What Remains of Elizabeth Clove | COMPLETED & IN EDITING

Chapter 4

During school the next day, Victoria was back at handing flyers out again for the Fall Throwdown.

The Fall Throwdown had been a thing since freshman year. Every October the Chervova's would open up their mansion of a house to all who were invited, which was mostly those who fit in. Each guest would have to dress up in costume. I went to the first, with Liz, back in ninth grade. I didn't go to any after that, at least until now. Technically I didn't have to go to this one, Chase would surely be at school the following weeks. Besides, I had good reason not to go.

A list of reasons why not to go to the Fall Throwdown
-Victoria Chernova

But now, sitting on my bed, staring at the small book my dead best friend had left behind, I knew that in order to find out what had actually happened to her, I had to push past my own boundaries... and find a decent costume. In all honesty though, I could just go as myself and have hardly anyone notice. But in order to fit in, one must become someone else.

Logic.

I sighed and opened Pinterest in my phone, scrolling through my search results for "easy DIY costumes". The only one that I could find that was actually achievable was Minnie Mouse, which had been assembled using my black clothes, faded Minnie ears from Disney trips past, and eyeliner for the 'whiskers'. "Not bad for a last minute costume if I do say so myself..." I muttered to myself as I twirled around in the mirror. "Liz?" I turned around to face my bed, which was void of the one person that I so desperately needed approval from. Old habits die hard, I guess.

I'm sorry. That was a terrible pun.

I could almost see her, staring at her phone, mumbling a half hearted compliment. Instead, there was a notebook in her place, almost looking as if it were taunting me as I flopped onto my mess covered bed. I couldn't read any further until I had talked to Chase, which I had to wait for until tomorrow. God. Liz annoyed me still, even from beyond the grave. Her and her stupid rules.

NOTE: I'm not 100% sure if Chase even knows who I am, or even what my name is.

Yes, I had finally managed to persuade Cam into going yo the Fall Throwdown, after buying him 2 king sized Reese's. (using my own babysitting money) He was going as the color black. So creative, I know, but that's Cam for you. At least he didn't dress up as himself. I texted Cam a picture of myself, dressed up in my best Minnie Mouse attire.

Cam 10:47 PM
Nice 😀

I smiled, but my grin quickly faded as my mom entered my room, the door hitting the wall as she opened it. "What're you doing?" she asked, an annoyed look on her face. I gestured to my costume. "You're too old for trick or treating Maxine. This is ridiculous." She sighed. "It's not for trick or treating Mom." I sighed, knowing that if it were Jeremy dressing up, she'd be fine with it, even though he was 20 years old. "Then what is it for?" she questioned, and then gasped. "It's not some scandalous thing for Cam to see is it?" she said, hinting that Cam and I had some sort of secret relationship, or that I had a crush on him, neither of which was actually true, for the record. "No mom... " I groaned, stuffing my face into my pillow. "If you must know, Cam is having a small party." I lied. My mother nodded in approval. "Fine, but come back home by 11, the latest being 11:30." She sighed. "I don't want you getting into trouble, not after what happened to Liz." I looked up from my nail, which I had been picking while she had lectured me. "What? What do you mean after what happened to Liz?" I pressed. Did she know something? "Nothing Darling..." She brushed back my brown hair out of my eyes. "It's just the accident was so tragic and I don't want anything bad to happen to you." She kissed my forehead, trying to cover up her stumbling words by showing a rare sign of her affection. She went over towards the door, standing next to the frame for a couple seconds. "I love you Maxine." She said, a ghost of a smile on her face. "You too..." she mumbled, immediately reaching for my phone.

Max: My mom definitely knows something

Cam: How do you know?

Max: She was acting weird when I mentioned her.

Cam: That doesn't mean anything Max.

Max: It could!

Cam: I have to sleep... Parents. Night Maximum.

Max: You know I hate that nickname.

Cam: Doesn't stop me from using it lol

Max: Night, Loser.

I sighed, placing my phone on my nightstand, and closed my eyes, dreading the next day's party.

SPOILER ALERT: Things didn't go as planned.

Once again, lunch was where my plan of attack took place.

Chase sat with the jocks, obviously, seeing as he was one, but Victoria and her army of bitches stood in my way, as they sat there with them.

Setting my lunch tray down and abandoning Cam, much to his dismay, I made my way over to Chase's lunch table.

"Chase?" I called out to him, and the whole table fell silent. Feeling my face turn red, I coughed awkwardly. "Can we talk, real quick?" I asked, trying to avoid eye contact with Victoria, who was smiling devilishly. "Uh, hey, you're Liz's friend, Mel, right?" I sighed, "Max, but it's really important that we tal-" I started. "Chase doesn't have the time to talk to losers like you." Victoria scoffed, interrupting me. With a cold glare, I turned toward Victoria. "I wasn't speaking to you Victoria." I hissed, my eyes narrowing with every word. She laughed, her frilly voice starting to get on my nerves. "Oh honey..." she smiled and talked as if I was a child. "You talk to one of us, you talk to all of us." She smirked, and waved a hand over toward where Chase had been sitting.

Wait. Had been?!

"...And it looks like you missed the Chase train darling." she grabbed my wrist, her claw like nails digging deep into my skin, making crevices in my skin. "For future reference dear," She pulled me closer. "Don't you dare try to mess with me again," She hissed in my ear. Glaring at her, I sat back down next to Cam, huffing with my arms across my chest. "We're going to that party Cam, whether you want to or not." I grumbled to him. "But I thought that you were going to talk to Chase befor-" "Victoria." I interrupted him. My friend nodded. "Gotcha." He pressed no further questions onto me. "Are you still going as the color black?" I asked him. "No, I changed my mind." He answered simply. "I'm going as a football player now. Got my dad's old jersey and everything." I snorted. "Don't turn into one now you hear?" I joked. "I still need my friend around." I punched him playfully on the shoulder, and Cam cracked a smile. "I promise." My friend swore, holding out his pinky. We shook on it, not caring if the whole cafeteria judged us for acting like kids.

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