Marked by Obsession

4.

31st of October

I was supposed to stay at Campus tonight. Get some good sleep before tomorrow's lectures.
But Bogdan kept pestering me about going out because it's Halloween and 'we're gonna have fun'.

The town centre was buzzing with life.
Halloween decorations covered every corner— orange and purple lights strung along buildings, jack-o'-lanterns glowing with eerie faces, and costumed revellers flooding the streets. I stood on the edge of it all, hands stuffed in my jacket pockets, staring at the passing crowd with mild disdain.
Beside me, was Bogdan adjusting his vampire cape, clearly thrilled to be in the middle of the chaos. Almost amusing, his costume choice.
A Romanian vampire, how creative. 
Erika, dressed as a gothic fairy, looped her arm through his and smiled up at him as we waited for the rest of the group to show up.

Chester was late, it was his free day from work. Actually, he called in sick just to join us.
"Come on, man. You can't just stand there looking like the grim reaper of fun. It's Halloween! At least pretend you're into it." Said Bogdan at some point, very obviously judging my lack of customisation.
I shrugged.
"I'm here, aren't I? That's enough."
Erika started laughing and nudged me playfully.
"You know what he means, Kethan. Lighten up! There's plenty of distractions here, and maybe even some girl who could take your mind off... you know, certain people."

I could feel myself getting irritated, but I kept quiet. I knew they were talking about Marcy, though none's dared to say her name yet.
"I'm fine, I don't need distractions." I muttered.
"Bro, it's been, what, a month? You've gotta move on from this Marcy thing. There are so many girls here. Just pick one, and forget about her for a while. Live a little."
Bogdan was seriously trying to get me to think of someone else. It didn't work. It will never work.
I glanced at the road, my jaw tightening.
I caught sight of Andrew approaching, weaving through the crowd towards us, holding a cup of something green and neon.
"Ya'll, sorry I'm late. I got distracted by the zombie flash mob over there." The ginger head dabbed Bogdan, nodded at Erika, and then turned to me.
"What's up, dude? Haven't seen you in a while."

In fact, I haven't seen him in a while.
Only met him a few times here and there, just cause he's friends with the ones I'm hanging out with.
I forced a smile, there was an uneasy feeling in my gut. I've never been sure about Andrew.
He's a little too smooth, too confident. And tonight, he had that relaxed, carefree attitude that I kind of wish I could pull off.
But then he said something that completely changed my mood.
"By the way, I did what you told me." He said that to Erika, and she glanced at me. I found it suspicious.

"Why don't you mention your little friendship to Kethan, here?" she asked him, smoothening her straight, chocolate brown hair.
"What friendship?" I asked right away.
"Oh, uh..." Andrew looked slightly caught off guard.
"I asked him to talk to Marcy, see if he could get her to hang out with us tonight." She then explained, and I could feel the wheels in my brain working.
Why would she ask Andrew to do that? Was he somehow close to Marcy, and I didn't know?
"We've been talking for a while now, I tried to convince her but she refused." Andrew gave signs of being embarrassed.
Why was he embarrassed?

My heart stopped for a second. My face went cold as I looked at him, trying to process the information.
Andrew, friends with Marcy? Why hasn't anyone told me?
"You and Marcy are friends?"
My hands balled into fists inside my pockets. Teeth clenched, I was glaring at the ginger head without even realising the clear reaction I was having.
He grew a bit defensive.
"We're not that close. We just hang out occasionally, had a few chats, you know how it is."
No, I didn't know how it was.
I've been watching her every damned day, besides the weekends and those two days she's not in university.
I was fuming, angry to the point I imagined myself snapping his head off.

The idea of Andrew casually chatting with Marcy, getting to know her in ways I never could, filled me with jealousy. I felt like the ground was slipping from under me, but I forced myself to act unaffected.
"Right. Of course." I said dryly, unable to answer in any other way if not retaining myself from committing murder.
"She's cool, pretty smart too." The bastard didn't get the hint, and was adding fuel to the fire.

I noticed Bogdan and his girlfriend exchange a glance, sensing the tension rising. Then, my friend shoved me, he laughed nervously.
"Well, there you go! Maybe Andrew can introduce you. A fresh start, huh?"
"Exactly, think about it. I thought it would help if Marcy was here. You would have talked to her but as Andrew said, she refused. You still have a chance if you let him help you." Erika wanted to help.

So did Bogdan, but Andrew... it didn't sit right with me.
I forced out a dry laugh, laced with bitterness.
"I'm sure she's dying for an introduction. And thanks, but I don't need anyone's help." Especially not his.
"Or, you know, there are a lot of girls around here that aren't Marcy. You could talk to one of them. Just enjoy yourself for once!" The slim brunette added, and I sighed loudly.

Looking down at the street, the noise around me felt distant.
I knew my friends were trying to help, but it felt like the walls were closing in.
Andrew's friendship with the girl I like had thrown me off completely, and the jealousy gnawed at me.
"I'll think about it. Let's just get a drink."

Chester was not there yet, and we walked to one of the many makeshift bars set up around the square. I stayed a little behind, trying to ignore the knot twisting in my stomach.