Beneath the Dark

Chapter ten: This is Halloween!

   “Hey Cecily, wait up!”  I stopped and waited for Jasmine and Tawny to catch up.

“Where’s Kelly?” I asked but they both shook their heads. 

“We have no idea she told us she had things to take care of, anyway we need to ask you something!”  Tawny said edging Jasmine closer to me,

“I’m throwing this Halloween party with Kelly and stuff and we wanted to know if you would come?  Its dress up and everything, I swear it will be fun!”

“Of course I will, why were you so afraid to ask?” I laughed.  They both stood silent for a moment exchanging glances with each other.

“See we were wondering if you could bring some people.”  I crossed my arms over my chest waiting for them to ask.

“Well could you bring Eirie, Jesse, Jason and Jordan?  If they come the party is sure to be a hit!”  I shook my head in total disbelief.

“Are you kidding me, is that the only reason you’re inviting me?!  I mean I haven’t even spoken to Jesse in two weeks, he won’t answer my calls,” I felt my heart stumble and my words slurred at the end from frustration.

“No of course not!  We just want the party to do well, is that so wrong?”  I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, thinking how that was Jess’s favorite jester I stopped abruptly and flipped my hair out of my face.

“Fine, I’ll talk to them tonight but I’m definitely not calling Jesse, good luck with that,” I turned away with hot tears stinging my eyes.  Going to my locker I sat there a moment and shook at the thought of losing Jesse as a friend.  Ever since that night he won’t answer or return any of my phone calls.  How am I supposed to tell him my decision if he won’t even talk to me?  I punched the locker as hard as I could, sending a terrible feeling through my knuckles.

“Now what did that locker do to you?” Eirie said appearing beside me.

“Look I’m not in the mood for your stupid jokes today, just know you got invited to Jasmine and Kelly’s Halloween party.  Show up do whatever the hell you want, I don’t care I’m out of here.”  I slammed the door to my locker and marched away not even looking back or waiting to hear his answer.

   I went to practice but couldn’t accomplish anything, my form and stature was all wrong and all sensei did was scream at me.  When I had finally had enough I bowed respectfully and left early.  I hated feeling like this, why did it even bother me?  I hate knowing someone has this much power over my emotions.   I opened the door to my house throwing my keys and bag down. I walked into the living room to find Penelope and Michel playing chest.

“Hey Cec, what’s up?”  Penelope said looking up momentarily from their game.

“Nothing I’m going to bed,” I said stripping my shirt off as I walked to the stairs.

“Ah, I’m blind, seriously, you know I’m a dude right?”  Michel screamed.

“Yeah, so? It’s not like I took off my bra don’t be so dramatic.” Penelope turned and took a good look at me.

“Hey what’s going on?”  She said rising from her seat and walking over to me.

“Nothing I’m perfectly fine,” I lied.

“Bull shit you aren’t.” I turned and looked back at Jason standing in the hallway.

“First of all, you never change in front of people, secondly always say nothing I’m fine when something’s wrong, so what is it?”  His arms were crossed over his chest like he had the upper hand.  I sighed and walked up the stairs.

“I’ll be up in five, so put some clothes on,” he called after me but I ignored him.  In my bedroom I stripped down to my bra and underwear and got under the blanket on my bed.  I had just begun to nod off when Jason and Penelope came in.  They sat at the ends of my bed and stared at me, pulling the cover up tighter I looked at both of them.

“What do you want?  I’m trying to sleep here.” I spoke harshly.

“I told you I would be up to talk, so what’s the matter?”  I didn’t speak for a while just looked back and forth between them.

“We’re just worried about you, as soon as you tell us we’ll leave you alone I promise.” I sighed and sat up a little more.

“It’s just Jesse is getting so jealous of Eirie and we’re not even dating.  He told me to choose one of them, but they’re both my friends.  How am I supposed to do that?”

“I was afraid of this,” Jason spoke I looked at him questionably.

“He’s liked you since you and Luke were together it was only a matter of time before this happened,” he said shaking his head.

“What? Really?”

  “We’ll everyone knew... I mean even Mitch,” Penelope threw in.  I massaged my temples trying to drive away the headache that was coming.

“I’m still sorry, it must be a really bad situation,” Penelope got up and came to my side.  Laying down next to me she hugged me around my stomach and nestled her head in the back of my neck.  I smiled; at least my family was here for me.  Jason got up and made his way to the TV, choosing a random comedy from my DVD collection he came back over and placed my head in his lap.  I hadn’t realized but tears had slipped out of my eyes and he whipped them away.

“You’re big brothers here,” he whispered just like he would when we were kids.  As the movie progressed my emotions became lighter.  I got up and leaned on Penelope and Jason laid on me.  The fact was no matter how many people screw me over my family always has my back.  At the end of the movie I had started to drift off to sleep I felt their bodies move from my side. 

“Thanks for making me feel better guys,” I called after them.  They stopped in the doorway and smiled before Penelope left.

“Oh and Jason Jasmine invited you to her Halloween party, it would mean a lot to her if you showed up.” 

“Well I’ll think about,” he said smiling over his shoulder.

“Well just remember if you don’t go I will be left all alone,” he shook his head and walked out the door.  I could have sworn I heard him mumble “always has to make me feel guilty…”  but I couldn’t deny that my family no matter how stupid and awkward they were, were there for me always.