The Carcajou

Chapter Nine: Halloween Party

Luke thought he looked like an idiot.

He didn't want to wear a costume to the stupid party at Omega Beta Zeta that the others had talked him into going to. But as usual, they insisted that he wear the store-bought costume they got him. But the suit did not suit him.

All around Luke, who moved past the crowd to try and find his friends, lights flashed and drunk frat students danced to the blaring music. This was not his scene. And they didn't have his preferred alcohol; whiskey.

Finally, he found Anicka and Mindy sitting on the couch and decided to join them. Exhaling, he removed his mask and noticed Mindy looking at a kid in a Ghostface costume.

"It doesn't bother you two?" Anicka asked her girlfriend. "Being at a house party after you were both almost brutally murdered at a house party?"

"No, I think of it like being struck by lightning," Mindy answered. "The odds of it happening twice to the same person are extremely low."

"Guess I should stay close to you then," Anicka said as she scooted closer to Mindy. Luke rolled his eyes with a scoff before his eyes fell on Tara, who was on the dance floor with some of the frat kids, stumbling between them to get another drink.

Mindy took notice and smirked.

"Hey, Lukey," Mindy said, earning Luke's attention. "You should totally tell Tara you have a crush on her. I ship you two."

"What?" Luke asked. "What gave you that idea?"

"Ever since the karaoke bar, you have been looking at her like a pirate looks at treasure," Anicka said, smirking as well. Mindy nodded in agreement.

"Okay, two things," Luke said. "First of all, I do like her, AS A FRIEND. Second, him." He then pointed at Frankie, an Omega Beta Zeta student who was dressed in white like some kind of Ken doll. The two then shook hands as Tara let Frankie guide her to the kitchen. A few minutes later, they came back out and made their way to the stairs.

That could only mean one thing.

"Oh, crap," Luke muttered as he stood up. Grabbing his mask, he put it on and tried to move through the crowd towards his friend and her would-be predator.

"Aren't you that girl involved with that 'Stab' crap in California last year?" Luke heard Frankie ask Tara as they began climbing the stairs.

"No," Tara lied. "That's a different pirate."

"Hey, Ladypool," Luke called, causing both Tara and Frankie to turn and face him. "Tara's good down here."

"Sorry, kid, didn't quite catch that," Frankie said.

"Actually, you did," Luke pointed out.

"No, Luke," Tara said as she walked up to him. "It's fine. I want to."

"Yeah, see, Luke?" Frankie taunted. "She wants to."

He then shoved Luke back, grabbed Tara by the arm, and dragged her up the stairs, causing her to wince in pain.

"Ah, screw this," Luke muttered. Standing up, he grabbed Frankie by the throat, pulled him off the stairs, and pinned him to the nearest wall.

"Get off of me!" Frankie shouted, shoving Luke away from him. "Who do you think you are, huh? Her knight in red spandex?"

Luke then tackled Frankie to the floor. A crowd gathered around as Luke began raining blows down on his opponent. Even when Frankie's nose broke, he didn't stop. He didn't want to stop.

"Luke!" Sam shouted as she pried Luke off of a beaten Frankie. "You've proven your point. Don't be what he wants you to be."

"No," Luke admitted. "I'm worse." Raising his fist, he was about to bring his claws out when he looked up. In the crowd, he saw Dani standing there again, looking at him and shaking her head. She looked... disappointed.