Everything was finally falling into place. I started opting for the darker clothes from my closet to compliment the makeup and hair extensions that Cat had given me. At first, there wasn't much to find that wasn't some shade of blue, beige, or white thanks to my mother's taste; but I did find a couple black tank tops, a black v-neck shirt, and a single pair of dark jeans. Even with the limited options, I felt more powerful – more myself – with the streaks of color intertwining my hair, smokey eyeshadow making my steel eyes pop, and dark clothing nicely contrasting my pale skin. At school, some people gave me looks of abhorrence or occasionally fear as I passed them in the halls. It was as if I had finally started to channel my inner Black Swan like Nina or metamorphose into an ethereal darkling like Tawny Walkerblack.

I had convinced Mom to go clothes shopping for more items that suited the look I wanted to achieve after we went to Wacy's for bedroom furnishings. Naturally, I had to lie that the dark or red materials I chose were to look more sophisticated, or modern, in order to convince her to buy them for me. She would often ask if I was sure about this thing or that, but I would insist every time that that was what I wanted. I wasn't so sure that she believed me, but caved in anyway. We ended up leaving the department stores with dozens of items that caught my eye before going to a store that Jasper wanted to go to – he wound up with several things for himself, as well.

This was always the West way. Whenever my parents felt like they had to do something for us, or to show their love, they would pacify us with gifts; those gifts would always be grand either in quality or quantity. Just five months ago, after my parents' fights went from vexing to explosive, rather than simply having a conversation with me and Jasper, I got entry to the school of my dreams and he got the gaming console of his dreams. Of course, we're over the moon when we get the things we want, but it doesn't ever fully satisfy.

When we arrived back home, I was still too eager to put my new things into my room and try on my new clothes to think about the areas in my life that were still lacking. As soon as we pulled up to the house, I grabbed as many bags as I could and made haste. Like my mother, I wasted no time changing everything about my living space. She had been able to get people to hang wallpaper in the den and my bedroom just the day before. I hadn't expected it to be finished already, so when I came from school I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the most beautiful pattern I had ever seen.

I quickly adorned parts of my new walls with movie and botanical posters. On my bed, I threw on some new pillows – some red, some black – along with a throw blanket to match. Coming up the stairs, I had heard Mom carrying a few of the new furniture pieces; we placed a set of cherry-red side tables on either side of my plum chair and a mini, black coffee table in front.

After most items were set into place, I scattered miscellaneous bottles and jars on shelves and empty surfaces. I hadn't decided what to fill them with yet. Mom probably assumed that they would be for flowers, but my mind was on preserved internal organs or insect carcasses. And then finally, to set the tone, I placed pillar candles and lamps on several surfaces as a more moody alternative to overhead lighting. Slowly as I worked, the space was beginning to scream, "Jade."

Moving on to my wardrobe, I frantically pulled clothes that I was willing to donate off their hangers or out of their drawers. I spent nearly two hours taking tags off of heaps of new clothes and organizing them into my closet and dresser. I wasn't exactly sure how much my new belongings cost for Mom, but considering that both of my parents have six-figure paying jobs, she could certainly afford it.

After an exhausting afternoon, I fell back onto my bed and simply took in my new surroundings. I admired every square inch, feeling proud that I finally had a space that was mine. Perhaps I wouldn't dread coming home every day now.

As if reading my mind, just at that very moment I could hear Jasper down the hall playing a new video game with the volume turned all the way up. My mood quickly turned sour and I gave him a good piece of my mind. I believe I said something on the lines of, "Turn that down before I donate you along with the rest of the things I hate!"

He didn't quite cry, but I think he was on the verge of it. When I returned to my bedroom, I retired for the night, the most fulfilled I had felt in a very long time.

Now it's Friday.

"Mom. I'm heading out and I'm going to be home late tonight. Remember, I'm going to that party with Cat, Robbie, Andre, and Beck."

"Oh, thanks for reminding me, dear. I nearly forgot about that – have fun and tell Cat happy birthday for me!"

I hadn't been completely honest about tonight, of course. Mom would never allow me to go to a Halloween party, no matter how innocent, in fear that it might lure me to the devil or something. So I crafted a lie that it was Cat's birthday today.

I didn't need to be back at school for nearly another hour, but I had to change into my costume in the girl's bathroom since I couldn't very well do that at home. Still, I biked at a leisurely pace to school enjoying the fair weather. When I arrived, I noticed that some upperclassmen and teachers were setting up the Asphalt Cafe for the Boo Bash. Orange and black balloons were arranged in an arch, DJ tables were being tested, strobe lights were being positioned, and Halloween decorum were being placed. Massive faux spider webs were hung on the architecture along with large black widow spiders, finger foods were arranged to look like the rotting meat of corpses, punch was going to be served out of a witch's cauldron.

I would have looked around longer, but I felt like I needed to get my costume on before long – I would be back here soon enough anyway to actually attend the Boo Bash. I retrieved my Little Red Riding Hood costume and makeup from the back of the bike and made my way inside Hollywood Arts to change.

In a stall of the girl's bathroom, I shrugged off my new clothes for the slightly less new costume. Just like at the Halloween store, I loved the way I felt in these fishnet stockings, this deep red dress, black corset, and of course, the black lace-up boots. I tied the little red cape around my neck, opened the stall door, and admired my appearance in one of the mirrors. To finalize the look, I fixed my face with a blood-red lipstick along with a fair amount of eye-makeup to make my eyes even more striking than they usually are.

As much as I would like to think that the only reason I wanted a sexy Halloween costume was for my own self-confidence and satisfaction; it was also so that others would see me, want me, and not get me. I couldn't pinpoint exactly why, but something about the idea of being the object of everyone's desires only to deny them felt like an incredibly fulfilling thing.

I fussed with myself for the last time before putting my original clothes in a plastic bag. I figured I could hide the bag somewhere in here and retrieve it right before I leave for home – I didn't feel like walking back to my bike again. With a pair of scissors tucked away in one boot and my Pear phone in the other, I was ready to get this party started.

Not gonna lie: this is not my favorite chapter.

If anyone knows anything about inertia, this chapter started as an object at rest. An object with a LOT of mass. And it's taking a lot of force to get it rolling. I was just building some momentum here, so hopefully the next chapter will begin with a better pace.