Young Writers Society

The Halloween costume party was approaching, and I could hardly contain my excitement. It had been a full two months with Ezekiel. We spent every available moment together, and despite his lack of enthusiasm, I felt giddy. Who would have thought a guy like him would go? But he apparently couldn’t resist my puppy-dog eyes as much as I couldn’t resist his dimple-clad mouth.

I was dead set on making us the best-dressed pair at the party, and he went along with it. We were going as animals—he was a cunning fox, and I, a graceful deer. On the night of the party, he came to my dorm. I carefully applied makeup to transform my face into a doe.

As I put antlers on my head, he leaned down, his face beside mine. “Goddamn. How can you look both sexy and adorable at the same time?”

“See, this won’t be so bad after all, right?”

“If I get to stare at you all night, nope.”

He headed to the bathroom to put on his costume, and when I saw him as a fox, I reacted with awe and attraction. He cleaned up nicely when he wanted to, and that dapper fox look suited him more than he realized.

As the deer, I was the true showstopper, with no trace of self-doubt. I had grown into myself, and it helped that Zeke couldn’t take his eyes off me.

As we entered the party, curiosity, judgment, and admiration followed the eyes peering at us. Our unconventional pairing wasn’t unnoticed. We attracted the fascination of some individuals who perceived a connection beyond any disparities, similar to a modern Romeo and Juliet.

Yet, not everyone in the well-heeled crowd shared that intrigue. A subtle undercurrent of judgment pulsated through the air, palpable in the sidelong glances and hushed whispers trailed in our wake. My affluent peers, cloaked in designer attire and entitlement, gasped at the sight of us together.

The intense scrutiny made me feel like a bug under a microscope. I was used to attention, but usually from admirers or people treating me like awe-struck fans over their favorite celebrity. This was different. I tried to center myself as I pulled Zeke through the fraternity house, looking for Nadine or Emily.

The scenery was a mesmerizing and eerie spectacle that blurred the lines between reality and fantasy. The dimly lit mansion exuded a haunting charm, casting long, shadowy darkness across the walls. Cobwebs hung on the corners like sinister lace, and flickering candlelight added to the foreboding. The air was thick with fog, and guests dressed in a bizarre array of costumes that seemed plucked from the darkest, corniest, or sluttiest recesses of their imaginations.

Twisted games lined the walls, their grotesque yet delectable food prizes daring those brave enough to try their hand at winning. A contortionist twisted and writhed in an unsettling display of flexibility while a masked DJ played pounding dubstep.

Gargoyles perched on the large central staircase, their stone eyes watching our every move, and hidden speakers emitted ghoulish sounds through the hallways. In this mad world, the strange and beautiful coexisted in an alluring blend. If only I had my sketchbook, I would have captured what I witnessed. It was a terrifying display of dark hues, silhouettes, and lurking figures.

As Zeke and I entered the kitchen, looking for a drink, a mermaid-clad girl’s snide laughter as she exchanged remarks with her witchy friend caught my attention. Their words hung in the air like a foul stench. “What is he doing here with her?” The question came out of her mouth with a sneer, making her condescension unmistakable.

A fierce desire to confront them as judgmental bitches tore through me. Who were they to judge my relationship?

“I know, right? He doesn’t belong here.” They cackled, clearly inebriated. Their words coursed through me like venom, from the bottoms of my feet to my fists, which had balled up in anger.

Zeke, sensing my rage, pulled me closer, his warm breath teasing my ear as he spoke in a hushed tone. “Fuck them. We’re together, and that’s all that matters.”

His attempts to calm me down didn’t work. I grabbed a red solo cup full of something and chugged it.

“Whoa, alchy! Don’t you think you should slow down?” Despite his attempts at playfulness, I could sense the underlying concern in his voice.

I didn’t answer, glaring at the girls. The mermaid snickered as our eyes met. She leaned into her friend, speaking louder so she knew I heard her. “Yeah, you know, rats love sewers and all!”

“What does that even mean?” I walked toward them, and Zeke grabbed my arm, pulling me back.

“Come on… they’re not worth it. Just petty snakes.”

“You would know a snake when you saw one, wouldn’t you, Zeke?” The mermaid snickered, and Zeke swallowed.

“Why does she keep talking like the crypt keeper?” I looked at him before refilling my cup with the closest bottle. Quickly, I had the cup in my hand, half down. The alcohol swam through my body, emboldening me. I snapped my head back at the scale-tailed girl with a florescent pink bra on. “You sure look like a snake. Now go on, slither away.” I shooed her with my hands. Disgust wiped her smile off her face.

A part of me recognized the girl underneath the neon blue wig. She wasn’t a member of the country club or any sorority, but I had seen her somewhere, yet no matter how hard I strained, I couldn’t pinpoint where. She sauntered by, her friend following, with a flirty smile at Zeke.

Despite the snide comments from frat boys, Zeke and I continued from the kitchen to the library.

It was less decorated, but the music didn’t pulsate as rapidly, and my pounding head appreciated the quiet.

We sat and watched a few couples dressed as the gang from Scooby Doo play pool. I pointed to a group playing beer pong. Zeke shook his head.

“What?” I pouted in disappointment, and his laughter echoed through the quieter room. “Fine! Sit back and watch while I kill this!”

His chuckle followed me as I made my way to the table. He was behind me, walking hesitantly. I noticed he didn’t drink, and I wondered why. He leaned against the wall as I attempted to throw a ball into a cup and missed miserably.

I laughed as I missed the cups across the table, slowly getting more drunk with each fail. The game finished, and my team lost.

“W-why won’t you play?” I hiccupped, giving him my best doe eyes.

“I’d rather watch your sexy ass do it.” He playfully flicked my nose, and a giggle escaped my lips.

A slow song started playing, and I grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the music. We swayed together, and the rest of the party disappeared, becoming engrossed by the sight of him—how he looked at me like I was the entire universe. I noticed a twisted expression now and then, like he was battling something. I knew he had a rough life and wasn’t from Elysian Shores. There were rumors on campus that he lived in Desoloria and I understood the challenges faced by its residents, but he seldom opened up about his background.

Despite knowing little about him, I was free to be myself and felt safe in his presence. He expected nothing from me and didn’t want me to be anyone other than me. Although he called me a princess, he never treated me like one. He wasn’t afraid to ruffle me up. He didn’t become what he thought I wanted him to be, seem to have hidden motives, or try to impress me.

Our bodies moved in sync until he stepped on my foot.

“Oops, shit…I shouldn’t be on the dance floor.” He spoke in a low and indistinct manner, barely audible. Was he nervous?

I ignored the crowd staring. Not reacting was hard, but I did my best. These people were not my friends. If they were, they would be happy for me. What happened to not judging a book by its cover? They had inheritances and luxury but didn’t have the true class to treat people decently.

Zeke pulled me closer as the song ended, his lips hovering inches from mine. Our lips met, and the crowd faded away.