Page 32 of Wicked Lies Grow Wildflowers
Speaking of right now, when I look up, I see the same Jack-O-Lantern guy from earlier. Or I assume they are a guy with their tall and broad build, just a little smaller than Xander. He’s seated on the picnic table near mine, all by himself, not eating, not on his phone, just looking over at me. There’s about twenty feet between us and yet it feels like he’s right on top of me.
My heart rate kicks up and I start to panic. I know I’m not alone out here, there are plenty of people stationed all around, but I still feel utterly isolated and trapped. I turn my attention back to my food, still keeping tabs on the weirdo. Okay, if I just walk back inside everything will be fine, nothing will happen. I’m not alone. I’m okay.
I slowly stand, clutching my phone and grabbing my half eaten plate. I don’t look back at the guy, throwing my food into the nearest trashcan and beelining it for the door.
I chance a glance back and see him standing a few feet away, still staring. Doing my best not to draw attention to myself I start to jog, ripping open the door and shoving my way through all the costumes, trying not to get disoriented in the chaos. People are yelling at me to be careful and watch out, but it’s all white noise as I try to find Sage and keep myself from going into a full blown panic. I spin in a circle, seeing the flash of an orange mask, and keep weaving through the dance floor as best I can, trying to get away. When I finally spot Sage I practically jump into herarms, the guy she was dancing with stepping back and looking confused.
“Sage! Oh my God, Sage!” I shake with relief and let a few tears fall, the adrenaline rush hitting me full force.
“Oh my God, Maeren, what happened?! Are you okay?!” She grabs my face, her eyes wild as she assesses me for harm.
“Yeah, I just… I–I saw someone. Someone was following me. They were near us earlier while we were in line for the bar, and then when I was eating they were sitting near me just staring at me, and–and then when I realized I was being watched, I got up to run inside and find you but they were still following me. And even in the crowd I thought I saw their mask, and I’m just really fucking freaked out right now and kind of losing my shit,” I rush out all at once, gasping for breath when I’m done.
“Christ. Okay, Okay, understandable with current events. It’s good you’re staying vigilant. What were they wearing?” she questions.
“A creepy ass Jack-O-Lantern mask and all black clothing,” I shudder.
“Okay, got it.” She cranes her neck to look around the crowd, trying to see if she can find them, I’m sure. Even in her heeled boots she still can’t see any farther than I can. With all the hats and moving dance lights, it’s impossible to make much detail out of the crowd in here.
“You’re not gonna find them,” I say, trying not to sound defeated, and trying to keep from crying some more. Becausefuck,what if it wasn’t just some stupid party goer trying to pull a bad prank? That’s absurd though, there are tons of people here and I’m perfectly safe.
“Ya know what? I was getting tired and ready to go anyways,” she tells me.
“Really? You sure? I know Halloween Bash is your favorite. I don’t want you to cut the night short for me.” I feel guilty now, not wanting to ruin her favorite night of the year.
“Yes, let’s go, babe. Your comfort is far more important to me.”
The same guy she was dancing with tries to pull her back to him with lust filled eyes. “Hey! Where do you think you’re going?”
“Away from you. Now get your fucking hands off me, or I’ll show you that I really can bite,” she seethes, flashing her fake fangs.
He lets her go, holding his hands up as he mumbles, “Woah okay. Christ, you crazy bitch.”
We ignore his insolence, and I plaster myself to Sage’s side as she leads us out to my car. Once seated inside, I immediately lock the doors before starting it. We huff breath into our hands to warm them up as the heat kicks on and I let out a large exhale.
“I’m really sorry about tonight.” I look over at Sage to apologize again.
“No, don’t be. It’s seriously okay and that loser I was dancing with wasn’t worth any more of my time. Clark Kent, my ass, more like Bizzaro.” We both chuckle at that. “But are you, like, okay to drive? Cause I’m not, but we can totally get an Uber.”
“I’m good, I promise. But would you wanna stay at my place tonight? We can make those little Halloween cookies we both love and watch Hocus Pocus.”
Sage hums with excitement and flashes me a bright smile. “That sounds absolutely perfect, my vampire princess.” And at that I’m pulling out of the crowded parking lot and heading back to my house.
We’re both cackling up the steps to the front of my apartment as Sage absolutely obliterates the douchebag she spent far too much time with tonight. My heart and head feel a lot lighter now.Soon, we’ve got a bottle of wine split between us and are both inhaling a plate of warm cookies, cozy on the couch in pajamas as Hocus Pocus plays on the TV.
“Ya know, maybe this should become part of our annual Halloween tradition. I like it,” Sage tells me as she eats a cookie whole.
“I won’t complain about that,” I admit. “Oh! I almost forgot! I sent Xander one of the sexy pics you took of me today.”
“Yes! Yes yes yes! Let me see which one! What did he say!?”
I grab my phone and open our messages, seeing he had sent me a reply on the drive back.
Xander: I’ll hold you to that, Wildflower. You look great, wish I was there for you to bite, though.
Sage rips the phone from my hand. “Oh my God!! You saidwhatearlier?! Maeren you little minx! Who are you?!” Her eyes are huge and pleased as she looks at me.
“It was the alcohol, okay?! And I thought,What would Sage do?and then this was the result.”
