VALERIA

Chapter One.

"So, what do you think?" Batty spun around, tulle spiraling in her wake. Her friend, Connor, shook his head from the shag carpeted floor. The girl frowned at him, arms falling in defeat at her sides. "Okay, what's wrong with it? I thought we agreed sexy clown was a good idea."

"It was a good idea! 𝙄𝙨 a good idea, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 —," Connor drew out the syllable, eyes turning away with a smile. Batty blinked expectantly, leaning inward. The boy on the floor then sighed and rolled upright, "Look, Bats, I love what we do every Halloween, I really do, but we're sixteen now!" Connor's big puppy dog eyes widened and he smiled that sickeningly sweet smile he always did when he felt sympathetic.

"I knew this was coming. I knew it!" Batty collapsed on the sofa, multi-colored skirt and all. She looked up at the ceiling despairingly. Was this it? Were traditions to be over with for good? Connor stood up from where he lay and walked over to his friend, arms clasped behind his back. He was still smiling, patient as ever. That's what Batty adored about him. "Listen, here me out," He plopped on the couch, scooting closer to the strawberry blonde's form. He had his phone in hand. "You know I have connections with the, quote on quote, cool kids. And Tatum Westerberger —,"

"Westerburger!" Batty blurted.

"Yes," Connor grinned a little. "Tatum is having a party and she invited me. Said I could bring a few people too and who else but my best friend. Come on, don't give me that face. Please." Batty puckered her lips distastefully, staring down her friend as if he'd crack. When he wouldn't, she threw her head back, successfully cracking her skull on the back of the frame. "Fuck!" She rubbed the back of her head, blinking open her eyes at Connor. He, of course, was waiting ever so patiently for her response.

"Yeah, sure! Let's break our private party tradition for the likes of 𝙏𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙢 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙧." Batty felt even more upset when Connor looked pleased about her compliance, but yet, she did want him to be happy at the same time. Tatum wasn't so bad, she guessed. Really, Batty just wanted to be her — them. One of the popular girls. But they were all fake, admittedly. Still, what a life that would be. Connor slouched back into the sofa with a content sigh. "Your costume is perfect, by the way," He added quietly. "Now, would you help me with mine?"

Later in the evening, the duo show up on the Westerberger residence with a spooky flourish. Batty steps out of Connor's jeep (ugh, can you imagine) adorn in a rainbow tulle skirt and black corset, pushing her boobs up a bit uncomfortably. On one leg, she wore a ripped white thigh high, and on the other a torn fishnet stocking. Connor, on the other hand, chose something a lot more PG. He was just a baby, with his platinum blonde dyed hair. He tried desperately to cover the brunette, but his roots were showing, even now. Batty loved it. He was Dracula tonight, wearing his brother's wedding tuxedo and a velvet cape he actually crafted himself. When Batty asked why he didn't have fangs, he explained that they hurt his mouth to wear. He would just be a baby vampire. Batty loved that too.

"I can't believe we actually came," Batty said around an anxious shiver. She felt sick, like she might vomit and her whole being was overcome with jitters. She spoke over it, but it mostly came out as nonsensical blabbering just to fill in the silence. Connor was okay with it. He's been there. He knew his best friend. "Well, me. Me at a prep's party, can you imagine? I mean, no one's gonna know me or care, but —"

"They're gonna care. Do you know a lot of people actually think you're hot? A lot of the jocks say you're 'hella thicc'. It's gross but you are. It's just that you have major RBF." Batty blushed profusely. Why hadn't they just told her? Cowards. She looked down at her form. Yeah, she did have nice hips and thighs. Decent boobs too. But men could rot. She couldn't stand them half of the time. She was glad they felt threatened by her. "But it's gonna be fun tonight, I swear!" Connor encouraged with a sunny grin, grabbing the doorknob. He opened the door. And boy, was that place massive inside.