Page 16 of Caution Tape

The front door opens and Jerald wanders in, not in costume, just an overly large hoodie and his usual beanie. I take notice of him and turn back to the game; if I need to, I can always send a message from “Jessi” that’ll keep him here for as long as I need.

An hour slips by, Natalie has two more drinks. The Jokers leave, new people arrive at the party. Natalie and I wander into the kitchen, talking about horror movies.

Jerald is there. He’s talking to a girl in a black dress that clings to her very well, accented with black boots that stop just below her knee. She’s covered in fake blood.

“I’m supposed to meet Jessi here,” he’s saying to her, “but I feel like I’m going to get stood up.” I open the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water, and hand it to Natalie, who is twirling in a slow circle and talking about Scream 4.

The girl turns slightly, and I feel a twinge of shock; it’s the girl from Target. The cute one with murder in her eyes.

Cora leans against the kitchen island and shrugs. “She’ll be here. You’re a good guy. I’m sure she’s excited to meet you.”

I’m nodding and murmuring back at Natalie while I eavesdrop. I can’t place the reasoning, but I find that it kind of annoys me that Cora is friends with Jerald.

“Right, right,” Jerald says, waving the cup that’s in his hand, “but who wants to meet at a Halloween party for the first time? In costume? What?”

I can hear a hint of malice and boredom in the undertones of Cora’s voice when she replies.

“Some people like to do exciting stuff. Life is so fucking boring. Wait, where is your costume?”

Jerald grins and pulls out a cheap, flimsy Zorro mask, and slides it over his head.

“What do you think?”

“Oh, that’srealsexy, Jerri.”

Jerri? Why doesthatannoy me?

Natalie is suddenly on me, wrapping her arms around my waist, pressing her hips against mine. Her mouth trails up my neck and she begins kissing me.

“Gomez, take me home,” she mumbles.

I steal a quick glance at Cora and Jerri as we leave the kitchen. Cora looks at me and I see a flicker of recognition, but Jerald is saying something else, and she turns back to him.

Chapter Eight

Cora

The guy I saw the other night in Target is here.Whydo I remember him? What makes him so memorable?

Maybe it’s the way he seems to carry himself. It triggers something inside me. He’s much too confident and good looking, and he knows it. He is just another conceited man who believes his shit doesn’t stink. But in reality… hereeks.

Although, he doesn’t reek of normalcy like most people. When I look at him, it’s like catching a glimpse of myself in a mirror. He reeks of deceit.

Target Guy exits the kitchen with a girl who clings obsessively at his side. She sparks a feeling of distaste in me. I could never understand girls like her.

Truthfully, I will never understand people in general. I try to.

Sometimes.

I’m never able to find anything in common with anyone. It feels as if nobody shares the same feelings about the way I happen to view the world around me.

“You good?” Jerri asks me.

I meet his gaze and shrug. “I’m fine,” I reply.

“Do you know him?” he questions, arching an eyebrow, eyes filled with suspicion.

“Who?” I ask, tossing back a shot of vodka.

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