SCREAM - THE GHOST OF LONDON

CHAPTER FIVE

"So why did the cops pull you out?" Lana asked, sitting in front of the mirror as she slowly applied her lipstick. The room was filled with the soft glow of her vanity lights, casting a warm, ambient light around them.

Charlie glanced over at her and shrugged, trying to shake off the events of the day. Once he had returned to the classroom, everyone had been staring at him, whispering among themselves. He felt like a freak all over again. It was a painful reminder of Woodsboro, where he had faced the same scrutiny after Oliver and Julian had tried to kill him. The looks, the whispers, the isolation—it was all too familiar.

"They just wanted to ask me a few questions," Charlie said, taking a sip from the yellow can of alcohol he had grabbed from Lana's little fridge. The cold drink helped to steady his nerves a bit. "Nothing too personal, thank God."

Lana paused, turning to face him. "Must have been serious if they pulled you out of class," she said, her eyes filled with concern. Her thick brown hair framed her face, and her dress sparkled in the soft light, making her look like she belonged on a red carpet rather than in a dorm room.

"Nothing too serious," Charlie said again with a chuckle, trying to downplay the situation.

Charlie went back to picking a shirt, grateful that none of his friends knew about his past. The array of options in Lana's closet was almost overwhelming, but he appreciated the distraction. Lana nodded, sensing he didn't want to delve deeper.

"Do you reckon there will be any cute boys there tonight?" she asked with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

Charlie laughed, grateful for the change in topic. "Even if there are, I have a boyfriend!" he replied, grinning.

Lana giggled and turned back to the mirror, putting the finishing touches on her makeup. "Yeah, yeah, Mr. Committed. But seriously, you should try to have some fun tonight. We all need a break."

Charlie nodded, finally settling on a shirt. "You're right. It's been a crazy day. A little fun wouldn't hurt."

As they continued to get ready, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and the heavy cloud of the day's events slowly began to lift.

Charlie took off his shirt and pulled Lana's shirt over his torso. The bright pink and blue fabric was a bold choice, but he decided to embrace it. He tucked the shirt into his jeans and turned to face her, feeling a bit self-conscious. "What do you think?" he asked, hoping for some reassurance.

Lana glanced at him through the mirror, pausing as she applied her mascara. She nodded approvingly. "It's cute, kind of twinkish," she said with a playful smile.

"Twinkish?" Charlie repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep," she confirmed, turning fully to give him a once-over. "Twinkish."

Charlie sighed, shaking his head with a soft chuckle. "Jesus, Lana," he muttered, though he couldn't help but smile at her teasing.

Lana laughed, putting her mascara down and walking over to adjust the shirt slightly. "Hey, it suits you. You'll definitely stand out at the party."

Charlie looked at himself in the mirror, turning from side to side to get a better view. The shirt was bright and fun, a stark contrast to the mood of the day. "Yeah, maybe you're right," he admitted, feeling a bit more confident.

As the night settled over the campus, the energy shifted towards the Lambda Kappa Pi Kappa House, where the party was in full swing. The usually bustling pathways and courtyards were now quiet, with only a small handful of students out and about. Most of them were heading toward the party, their laughter and chatter drifting through the cool night air.