Haunting You - Boys of Tommen

Calm Before The Storm

"No, it'll never change, pretty isn't pretty enough." - Olivia Rodrigo

October 31st, 2005

Katie: (This is a chapter from 'Seeing You')

I had been skeptical about Claire's choice for my halloween costume, but I didn't want to cause trouble in the group.

I was going as Vivian Ward, from Pretty Woman. She was a prostitute, but it was a cute love story. Hugh was dressed up as Edward Lewis, which was just a black suit.

I had to wear a skin tight red dress, and I felt like you could see everything.

I had been better about eating, these last few months, with the exception of the week after I overheard Patrick and Lizzie speaking about me. It was like Liz had this strange ability to identify and voice every bad thing I ever thought about myself.

I felt so sick after, I just went home. Which was probably a good thing, considering an all out brawl broke out in the lunch room that day.

The party had been going on for about an hour, and I was in awe of how amazing everyone looked in their costumes. Shannon and Johnny looked incredible in their Romeo and Juliet costumes, Claire and Gibsie looked adorable in their Danny and Sandy costumes, Joey and Aoife looked unreal in their Harley Quinn and Joker costumes, Lizzie and Patrick looked amazing in their Morticia and Gomez Addams costumes, and Hugh looked handsome in his suit. I felt out of place.

I had been dancing with Aoife for the last hour, but Joey had stolen her away, most likely taking advantage of time together without their baby. Now, I was sitting alone on one of the couches, holding a pillow on my lap blocking my stomach, so I could sit without holding my breath and sucking in.

"Hiding?" Patrick asks, as he sits down beside me, and in the same fluid motion is grabbing the pillow I'm grasping onto and putting it behind his head. Despite, there being two other pillows on the other side of him.

"No, I was just resting." I answer, we hadn't really talked much since the whole thing with Lizzie, he had continued with the granola bars but we had been keeping our distance.

"I wanted to talk to you." Patrick stated. He usually wouldn't start talking to me at parties unless he was drunk, but he appeared to be sober. I just nodded, "About what you overheard Liz say, it's not true."

"Okay." I reply, turning my attention to the dancing bodies.

"I mean it, she was just trying to hurt you."

"Why? I... I know she has history with Hugh, but he said that she broke up with him." I say before I can stop myself. "Sorry, you don't have to answer, you're Hugh's best friend and Lizzie's..."

"Lizzie's what?" Patrick asks, and I don't know what to say. I mean they're wearing one of the most iconic couples costumes ever, and have been spending more and more time together, and Casey hasn't mentioned him in a while.

"I kind of just assumed, that.... You know." I know they're not dating, Lizzie's dating Pierce, but it seems like something's going on between them.

"Well don't assume."

"Okay." I say, as I notice Casey's entered the party with some guy, and their dancing is hardly PG. I move my body to block Patrick's view subtly, but as he does with everything, he notices.

"You don't have to do that, Katie Kat" he shakes his head, "Casey and I were never serious."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yeah, she can do whatever she wants." He replies, and I can't imagine wanting that.

"You're okay with her talking to other guys?" I ask, trying not to sound judgemental.

"Sounding a little hypocritical, Katie Kat."

"What are you talking about?"

He gives me a knowing look, and I hate it. "I know where I stand with her." and I don't know where I stand with Hugh.

I'm feeling annoyed, "It's easy to judge a situation when you're not in it."

"Like you're doing right now." Patrick seems aggravated now.

"I..." that shut me up. Before I can defend myself to him, I'm interrupted by Mrs. Addams herself.

"Hey Gomez, on your feet." She demands, no room for questions.

Surprisingly, Patrick looked annoyed, as he leaned his head on the back of the couch, inclining his head to look up at her, "we're kind of in the middle of something here, Liz." He said, tilting his head to gesture to me, trying to remind her I was here too, but Liz couldn't care less.

"Yeah, you were, and now you're coming with me." She replied, pulling a reluctant Patrick up by his arm.

I watch as they walk over to the middle of the dance floor, right into Casey's line of vision. They're speaking and Patrick doesn't look very happy to be dragged around by Liz. Before I Know what's happening, they're kissing. Like full blown making out, and I'm just watching in shock.

Casey looks annoyed but more at Lizzie, than betrayed by Patrick. I know Liz thinks that she's helping but in reality she's just trying to get back at Casey for last year, and using Patrick as a pawn. And Casey knows it.

I look around the room, and notice that I'm not the only one staring. Hugh is looking directly at the pair, and I've never seen him look so upset. I can't quite tell if it's anger or sadness, maybe it's the look of betrayal.

Eventually we're all torn away from their little performance when Mark Allen shows up to collect Gibsie and all hell breaks loose.

Thanks for reading!