A Neighbouring Romance

ch 16 - halloween

Enjoy, my loves <3

- M

"The angel and the devil? Please, Tyler we can do so much better."

"It's sexy, come on."

Tyler Benson, my boyfriend of almost two months, is sitting on his bed with the most revealing and – as my best friends would say, basic – Halloween costumes ever. He asked me to help him set up for the party and to veto my costume, or so I assume.

"Half the cheer team is going to be dressed like that." I complain. "Besides, what's wrong with my bear onesie?" I pout at him, adding on a comment about the comfort of it.

While ignoring my remarks, he starts scrolling on his phone. An image appears on screen and he turns it to me.

"This is the vision, Hope."

"Tyler I'm absolutely not dressing like that. She's got less material on her skin than I have in just my bra. I don't want everyone to stare at me."

"But I do." He whines, falling back. "I want everyone to see how hot my girlfriend is. Let me show you off, please."

His words, as inappropriate as they could be, are convincing. Besides, it's one night, and I don't think anyone will really notice me, not with so many people here. Before I can talk myself out of it, I snatch the white material from his hands and move towards my restroom.

"Really Hope? It's just me." Tyler drawls, but I waft the material in the air dismissively and go get changed.

Once the world's shortest dress is on my body, I stare at myself in the mirror, adjusting the makeshift halo over my hair. The long brown locks are curled, and they cascade down my front in an attempt to conceal the way in which my voluptuous chest appears.

When I step out, Tyler has changed too. I'd argue that he's more covered than I am, but my boyfriend is very much shirtless, with only red leather pants on. He's spraying what I recognize to be a colored hairspray all over the top of his head, tinting the edges a bright red. I can't help but check out his ridiculously attractive abs and toned arms. No wonder everyone swoons over the soccer captain.

"Fuck." He murmurs, catching me in the mirror. "What did I do to deserve you?"

"I don't know." I whisper back, my lips touching his in a kiss. My lipstick leaves a mark and I rub my thumb over his lower lip to remove it. The gesture is quick, but I know it turns him on with the way his eyes lock with mine, half open in a daze.

A knock on the door interrupts us but it's only Rafael asking Tyler if he can start letting people in. I move to the window and gasp at the crowd of people outside.

"I thought it didn't start til eight?"

"Some people are way too eager. Let's go and let them in!" He yells, and I follow him down the long staircase as people begin pouring in and the music begins blasting.

Everything is set up perfectly. I imagine Aaliyah helped Tyler with the math of figuring out how much he'd need, it's a shame she isn't here tonight. I spot Cami sauntering in with someone other than Alec Miller on her arm. I rush over and greet them both and ask her who the younger faced guy is with her.

"This is my cousin, Joseph." Her voice is sour and she pulls a face at me. "Alec bailed on me last minute, so I had to bring him along."

Joseph smiles at me with a toothy grin and I notice the way in which his eyes shine the same way that my friend's do. He mentions that he goes to another school in the area before Cami shoos him away to get drinks.