BAD OMENS ✬ luke hemmings

3.0 | halloween party

The high school Halloween parties. To get an invite a person needs to be known, well-liked, and have the right connections. They need to know how to talk to people, how to be social, and they need to look the part. Sounds stupid, but it's the truth.

Going to a 'real' high school party is a common goal for most teenagers stepping into the glamourized life they've seen all throughout the media. And some people are never considered. That's how the social hierarchies of 'high school' and 'parties' work.

There are a set of rules, especially when it comes to the annual Halloween parties. A bit outdated, but still the culture: no randoms or weirdos, no freshmen, no unapproved plus ones – and let's not forget, there's a list, and if your name is not on it, you're not allowed in.

Luke figured that Calum wouldn't stick with the, borderline elitist, set of rules that have existed since the dawn of time. However, looking back at the group chat and the list of people that were invited, it's clear that his 'assumption' is wrong.

However, Luke is going to be honest and agree with the fact that part of his grade that wasn't invited shouldn't be. Nothing against them, but it just feels as if they won't exactly... fit in, with this particular scene.

He had arrived early to help set up, to rip open those cases of beer and place the bottles on the makeshift bar – which is just a table – along with the plethora of red plastic cups and plastic shot glasses. Luke double checked the list, carried out the massive speaker, then got dressed into his matching costume with Calum.

Though, of course, Calum told him they needed to be sluttier and to ditch the shirts.

Now, Calum Hood is the party thrower, and he only has three rules. One, no one goes inside, or outside the placed boundaries. Two, no outside plus one's, they are strangers and he doesn't want a potential sketchy person at his house. Three, usually he's fine with this one, but for the Halloween party, no weed allowed on the premises.

With a group of drunk students, a few of them – who have never crossfaded before – won't care about the consequences of drinking then smoking, and will end up throwing up all over the place and blacking out.

He does not want that.

Sooner or later, guests started arriving at eight, getting past the bouncer Calum's parents hired for the event and diving into shots from syringes. The music became more tailored to the crowd, an attempt to keep a constant group on the dance floor.

Which brings us to the present. Two girls, Lyla and Lovisa, have syringes filled with strong liquor in hand, thumbs on the plunger as the drink sprays into Luke and Calum's mouths, while someone else films.

The party is in full swing.

Luke swallows down the flavored vodka, the burn running down his throat and warming his chest. Calum grabs him by his shoulders, shaking the blond in a fit of adrenaline, "We're getting fucked up tonight!" Calum cheers, "Let's take another shot."

"Get out the Jäeger," Luke says, reaching for two shot glasses as Calum redirects his hand from the tequila to the dark green bottle.

Calum pops open the lid, filling the small glasses to the brim. He holds up his shot, and so does Luke, they cheer at their last Halloween party and down the drink. The liquor tastes like cough medicine. Thick and strong with a tar taste. Nevertheless, when it kicks in within a couple of minutes, it'll be worth it.

"Ah! Matthew bro!" Luke yells, noticing one of his friends walk into the party dressed as a painter. The white overalls that have been sprayed and stained with paint for one night. "Where have you been?"