Making Our Mark

Chapter 17: Howlaween

My silver corset-style dress – a fusion of a sequined leotard and a floor-length hem down the back – sparkled under the bright lights as I darted around the floor of Studio D, creating precise formations with my arms, all in time with the sharp melody of violins and soft percussion that was playing in the background. While the tune was similar to most tango songs, it had the powerful beats of a paso doble and that was the style that I was dancing.

Naturally, I didn't hold back from weaving steps of other dance styles into my ballroom choreography, including forehead-level forward kicks and a series of consecutive and rapid pirouettes. Each step that I executed was strong in nature, yet was artistic in appearance. I was determined to create the illusion that the routine was easy to dance, even though some of the more challenging moves were only made possible after many years of training, sweat, and tears.

As the strong beats slowed down and softened in volume, my choreography became more fluid, more contemporary even. My final move was spinning counter clockwise and giving the hem of my dress a quick whip to the front when I came to a sudden stop. The hem gracefully fluttered back down, revealing my fierce stare in the mirror before me. I could feel my heart pounding incessantly against my heaving chest as I tried to regulate my breathing again.

"And…cut!" a purple monster with long limbs and a small afro shouted from one of the corners of the studio.

Lowering my arms down to my sides, I breathlessly asked, "You got it all, Daniel?"

"Every single step," Daniel confirmed, gently patting the top of his hi-tech camera, which was perched on a tripod.

"You looked like a futuristic warrior Queen," said Lisa, a yellow monster with orange stripes and a matching ponytail. She was dubbed the peacemaker of our group of four and was great at helping us understand everyone's different perspectives. Her approaches helped us avoid any major disagreements that could have hindered our progress on our project for Pedagogy of the Arts.

"Thanks," I replied, flashing her a smile. "Do you think we'll need another take or two?"

A ball of purple hair, small hands, and a set of legs shook itself in the corner of the room. She was often very quiet, much like she was now, but her organizational and note-taking skills spoke wonders about her work ethic and I was thankful that she was part of our group.

"I agree with Michelle," said Daniel. "I think that's a wrap on filming."

"Great," I said, wiping away the sweat that was glistening on my forehead. I learned from watching the footage that he captured of Michelle doing origami and Lisa playing the harp that he was quite adept at filming and I trusted him when he said that we had all that we needed.

"It should take me no more than a few days to finish editing the footage together," Daniel informed us. "When I have a draft, we can meet, so I can show it to you guys and you can suggest any changes."

"Sounds like a plan," Lisa agreed.

Michelle simply nodded.

"I'm cool with that," I said, only to wince.

Lisa shot me a look of concern. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I answered, stroking my lower back where I felt the tinge of pain shoot through me. "I think I just overdid it with the routine."

Daniel laughed as he finished packing up his filming equipment. "Well, that was a pretty powerful piece."

"Yeah, you were probably just going at it too hard," Lisa reasoned gently.

Michelle nodded silently again, the strands of her hair flopping freely.

"Now that we're done filming," Lisa began, glancing at her wristwatch, "who's up for grabbing dinner in the cafeteria?"

"Me!" Daniel chimed in eagerly, swinging his camera bag over his shoulder.

Michelle, once more, nodded without a word.

"You guys go ahead," I insisted kindly. "I'm not really hungry."

Lisa nodded. "Okay, if you sure. We'll see you at the Howlaween party, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," I told her with a smile.

Lisa smiled back before she followed Daniel and Michelle out of the studio, leaving me with the music equipment and my thoughts on the upcoming Howlaween party being hosted by Eta Hiss Hiss in a few hours. While I prided myself for being on top of my responsibilities in life, choosing a costume for the party was not at the top of that list and I was a tad ashamed to admit that the task had slipped my mind during the busy week.

Studying my reflection before me, I noticed that my makeup remained intact despite the sweat coating my skin. The smoky eyeshadow, hard-angled eyebrows, and carefully-painted lips intensified my facial features. It was a bolder look that I usually reserved for dance recitals and competitions, but it definitely fit the warrior Queen character that I was portraying for the video. So did the teardrop crystal headpiece with chains that I had sewn into my hair.

Doing a quick spin on the spot, I admired how my costume hugged every curve in my body. The front part of the dress was missing the skirt, exposing the silver shorts underneath and my legs that appeared miles long thanks to my choice in heeled footwear. The matching capped sleeves and the gauntlet bracelets that went up to my elbows added to the whole warrior ensemble, one that I wore during my last recital at my ballroom dance school. It was one of my favourite costumes that I had worn for any performance and I had always wanted to find a reason to break it out again, even for just one night.

I figured, why not for Howlaween?

At least I don't have to change, I thought and laughed before tearing my eyes away from my reflection to pack up the music equipment.

The three-floor Eta Hiss Hiss house on Frat Row consisted of many curtain-covered windows and was flanked by bare trees that cast spooky shadows onto the walls of grey bricks, both adding an aura of mystery to the entire building. The roofs were pointed and had what looked like metal-like fences lining the edges. The house's chimney billowed smoke and a black metal fence and gate surrounded the stone steps that led up to the matching porch and wooden front door. With its haunted house features, it made sense to host a Howlaween party there.

Upon stepping through the open doorway, I came across a dimly-lit living room full of monsters in assorted costumes, ranging from innocent angels to terrifying beasts. Most of them were engaged in lively conversations, which was easy to do since the eerie music not only reflected the theme of the party, but was playing at a volume that was high enough to dance to and low enough to still speak without screaming. Other monsters, I noted, preferred to lean against the walls or rest on seats and observe the action from afar.

While in search of any face familiar to me, which proved difficult given the number of monsters wearing masks and face paint with their costumes, I physically bumped into someone, nearly causing me to collide into a table overflowing with snacks. Regaining my sense of balance, I looked up to meet the eyes of a familiar arch sporting a rainbow-coloured afro, a pair of big red shoes, white face paint, and matching gloves.

"Hey, Danica!" the monster greeted enthusiastically.

"Oh, Art, I'm so sorry," I said apologetically.

"No worries!" said Art and smiled cheerfully. "It's nice to see you."

"It's nice to see you, too," I told him, smiling sincerely, "but I'm surprised to though, here and now of all places and times."

Art laughed. "Yeah, Oozma Kappa usually avoids Greek parties, for obvious reasons, but it doesn't mean we aren't curious as to what goes on. We figured what better time to check one out than on Howlaween?"

"True," I said and then scanned our crowded surroundings. "Are the others here too?"

"Nope, just me," Art piped up. "We thought we would be less of a target if only one of us showed up in costume and saw what's hot."

I nodded understandingly. "Well, you look great."

"Thanks, so do you," Art replied. "You been doing alright? It's been a while."

"I know," I agreed, "but I'm only keeping my distance because I don't want to anger Terry any more than I already did. How is he anyway?"

Art shrugged. "He's okay, but he's grumpy that no one in the house is taking his side."

"Are you serious?" I asked, astonished by the news of the rift that had apparently formed between the taller twin and his frat brothers since my last visit to their house.

Art nodded solemnly. "Yeah, Terri doesn't talk to him unless he has to. Squishy is scared that anything he says could set him off, so he's been quieter than usual. Don tries to give him advice and help him see things from your point of view, but hasn't gotten through to him yet. Even Ms. Squibbles doesn't say much to him; she just smiles when she gives him food and says she available whenever he's ready to talk."

I felt a tremendous amount of guilt weighing down on my shoulders like two slabs of concrete. "I'm sorry if I made living together awkward for you guys."

"Don't be sorry, Terry's just stubborn," said Art bluntly. "It's your life to live and he should support that, just like the rest of us do."

I sighed dejectedly, toying with one of my bracelets.

Art must have noticed my immediate change in mood because he added with an air of optimism, "He'll come around. He can't stay mad at you forever."

"I hope not," I said with a small smile. "I miss seeing the twins in my dance class and hanging out with all of you guys."

"We miss hanging out with you, too," said Art. "Maybe we can do lunch together tomorrow at the Bronze Ladle, just you, me, Don, and Squishy? I wish Terri with the 'I' could join, but it'll be hard to do when you're a conjoined twin, you know?"

I smiled gratefully. "Lunch sounds wonderful. Does eleven work for you all?"

Art paused, probably to consider his schedule and those of his frat brothers, before he grinned and said, "Eleven works. I'll let the guys know."

"I look forward to it," I told him, smiling brightly.

"Well, I'm off to go dance without being pelted with food or shoved aside," Art declared in an official sort of tone. "See you tomorrow!"

I waved at Art as he wormed his way onto the dance floor to the beat of the new song that was playing. I laughed, watching him do his version of the worm in between the other dancing monsters. His carefree nature, you know, not giving a rat's furry behind about what anyone said or thought about him was just so charming. If only he could show that side more in public without the costume. He might inspire someone.

Arms sliding effortlessly around my waist shifted my focus and I was about to roughly elbow their owner, until a suave voice murmured lowly into my ear, "Hola, you gorgeous thing, you."

Leaning into the warm embrace, I smiled coyly and said, "I'd be careful if I were you."

The same smooth voice asked, "Why should I?"

"My boyfriend is probably watching," I explained, feeling a head rest on one of my shoulders and a free hand lay on another.

"He is."

"Then you better start running," I joked, letting my hands settle over those on my waist.

"Not without you."

I laughed, turning my head to finally meet Javier's gaze and I noticed how they were dark shadows shaded around his eyes, giving a more smouldering appearance to his already sinister look.

"Leave him," he whispered. "Run away with me."

I snickered and continued to play along. "To where?"

"I'll have to get back to you on that," said Javier, "but want something to eat or drink in the meantime?"

"I'm not hungry, but a drink sounds good," I told him. "Surprise me."

Javier kissed me and then pulled away to begin his search for drinks since the table that I nearly fell into earlier only held food.

I marvelled at his choice in costume as he sauntered off, complete with a patterned maroon and black vest, grey dress shirt, black slacks, and a massive black and maroon cape that tumbled down behind him to just below his knees. A lot of female heads turned his way as he passed, including those of several Argma Slugma Argma sorority sisters. I couldn't blame them, as Javier made one sexy vampire, but hoped that they knew that gawking at him was all that they were allowed to do.

"Eyeing your monster candy, are you?"

I turned to see Brynn had appeared at my side, completely decked out in black garb. With pointed ears on a headband, a cotton romper, and a long tail that whipped behind her, she made an absolutely adorable cat.

"Goblin, he's fine," my blue friend remarked, letting out a high-pitched whistle before taking a sip of the contents in her plastic cup.

"Brynn!" I scolded playfully.

"What, it should be illegal for him to be that hot," stated Brynn, her glazed eyes still on Javier's back, "and to be fully clothed."

"Brynn!" I chided again at her lack of filter. Although she was type of monster to speak her mind, I could have lived without hearing her thoughts about undressing Javier with her trio of eyes.

"Just stating the facts," said Brynn and giggled deliriously. "Relax, honey, I know he's off limits."

I felt one of my eyebrows arch upwards in doubt. "Are you sure about that?"

"As sure as I am about the RΩRs being the hottest things to ever walk this planet," Brynn responded, making a sizzling sound with her teeth pressed together.

"I'd rather not think about my brother that way, thank you," I told her with a shudder, "nor about any RΩR who's not my boyfriend."

Brynn scoffed. "Javier's not the only RΩR with a fine ass, you know."

Shaking my head at her, I asked, "How much have you had to drink already?"

"Beats me," Brynn replied carelessly before knocking back more of her drink, "but I'm feeling great."

"Of course you are," I murmured knowingly.

"Well, if you'll excuse me," Brynn slurred, the blending of syllables making the five words almost impossible to distinguish from one another. "I'm off to find me a piece of RΩR tail to bite."

I watched with raised eyebrows as Brynn stumbled off onto the dance floor, losing herself in the crowd and in what was most likely a heavily spiked drink, and I sighed. I had seen Carla and Maria in the house earlier while I wandering around, so I hoped that they would be able to keep an eye on her and help her back to their house at some point because, given how tired I was feeling, I wasn't sure if I would have the strength to support her.

Javier returning with two closed cans of Blort prompted me to peel my eyes away from my intoxicated friend.

"Thanks," I said, accepting the can that he held out to me.

Javier grinned and opened his drink. "Busy day? I haven't seen you around."

I nodded wearily. "Yeah, two lectures, a midterm for Philosophy of Education, choreographing for next week's dance classes, and filming for my group project in between it all."

"I'm surprised you're still standing," Javier remarked before taking a gulp of Blort.

"Trust me," I said, sliding an arm around his torso and leaning into him, "I'll probably cave as soon as I get back to my dorm."

Javier chuckled, wrapping his lower left arm around my waist. "You should take it easy."

"I'm here with you, aren't I?" I reminded him, tapping his chest with my closed drink.

"That you are," said Javier, his face only inches from mine, "and, in case I wasn't clear earlier, you look stunning."

"Like I would show up as anything less," I quipped with a laugh. "Thank you though."

Javier was about to fully close the distance between our lips when he was shoved against me, causing his head to smack into mine and a few Spanish swear words to fly from his mouth.

Rubbing my forehead, I turned to lash out at the culprit behind our collision and wasn't surprised to see Chet scuttling past us onto the dance floor, waving his cowboy hat in the air like the party animal that he was. His recklessness caused him to accidentally whack several monsters along the way, irritating them in the process, but he seemed to pay no mind to his actions.

"Cuidado, Alexander!" Javier shouted, a warning that Chet either didn't hear or chose to ignore.

"I know he's a spirited little thing, but is he usually this out of it during parties?" I asked, watching the crab in question twirl his hat like a lasso.

"That would be the alcohol," Javier answered, shaking his head. "Thanks to Jaws Theta Chi, he's going to be a pain to deal with tomorrow."

"Have fun with that," I told him with a laugh. "Are any of the other RΩRs here?"

Javier nodded, scanning the room. "Sí, Johnny's probably somewhere with his tongue down some chica's throat, Bruiser's probably raiding the fridge in the kitchen, and…is that your friend flirting with Chip?"

Frowning in disbelief, I turned towards the staircase and, sure enough, Chip, who was wearing a leopard-print headband and matching one-shoulder cave man costume that exposed his well-defined muscles, was leaning back against the railing of the staircase and didn't seem to have any objections to having Brynn shamelessly draped over his arm, her eyes alight with mirth.

"Does she have a thing for him?" Javier asked, amused by Brynn's coquetry.

"She never mentioned anything," I admitted. "What about Chip?"

Javier shook his head. "Nothing."

I watched Chip tip his can of Blort into Brynn's cup in a toast, appearing to be enjoying her company. "She's a few glasses short of passing out, so I'm not sure if the alcohol is clouding her judgement or amplifying some hidden feelings that she never knew existed until tonight."

"Don't worry," Javier assured me. "Chip won't mess with her."

"I don't think he will either," I said in agreement. "He's not a bad guy."

"Neither am I," Javier added, stretching his cape around me with his upper left arm and enveloping me in a cozy cocoon.

"I know," I said, gazing up at him fondly. Now pressed against him, I could easily make out the details of the irises in his eyes. "No disrespect to Chip or anything, but I'd like to think that I got the pick of the RΩRs."

"You're just realizing that now?" Javier joked, resting his forehead against mine.

"Well, my busy schedule has kept me from doing a lot of things," I protested defensively.

"Guess we better make use of the free time that you have then," said Javier and finally kissed me.

I squealed into the kiss as I felt him tighten his hold on me. Sliding my arms over his shoulder and crossing my hands behind his neck, I pulled him towards me and returned the kiss with the intensity of the fire burning within the pit of my stomach. Being with Javier elicited sensations from within me that I found difficult to put into words, but I thoroughly enjoyed how good they made me feel.

The sweet moment, unfortunately, came to an abrupt end when searing pain shot through me and I hissed in response.

Javier frowned at my abrupt shift in behaviour and asked me, "Everything okay?"

I nodded quickly. "It's nothing."

"No, it isn't," said Javier, loosening his hold on me. "You don't just flinch for nothing."

I shrugged it off and said, "It was just another sharp pain."

"Another?" Javier inquired, looking even more concerned now after having learned that the pain wasn't the first of the day for me.

I nodded again. "I felt it earlier in my lower back, but I think it was just because I danced too hard when filming."

"And now?" Javier prodded for more information.

"Now it was here," I answered, resting a hand over the lower right area of my abdomen.

Javier paused and asked, "Maybe it's something you ate?"

"I actually haven't eaten since breakfast this morning," I confessed.

"¿Qué?" Javier questioned in surprise.

"I wasn't hungry," I explained, wiping my sweat-covered forehead. "Besides, it was my usual breakfast wrap, so I doubt I have food poisoning."

"It has to be something," said Javier, narrowing his eyes at me.

Looking around at the house, I said, "Goblin, have these HSSs ever heard of air conditioning?"

Tilting his head at me, Javier said, "It's on full blast."

"Then why do I feel like I just fell into an active volcano?" I questioned, fanning myself with my hand.

Javier took my chin in a pair of his hands, only to slide one up the side of my face to my forehead and that was when his mouth fell open in shock. "You're hot."

"I know," I replied with a wink, "but I appreciate you reminding me."

"No, I mean, you're burning up," Javier clarified, watching me carefully. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yes," I replied in exasperation, taking his hands off of my face. "Honestly, you worry too much."

"Someone has to," said Javier, caressing my back.

As his hand ran over my hip, I crouched forward in immense pain. "Holy fangs!"

"I barely touched you," Javier told me. "Now I seriously think you're not okay."

I was about to respond when I suddenly felt sick. Feeling something unpleasant quickly work its way back up my throat, I clamped a hand over my mouth and darted over to unleash it into the closest container that I came across. Unfortunately, for the partygoers, that was the huge bowl of salsa dip sitting on the snack table next to us.

Javier, who was still by my side, spoke up, "Danica, I think there's something really wrong with you."

"Gee, Jav, you sure know how to flatter a girl," I said sarcastically as I straightened up woozily. My little hurling episode seemed to have emptied my body of its stomach contents and whatever energy I had because I immediately felt drained.

Studying me closely, Javier said, "Something is clearly making you sick. I think we need to get you checked out."

"I think I just need to sleep it off," I assured him even though my vision was starting to get blurry, but I wasn't about to admit to that. "Besides, student health is closed by now and so are probably any local clinics."

"Then we'll go to the hospital," Javier declared.

Although I was starting to feel even more lightheaded, I said, "Jav, I think you're overreacting. I'm sure whatever it is, it's nothing serious."

"Well, I think it is," Javier insisted, taking me into his arms. "We need to find Johnny."

Feeling my knees begin to wobble in weakness, I slumped against Javier's chest and mumbled something inaudible.

That was when everything went black.