Page 1 of All Hallows Mate
Chapter One
I run my handsdown my dress, smoothing out the wrinkles. I am dressed as a nurse, only the kind that would get her license taken away for fucking the patients. My jet black hair is loosely pulled back, but it’s all falling in curls down my back. It hangs most of the way to my waist.
I’m a slutty nurse for Halloween. Well, All Hallows Eve. Why? Because that’s what is expected of me, right? I am the campus whore, so I have to play the part. I’d rather go as something practical, like a zombie or a monster of some sort. Hell, I could do something realistically scary, like the demons in skin suits pretending to be people who care. A lonely professor who wants to get his rocks off, so he corners students who no one will believe if they cry rape? Terrifying.
Okay, so maybe I’m projecting a bit, but you have to admit, reality is scarier than any fictional monster. Also, why is Halloween used as a time for females to dress like hookers? Imean, more power to you, babe, but it’s October. You havegotto be freezing your titties off in that outfit. I know I’m about to.
I am in my fourth year of college, and this is my last Halloween as a student. I’m so ready to be done, but I’m also afraid of the unknown. Will I find a job? Will that job have benefits? Will my reputation here follow me into the job force? I keep to myself unless someone forces me out of my bubble or invades my space. I have friends, but they’re the kind that will disappear after graduation. They only come to me when I can do something for them. I have no one to confide in. I have no one I can trust with the darkest parts of my soul.
I don’t know why I’m going to this stupid party. I know how it’s going to go, but I’m a masochist, apparently. I am making myself a promise, though. No alcohol. Every time I drink, pictures of me end up being passed around. I end up spending the next few weeks being bullied or stalked by creeps. No one can send around pictures of me naked and unconscious if I just don’t drink. I tried that over the summer but took a drink from someone, so I ended up losing twelve hours of my life and my clothing. Do you know how embarrassing it is to wake up alone and naked with no memories? It’s awful. I still don’t know how I got those bruises. Somehow, I always make it back.
I step out of my dorm room, and my heels click against the tile floor as I make my way to the stairwell. “Lookin’ good, Tori!” a guy says as I pass him. I give him a half-forced smile as I hurry past him.
I have my phone—which also holds my ID and credit card—tucked into my bra. I can open my dorm through the app on myphone, so I don’t need anything else. I should probably bring a jacket, but I don’t plan on being outthatlate.
By the time I get down to the sidewalk, my ride is here. I both love and hate rideshare. It helps prevent drunk driving, but it’s annoying that I have to wait to get picked up. Sometimes I end up just walking back when I am functioning well enough.
I sit in silence and stare out of the window. The man driving glances back occasionally, but not so much that it makes me nervous. When we stop, I jump out and shut the door before he can say anything to me. I probably should have thanked him, but oh well.
The party tonight is at Makayla’s off-campus house. Her dad owns the house and pays to have it cleaned up when college kids wreck it. She is one of the few friends who doesn’t talk shit about me behind my back, or at least I don’t think she does. I can’t ever tell because I can’t really trust most people.
I walk into the large house, and the party is in full swing. The music is loud, and the air is full of the scent of beer, sweat, and a hint of weed. There is more uncovered skin than covered, and I think the couple by the stairs might actually be fucking.
“Tori!” Makayla shouts as she nearly tackles me with a hug.
“Hey!” I say with as much enthusiasm as I can. No one likes a party pooper, so I just smile.
“Girl, you look hot as fuck,” she says. “Let’s get you a drink.”
“Oh no,” I laugh. “I’m going to pass on the booze.”
“Noooo. Come on!” she says with a whiny voice. “One drink!”
“Girl, I have twelve hours of my life missing, and my favorite dress. Hell no,” I laugh, trying to brush off her pushiness.
“What can I do to convince you?” she asks with a dramatic pout. “You can’t let me drink alone!”
“Jesus. Fine,” I say. “One beer.”
“Yay!” she squeals and bounces over to the keg. I watch her talk to a few people before coming back over and shoving a drink into my hand. I didn’t see her pour this, so I know better now than to drink it. For all I know, someone is trying to drug her, and I will end up with the cup.
“I’m going to go mingle. Come find me after a while,” I say before walking away.
“Hey, Tori. Drinking already?” Tyler asks. Tyler is one of my many bullies who just won’t leave me alone. I roll my eyes and set my drink on the first surface I come to. When I try to step past him, he loops his arm around my waist and pulls me in front of him.
“Fuck off,” I deadpan.
“Oh, now don’t be like that,” Tyler laughs. Before he can get too focused on torturing me, I duck under his arm and make myescape. I get to the backyard before seeing anyone else I don’t loathe.
“Tori!” Kaitlyn slurs loudly. She is sitting in the hot tub with four other guys who lookwaymore sober than she is.
“Hey. Come to the bathroom with me, girl,” I say as I grab her hand and pull her up.
“You don’t need help pissing,” one of the guys argues with a laugh.
“Don’t you know?” I ask seriously. “Girls travel in packs so we can change each other’s tampons.”
Kaitlyn giggles, and I hook my arm with hers before pulling her away. “Thank you,” she says with a sigh.
