with simple words. They were here for one reason, Aaron Heartfield. Observation was the hardest part of their job, the part that required the strongest will and resilience.
Marcus found large dumpster by the corner of the building and climbed on top of it. In one swift motion he had pulled himself up onto the roof of the swimming pool and took a knee. He'd have a good vantage point from up here, somewhere out of the way. He would be able to see the whole front courtyard from here and anyone who crossed it. With that in mind, he settled in and prepared himself for the mission ahead.
Aaron prodded at his hair, feeling the thick hold the hairspray had on it. Jim Stark's hairstyle was very different from his own so the transformation required a lot of product. Nevertheless he was happy with his costume, even if his forehead was on show. The white shirt and blue jeans were something he didn't see himself wearing but the red bomber jacket was a nice addition to his ensemble. He liked it and could see himself wearing it casually.
"Aaron, come on, your dad's waiting" Kate called from the hallway where she and Eric waited for Aaron so they could leave the house.
"Ok, coming!" He called back as he took one last look at himself in the bathroom mirror. With a large spray of aftershave and a deep breath, he made his way downstairs.
"Wow, since when did John Travolta come to my house" Eric said to Aaron in jest, causing his son to gasp and playfully punch his dad in the arm. Eric was aware of his concerns of not looking like James Dean and couldn't help but take the chance he had to mess with Aaron.
"Before you say anything, the hair looks great" Kate called back as they made their way outside. "Now come on and get in the car, before I pull your hair out myself"
It was a moment of pure bliss; all the worries of life were absent. Aaron was around people he cared so deeply for and it was times like these that he treasured. These fleeting moments that we look back on and are able to smile at. Times we remember with such a fondness that we long for them to happen every day. The catch being if they were so common, they would cease to be special. So we just seize them for what they are and enjoy them while we can.
Eric was just happy to see his son smiling again. He had to watch him grow up with a divided family, lose his eye and deal with a becoming a sort of famous photographer at such a young age. He did everything in his power to protect his son and he would until he died. It was hard seeing him grow into a man, no matter how fine he was. The silver lining was that hopefully the worst was behind him, that his life would be nothing but good from now on. That's all a parent wants for their child, a chance for them to have their best life, free from hardship.
Kate's story had taken a drastic turn for the better. From being bullied and outcast from everything to do with her academic life to having friends, many friends. Living in fear of social gatherings and groups of people to going to a party with pretty much all of the student body. Feeling like no one could ever care about her in any way to having someone who not only saved her life, but gave her life back to her. Anyone would be proud of how far she'd come.
Eric being the dad he was played classical dad music that you would expect to hear in this situation. It was wholesome and prompted a sing along from the father and son. Kate, despite her growth was still a shy girl. Singing was not something she would do and was more than content laughing at the two as they sang along to many songs in ways she hadn't heard before. It was a bond she wished she had with her parents, she yearned for the chance to be herself and accepted for it. If she Aaron would accept her, then why wouldn't her parents? She wouldn't let it concern her, she would simply enjoy this moment and be happy.
As they arrived at Blackwell, Aaron hugged his dad tightly before leaving the car with Kate., ensuring his hair was still voluminous.
"You two have fun and stay safe!" Eric called from the driver's seat of his Audi A4.
"We will, don't worry" Aaron said as Kate brushed his hand off his head, she was getting annoyed with him constantly playing with his hair. "You sure you don't wanna come?" Aaron asked his dad.
"Oh no, my partying days are long over" Eric said with a chuckle he waved goodbye to the two teenagers as he pulled the window of the passenger seat up and drove off.
"Well, my lady, shall we?" Aaron asked as he held his arm out. Kate giggled and gladly wrapped her arm around his as they made their way over to the swimming pool.
"What happened to going to Warren's first?" Kate asked.
"He's already here" Aaron replied as he kissed Kate on the head. "He text me while we were in the car and told me that they couldn't wait any longer and that they all headed down now"
As the got to the outside of the swimming pool, they realised the Warren from their discussion was outside with Daniel and Brooke. Warren was sporting a very clunky suit of armour. It was obvious he was supposed to be a knight despite his clumsy manor. Everyone was just glad he didn't bring a sword.
Daniel's costume was much more relaxed and was actually pretty good. He was sporting a turtle costume from a costume shop and blue mask around his eyes. He was Leonardo, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Aaron's reference to him being Leonarda Da Vinci earlier in the year was the sole reason this was his costume and he was very proud of it.
Brooke's was slightly toned down but also very Brooke. She had a white lab coat with blood stains covering her usual ensemble, wires coming out of the shoulder of the coat into a black fingerless glove on her right hand and her usual ponytail wasn't draped over her shoulder but was frizzed up, giving the idea that she had been zapped.
They were impressive costumes to say the least and Aaron was glad to see other people taking it at least almost as serious as he was.
"Right on, you two look amazing!" Warren shouted as he fist bumped Aaron before taking another swing from the can in his left hand.
"Don't mind Sir Stumble over here, he's four cans in" Brooke chimed in as she held onto Warren's shoulder, preventing him from falling over.
Aaron couldn't help but laugh as Warren regained his balance. "Dude, it's like half seven, how are you so wasted?" He asked as he saw the vacant look on Warren's face.
"Brooke forgot to mention that he drank those four cans in about an hour" Daniel said in his timid voice. "I'm willing to bet he doesn't see ten"
Kate laughed at the statement as she envisioned the party in full swing and Warren passed out on the ground somewhere.
"What's it looking like inside?" Aaron asked anyone who wasn't Warren.
"Full, I think everyone in the whole school turned up" Brooke replied as she placed the red straw from her drink in her mouth. "The music isn't bad, not my taste but for one of these parties, yeah I can live with it. Her tone was dry, like always as she relayed the information to Aaron and Kate.
"You should head inside and see for yourself" Daniel said as he pushed his glasses up over the blue mask. "We'll join you once Warren stops spinning"
Aaron and Kate made their way into the swimming pool, the loud electric music becoming more clear now. The lighting was flashing between red and bright white, this made the decorations have an added layer of realism to them. One could almost mistake them for being real in the dimly light open space.
Kate composed herself as she walked side by side with Aaron. There was four or five students in swimwear splashing about in the bottom half of the pool, groups of people all around the outside, socialising with one another and the 'prestigious' Vortex Club behind their crimson rope and curtain at the far end of the pool.
It was all slightly overwhelming for Kate but she managed to take it all in. When she was with Aaron, she felt as if everything was right with the world, like his invisible shield protected her. She was able to breathe more clearly as she let all the worries of her mind draw blank and enjoy the moment.
Max and Chloe waved over to the two from their position on the right side of the pool, just below the DJ booth. Aaron and Kate hurried over in an effort to seem less awkward.
"Damn, you two, you look great!" Chloe said as she tipped her navy pin stripped fedora at them. "Danny and Sandy from Greece, right?" Aaron lead out a sigh that could be heard over the loud music as Kate burst out laughing. Chloe, oblivious so Aaron's major worry just stared back at them.
"No doofus" Mix chimed in as she nudged Chloe. "Does that jacket look black? And does it look like it has 'T-Birds' on it?"
"Well I don't know but come one, who else would they be?" Chloe asked with slight frustration.
"Aaron, you are Jim Stark, from Rebel Without a Cause and Kate you are Princess Ann from Roman Holiday" Max said as she clapped her two hands together.
"Oh my god, Max, how did you know!" Kate asked, Max's response had cause her and Aaron to smile in amazement.
"Well, Aaron's hair was kinda hard but the jacket was what ultimately gave it away for his costume" Max was oozing with pride right now. "Kate, yours stumped me, I can't lie but that ascot, it's very distinctive!"
The fact that their costumes were recognised by at least one person was good enough for Aaron. He high fived Max before looking around and asking Kate:
"I'm gonna get us a drink, do you want anything?"
Kate had to think for a second, the choice on to drunk underage or not. It wasn't a question of faith, this was more a personal dilemma. She had never been one to break rules but then again, she'd followed the conventional rules of society and she ended up drugged, cast out and on a rooftop where she was prepared to jump.
That gave her pause; the reason she didn't jump was right beside her. It was her phoenix moment and she figured that the safe feeling she had with Aaron and now with Max and Chloe being here that the safety net would expand, protecting her.
"Uh sure, something fruity please" she replied with a smile. Aaron kissed her on the head before looking to Max and Chloe who held up the red cups that they were currently drinking out of and headed to find where the beverages were being stored.
Despite the music being loud, it was still able to hear people, providing you were close enough and spoke loud enough to each other. Kate studied Max and Chloe's costumes in a desperate attempt to figure out what they were dressed as.
Chloe had a navy fedora with white pin stripes that matched her trousers and jacket. The jacket was open, revealing a white shirt behind a dark red tie and braces that matched the red on Max's outfit. She still kept the boots though.
Max was much more feminine, sporting a cream coloured dress with dark red frills on the bottom and collar. The pattern of cream with red trimmings matched her shoes, bonnet and scarf that adorned her neck. All of them were in extremely clean condition.
Kate was unable to figure out who the two girls were supposed to be, she had to admit she was puzzled. Max noticed the confusion in her face and thought it would be best to end her struggle and just tell her.
"We're Bonnie and Clyde, or well Bonnie and Chloe" Max stated before taking a sip of her drink. It was a simple idea that had been changed in accordance with how unique the two girls were.
"Oh goodness, I totally see it!" Kate said in response to the statement. "Your costumes are so good, like really good, you should be so proud!"
"Oh trust me, Chloe made sure everything was as she wanted it to be" Max replied as Chloe placed her arm over her shoulders. "I will admit that I do dig it, she did a great job"
Aaron returned with a bottle of bear in one hand and a red cup with vodka and orange juice in the other for Kate. He passed her the drink and kissed her on the forehead before taking a swig.
"Ok, come on, I wanna dance" Aaron yelled as he led Kate over to where a small number of people were dancing. It's not like there was a dance floor but they made do with what they had.
Max and Chloe followed despite Max knowing she was a bad dancer. She knew Chloe would make her dance regardless of her own opinions on the matter. It could have been worse, Max had already had two drinks and was feeling a buzz so she was more complacent to just go with the flow.
*I recommend listening to Firestarter by the prodigy for this next segment*
The four found their feet as the music played, filling them with confidence that they wouldn't normally have. Chloe led as Max followed while Kate bopped slowly from side to side, watching as Aaron tried his best to dance to the music. He was great at a very many things but dancing however was not one of them.
The lights were almost blinding as they reflected off the decorations that hung from the ceiling. Strikes of red and purple flashed back and forth while the white flashes were blinding. The only thing that could be heard was the beating music, it was as if that was the only sound available to the universe. It was as intoxicating as the alcohol they were drinking and had the sharp burn that it carried but it was a burn on the eyes and ears. It, like alcohol, was a nice burn. One you found pleasure in even if it was such a short punch, the pain that made you remember you were human when you felt invincible.
Kate smiled as Aaron tried to twirl her around, his legs getting tied together as he moved. Chloe was arguably the best dancer out of all of them and she lowkey knew it. Max was a mixture or Aaron's clumsy-ness and Kate's shyness. She tried her best but ultimately was unable to do much and would have been resigned to standing awkwardly if not for Chloe's lead. Aaron wasn't used to showing a vulnerable side of him but he was enjoying himself to the point of not caring, as one does when drinking.
They danced for a good few minutes, Aaron seeing off his current drink and starting another bottle while Kate was still on her first. She was in no rush and it was still fairly new to her. Max and Chloe had another drink each and were starting to fade that blurred line that separated tipsy from drunk.
Faces blurred due to the masks and costumes that everyone was wearing. Aaron couldn't make out hardly anyone, just vague shapes and colours but there was one that stood out, almost jumping at him. One guy in a rubber wolf mask leaning against the back wall, across the pool. He was holding a drink but made no effort to actually drink it. How could he under that mask?! It made Aaron feel uneasy, it was almost like the figure was staring at him.
Before he could do anything, the stranger pulled a phone out of his pocket, looked at it and walked away. Aaron concluded that he was just some drunk student who was waiting for one of his friends to meet up with him. His optimistic nature was always on display in all situations, even one as sinister as this.
The music faded down as Zach's voice could be heard through the sound system.
"Yo Blackwell, how we doin'?" he called out in a rugged manor that garnered cheers from everyone in the hall. "We gotta do a keg stand so where's my boy Aaron?"
Aaron called out as he placed his hand in the air, he had never done a keg stand but there was a first time for everything.
Kate sighed with a smile as Aaron ran off to see Zach over by the DJ booth. Max took her hand as Chloe led them closer to the front so they could see Aaron once again do something extra.
Zach was wearing his usual letterman but with zombie face paint being the only thing noticeably different about the jock.
Meanwhile, Brooke had found herself back inside the pool hall. As everyone cheered Aaron on, she walked along the left side of the pool to get another drink. She brought her own cup and straw but wouldn't say no to free booze.
As she helped herself to the stash of spirits and juice, Courtney called over to her from the other side of the rope that was to the right of the table with the booze on it.
"Hey, you gonna come in or not?"
Brooke was confused, her scrunched up face expressed it. The fact that Courtney had spoken to her was strange enough, let alone the fact that she was asking if she wanted into the VIP area.
"Uh, are you talking to me?" Brooke asked as she leaned in closer.
"Yeah, didn't Nathan tell you that you were added to the list?" Courtney was almost as confused as Brooke. Why would Nathan have her added to the list if he didn't tell her.
"No, no he didn't" Brooke said back as she took a swig of her vodka and lemonade.
"Well he's in the back if you wanna talk to him" Courtney called amidst the cheers of Aaron's keg stand.
Brooke figured it was worth finding out why Nathan had given her 'exclusive access' to the VIP section that made her cringe every time she thought about it. Crossing the rope and officially entering the realm of the enemy, she walked around the section that Victoria had crudely set up. There, sitting on an overturned box was Nathan Prescott, looking depressed as usual. His costume was simply skull face paint, opting to keep his trademark red and yellow jacket than commit to a full costume.
When he saw Brooke approach, he sat up into a more alert position that the casual slouch he was just in.
"Hey, uh, cool costume" Nathan called out as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
"Thanks" was all Brooke replied with as she crossed her arms. "Why did you put my name on that stupid list?" She asked as Nathan took a sip of his beer.
"I mean, you helped me with physics so I figured I could, I don't know, do something for you"
Brooke didn't really know what to say, Nathan was known for his crudeness and short temper. She had noticed it a few times during their early sessions but over the last week, he had been so much more different. It was like he was a different person, replacing all the unpleasantries with a timid shyness, like he was afraid to speak around her.
The truth was, Nathan was worried about speaking around Brooke. He'd always been able to say whatever he wants with no consequences, Brooke was the only person who had ever put Nathan in his place. She was able to be firm with him but still helped him. He was worried because he didn't know what was acceptable to say.
"Wow, did Nathan Prescott do something selfless (!)" Brooke sarcastically remarked.
Nathan rose from his seat so he was standing opposite her.
"Look, I'm not, I mean, ok I was an asshole to you and I'm sorry. Thanks to you I passed the physics test and I didn't get kicked off the course. Long story short, my dad hasn't got an excuse to be mad at me because you so uh, thank you"
Brooke just looked back at Nathan, unsure of what to say. As brunt as it may be, Nathan Prescott was actually apologising. On top of that, he was thanking her. It was weird to see him in a vulnerable position like this, well as vulnerable as Nathan would let anyone see him.
Brooke didn't have time for nonsense but she could appreciate the gesture he was making, no matter how insignificant it was to her, this would have meant a lot to the right person.
Without uncrossing her arms, Brooke said:
"You're welcome, just start applying yourself, you're a smart kid Nathan, don't waste it.
Nathan was smiling on the inside, it was nice to receive a compliment on something he normally struggled with. His face was still fixated but the corner of his mouth managed an ever so slight crease. Brooke was about to walk away when Nathan found his voice again.
"Do you, uh, wanna dance maybe?" Nathan asked with a shrug of the shoulders.
Brooke had reached the limit on all things confusing for this evening so she wasn't even going to try and make sense of this. She just extended her left hand and said:
"Sure, why not" despite her tone she was smiling a little bit. As she led Nathan to dance, they both had small smiles on the sides of their mouths that they wouldn't let the other one see.
Despite the keg stand, Aaron was still relatively sober. The benefits of such a fast metabolism allowed for him to burn alcohol off quicker as well. That and the fact he'd had two drinks, the keg stand and a glass of water ensured that he paced himself appropriately. It was nearing 10pm and the music had shifted to cheesy Halloween tunes such as Thriller, Monster Mash and the Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack. Aaron was just glad he could still understand the lyrics and sing them clearly.
The same could not be said for many of his fellow students. The number of eccentric partygoers had dwindled as many found their way outside onto the grounds or back to their rooms to pass out. Despite the early time, the party was still going strong and surprisingly no vomit had found its way into the pool. Max and Chloe had found a bench to sit on and started cuddling each other. Max was definitely the one who was starting to feel tired out of the two.
Aaron sipped his third beer of the night while Kate was still on her second drink. The two were enjoying the atmosphere was well as each other's company. The night had been very successful in terms of entertainment and security, a big win for everyone, let alone Kate. When it seemed everything that night had gone off without a hitch…Warren fell into the pool.
The splash garnered cheers from everyone who saw it and everyone who just heard other people cheering. He had certainly reached his limit and somewhere Daniel was congratulating himself on guessing what time Warren would pass out. Aaron was able to pull him out of the pool with help from Luke who was noticeably absent a costume. Max and Chloe rushed over to see what had happened and were met with Warren lying on his back, soaking wet and laughing at his own misfortune.
Aaron helped him to his feet while Kate took Warrens other arm, it was bed time for the science nerd. They hurried out the door, doing their best to avoid all the water that was being thrown around by Warren's wet costume. The poor guy couldn't stop muttering incoherent gibberish as they crossed the courtyard. His slurred voice caused Kate and Aaron to laugh at what they heard, he wasn't making any sense at all.
"You guys, right, you guys are great" Warren muttered as he lifted his head up
"Thanks bro, I had no idea (!) Aaron sarcastically replied as he smiled over at Kate. This was not how she saw her night ending.
"Nah, I mean it *hiccup* you so kind and nice but also cool. You a cooool cat" Warren slurred as Aaron and Kate carried him up the stairs. They ignored everything else he mumbled until they got to his dorm room.
Warren being the genius he was, left the door unlocked allowing Aaron and Kate to sit him up against his bed without hassle. Aaron emptied the paper scraps out of his bin and placed it into his drunk friends arms before saying:
"Sick. In there!" As he pointed at the basket Warren was cuddling.
Kate, who wasn't able to keep a straight face all the way back did her best to keep her laughter quiet as she followed Aaron out of the room, closing the door behind her. She had a great night, even if it meant helping a shit faced Warren to bed. It was nice to be a normal teenager for a change.
"I think we could do with a sit down" Aaron stated as they headed for his dorm room. I don't know about you but I'm done for the night.
Kate just hugged him around the waist and placed her head under his arms. She wasn't a party animal and a relatively early night sounded good to her. The low hum of whatever song Aaron's stereo played was welcoming as she sat on his comfy bed and kicked her shoes off. She hadn't spent any time in his dorm room apart from the odd visit to walk to class. This was her fist time seeing it from the inside rather than through the cracks of a door.
Aaron hung his red jacket on the back of his door and stretched his arms above his head. He was feeling sleepy, he couldn't lie and would rather not leave his room again tonight. He pulled his phone out from his pocket and replied to the text he had.
"It's Chloe, her and Max are back in her room now, they're all good" Kate smiled at the relief of her two friends escaping the party atmosphere without getting into trouble. "You can stay here tonight, that is if you want to obviously" Aaron was still shy and got embarrassed easily around Kate.
She stood up and placed her arms around Aarons neck and kissed him. He had never attempted to sleep with her out of pure respect for her faith and that had just meant so much to her.
"I'd like that" Kate replied with a smile as she hugged Aaron tightly, she always felt safe in his arms.
Aaron passed her one of his many band hoodies so she could sleep in something comfortable. It was comically big, as always but that's what Kate loved about them.
"I uh, have some shorts or something if that's not enough" Aaron said as he looked through his wardrobe only for Kate to stop him with another kiss.
"This is perfect, don't worry" Kate's soothing voice removed all doubt from Aaron's mind. He was able to let his anxious mind breathe.
Aaron turned away to give Kate privacy to change, taking off his jeans as he faced the wall. His white t shirt would stay on as he hated people seeing his slender frame. Even though it was Kate, he was just not confident enough to expose himself around her. He knew how stupid it sounded but that was the mess that was his brain.
"I'm uh, gonna stop fighting, next week is my last one" Aaron said as he rubbed the back of his neck, still staring at his wall.
"You can turn around now" Kate called Aaron turned to face her. She looked so cute in his large black hoodie. Her bun of hair was perfect as always and her bare legs looked like the smoothest thing he'd ever seen. "Are you serious?" Kate asked, snapping Aaron back to reality.
"Yeah, I don't need it, I never needed it and I know how much it worries you" Kate just kissed him yet again and hugged him tight. He really made all the sacrifices for her.
Kate ran her fingers through his thick hair, it had started falling back into place but was still stiff due to the sheer amount of hairspray in it. Aaron's hands traced along Kate's back, going under the hoodie and feeling her soft, bare skin as he pulled her closer. His hands found their way to the side of her face and Aaron had to fight every bone in his body not to choke her. Not in that serial killer way but the intimate, dominating way. He just settled for nibbling on her lip as he broke away from the kiss.
Kate was feeling things she never felt, they were both strange and wonderful. She had a decision to make and it wasn't one she would choose lightly. She wanted him, there was no denying what this feeling was. She was locked in an internal war to follow her beliefs that she had been raised and brought up on or to just blindly dive into the unknown once more. She had done a lot of things with Aaron that she wouldn't normally do but this was a big thing for her and she knew she had to make a decision now. It wasn't for anyone other than herself.
Kate looked deep into those blue eyes of the total heartthrob that was standing opposite her. His weird and confusing ways was exactly what she loved about him. His robotic eye, his insane charisma, the kindness he shows everyone, that really niche sense of humour and most importantly the way he looked at her. Being the young age she was, she didn't know many of the things she wanted, she had seen the world through those tinted glasses that break the longer you spend in adolescence. There was, however, one thing that she did know, she wanted to be with him forever.
As Aaron looked back at her, she placed her hands on his chest, leaned in close and in no more than a whisper said:
"I want you"
So as the dark night swept up Blackwell, it would be safe to say that pretty much everyone had an amazing time at the Halloween party that was Blackwell After Dark. It is true, so many weird and strange things would happen that night. At first glance, it would be the passionate make out session that Brooke Scott and Nathan Prescott were having behind the swimming pool. Two people no one saw ever looking at each other, let alone locked in a steamy embrace away from prying eyes.
The strangest thing was, however the two rubber wolf masks that lay discarded amongst the trash outside the swimming pool. The wearers who came and left without so much as a sound. Who are they and more importantly, what do they want with Aaron Heartfield?
A/N:-Well…what can I say?! I'm not going to make excuses on the long upload time, just offer reasons. The simple answer is mental health really affected me for a long period to the point where I was unable to even type letters, let alone pages. That cobbled together with life getting in the way and the harsh reality of growing up just consumed all of my time.
I made a few promises on the idea of Blackwell after dark and I just couldn't publish anything knowing it was not up to the standard that I had marketed it to be. Sadly, it took over a year for me to produce something I thought would be legible and worthy enough of the hype this story had generated.
The story I started was a massive cringe fest written by someone who had such a vague idea on what he was doing. I hope through my age and experience, you can all appreciate the more stable direction this story is going. The plot will remain the same, I just hope to do it more justice and hopefully produce literature that is up to the standards of you as readers. It will keep everything you love about the characters, just following a more mature and hopefully better writing style.
I'm not gonna make a promise on upload times, lord knows I'm so inconsistent. I will however offer the caveat that a global lockdown leaves me with little else to do apart from put this tormented mind to work. I hope this story can be an escape to everyone who suffers with the trials and tribulations of this pandemic. That is one thing I will promise, this story will be finished and I promise you it will answer every question in the end. Nothing but love and respect for everyone who made it this far, whether an old reader or a new one. My day one's (you know who you are) this wouldn't have been possible without your continued support, the story would've likely died out you deserve more, and more I will give.
With all of that said, I should really get onto Chapter 19
