Hearts of trouble (under development)

Hallowmean

Halloween night brought a chill to the air, and the town was alive with costumes, laughter, and excitement. The halls of the school were decorated with cobwebs, plastic skeletons, and eerie lights, setting the mood for the evening's festivities. But for Lily, the spooky season felt darker and heavier than ever.

Lily, dressed in a stylish but slightly edgy costume, wandered through the crowded halls, a scowl on her face. She spotted Shawn across the room, joking with Cory and Topanga, his carefree laugh grating on her nerves. Her resentment had been building for weeks, fueled by her own struggles and a feeling of isolation that seemed to cling to her like a shadow.

Eventually, Shawn noticed her staring and came over, his usual warm smile on his face. "Hey, Lily! You look... intense," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Lily rolled her eyes, her voice sharp. "Yeah, well, not all of us are in the mood to joke around tonight."

Shawn's smile faded slightly, sensing her irritation. "Alright, what's wrong? You've been acting weird for weeks now."

"Oh, so now you care?" Lily snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's funny because, lately, it seems like you're too busy to even notice I exist."

Shawn's brows furrowed, frustration flashing in his eyes. "What are you talking about? I'm always there for you, Lily. But you're the one who's been pushing everyone away. Maybe it's not everyone else's fault."

"Maybe I wouldn't have to push people away if they actually understood me!" Lily shot back, her voice rising. "You think you know everything, Shawn, but you don't know anything about what I'm going through."

Shawn's patience snapped. "Oh, here we go again! The whole 'nobody understands me' routine. You're so wrapped up in yourself, Lily, that you don't even see how much everyone cares about you. It's exhausting."

Lily's face hardened, her expression icy. "Fine. If I'm so exhausting, maybe you should just leave me alone."

Shawn shook his head, hurt flashing across his face. "You know what? Maybe I will."

Without another word, he turned and stormed off, disappearing into the crowd. Lily watched him go, her chest heaving with a mixture of anger and pain. She felt the familiar sting of loneliness creeping in, and a dark thought entered her mind-a thought that she'd been trying to push away for weeks.

"Who needs him anyway," she muttered under her breath, her voice breaking slightly.

As she made her way through the party, she spotted a guy leaning casually against the wall, a red Solo cup in his hand. He looked about her age, with messy dark hair and an easygoing smirk that screamed trouble. His eyes caught hers, and he gave her a nod, beckoning her over.

"Hey," he said smoothly, handing her a drink. "You look like you could use one of these."

She took the cup without hesitation, downing it in one go. The warmth of the alcohol spread through her, numbing the ache in her chest. "Thanks...?"

"Nate," he introduced himself with a grin, clearly amused by her boldness. "Rough night?"

Lily laughed bitterly, the alcohol loosening her tongue. "You have no idea. Boys are idiots."

"Tell me about it," Nate said, holding up his cup in a mock toast. "Here's to forgetting them, then."

They clinked cups, and Lily felt an unexpected thrill as she drank with him, the world blurring at the edges. Nate kept refilling her cup, his laughter contagious, his charm intoxicating. He was everything she wanted in that moment-someone who didn't ask questions, didn't judge, just let her be.