"Let go of me!" I shouted as Callum was pulling me back by my shoulders and making me collide into him.

"Not until you give me it!" He shouted, jumping and leaning over me to grab what was in my hand. My liquid eyeliner. "Seriously! I only need to use a little bit! It'll complete the look and you're being so selfish!"

I elbowed his side and he hunched over. I took this time to make a run for it to the only possible exit which was the yard. I swung open the door and and jumped off the porch. I ended up tripping and rolling across the grass whilst wearing my massive pumpkin costume. I knew this was a bad idea.

I laid there still, staring up at the dark cyan sky. There were many stars and clouds that littered the sky like a blanket. Did you ever wish to fly? I wished that all the time. That I could just magically float upwards and run from things. Like right now. I wished to fly upwards right now, very quickly, because Callum was stomping out of the house and onto the grass, his phone light shining directly at me.

"You look pleased to see me." I said with a smile, hoping he'd be calm about this. He did not look pleased to see me. He did not seem calm. I'd even go as far to say that he looked like he was about to karate chop me. "I like that straw hat you're wea-"

"Give it. I'm not playing around." He said firmly, extending his hand out as if I was just going to give it to him. Seeing no movement on my part, he glared at me and his next words made me rethink my options, "If you don't, I'll roll you along the road. Wearing that circular costume, I can tell it'll be extremely easy."

He had a point there. My costume was extremely round. Like the olive costume from Angus Thongs & Perfect Snogging. That round.

I was not kidding.

I looked like a buffoon dressed like this.

I sighed dramatically and shoved the liquid eyeliner product into his hand. Then I sighed again.

"You've made the right choice." He said softly and stood back up, swiftly walking away. I stared at him.

"Hey! Aren't you going to help me up?" He continued to walk away and disappeared through the door. "Hey! Get back here you!" He was gone. But least we was nice enough to leave the door open for me.

🝮🝮🝮

"Goodness me haven't you grown!" One of my Mom's friends said as she dragged her Hazel eyes down me. "This costume is quite something. Did your Mom make you wear it?" I could tell she felt sorry for me.

I deadpanned, "Yes."

She laughed into her champagne glass and I could tell she was tipsy even though everyone had just got here. "Thought so. Y-You don't look particularly happy to be in that." More like I wasn't particularly happy to be here. This party was insanely long and most of the food were gone because everyone had stuffed their faces with the food already.

Well, I say 'everyone', it had just been me. I had set up my own table near the buffet table and kept going over every two minutes or so. My Mom even had to get me to stop because it was called 'being rude.' But I was just out right hungry. I was a growing human being. A teenager, I might add!

"How's school? Are you enjoying it so far?" Another one of my Mom's friends June, asked. She was severely pregnant and looked like she was about to burst. I had no idea how long she had left until she gave birth but it looked like it would be soon. Or even now.

I smiled and shoved my arms into the base of the costume, hiding and shrivelling up. It looked like I had no arms. "School's fine, I think. I mean I've made friends so that's something." I said jokingly although I knew damn well that was not a joke and I was super thankful for my friends.

June and Karen nodded, and even cooed at how 'grown up' and 'cute' I looked. I was dressed up in a pumpkin costume. I didn't think that showed how grown up I looked. If anything, it would've shown how young I was.

I awkwardly stood as Karen stepped forward and pinched my cheeks. Then she stepped back and I brushed my hand over my pink skin. Now it was sore. But I knew she didn't mean to hurt me. Karen was one of my Mom's nicest friends. Whenever she came over she'd always talk to me, and not not make me feel unwelcome in my own home like some of my Mom's other friends.

June laughed silently and took away the champagne from Karen's hand. But Karen just groaned and took it back. "Karen, I think you've had enough of the champagne for tonight." Before I knew it, Karen was downing the rest of her drink in matter of two seconds. After that, Karen turned around and made it back over to the buffet table, pouring in some more champagne into her tall glass. But this time, she filled the glass up all the way to the top giving me an indication she liked to drink.

I glanced at June who seemed to notice my hesitant and confused look. "You didn't hear it from me but she's a raging alcoholic." She said and I nodded in understanding. I did not know that. I presumed my Mom did though. She knew all about the gossip and would sometimes fill me in on the details.

"Heard her husband divorced her and that's why she started drinking." Some other women butted in, Beth. How many friends did my Mother have? "But she did it to herself." I looked at her like she was crazy but she didn't seem to look at me or notice how rude her comment was. But some of the other women did.

"She once told me she had a major gambling problem." Another one said with a sigh and this time, I could tell she felt genuinely sad for Karen.

"Where did you hear that from?" Beth asked in a snap and I turned to look at Karen who was sat down on a table by herself, slowly sipping on her glass. She didn't look okay at all - and that wasn't because of the amount of alcohol she had drank.

"From Stacey." The women replied, stealing a quick glance at Karen who seemed to be drinking down her self-pity.

"Stacey? You know we can't trust that women with a barge poll." June said, shaking her head.

"Who cares. It's good gossip." Beth retorted, and I felt sick to the stomach. These were grown adults who felt like it was necessary to gossip about something that had no relevance to them.

"Do you not like Karen or something?" I managed to ask, turning my focus off Karen and back to the rest of the group.

"Not me personally. Never liked that women." Beth said rather enthusiastically and June nudged her side. "What? My husband told me I should always be honest."

A women beside me chuckled. "Like your affair with Steven." She mumbled and I only just about caught her words. I laughed into my hand and June looked like she was biting back a laugh. Though the Beth glared at her and stomped away.

The atmosphere was tense so I cleared my throat and awkwardly stepped to the side. "I'm just going to go check on Karen." I said and June and the rest of the group nodded, walking over to Karen with me.

"I'm guessing you guys don't like Beth." I said cautiously and they all laughed.

"Not me personally. Never liked that women." One said, mocking Beth's words. We all laughed and it was then and there that I realised adult women could be just as petty and bitchy as us teenagers. Although this time, they were being petty and bitches for a good reason.

"I'm not really one for confrontation." I confessed and June wrapped her arm around me; helping to balance herself upright due to her massive baby bump.

"Neither is your Mom. Take a guess why she's sat with the elderly women over there." She pointed and I laughed.

My Mom was laughing rather dramatically; although that was just who she was. She was always nice to people and that was why so many people liked her. On the other hand, I could see my brother sat down on a table; squished between two women who seemed to be talking to him. Though he didn't seem so happy about that.

I was so going to pester him about that later.

An hour or two seemed to pass and I had managed to make a run for it out of the party. I said goodbye to my Mom and my brother - though he wasn't one bit please that I was leaving him here with all these unfamiliar people and kids.

I drove my way to Angel's house, just about remembering where she lived. Cadence messaged me and told me that they were all at Angel's house for the night and if I could make it, I should definitely come over. Like I had promised to Angel the other day, if I could escape, I'd make sure to come.

I escaped and I pulled up onto Angel's driveway. There were two cars parked in the drive and I assumed it was Charlotte's and Cadence's.

"You've got to be kidding me." I groaned as I was trying to squeeze myself out of the car door. I was still wearing my pumpkin costume and it was most likely illegal and rebellious of me to be driving whilst dressed like this. But I didn't want to miss out on a girls night. Especially on Halloween!

Even as I was driving, there were hundreds of people dressed up, trick or treating around the neighbourhoods. I almost swerved the car into the water when a person dressed up as a clown walked along the street. Though he looked not at all scary. Instead, he looked funny as hell. His colourful hair was stuck down like he had jelled it; his red nose was clutched in his hand and the way he was walking. Words couldn't describe. He was walking with so much coolness. His hips were swaying side to side and his arms were swaying by his side. As he passed a kid he just waved at them. Definitely not something a real clown - were clowns real? Maybe cosplayed ones - would react.

Though I had to give him points for his makeup. His makeup was impeccable and I almost believed it was real — just joking. I knew clowns weren't real — or were they?

I finally managed to push myself out of the car door and may or may not of fallen onto the concrete floor. I almost banged my head but luckily the roundness of this costume stopped me from the impact.

I must've looked like a complete idiot right about now.

I jumped up from the ground and locked my car shut. Then I made it for the front door. Surprisingly, it was unlocked and open. What if someone was breaking in? They'd find it super easy to do with this house! I had to complain to Angel about that. It was even more scarier since it was Halloween.

I brushed down my costume and my hair and followed the loud sounds of chatter and laughter. The hallway was pitch black and lead me to the end of the hall where lightness was. The chatter got more louder as I appeared closer. Then suddenly I emerged from the darkness, only to see them three screaming as they stared at me.

They looked like they just shat themselves.

They continued to scream, even though I was just standing there looking at them. I turned behind me to check if there was some freaky man who was dressed up. But there was no one.

"Are you seeing ghosts?" I asked them, taking another look behind me.

Angel was hidden under a blanket whilst Cadence and Charlotte were hugging each other. "Why are you here?" Charlotte managed to croak out.

"Didn't Cadence tell you?" I asked and Angel dragged the blanket off her head to take a look at me and then Cadence.

"Sorry I'm late. I know you're in the middle of watching the movies and all but I finally managed to get away from that stupid party." I groaned into my hands and came to sit beside Angel.

Angel stared down at my costume in silence. I could tell she was trying her very best not to erupt into laughter. I also noticed how Charlotte was staring at me, a slight disgust look on her face before she turned back to the tv.

"Why are you dressed as a pumpkin?" Cadence asked, standing up and sitting beside me. That didn't go unnoticed by Charlotte.

I laughed slightly and stood up to take off the costume. I was wearing orange leggings and an orange top underneath so even if I did take it off - which was what I was trying to do but was struggling - I wouldn't be completely bare and naked.

Cadence and Angel were in laughing fits and helped me lift it off and over my head. "Holy cow this feels warm. How long did you say you were at that party for?" Angel asked and I brushed back my frazzled hair with my hands.

"Like two hours. I don't know but it dragged." I shrugged and Cadence slipped into the costume.

"Hey, how do I look?" She asked, spinning around and flicking up her leg like she was in a magazine.

"Are we watching this movie or what?" Charlotte's rather blunt tone made us all look over at her. She had the remote control in her hand whilst scowling.

Cadence glanced at her before looking away. Then I think I saw her roll her eyes. "You can." She said and Angel put on a poker face. "Now tell me how good I look." She said, posing once again.

Angel seemed to laugh and enjoy what was happening again and this time, for like half an hour, Charlotte didn't disrupt us. But I could feel her heated glare targeted on me everywhere I went.

"I'm bored." Angel groaned as we all were sat down on the couch. Me and Cadence were cuddling (friendly cuddling) as we shared a packet of popcorn between us. I had my Coca Cola beside me that I would take occasional sips from and a really good but scarily intense movie on.

"Oh hi bored, I'm Cadence." Cadence joked and Angel flicked her forehead.

"But I'm serious!" She huffed impatiently. "Can we guys do something? Maybe not watch a movie, I don't know." She shrugged.

I continued to fill my mouth with popcorn whilst the girls thought of something we could do instead.

"Go rollerskating?" Cadence suggested and I chuckled.

"They'll be closed. It's like seven thirty." Angel said. No rollerskating, okay.

"A board game. Maybe twister or Monopoly?" I suggested and Angel seemed to perk up at that.

"Should we play twister then?" Angel asked us and we all nodded. Everyone apart from Charlotte who seemed to be ignoring us by going on her phone.

We all stood up and followed behind Angel. But I stayed back. I quickly cleaned my hands at the sink and brushed them dry on weird looking clothing. Then I started to walk. But I noticed how Charlotte wasn't moving to go anywhere.

I didn't know if this was a good idea or not, but it felt right to do in the moment. I slowly walked over to Charlotte and took a seat beside her. But she didn't look up. She didn't even look fazed. "Are you coming?" I asked and Charlotte ignored me. Why was she ignoring me? Had I done something to upset her? "Hey, listen. I'm sorry if I have ever done anything to upset you. I promise you, whatever it is, it's not intentional." I didn't know if she was going to react or say something so I just stayed sat there...hoping she'd form some sort of reaction on her face. But there was none.

"Charlotte?"

Then she switched off her phone and stood up. She walked away. "Charlotte, there's something clearly wrong. You don't have to talk to me about it of course, but if it's about me, please tell me. If I've done something wrong or accidentally said something that has hurt you, I'd want to know so I can fix it." I breathed. "I really don't like fighting and you seem super cool-"

"Shut up." She sneered and that was enough for me to slam my mouth shut and stare up at her. Shut up?

"E-excuse me?"

She turned around and walked quickly over to me. I had to take a couple steps back because I was worried she was going to do something. That was how intimidating she looked."Why can't you just shut up? You have everything you want but you take the two good things away from me. My friends. It was so perfect before you came into our group." Oh. "Why can't you just fuck off? No one actually wants you to be our friends. They are only being nice because they have to. They are just afraid of telling you how they really feel so I'm here doing their job." She poked my shoulder and I swallowed thickly. I could feel the heat of being yelled at, run up my neck and to the whole of my face. My eyes started to become blurry and I couldn't even see her face properly. I could only make out the devilish smirk she held.

"Oh-"

"You should go." She said, taking a step back. "And if you ever consider talking to them about what I've said, you're done for." Then she walked off, disappearing through the door the girls went through.

Oh.

I couldn't help but to cry into my hands. I felt everything in me just fall apart. I wanted to crumble down onto the floor and cry, but I couldn't. So instead I raced over to the couch and grabbed my stupid, ridiculous costume and ran out the door. But moments before I left, I heard Angel speak. "Where's Willow?" She asked and I cried even more at how genuine she sounded. She really didn't me like me then, huh?

"She said she had to leave. Issues with her parents or something." Charlotte said. "Come on, let's play this. It looks super fun."

Then I closed the door quietly and ran to my car.

I fled the estate with nothing but a broken heart.

Friends. Who needed them.

A/N: