The day of the ball arrives far too quick. We finish school early and I let Drew give me a ride home, despite the slight tension still lingering between us. At home I sit in front of my dresser for longer than I mean to, staring at myself, my brain wandering. I have to steel myself for tonight. I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, like I just know something is going to happen tonight. I fight to stop my hands from shaking as I shove in a pair of earphones and try to do my makeup, try to forget about everything going on. The eyeliner looks good with my outfit, and I add some fake eyelashes, figuring I might as well go all out. The slow beat of the song pulls me under and calms me slightly, and by the end, I feel a little less nauseous.
Once I'm done I pull on the outfit and step into a pair of black heels. Unable to help myself I let myself stand in front of a mirror and pull on the energy that is always lingering inside me now, watching my eyes glow a burning shade of amethyst. I really do look like a witch. Maybe I really am one.
I'm ready too early, so I sit scrolling senselessly on my phone until I hear the doorbell downstairs. I know it's Drew, but I still hesitate, wondering whether I should drop out while it isn't too late. I could pretend to be sick. It would be so easy. The thought of pretending nothing's happening, of dancing with him while everyone else around us is so carefree... That, paired with the fact that I can't stop thinking about Ash. Every time I think about him, I feel a physical pull on my heart, like someone's tied string around it and they're tugging on it. Sometimes it's so strong it steals the air from my lungs. It's becoming harder and harder to ignore.
"May!" Mom calls up the stairs cheerfully. I can hear her chatting away to Drew at the foot of the stairs and laughing. They've always liked him. He knows just what to say to them, how to butter them up. I can't help but wonder if they'd like him as much if they knew. Taking a deep breath, I grab my phone and stuff it in my bag. With one last check in the mirror, I take a deep breath and step out.
I struggle to hold back my laugh as Drew comes into view. He'd kept his costume a secret, but now I can tell right away he's supposed to be a cowboy, tassels and all. The boots are the funniest part, and I know I'm grinning as I approach him. He just probably doesn't realise I'm grinning because his outfit is hilarious, and not because he's there, because he beams back at me. He looks me up and down in approval as I come up beside him to listen to the speech that is always inevitable from my mom. I nod as she speaks her usual words. Be safe. Don't drink too much. Don't come home too late.
"You look real nice," Drew says as we step out into the already slightly dark night. 'Real nice' isn't the greatest compliment I've ever received by a long shot, but I say thank you anyway. I can't bring myself to return it. It isn't that he looks bad, not at all, it's just a funny costume. I notice as we get into his car that Ash's is already gone. He's probably gone to pick Dawn up. I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
"Ready?" Drew asks, starting the car up. I nod, letting him lean over to kiss my cheek before he pulls away, speeding off down the road.
When we arrive at the school, the car park is already almost full, people milling around by their cars, waiting for their friends or just talking. Drew parks the car as close as he can to the entrance and we step out. It's slightly chilly, and I wrap my arms around myself as I take in the surroundings. The school is lit with an eerie green glow by some lights I can't see. The steps up to the main doors have the same green glow too. Somehow the school seems bigger in this light, towering above us. Pumpkins line the walls, and a lifelike skeleton stans at the door like it's greeting people.
Drew places his hand in mine and squeezes, and we start walking towards our school's giant gym, where all the dances are held. I can hear the booming music from here, pulsing across my whole body. We must have passed a hundred people just walking to the gym, but once the doors fling open, the air whooshes right out of my lungs.
I've never seen a dance this busy. I can't pick out one face in the absolute sea of people. Halloween decorations hang from every part of the ceiling and string lights cover all the walls, giving the room a gentle glow. I push back my nerves at the sight of such a huge crowd.
"Want a drink?" Drew asks as I try to scan the crowd for any of my friends. I nod, and he wanders off to where tables are set up in the corner of the room. He returns less than a minute later holding two red cups full of what I assume is cola. He hands me one, then pulls a flask from inside the jacket of his costume in true cowboy style. I bite my lip to stop my laugh escaping. I'm about to protest, then realise a little bit can't hurt when my nerves are so strung tight and may snap. I let him pour in some of the liquor then turn back to the crowd, seeing Dawn heading our way, Ash close behind her.
"May!" She calls, even though I've already spotted her. I give a little wave, which Ash returns a little awkwardly. He's dressed in an all black suit and black shirt with a red tie, and a black and red cape. When he smiles, I see the fake fangs he's stuck in his teeth. I cover my mouth with my hand to hide the chuckle I can't stifle.
"Wow, Drew, that is an interesting costume," Dawn says, hands on her hips. I want to laugh again, but then she turns to me. "You look hot."
"Thanks," I say sheepishly, rubbing the back of my head with a hand. I hear a screech from my right, and turn to see Misty hopping towards us, dressed as Tinkerbell, tiny green dress and all. My jaw hangs open and I prepare to ask what made her change her mind, but I catch sight of Gary and Serena in the crowd. Gary is looking at her too, though no one else seems to notice, and his jaw is also hanging open very obviously. He has his face completely painted as a skull and has a black suit on too, except his is decorated with a skeleton, and he actually looks infuriatingly attractive, which makes me feel gross to think. Serena matches him, her face also painted, her hair deliberately teased to be messy, with a very short skin-tight dress, also with a skeleton on. Her thigh high socks have bones on too, and she has chunky black shoes on. She waves over from where they're dancing and I wave back.
"What on earth?" Drew asks, looking Misty up and down, and I smack him gently on the arm. He pretends to be offended and rubs it like I could possibly have hurt him with that gentle tap.
"Changed my mind. Don't need a date," she says bitterly, and I catch the subtle glance she shoots in Gary and Serena's direction as she does. A split second later, and the smile returns to her face. "Vodka, anyone?"
Dawn holds out her glass, and I take a big sip of mine, shaking my head. Drew flashes her a grin and shakes his own flask at her. She returns the grin as she drops hers back in her little bag. I steal another glance at Ash, and meet his eyes. He smiles, but I look away quickly, my face heating up.
"C'mon, let's dance," Drew says, pulling on my hand. Dawn gives a jokey little wave as he drags me away onto the dancefloor. Drew downs his drink and gestures for me to do the same. It's a bad idea, I know, but I throw it back anyway, and throw my cup in the direction he throws his. He grabs my hand and spins me around to the music, and I laugh despite myself. I spot Gary and Serena dancing beside us, and Gary gives me a salute, which I roll my eyes at. I let myself enjoy the music, enjoy this innocent attention from Drew. He's looking right at me, and it feels like he really sees me for once.
After a few songs I stop, waving my hands. "Please, I need a break," I say breathlessly, half laughing. Drew shakes his head in mock disappointment, but joins in leaning against the table I've started resting against.
"Follow me," he says just a second later, taking hold of my hand again. We head past everyone, out of the gym and into the hallway. Students are milling about everywhere, some making out against the lockers, some clearly drinking alcohol and fake-scaring each other. We walk right past them, and out to the back of the school, where the fields are. I pause when I spot what he's showing me. They've erected a giant, glowing jack-o-lantern and a bunch of strobe lights that make the place look magical. It's corny, sure, but I can't help but love it.
I cling to Drew's hand as we step out into the crisp, chilly night air, my breath a curling smoke in the air. No one else is out here, so when Drew pulls me into his chest and kisses me, I kiss him back with full force, feeling his hand slip up the back of my head, pushing up my hair. A jolt of electricity runs up my spine, a rush of adrenaline from the kiss that feels somewhat like my magic. I cling to Drew, and I don't even mind when he puts one hand on my waist, then moves it behind me to my ass, his touch gentle.
He pulls away a second later, and I find myself wanting to pull him back. This is what it's supposed to feel like, I think. This is what it should always be like.
"I love you," he says quickly, looking right at me. My heart stops beating entirely.
"I love you too," I say without hesitation, caught up in the moment, and I see the surprise flicker across his features for a split second, like he wasn't expecting me to say it back. He pulls me back in and kisses me softly, and for once I have hope. I start to believe Drew really loves me the way he always seemed to at the start, the way he says he does. I start to believe he'll wait for me to be ready.
Someone clears their throat behind us and I tear myself away from Drew, but it's only Misty, lighting a cigarette.
"Interrupting something, am I?" She asks, taking a big drag. I sigh heavily. She bickers with Drew on and off for a minute or two until he gets truly grumpy, storming off and dragging me with him. I shoot Misty an amused look as I leave, and she winks at me. I love her in that moment. Drew drags me back into the gym, where everyone's still dancing, still drinking, still talking loudly over the music. My face is still warm from the kiss, my lipstick slightly smeared, and I deliberately don't look around the room, not wanting to see Ash.
Someone pats Drew on the back a little hard, and he turns to speak to a guy I can't remember the name of, who's on the football team with him. I catch very little of their conversation with the music being so loud, but then Drew turns to me, smiling apologetically.
"I'll be back soon, okay?" He says, then turns and follows after his friend before I can respond. Standing alone in the corner suddenly, I start to wander into the crowd as the music changes to a bassy song which shakes the floor and rattles my whole body. The strobe lights are disorienting, flashing and dancing around the whole room, and suddenly a smoke machine is spewing fog into the room. Since when did they splash out so much on school events? I keep pushing through the sea of sweaty bodies, looking for Dawn as everyone loses themselves to the music, swaying and bobbing to the beat, bumping against one another in the tight crowd. Just as I'm about to give up and head back to the corner and wait for Drew, I sense him. Relieved, I whirl, prepared to see Ash.
I freeze, the only still person in the crowd of dancing people besides the person staring back at me. Of course, this is the only place where someone wearing a balaclava wouldn't be viewed suspiciously. My throat dries up and my blood runs cold as I stare back, my heart dropping from my chest, and I know it's him. The lights still flash, making me feel dizzy, and I think I might pass out, swaying on my feet, until the figure turns and pushes his way out of the crowd.
A surge of adrenaline sparks an unexpected surge of anger in me. Fuelled by it, I take off after him. I'm afraid I've lost him for a moment until I spot him at the edge of the crowd, and I start to push past people, not caring when people shout angrily at me. By the time I reach the edge, he's running, straight out of the room, but not many people are paying him much attention. This school is rife with idiots that would run about like that, after all. I break into a run too, almost tripping in my heels, and whirl around the corner into the corridor after him. It's probably stupid, but he already knows about the magic, so there's no point in not using it, which I plan to, but by the time I'm in the hallway, he's at the end of it, running right up the stairs onto the second floor.
Just as I'm about to take off running again, I see Ash at the door, and from the look on his face I can tell he saw him too. He looks back at me, unspoken words passing between us, and then we both run in the direction of the stairs. I hear Dawn close behind, shouting something I can't hear because the blood is rushing past my ears and it's so loud.
I trip at the top of the stairs and Ash catches my elbow, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. Ignoring it, I look around, and spot him, standing as though he's deliberately taunting us, down the corridor. A second later, and he disappears into a classroom. We shoot down the corridor, throw the door open to the classroom, and-
He's gone. Ash pulls open the doors to the closets at the back, but there's nothing. The window left wide open is the only place he could have gone, but he can't have jumped, surely? Not from up here. He'd have broken a bone at the very least. I turn, about to voice my confusion, when Dawn appears breathless at the door, hands on her knees as she tries to catch her breath.
"What the fuck-" she pants, "is going on?"
"No time to explain," I say, already heading back out of the classroom, the click of my heels loud on the tiles. If he jumped, he'd be out on the field, down by the jack-o-lantern. If he's here, he might hurt somebody. He might try to hurt me again. I can't let that happen.
The three of us run back down the stairs and out onto the field, but there's no one there besides a few smokers and one guy running wild on the grass, throwing his arms out. My stomach sinks as I realise it could be any one of us. They could tear the balaclava off, toss it, stand right beside me, and I'd never know. My heart hammering against my chest, I turn, feeling helpless.
"Someone better start explaining," Dawn says, poking her finger at us both. Ash gives me a questioning look, offering to explain for me, and I give my head a single nod.
Ash explains to her as I keep my eyes on the field, thinking he might reappear at any second. When he's done, her face is white and stricken, like she's seen a ghost. She looks how I feel.
"We have to find them," she says, looking at me now. I nod at her, not sure I'm capable of much more. We head back into the gym and I scan the crowd for anything familiar. It only takes a minute before I spot them again, watching me from a spot by the stage they've set up. I bolt right for him before they can follow, ignoring Ash's shouts of protest, and soon I'm lost in the crowd again. It's stupid to separate from them, but I can't risk him getting away. I can't.
I burst from the crowd and follow him out of the fire exit doors and into the night. I chase him as he runs along the edge of the school, keeping up even in heels, and I know they've lost me because no one comes out behind us. I think he's going to run the entire length of the school until he veers suddenly and slams into a set of double doors. I crash into them a second later, bursting into a cold room and realise we're in the kitchen, and I've lost sight of him.
Dread and regret has just one second to seep into me before he grabs me from behind, clasping my hands together behind my back with one hand and covering my mouth with the other. Panic rises in my chest as I reach for my magic, but it won't come, because he's got my hands, and I try to bite his hand, but I can barely move as he shoves me forward violently, pushing me into a counter, the edge of it pressing into my stomach as he bends me over it. A new sort of dread fogs my brain as my skirt rides up and I feel the cold slide up it. His hand comes off my mouth as he grabs for something in his pocket, and I scream, as loud as I can manage. I don't stop until he smashes something off the back of my skull hard, and my vision starts to darken, black gathering in the corners of my eyes. I droop against the counter.
Something covers my eyes. He's blindfolding me, I realise with horror. I'm going to die. Mouth covered again, I'm forced to stand upright again, stumbling forward in my heels, and I realise I'm crying when I feel the tears rolling over my cheeks. I hear a noise like a door opening in front of us, and then he lets go of me, and pushes me forward. I fall hard into something metal, and before I can react, I hear the door close behind me. Only then do I realise how cold the metal is. I pull away, and my skin sticks to it slightly, stinging it as it tears away. I rip the blindfold from my eyes, but it's so dark I can't see a thing.
There's barely any room around me, and as I stick my hands out and feel around me, I realise I'm in a freezer. I'm in a walk-in freezer. Terror takes over completely as I reach back for where I assume the door is and bang on it, smashing the handle, but it won't budge. Something must have been shoved on the other side, blocking it. I throw my magic against it, then my whole weight against it when that doesn't work, but already the cold is taking over. I cross my arms over my chest and wonder if this is how I'm going to die. Pulling at my magic, I manage to warm myself, but I can feel the energy being drained from me, and know I won't be able to keep it up for too long.
I shout at the door, which turns into a loud cry, and I keep shouting until my throat is raw and I collapse to my knees on the floor, not caring that the cold rips through me suddenly when the last of my magic sputters out. There's nothing I can do. It's the weekend, so nobody will be in here until Monday. I'm going to freeze to death.
I curl up on the floor and try to summon some warmth, but I'm so tired, and it seems my magic is not a bottomless well, and I've drained it dry. I shiver. I shiver for god knows how long, and I'm so cold I can't feel my fingers at all. I'm not even sure I'm still alive, lying here in the dark, because I can't move at all. I can't even gather the strength to lift a finger. It's then that I realise with horror that I don't feel cold anymore. I simply feel nothing. My whole body has gone numb. I'm drifting into unconsciousness, I know, because it feels like almost falling asleep, and it seems so warm, so welcoming, to just give in…
A bright light suddenly fills my vision, but I can't see a thing. I can hardly even think, aside from to wonder if I'm dying, and that's why it's so bright now. Then I feel my body being lifted, and my heart seems to start again in my chest. Someone tucks me against them, and I feel my body beginning to warm up, though I'm still so tired I can't focus on much or even open my eyes.
After what seems like an eternity, I open my eyes. I'm not dead. I'm in Ash's arms, and I'm wearing his suit jacket. My heart jumps in my chest as I look up at him with wide eyes. I see the panic in his eyes dissipate as he notices me wake up properly, but it's replaced with a wariness.
"You found me," I mumble, still not able to move my muscles much. He's saved me again. I want to cry. I want to hug him so bad, but instead I reach for my magic again and pull what warmth I can. It's stupid, I know, since Ash might notice me warming up too quickly, but I don't care in the moment. Warmth floods in and I sigh, relaxing into his chest, resting my head against it. He's carrying me down a dimly lit corridor. I can hear the thud of the music in the distance.
"I'm alright now," I say. Reluctantly, Ash starts to put me down, and lets me lean on him to regain my balance, my knees wobbling as I stand upright.
"Are you sure?" Ash asks, leaning in to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and staring right into my eyes. I ignore the way my heart stutters at his closeness, and the genuine concern in his eyes. I nod, not trusting myself to form words. Before I can move away he reaches for me, and pulls me into his chest. For a moment I hang limp in his hug. Then his warmth reaches me, and I wrap my arms around him too, letting my head rest against his chest. I fight the tears welling in my eyes again. I feel safe beside Ash, but I still need to get out of this school. The panic rises in my chest again, stealing my breath away.
When he pulls away from me, I take his hand and squeeze it. "Thank you."
He shakes his head. "From now on, we stick together."
I nod. "Deal."
He blows out a breath. "We should find Dawn and get out of here," he says. I don't bother saying anything about Drew or any of the others. I'm too tired to worry about what Drew will think if I disappear now. Instead I nod again and follow Ash down the corridor, ignoring the urge to reach out and take his hand for comfort. I don't want to say that I feel trauma, but I'm afraid I might, and every odd noise makes me jump. I want to close the gap between us to feel safer. At least that's what I tell myself until we reach the gym again. I'm not sure how long I've been gone, but it must have been a little while, because the music has toned down, and the crowd has thinned out a bit.
I spot Serena sitting on a bench and I'm about to drag Ash over with me when a girl steps in front of me. She's short, with a purple dyed pixie cut. We're not friends, but we know each other, so I smile politely, wondering why she's just stepped in my path with such determination. I can't deal with small talk right now. I don't want to be rude, but I have to get out of here.
"Hi," she says sheepishly. Ash shoots me a questioning look, but I ignore him.
"Hey, uh… Anabel, is it?" I say, praying that's the right name. She nods, but her eyes are darting around the room like she's nervous, and it's making me even more nervous than I already was. "What's wrong?"
"It's um, well… Well… In science lab B, um- you should probably go see."
Science lab B is the lab directly beside the gym, and my heart hammers against my chest as Anabel flees, leaving no explanation. I don't even speak to Ash before turning and heading back out the doors, passing a group of students arguing loudly in the hall. I know he's following me, but I can't think of anything but the approaching lab door. Somehow I just know what I'm going to see as I reach for the handle.
I try, and fail, to harden my heart as I throw the door open and see the one thing that could make this night any worse.
It's Drew, and he's kissing Solidad.