Heartlines

1: Born

Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love dressing up and celebrating it year after year. This year, I'm dressing as Catwoman, and I never half-ass my costumes. I stand in front of my full-length mirror. I'm tall and too thin, it's not because I don't eat. I have a very fast metabolism that will catch up to me one day. The tight latex bodysuit hugs me in all the right places. 

I grab the hood of my costume and tuck my long blonde hair into it. I play with the pointy cat ears with a grin. My eye makeup is black with fake, long lashes. I have a bright red lipstick covering my full lips. I place the half mask on my face and giggle. 

I'm going through all this trouble for a boy. 

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I put my knee-high boots with the high stiletto heel on. I'm oozing sexy kitten. In the utility belt of the costume, I clip on my wallet and secure my sexy whip. 

Bartender Ben is going to die when he sees me. 

My phone buzzes to let me know the cab has arrived and waiting at the curb for me. Opening my bedroom door, I tiptoe towards the front door. My roommates can be heard arguing about their costumes, and who looks the best in their trio.

I roll my eyes with each step. 

Quietly, I open the front door and pull it closed just as quiet. I need a mini break from my roommates and this house. Hence the reason I'm sneaking out of the house. 

Two years earlier, I moved into the house after seeing an ad looking for a roommate. My roommates saw things different than me. They were at Harvard to find a husband. I was at Harvard for my pre-law degree before moving to Columbia Law School. We were graduating this spring, they would move with their boyfriends, and I would move to New York, alone.

I was counting down the days.

Tonight, my favorite club in Boston is hosting a giant costume party, and I was looking to impress my favorite bartender. I should be thanking my roommates for our meeting because it happened when they left me with a huge bar tab three weeks ago. 

Since that night, Ben was always in my thoughts. 

"How long have you been in Boston?" My cab driver asks. 

I look forward and smile at him. "Four years. Have you lived here your whole life?"

"Yep. Born here and will die here." He nods. 

Kevin, my driver, shares about his family and how he has a bunch of grandkids coming to his house in a couple days when it's actually Halloween. I smile while he shares his story and wonder what that kind of life would be like. 

"What about you?" He asks. 

I'm embarrassed because I zoned out while he was talking about his family. "I'm sorry?" I ask him. 

"With the holidays coming up, will you go home to see your family for Thanksgiving or Christmas?"

I frown at him and shake my head. "I don't have a family to go home to."

Kevin tries his hardest to change the subject to something more upbeat, but he stumbles over his thoughts. This is what usually happened when people find out that I don't have family. 

The cab stops in front of the club, I start digging out my credit card. I tell him to run it through triple the charge for his tip. When the transaction is complete, he hands me back the card and wishes me a safe night. 

My heart sinks when I see the long line at the door. I'm ready to start walking to the back when I hear my name. I look at the door and see Bobby smiling at me. The man was huge - over six feet tall and as wide as the door. He could be very intimidating for those that didn't know him, but I knew that he was a giant teddy bear.