More Than Friends (Friends, #2)(81)

“I don’t even know if he follows me.” Lies. He does follow me. The #cuddlewithTuttle memory still lingers.

Still hurts.

“Ugh, he makes me nuts. Forget him.” Livvy is still smiling at me. “You look amazing.”

“So do you.”

She bats her false eyelashes. “Why thank you, my spooky witch friend.”

I turn to look at myself in the mirror and I have to admit, I look pretty damn good. Even better than the trial run on Thursday night, and we were pretty smokin’ hot and spooky then too. My makeup is on point—scary without being hideous. My hair is parted in the middle and flowing past my shoulders, straightened to perfection with Livvy’s extra-hot straightener. I’m still a little self-conscious about the low neckline on this costume, but screw it. I’m performing tonight. I get to be someone else for a little while.

May as well enjoy it.

Livvy grabs my shoulders from behind and leans down so she’s in the mirror with me too. Our gazes meet in the reflection. “We look so freaking great! We better head over to the caf before Elaine kicks our asses.”

We leave the auditorium where we got ready, via the back exit, which is also the long way, since we don’t want anyone to see us in costume. It’s not quite five o’clock, but the quad is already full of people milling about. And there’s a decent-sized line to get into the haunted house.

The Halloween carnival at our high school is an annual event, and it’s a huge deal. It’s a great way for organizations and clubs at the school to raise money. It’s always fun, and who doesn’t love Halloween? Well, there are more than a few people who don’t love it, and during our freshman year, a few disgruntled parents from the PTA threatened to shut it all down, but the students and faculty eventually prevailed. The Halloween carnival lives on.

This is our last year to attend, so it feels bittersweet. It’s hard to believe all of these things we’ve experienced the past three years are our lasts this year. Our last first day of school, last homecoming—which I missed—and now it’s the last Halloween carnival.

I need to make the most of this tonight. I know Livvy wants to as well.

Usually I’m participating in the band fundraiser, which, naturally, always involves music. This year’s theme is a haunted band performance. I heard they set up the band room to look like an old time bar with a tiny stage where various band members perform. They’re all dressed up as ghosts from the Wild West. I see more than a few girls dressed like they walked straight out of a saloon, but their faces are white and their eyes are black. It’s pretty cool.

“Everyone looks so great,” Livvy says as we head toward the back entrance of the cafeteria. One of the staff members is standing guard in front of the doors, and when he sees it’s us, he lets us in.

It’s dark inside, with the black tarps hanging and the majority of the lights are off. We created a haunted maze within the cafeteria and there are little alcoves scattered throughout, where different “scenarios” are set up. Livvy’s in the vampire scenario while I’m in a witches and warlocks scene, but I have no idea where I’m supposed to go.

“There you two are!” Elaine miraculously appears in front of us, dressed in a devil costume with a pointy red tail and little red horns sticking out of the top of her head, plus she’s carrying a pitchfork. It’s scarily accurate, what with the way she ran all of us ragged this morning. Livvy told me she never let up either.

This is why the cafeteria looks so amazing. Elaine wouldn’t accept anything less.

“Hey, boss!” Livvy waves, extra cheerful on purpose. We know it drives Elaine nuts. “Where do you want us?”

Elaine briskly walks us through the maze, pointing to where each of us should go. The vampire section comes up first, so Livvy’s out, blowing kisses at us and laughing when Elaine takes my hand and drags me deeper into the maze.

“Here’s your station.” Elaine gives me a little shove and I’m in an alcove with a small round table where three other witches sit. “Be scary and freak them out, but remember, don’t touch the houseguests!”

“Oooh, you look extra scary,” one of the witches says as she takes me in. She’s wearing a sexy witch costume, and her boobs look like they’re ready to pop out at any moment. She kicks out the last chair for me. “Sit at the front of the table.”

Scary music kicks on and people start trickling in. We sit at the table at first, hissing and cackling and saying goofy stuff as people pass by. But eventually we get bored, so we hide behind corners and randomly jump out at different times, scaring our so-called houseguests. People shriek and scream and run from us, but there’s lots of laughter too.

It’s so freaking easy, and we are having way too much fun with this.

I see a few people I know and they call out my name and wave, or say silly stuff, trying to get me to break character. But I hold up as best as I can, calling everyone, “my pretty” and wiggling my long, black press-on nails at them as they walk by.

At one point I see Tara and Thad pass by our alcove, holding hands and looking very couple-y. I feel a pang in my heart for the briefest moment. Then I wonder why they’re not working at the band fundraiser.

About halfway through my shift, Em walks right up to me, fully decked out in a Suicide Squad costume. Tiny booty shorts, a tight-fitting top that shows off her stomach, and a little heart painted just below her right eye—she makes a most excellent Harley Quinn.