CHAPTER 33

Halloween Ho-down

It doesn't take long to process the line to get inside the school- though you do have to momentarily take off your mask and show your student ID to the security, seems like they don't want someone slipping in unnoticed.

There's a punch and snack table that's currently unoccupied you could spend your time at. There's also, presumably, Flash over there in a Spider-man costume. There's also a line for a costume competition. The party just had started and you arrived a little early thanks to Uncle Ben, but even so there's currently not too many people in here just yet.

Harry's looking around excitedly, especially at the girls in costume. "Hey, Pete, I'm going to go hit on some girls."

"Hey, shouldn't we sign up for the costume contest first?"

Harry pauses before nodding. "Yeah, that's a good point. Thanks, Pete."

The two of you head over towards the line. As the both of you are standing in line, you look at your costume before inspiration hits you. "Hey, Harry, you like all of this anime stuff, right?"

Harry pauses at you, looking slightly unsure. "…Yeah. Why?"

"Wellllll, I noticed you seemed concerned about my neighbor not having many friends. You know, she is a girl who likes video games and I imagine giant robots if the model kits in her room are any indication."

"…the girl who doesn't talk to anybody and stabbed herself in lunch? Are you really trying to hook me up with her?"

You shrug noncommittally.

"Well, I thought she could use a friend besides me...though I'm not sure I count. We have an… adversarial ancient history,"

Harry stares at you. Really stares at you. "Look, I'll try to talk to her if you're around at lunch. I'm not promising anything more than that."

He signs up, followed by you. "Hey, man, I'm sorry. You wanted to hit on some girls, right?"

Harry immediately cheers up as the two of you go around. You try to help, but Harry… Harry isn't good at this. He's shot down, despite his best attempts. Well, the fact that almost nobody knows who he is doesn't help as he tries to explain it. You, on the other hand, have gotten a few high-fives and 'Aw yeah, Zechs!'"

It didn't improve Harry's mood.

Eventually, the two of you are sitting at the snack table as Harry mopes into a cup of punch. Flash is still around as Spider-man. There's someone in elaborate costume that's in white. There's also a Superman going around with a camera.

You also see the substitute teacher, Herman Schultz looking miserable watching the party.

You think about going around and talking to people, but considering the state Harry's in, it wouldn't be cool to just leave him here. You sit down and decide to make some small talk, asking him about his different shows and interests. It's obvious Harry knows what you're doing, but he appreciates it nevertheless.

Eventually, you see Flash nearing you so you call him over. "Hey, Flash, over here!"

Harry leans in and whispers, looking panicked. "…Peter what are you doi- Hey Flash!"

'Spider-man' pauses and salutes the both of you. "Greetings, Citizens, it is I, Spider-man! How are you doing?"

You smile as you wave him over to the chair as Flash gratefully collapses and lifts up his mask, and drains a cup of punch. "Thanks… Parker?"

At your nod, you see him smile. "I don't know how Spidey does this, I'm burning up in this costume."

You try to draw Flash and Harry into a mutual conversation, but all it turns into is Flash's confusion at whatever Harry's interests are and Harry's lack of interest in sports. Eventually Flash shakes his head.

"Look, Osborn, it isn't about getting people to like what you like, its about you liking what you like. I've gotten a bunch of comments tonight for my costume, not all of them good, but I like my costume so I'm happy to be in it. If you made your costume just to impress others, you're doing it wrong."

With that he drains another cup of punch before standing up, saluting, and walking off. You see Harry considering the words as an announcement comes on. 'Will contestants one though ten please step onto the stage for tonight's costume contest."

Harry looks at the ticket he's gotten 'Ten.' "I'll be back soon, Pete!" He runs off as someone takes the seat he was in. It's the individual in white who sits down and stares at you, as if puzzling something out.

You mainly pay attention to the competition, but the person sitting next to you is a bit unnerving with their smile. "Uh, hi. Who are you supposed to be tonight?"

The smile grows a bit wider and the person picks up a cup of punch and swirls it. "Oh, I'm the most terrible monster the world has ever known."

You raise an eyebrow before paying attention again. Harry's last up, but there's some generic costumes as well. The person next to you is still staring at you, not drinking their punch. You really hope they don't try to throw it at you.

"…Can I help you?"

The girl, her voice silky shakes her head with a wry grin. "Oh, it's just that I like your costume, I'm a big fan of the color red, you know."

You give a noncommittal grunt as the girl scoots a bit closer.

"Do I know you?"

The girl only gives an enigmatic smile as you watch Harry try his best to a very lukewarm response. As the announcer calls your number you stand up and head to the stage quickly, passing a disappointed looking Harry.

You stand up on stage, waiting to be called forward.

You take a deep breath as you try to recall everything you've learned about this character from Harry. Taking a deep breath, you try to create the image of a refined gentleman. Approaching the microphone, you give a confident smirk.

"Citizens of… No, Humanity, hear me! For too long our world has been brutalized by the evil Earth Federation. I tried to not involve myself, but no more. I've realized that unless I intervene, history will repeat like an endless waltz, the three beats of war, peace, and revolution will continue forever!

"Can this world truly withstand another generation of these miserable battles? Unless we stop this process now more soldiers like ourselves will become necessary. If that happens history will continue to repeat itself!"

You grip at your collar as you clench your fist before swinging it out, wide. "I'd sooner burn this world myself and be a monster in the history books than be a hero continuing this pointless strife. That's why, with this asteroid known as Axis, I will set history onto a new path.

"No doubt you'd try to stop me, so I'll be waiting atop Axis. If you wish to preserve this wretched status quo, you'll have to kill me with your own hands, Amuro!"

Dramatically, you raise your hand as you speech reaches its finally before pointing it dramatically at Harry as the crowd erupts into cheers. You give a gentlemanly bow before stepping back waiting for the rest to finish up.

There's still another round as you step off the stage. The woman in white's still smiling at you, but you're hesitant to give anything other than a glancing look. She's a bit… creepy. Harry's looking a bit shocked and Flash is on the stage.

You go and sit down next to Harry before nervously tapping your fingers on your legs. "So, did I do the character justice? I tried to remember everything you told me, but I don't know if I got it right."

Harry stares at you before shaking his head. "No, you actually quoted several different characters from a different series, but overall I suppose it was alright. Didn't know you were that good at acting."

You shrug. "I just tried my best. More importantly, do you know who that girl is? She's been kinda creeping me out."

You point over at the mystery girl as Harry stares at her before shaking his head. "Can't place the face, sorry. She's someone at our school though. Wouldn't have gotten in without an ID."

You see Harry pull out his phone. "Just a sec, Pete. I'll be back."

You see him call on his phone a distance away. Looks like he'll be a minute. Glancing around, you don't see Superman anymore, but the teacher is still there, as is the creepy girl. No, serious, this chick is watching you. It's creepy. Flash is by the punch bowl again.

It's been about 40 minutes, but the competition might be another 30 minutes tops if you're interested in sticking around for that.

You might as well deal with this. You could probably take a picture and ask Felicia, but that might cause awkward questions. You could ask a teacher, but looking at the substitute over there, it seems like he'd probably brush you off- guy does not seem to be having a good time.

Might as well deal with this yourself.

Harry looks like he'll be a minute, anyway.

Getting up, you head over towards the girl. She's leaning against the wall, grinning at you. As you approach she quietly applauds before pausing.

Her eyes watch you- its unnerving because there's no negative intent against you or anything like that. Your Spider-sense is silent.

"That was a pretty good performance, Peter."

You glance at the girl. "So, who are you, really?"

The girl grins, her eyes crinkling shut. "If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you. Besides, I'm enjoying your unsure and nervous actions. It'd be better without that mask, but right now I'm enjoying myself."

The girl doesn't seem very interested in the competition happening on stage, more intent on watching you. Have you always had a creepy girl watching you like this?

"Would you like to dance, Peter?"

You grimace and let her lead you off to an isolated area where some people are dancing. As she readies you for a waltz, she takes your hands and prepares.

"Now this is a waltz, so you know the rough idea of one, yes?"

You've seen them and there was that one time with Aunt May's dance class, so yes you're somewhat familiar with a waltz. Taking this time, you decide to eliminate or confirm someone for their identity. As you begin waltzing, you lightly squeeze her right, gloves hand.

Glancing over at your hand, she grins at you. "Hey, Peter, what were you expecting to find out?"

As you feel your spider-sense go off, you step aside a foot stomp down where yours had been. You see the girl continue to smile at you unnervingly as you go through several steps of the waltz as your spider-sense goes off, again. Again stepping to the side, she continues on dancing unperturbed.

You take several minutes of this waltz and dodge as her smile at you grows throughout the waltz. When you finish, the mysterious girl in white grins at you, even more unnervingly.

"That was a very interesting dance. You're better than I expected."

"So, why exactly are you smiling so much?"

The girl pauses and fakes looking confused. Up close you noticed she's wearing make-up, as well as contacts. You couldn't' tell if the hair was a wig or not, though.

Her hands were covered in gloves and she's wearing boots. She's overall dressed in a white outfit. She's probably dressed as someone considering the party.

But as to who she is, you don't know.

But man, is this girl unnerving you.

"Sorry, could you repeat that?"

You frown and your brows crease behind your mask. "I asked you why you've been smiling so much at me, especially during the dance."

The girl lets out an inquisitive noise as she crosses her arms behind her back and bounces on the balls of her feet.

"Well, if you're an intentionally bad dancer, you learn things about the person you dance with."

You tense as she says this as you remember that you avoided every foot that would have stomped on yours after you squeezed her hand. She watches you as her grin widens.

"That's good, I like seeing you panicked. You tense up, your lip trembles, oh such a good reaction~ It's been a while, after all. Still, I expect you'll be seeing me again, so I hope I can continue to see such great reactions from you."

She bows like a butler before turning and quickly heading for the door.

You watch her leave before going back to around where you're sitting. Sitting down, you watch the competition wrap up- dealing with that girl took some time.

And she's creepy as fuck. Really, who says things like that?

More time passes as you look around for Harry- but he's not currently in sight. Maybe he went to use the bathroom?

Regardless, the presentation finished up as you, somehow, manage fifth. Flash in his Spider-man outfit got first while the three most popular girls in school got the spots after him. As your pictures are being taken by some guy in a mummy costume Flash wraps an arm around your shoulders as the two of you wave.

There's a member of the theatre club that incite you to stop by sometime, but overall the rest of the party will be dances and other such things. There's still no sign of Harry though.

You spend a good ten minutes looking and asking around for Harry. Someone tells you that they saw him on the phone around during the competition, but not a lot of people paid him too much attention.

The substitute could only shrug. He was watching for contraband or prohibited activities, so as long as nobody had that he didn't care what they were up to. You pause to grab Flash's number again, explaining that your phone had been broken by accident, to which he gladly gives you.

When no leads turn up, you head to the school phone and call Harry's number. It rings twice before going to voice mail. Trying it again, the same thing.

Damn it.

Well his phone isn't off, but that means he's ignoring the call from the school. And you probably shouldn't call him on your new phone which you should probably only use for Spider-man business while keeping a separate one for Peter Parker business.

You could try heading over his way- you've been over to his house once, but it'd probably take half-an-hour or you could head on over to Felicia's.

You use the phone to call one more time. Two rings- answering machine. Leaving a message, you inform Harry that you're heading out and that you couldn't find him before leaving.

He was in a bit of a bad mood before leaving, maybe it'll be better to give him some time alone?

Regardless, you should probably go ahead and head on to Felicia's. From here, it'll be a good half hour walk, minimum. And, thanks to new laws, you'll have to carry your mask there.

Still, you've got a nice night with your girlfriend and adopted sister. So you might as well enjoy it.

And then you notice the police sirens in the distance as you see several cop cars heading somewhere with their lights on.

Oh, come on.

REALLY?!

END
To Be Continued