At a small costume shop called Scene, Kat walks out of the dressing room wearing a naughty kitten costume.
"I'm a kitty Kat." she laughs
"Do you get it? Kitty K-a-t?" she laughs again, prancing and bobbing the attached tail in the air.

I laugh with her, sitting in a chair usually reserved for men who hold their girlfriends purse.
She holds up a hand full of costumes. Inspecting each one, "What would Mr. Avery like? Maybe the naughty school girl?" She says teasing, her eyebrows wiggling up and down.
"Neither." I say waving my hand to shoo the sexual outfits away.

"I'll go with something subtle, something. . .classy. Ooh, like this one!" I gasp, jerking down a nineteen twenties flapper costume. Silver glittery fringe cover the knee length dress, completed by a headband and a white pointy feather.
It's perfect. It's sexy, but not over the top. After the last party, I can't imagine the costumes the topless girls will choose.

I try it on in the tiny dressing room, and give a frisky swish of the curtain before stepping out. Kat squeals, and claps in a one person applause.
"So, you like?" I ask nervously.
"I love!" She grins.

Her eyes narrow and her mouth forms into a puckered O, "Wait, wasn't your first day at Lavas today?" She asks. I step back behind the curtain door of the dressing room.
"It was until last night when Jack kind of lost it at the memorial. When he walked me back to the dorms he told me he was going to close the coffee shop for a few days. He was really upset, I think he needs a few days." I tell her.

"So I guess a coffee stop is out of the question." She slumps.

Back at the dorms, we split the cab fair before scooting out onto the street. Campus is running wild. In the distance we watch as a masked monster hides at the corner of a building waiting for someone to walk by, he jumps out at them and screams, scaring each person who falls into his trap.
We watch the prankster for a while, laughing as each group screams until he decides to try another corner.

Inside, the girls of the dorms are buzzing, teetering on skyscraper heels in barely-there costumes. They're everywhere: up and down the stairs, in the shower room, their rooms, the common room. The scent of hairspray, and glitter body sprits is nose crippling. The Omega flyers had spread to every student on campus. But as overheard through the chatter of the dormitory, nobody was given a personal invitation. Nobody but Kat, and me.
We squeeze by our dorm mates up the stairs. The Halloween party at Omega seems to be the event of the year. According to the women running around us, they turn the house into a spook show. Strobe lights, lasers, costume contest, even a "bra ghost", which apparently is an Omega Brother who sneaks up behind you and unhooks your bra. I glance around the open building at all the costumes, most are similar to Kats naughty kitty; naughty nurse, teacher, boxer, officer, you name it. The only one in the building that will cover the most skin rests in a shopping bag in my hand.

Hours later I'm standing at my closet door, turning back a forth and checking myself out in the mirror. I look hot. The girls in the shower room helped with my hair by curling it into a pinup-girl dream, smacking their gum in my ears while they talked of frat guy's. I decided to once again wear heels. I know I'll regret it by the end of the night, but it completes the costume, they shimmer like white sugar.

On the way to Omega House students are coming in herds. I wonder how they will fit, until arriving and I see that the empty lots on either side of Omega are occupied with drinking. Pledge Sandy (as shown on his chest) finds me right away.

"Ms. Thomas." he nods respectively, "Brother Avery has sent me to escort you, and your guests." He tells me, he shivers wearing only a kilt. His costume I suppose, "Is being an Omega really worth hypothermia?" I ask, but he doesn't answer. He only shrugs,and I make a mental note to sneak any Omega pledge a hot cocoa when I start at the coffee house.

The stoop is dark, as are any lights that would normally shine from the house. Replaced by neon green lasers that dart around the room, fog machines puff out rolls of vapor, and slow strobes blink as haunting music beats through the party. Pledge Sandy takes us to the back of the house and through a door in the kitchen. It leads us outside to the back yard, that's been made into a dance floor/bar. I hold Kats hand to level myself, and look at her, my eyes widen with my smile. Her painted on whiskers stretch while she gives me a mischievous smile back, as if to say "I know, I know!". The crowded bar parts like the sea as we approach. Cobwebs hang from the corner of its top.
"What will it be ladies?" Avery drawls from behind the bar drying a glass, and wearing a cowboy getup.
Kat and I giggle at the sight. His black cowboy hat, the brown leather chaps. . . Yummy.
"Bloody Mary's only tonight." Kat states. Avery raises a brow, "You know? Halloween. . ." She rolls her eyes.
"No one likes my jokes today." She mutters, as Avery mixes her drink. I take a seat at the bar, the stool wobbles from having to climb onto it. My short legs stunt me at five foot two.
"And I'll have one also." I smile. Avery peeks an eye at me from under his hat. A sharp tingle runs through my legs. Veins bulge on his arms while he gives the metal shaker a beating, if ever there was a time to tackle and kiss him, this would be it. But I push back the urges, and sip my drink instead. The sting of hot sauce tickles the back of my throat. Burning as it hits my stomach, my face twists, and Kat teases me. "Never had one, have you?" She asks.
"Never. How do people drink this?" I spit and it looks like blood. Wiping my mouth, Avery slides another drink to me. An amused half smile on his face.
"Here, a pina colada for the lightweight." He flashes his pearly whites. A tense mixture of embarrassment, and lust fuels me. I jump down from my stool, eager to get the night going. When I finish college I want to look back and remember this night as a dreamlike frenzy.
I grab Kat's hand, and drag her to the dance floor. Spinning her with one hand, sipping the tropical goodness with the other. and shooting Avery come hither looks. My flapper dress fringe blooms as the world spins. Trip after trip to the bar in between dancing, until I've downed four. The skin splitting cold air forgotten with the booze warming me from the inside out.

The dirt dance floor becomes more crowded, jumping and pulsing to the electronic music. Avery, who just can't stand it any longer retires from tending bar to join us. I shake my hips, the electric feeling inside me is boiling. I've never felt so free of anxiety. My body sizzles.

Through the dancing, Avery appears, looking delicious. Out of breath, heart racing, I push past Kat and take him. I grab Avery by the nape of his neck, a push my lips hard into his. Taken back he stumbles, and regained his footing as he wraps his arms around me.

Kat's jaw drops, and follows by shouting "Yeah!", she starts a loud chanting. Through the sudden rush, and adrenaline I can't make out the words.
Avery's mouth is hot, and sweet. As are his hands around my waist. My stomach starts to twist, I can feel the coconut creeping up my throat. I pull away fast from our heated kiss, eyes wide and round. I clasp my hand over my mouth, and break for the bushes. Kat runs after me, her bloody drink sludges around. I brace myself on the corner of the house, and empty my stomach into a dying bush. Kat holds my hair, "Let it out." She giggles.
"I didn't know you could be so fun!" she says, patting my back.
I vomit three times, back arching, embarrassed vomiting. I blink my watering eyes at my exposed puke. It's white, with a tinge of red. "Oh my God, is that blood?" I panicky ask.
"That would be the bloody Mary, Hon." Kat says peering at the vomit.
She helps me stand, the world starts to spin again. "I think I should sit down." I sway. Avery stands feet away watching me, my faces blushes.
"Did you just watch me puke?" I slur."
He tilts his head slightly, almost amused.
"Lets get you two inside." He says, his arm extended. All four fingers saying "Come on."
We walk to the door, my heels feel like they'll fumble on the uneven ground. Avery leads us into the kitchen. The warmth rushes over my face, bright overhead lights squint my eyes. I take a seat in a flimsy dining chair just off the kitchen, I feel sick again but there's nothing to come up.

Kat and Avery join me at the table. The room is empty, I don't imagine many formal dinner's taking place here. My anxiety rolls in, and I count the knots around my wrist.
A little bump sounds in front of me on the table. Avery now stands beside me, he had laid a cup of hot chocolate on the table.

"You guys are too cute." Kat smiles, her elbow on the table and cupping her chin in her hand.
I sip the hot drink slowly to wash the foul taste from my mouth. It's sweet with a bitter hint after. Almost like the Xanax I'm prescribed. Must be the after taste of a purged stomach, mixed with sugar.
I stand, too soon. I plop back down in the chair.
Avery strokes a hand on my bare shoulder.
"You're freezing, I think you should sleep it off." Avery says.
"I think you're right." Kat and I say in tandem. Avery laughs.

"You two ladies." He shakes his head laughing. He takes my arm helping me steady as I stand.
"I'll walk you home." He says.

Leaving the party I take one last look at the party. So many faces, all smiles. I spot Ava in a wave of dance moves, her laughter replaced by a vacant stare upon see me in Avery's tow. She stands frozen, and horrified as Avery walks me out the front door back into the cold.