The Odds in Our Favor (WLW)

TWENTY-TWO

★Kiara★

Lucille is helping me with my makeup. It's nothing crazy, just some lipstick, eyeliner, eye-shadow, and mascara. We're getting ready for that absolutely lovely Halloween party. Woohoo.

We decided to not only be unoriginal as hell (pun intended), but also cheap. I'm dressing as a demon (hence the shitty pun) and she's going as an angel.

We ordered a set with an angel halo and devil horns on headbands for 8 bucks, and that's all we actually spent money on. I'm wearing baggy black jeans with rips and a red crop top, as well as a black zip-up because it's cold out tonight. While I'm sure it'll be very hot inside, I intend on spending more time outside.

Lucille is wearing the halo with a gorgeous white dress. She always looks so much nicer than me. Not like I had anything fancy to wear. I don't have a single dress here, maybe one in my old room. I bet my mother has thrown all my old things away by now though.

"You look really good." Lucille says, taking a step back.

"Thanks. You look amazing too..." I'm tempted to go and ruffle her hair, but I refrain, remembering how she spent the last hour styling it.

"Are the others there yet? Do you know?" She asks, looking in the mirror again, making sure her makeup and all that looks good. It looks perfect to me.

"Deven and Lucas just left," I'm interrupted by a yawn. Why did Halloween have to be on a Friday? Why did the party have to be on a Friday? Why did I go to my classes today? I'm exhausted.

"Alright." She snorts, noticing my yawn. "We should probably head out now as well. They're much closer than us."

The party is at a sorority from Deven's college in Boston. It's interesting. You hear about "frat parties" but rarely sorority parties. I guess it doesn't roll off the tongue as easy. I'm just hoping it'll be better than that last party. At least in some ways.

★★★

When we get there, the first thing I notice is how the music isn't nearly as deafening. The pop songs are just as irritating as always, but it isn't awful.

Colored lighting still paints the inside of the house, but, again, it's not as bad as the last one.

That, however, does not mean that I'm not dissociating. Because I am.

Lucille's hand is laced in mine as we look around the house, trying to spot Deven and Lucas. Dakota and Brie—who were also invited—are already here somewhere as well.

Eventually, I pull out my phone to text Deven about where they're all at. They respond in a few seconds saying they're all in the front yard now. They must have slipped by us at some point. Ugh.

Weaving through the crowds of people, we make our way back outside. They're standing by a large maple tree in the yard.

"About time... Was beginning to worry y'all weren't coming." Dakota comments as we approach.

"Nah, we'd just been looking for you guys inside." Lucille explains.

I stand next to Deven. On their right. Lucas is on their left, leaning against them.

I'm still feeling dazed. It's such an awkward feeling. Everyone else is talking and fully immersed in the moment. I feel like I've got smudged glass walls all around me.

I start slightly as I feel Deven suddenly wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "I know we are all so excited to party... but I think we should hang out here." They suggest. I'm pretty sure they're just doing it for me, likely having noticed my state. I'm grateful for that.