Cherry Syrup

Chapter Three- The Party

Her car was clean, it smelled like her perfume, a charm shaped like a cherry hung from her mirror, she admired herself for a second before starting up the car. The music blared as the two sped off. Meanwhile a knock at door jolted Alex awake. Still half asleep he slowly approached the door, he rubbed his eyes and looked through the peephole to see James waiting for him at his doorstep. He was dressed as a prison inmate with an orange jumpsuit, his costume was also covered in blood and handcuffs hung from a loop on his pants. Alex opened the door and laughed.

"Yo you actually take this Halloween crap seriously??" Alex scoffed, he motioned for James to come inside.

"Alex I have a question for you." James said as he looked at himself In the mirror.

"What is it bro?" Alex spoke, he watched James lick the red liquid off his finger tips. Alex's face contorted as he licked up the last bit of it. "Yo I don't think you're supposed to eat that...isn't it like makeup?"

James turned around quickly, the blood dripping from his mouth. "OH- it's not make up...it's uh...cherry syrup! And back to the question...do you wanna get some action tonight? I saw the way you looked at Claire, I mean Nessa and I could hook you two up if you know what I'm sayin." James said, a smile grew upon his red lips, "bloody" teeth peeked through his grin. "Ugh I almost forgot your costume!" James said eagerly passing Alex a bag. Alex peered inside.

"What is it?" Alex said confused he pulled out a robe and some shorts.

"You're a boxer." James said laughing.

"No way am I going to that party shirtless." Alex yelled.

"Just think about how Claire will stare at you all night. Her hands on your abs...maybe you'll even-" James exclaimed.

"STOP I GET IT...fine I'll wear it." Alex hesitantly said as he took the clothing and went into the bathroom. Moments passed and he came out, his blue shorts matched the red robe very well. James looked him up and down, his body was quite impressive.

"Well don't you look tasty." James joked.

"Yo don't be weird. I'm doing this for Claire not for you, pervert." Alex clapped back at his remark. The two walked out of the house and hopped in the car, the two raced off to the party. "So...you and Nessa?" Alex questioned.

"Ah dude I don't know, I feel like she's all bark and no bite. I mean she flirts with me...I think...but I don't know if it would ever go anywhere." James sighed, he slowed the car down as they pulled up to the place. The music boomed from within the house and as they got out of the car they were able to hear all the noise loud and clear. Someone trailed their fingers across James's shoulders, he shivered and turned around. It was Nessa, she laughed at him.

"Did I scare you?" She giggled, she looked down at James's belt. "What are you gonna use those for? Hmm?" She said eyeing the cuffs linked to his pants. James let out a nervous laugh.

"Ah stop playin." James said as his face flushed red. Alex turned to Claire, she stared at his costume for a moment before smiling at him.

"I like the costume Rocky! Maybe you could teach me a few moves sometime." Claire joked as she mimicked some air punches. Alex tried to suppress his smile but couldn't help it.

"You look...well you look great Claire." Alex spoke, his voice was softer than normal, he sounded genuine. He gave her one more glance before taking her hand. "Let's go get wasted!" He said, Claire's eyes widened at him holding her hand as he dragged her into the party. She turned to look at Nessa and smiled and mouthed "thank you" to her. Nessa winked and looked over at James who was eyeing her.

"Don't even think of holding my hand." She scoffed, she blew him a kiss and laughed. She walked ahead of him and through the door, she was greeted by Oliver Harvey, the schools star quarterback.

"Vanessa Beckett...you look gorgeous! I hid a stash of alc in my room if you wanna head up there, I don't see a drink in your hand yet." Oliver said with a smirk. She raised an eyebrow and suddenly Oliver felt a tight grip around his wrist. Before he could utter another pick up line she was already dragging him up the stairway. James walked in and watched as Nessa and Oliver walked up the stairs, he sighed and made his way through the crowd. Meanwhile Claire and Alex were taking shots together.

"THIS TASTES LIKE ASS!!!" Claire yelled.

"LIKE GRASS???" Alex replied, he couldn't hear anything over the music.

"NOOO LIKE ASS!" Claire laughed.

"LIKE WHAT???" Alex yelled back.

"FUCK IT! JUST COME WITH ME!" Claire took his arm and dragged him to the guest room. The two stood in silence for a moment. "I was saying that the vodka tastes like ass" she joked, she looked up at him, he had a softer look to his eyes. "Alex, do you think Nessa is a good person...because tonight she was so sweet I mean she was just-" Claire spoke, Alex put a hand on her shoulder.

"Stop talking about her, all I want to think about is you right now." Alex said, Claire's face flushed red and she grasped to find words to respond but was cut short when Alex grabbed her hips and pulled her in. He leaned in and the two shared a kiss before Claire pulled back.

"I- um...do that again." She said softly and she pulled him in for another kiss, the two began to make out and Alex pinned her to the wall. A strange noise stopped the two, on the other side of the wall in the room next door they heard a scream. Alex rolled his eyes.

"It's a Halloween party probably some goths gettin it on while watching a horror movie." He joked, the two laughed before they started kissing again. In the room next door however, Alex couldn't be more wrong.

Oliver hit the wall, Nessa approached him and pinned him to it. "Awe, are you scared? That frightened look in your face is so hot." She said, trailing her fingers down his throat. She put her body against his, she felt the wall shake every so often. "The two lucky ones on the other side of this wall must be having a good time...lucky for us...we're gonna have a better time." She whispered into his ear, suddenly the door slammed open. She whipped her neck around to see James in the door way.

"Am I late for dinner?" James laughed.

"Uh- I- um...hah I already ate so maybe I'm just gonna leave-" Oliver said, Nessa turned her head to his.

"Shut your pathetic mouth." She said as she pushed his head into the wall. He knocked out and slid down onto the floor. James walked over to Nessa.

"Hmm didn't take long to lure one in, you're good at this." James said, he bit his lip. Nessa grabbed his collar and pulled him in.

"Would you share him with me? Call it...a dinner date." Nessa giggled as fangs poked through her grin.

"A date? Like a real date???" James said as his face turned into a tomato.

"The way you get all nervous is really cute. Anyways back to the quarterback." She said as she lifted him up, he began opening his eyes and becoming conscious. "Shhh just close your eyes baby." She whispered as she bit into his neck, his eyes widened and his scream was stifled by a hand to his mouth. James bit into the other side of his neck, the crimson liquid dripping from their mouths as they drained it from Oliver. His skin became pale and cold as his body fell to the floor. He looked more like a Halloween decoration than human, his frail body completely empty of blood. Nessa licked her lips as it dripped from her. She pulled James in and they shared a bloody kiss. The blood on their clothing and faces looked like it was part of the costume and the two walked out of the room. As they exited the rooms doorway, Claire and Alex also walked into the hallway, Claire's hair was messy and lipstick trailed down Alex's torso.

"Oh my god...did you two?" Nessa giggled, she winked at Claire. Claire just smiled grabbed Nessa's hand and pulled her to the dance floor. The four danced the rest of the night away, the party went on till the early hours of the morning, the horrific truth was that a dead body sprawled out in a room upstairs while everyone carried on drinking and dancing....