Chapter 24: Halloween III
"How long did it take them to decorate this?" asked Luke, impressed by all the decorations that were so well done.
"We set up all the decorations over a month ago. I helped. Everyone went all out for today," said Enid with a smile.
"Oh, I see..." said Luke without as much enthusiasm. He hadn't helped at all. He was too lazy and lonely to have lent a hand.
"Let's go to one of the tables. I helped make the candy too," said Enid, leading Luke to a table where two of her friends, Divina and Yoko, were sitting.
The tables are adorned with themed centerpieces, including carved pumpkins, tinkling candles, and dark floral arrangements.
"Enid, you're finally here!" said Yoko getting up and hugging Enid, who happily accepted.
"Great costume, Enid," praised Divina with a faint smile.
"Thank you! Your costume is great too," said Enid with a smile and her usual cheerfulness.
Luke looked at Yoko and Divina's costumes. They were both dressed as mummies, 'Girls in couple costumes...?' thought Luke with a raised eyebrow.
He knew that Yoko was Enid's roommate and close friend. As for Divina, she was from Bianca's dorm. She became friends with Enid through Yoko.
"Whoa. You really came, Luke," Yoko said, looking at Luke. She knew Enid was bonding with him, but she didn't think this stubborn, rude boy would come to a party.
"Why so surprised?" asked Luke with a grimace. With other people, he still had little patience. They weren't Enid.
"Hey, Yoko! I told you Luke was coming, didn't you believe me?" asked Enid indignantly.
"Yeah... well not really, don't blame me. You could hardly see him coming out of his bedroom. Who'd think he'd come to a party?" replied Yoko, being sincere.
'Should I send her flying?' thought Luke, irritated by Yoko's comment. It wasn't nice to be called lonely in front of your face, although Yoko wasn't lying.
"Look, everyone's surprised you came," said Divina. Luke and Enid looked around and noticed many discreet stares at them.
"Make a wish. Maybe their wish for tonight will come true," Luke snorted, looking at Yoko and Divina with a slight smile. They both felt attraction for each other, but neither could bring themselves to take the next step.
"Come on, Divina. There's Bianca and the others," Yoko said with a frown as she grabbed Divina's hand and walked away.
"That was rude..." said Enid, watching her friends walk away.
"Her comment was rude too, and she didn't even believe you," said Luke, pouring himself a glass of blood punch. It wasn't real blood. It was red fruit juice and lemon-lime soda, garnished with pieces of fruit to simulate blood clots.
"Well...it's true," said Enid, taking a cup for Luke to pour punch.
"Look at jelly worms. I cooked several. Try them," said Enid, grabbing a handful of worms and popping them in Luke's mouth.
"Delicious. Very different from how they look," said Luke, chewing on the worms.
While they were preserving and tasting the creepy sweets the party music changed. The students on the dance floor made a round leaving two couples in the center.
"Let's go see what's going on!" said Enid, taking Luke's hand and heading to the dance floor.
Thanks to Luke's presence they made their way easily and didn't have to push through the crowd. They made it to the front row and saw the two couples.
On one side were Bianca and Xavier. Across from them were Sabrina Jones and Ajax Petropolus.
'Ajax is Sabrina's partner,' thought Luke a little surprised.
Sabrina was disguised as a she-devil. She was dressed completely in fiery red. She had red horns on her forehead and a sort of devil's tail at her waist.
Ajax had disguised himself as a zombie. His clothes were worn and torn. He had a lot of makeup to give him the look of a zombie especially on his face, although it was strange that he had a cap, but he had no choice.
The music was horror music combined with electronica to make it danceable. A dance competition began between the two couples.
More than anything it looked like a competition between Bianca and Sabrina. All the students started cheering and whistling.
Luke looked to his left and right. Everyone seemed to be enjoying this dance competition, even Enid, who was clapping and watching the show with a smile.
Everyone except him. He was bored. He didn't understand how so many people were entertained by dancing or watching people dance. He only came here because of Enid. Otherwise, he would rather stay in his room sleeping, reading something, or playing some video game.
'Why don't I like it?' Luke thought feeling out of place. He started to walk out of the room. He wanted to get some air.
He walked out of the hall, and in one of the hallways, he sat on the floor looking up at the bright white moon. It was not a full moon night. It was only half visible.
"Luke, why did you go out?" asked Enid, who had followed him.
"I don't like parties," replied Luke without lying.
"What? Then why did you agree to come?" asked Enid, sitting close to him and looking at him.
"Because you invited me," replied Luke, and he could see Enid's cheeks blushing. With her pale makeup and the moonlight, it was easier to tell.
"Sorry for bringing you to a place you don't like," Enid said sheepishly.
"It's not your fault. I decided to come here. Besides, being with you is more fun," replied Luke surprised at all the embarrassing things he said tonight.
"Am I weird?" asked Luke. Even the outcasts seemed to like to party just like the normies. He thought with the outcasts he would have more in common, but he didn't.
"Well, you're weirder than the average outcast, but I don't see that as a bad thing. Your attitude is genuine and that is what I like about you. Besides your face, hehe" Enid laughed and walked over to Luke.
'Was that an insinuation?' thought Luke, watching as Enid's face slowly moved closer to his own. His eyes watched Enid's lips which were getting closer and closer to his own.
He wasn't an idiot. He knew what he should do at this point. He brought his lips closer to hers until they both touched and kissed. They both closed their eyes, as they concentrated on the kiss.
After a few breathless seconds, Luke and Enid slowly pulled back and opened their eyes.
They both looked at each other without saying a word. Luke didn't know what he should say after they had their first kiss.
"Did I do it right?" asked Enid, breaking the silence.
"I didn't do anything weird, right? It's my first kiss" Enid began to stammer nervously, as she waited for Luke's acceptance.
"Huh? If you kissed right. Well, I don't know. It was the first kiss too," replied Luke scratching his cheek.
"Was that your first kiss!?" asked Enid, and a smile formed on her face. She'd had Luke's first kiss. That added to the value. Plus, it was also her first kiss.
"What did you expect? I'm a loner," Luke said with a slight grimace. Although if he had wanted to he would have gotten it before.
Last year at the normie school party a lot of girls asked him to the dance, but he turned them down. He had something more important to do. Fill the place with shit.
"The night is young! Let's go have fun!" said Enid, getting up with great enthusiasm. She felt a great energy inside her body.
"Have fun?" asked Luke.
Enid walked over to the wall where there were several sticks with paper bats that had gone wrong. She removed the bats and picked up two broomsticks.
"Catch," said Enid, tossing a stick to Luke.
"What do you want to do with this?" asked Luke, taking the stick.
"Let's have a duel," said Enid with a smile, pointing the stick at Luke.
"Oh, that sounds like fun," said Luke with a slight smile and standing up.
Luke and Enid spent a long time simulating a fencing match with wooden sticks in the moonlight. They weren't fighting seriously. It was for fun. It was much more fun than dancing.
Then they went back into the parlor to drink lots of punch and eat lots of candy while they talked.
Halloween night was over. It was much more fruitful than Luke had first thought.
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