Chapter One - Untitled

CHAPTER 11


The chilly breeze stung my nostrils as I walked slowly through the moonlit forest. My long cape dragged on the ground behind me over copper and maroon leaves. The smell of mildew heightened my senses, making every minute detail of my surroundings crisp. My heart thumped in my ears as leaves skittered across the brown, leaf covered grass in mini whirlwinds.2

Suddenly from somewhere behind me I heard soft crunching of leaves, out of rhythm with my own. Too afraid to look behind me, I moved my feet quicker, zigzagging through the dense population of trees sprawled out in front of me. Adrenaline pulsed thickly though my veins as I raced on. The shadows played tricks with my eyes and tugged at my feet. In one swift motion I was thrown to the ground, a heavy weight pinning me down.3

A scream caught in my throat as my lungs ached, begging for oxygen. Then the weight lifted just enough for me to get a good breath. I tried to wriggle away but a familiar voice paralyzed me.4

"Jeez Skye! Freak out much?"5

"Oh my god! Franky you damn jerk! What the hell?" I exclaimed as I brushed the leaves and dirt from my costume. "You'd freak out too if you were walking through a dark forest in the middle of the night and all the sudden you heard someone else behind you!"6

He let out a chuckle. "Sorry, I'll text you next time."7

I shoved him hard in the arm and he tumbled over into some leaves. "I can't believe you!" A sad look came over my face then before I knew it I was laid out on the ground right beside him.8

"Oh, c'mon baby! I was just playing with you." He kissed me softly on the lips and wrapped his arms around me. My heart beat slowed increasingly, now that I knew there wasn't a serial killer stalking me. 9

I smiled and breathed in his wonderful scent, while kissing him back. I love his kisses; so sweet and gentle! "Alright, let's get to the party. We're already late," I sighed as I checked the time on my cellphone. It was 11:20 and the party had started at 11. 10

We walked further through the forest, hand in hand. A thick band of trees ran between Beth's house and mine. We lived deep in the country in Medford Oregon, and the leaves that speckled the ground were damp from the previous day's rainfall. Every once in a while a drop of water would slowly slip off the foliage high above us and land with a plop right onto my head.11

After about ten minutes, we could see the bright lights inside her house through the trees and hear the loud music echoing. "Wow," Franky said. "Sounds like an awesome party!"12

I snorted. "Sure." Although Beth and I were friends, we weren't the B.F.F. kind. To be honest, she annoyed me really bad, but I had nothing else to do on Halloween so I figured I'd give her party a shot. The party looked so alive and it made me heated with jealousy that she could have such a bangin' Halloween party and I couldn't even get three people to come to my birthday party. Why is she so popular? Just because she's cute with her natural bleach blond hair and big blue eyes doesn't mean she has to get all the guys. 13

My brother, Andy, is her boyfriend and that's probably the only reason she invited me. I'd known her since fifth grade and I can tell you, it's pretty gross seeing your best friend mack all over your older brother. We used to be friends but after she started dating Andy, I was tossed out of the picture. But hey, if you're best friend is going to leave you for your sibling then their really not your friend at all. That's like, Best Friend Rule #1: Never leave your friend for their sibling. 14

Andy and I are twins but he's older by like ten minutes or something totally stupid like that. He used to brag about it all the time when we were little. We get along like a brother and sister should and we rarely have arguments. He probably begged her to invite me or told her that if I wasn't invited then he wasn't going to go. How cheap!15

Franky and I finally reached the back yard and in the firelight of the tiki torches, placed decoratively throughout the yard, I could see his costume. He had insisted on it being a surprise.. He was dressed as Count Dracula which went great with my Countess outfit. 16

"Babe, your costume rocks," I whispered as we got closer to the house. I took in the full extent of the time and effort he had put into constructing this masterpiece when the light emanating from the house and torches was bright enough. His face was extremely ashen and he had immensely dark bruise-looking circles around his eyes, which I was surprised I hadn't noticed earlier.17

He smiled at me and light sparkled off his fangs. "Thank you honey. I hoped you would like it." He looked me up and down, realizing that he, too, hadn't got the chance to check out my costume. "Wow, you look fantastic!"18

Although I had told him what I was going as, I didn't let him see my costume. He wouldn't let me see his, so it was only fair. Just then, Beth and Andy sauntered up, both looking down right freaky. I almost jumped. Beth was dressed as Morticia from The Addam's Family and Andy was dressed as Beetle Juice.19

"There you guys are," Beth exclaimed. "We've been waiting for you to show up! Where have you been?" She was practically yelling at us because the music was blasting from the house and leaking into every crevice within a mile radius. She looked over at Adam and said quieter, "oh, I bet they were necking in the woods!" Andy looked at her disapprovingly. He wasn't comfortable with things like that being said about his little sister. The ripe scent of alcohol permeated off Beth and then I understood. Beth was drunk. Not just drunk, she was flat ass wasted.20

I laughed nervously at her comment. "No, I stood around waiting for blood sucker here for almost a half hour." I elbowed Franky playfully in the ribs. Although he was six feet even, I was only two inches shorter than him. "Then he scared me half to death in the woods." Franky beamed at my last statement, as if it were a huge accomplishment.21

My brother put his arm around my shoulder and gave me an awkward one-armed hug. "It's okay Skye, no problem. I'm glad you could make it." He smiled at me with discolored, rotting teeth and I just had to laugh.22

"Great costume, bro. To be honest, I'm kind of freaked out."23

"Isn't that the point of it?" We laughed even though nothing even relatively funny was said. I think we were both just kind of nervous. He knew I didn't like Beth all that much and I knew that he didn't want me to screw anything up with his popularity. I could still see his eyes pleading, "don't mess this up okay? Please?"24

The back yard was overly-crowded with many people whom I was sure I had never seen before. Then again, Beth was captain of the Cheer-leading team so she knew everyone who was anyone. The bitter smell of beer and wine coolers was intense now, almost gagging me. I had never drank before, and just the smell was making me nauseated. The latest rap hits blared in my ears as I grabbed Franky around the arm and pulled him toward the house. I had to see if I could scout out anyone I knew.25

Everyone had awesome costumes on. One girl I saw was dressed as a genie and I instantly thought of the Christina Aguilera song "Genie In A Bottle." She was dancing with a cowboy and it appeared to me that he was going to get his wish tonight. Both their eyes were glossy and I was sure it wasn't just from the Bud Light they each held in their hands.26

I walked up the porch steps, with Franky in tow, and into the three story mansion of a house. Beth's parents were practically millionaires. Her dad, John, owned about a huge restaurant chain that trailed all over the country and her mother, Marissa, was a big time lawyer. My mother was also a lawyer and they were all out of town together for the weekend on some big business trip or something like that. 27

My dad was a mega business man and owned a few very successful car dealerships, both in and out of town. My dad always said that business was extremely stressful. In return, he tended to drink excessively and was currently passed out at our house. He probably wouldn't wake up until around 1 pm tomorrow. Andy and I hadn't even asked if we could go to the party.28

Inside, bodies were pressed close together, everyone bobbing up and down dancing to the music. It looked like a big ocean of colors, each beat creating a new wave. The stench of cigarette smoke and sweat almost overpowered me immediately. There had to be at least a hundred people at the party. I held on tight to Franky's hand, as not to lose him in the huge semi-mild mosh pit that lay ahead. I spotted a couple of kids from my french class and squeezed my way over.29

"Hey Katy," I yelled, trying to disguise the unsatisfied tone in my voice.30

Her eyes were also glossy and she held a half empty Bacardi Silver in her gloved hands. She was dressed as Cat Women and she looked hot. "Hey Skye. What's up? You're costume looks great," she said as she smiled at me.31

I smiled back. "Thanks. You look incredible, meow!" I laughed a little too hard at my idiotic joke. I had a problem with being sarcastic at the most awkward times. Great, now she thinks I'm an idiot. Heck, what's one more?32

She gave me an awkward glance then mumbled something about getting another drink. I looked hopelessly at Franky and he just shrugged. Maybe I shouldn't have come after all.33

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Chapter Two:
http://storywrite.com/story/215390