NOEL MCKENNA WAS MADE OF GOLD AND HAD SUNSHINE IN BETWEEN THE CREVICES OF HIS BONES AND MOON RUST BENEATH HIS TONGUE.

Flowers grew in his empty skeleton with their petals pushing through his eyeballs and his tears watering them daily. He said they were dandelions; to me they were lilies.

My brief relationship with Noel was a blurry haze of midnight drives through the empty town and stolen kisses in the backseat of his 1968 Mustang. It was painted a pale shade of blue and it was the only reminder left of his dad aside from the love letters stained with alcohol that his mother would cry over at night and a framed family portrait that had been taken before he had been born.

I didn't love Noel; it was more like an affliction of sorts. I merely loved the way he would take photos of me sitting in a field of sunflowers or whistle off-key to a Beatles song. But I didn't love him.

So when he disappeared two years ago on Halloween night, I was neither devastated nor overcome with grief. He had often talked about leaving town and moving to New York and I simply assumed he had done so. By then our relationship had fizzled into a dull routine of friendly greetings whenever we saw each other in the hallway and anything remotely connected to love had dissipated into thin air.

But two years later, Noel McKenna came back with the same clothes on his back as the day he went missing. And I found myself falling for him, hard.

■■■■

"Freya!"

I was snapped out of my reverie by Zac who was seated across from me in the local town càfe. The boy stared at me with piercing blue eyes and a pair of lips that would leave me breathless each time we kissed. We had been dating for a year, yet the feelings I harbored towards him at the beginning were slowly deteoriating day by day .

I picked up my can of Sprite and gulped down the remainder. Slamming the can back onto the table, I clasped my hands together and looked Zac directly in the eye.

"I think we should break up."

He looked at me with his jaw wide open, blue eyes unblinking. I glanced down and saw him unclenching his fists as he took a deep breath before finally snapping.

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

I leaned back in my chair and watched his face go through a series of facial expressions before he finally settled on something akin realization.

"It's because of him, isn't it?" He growled.

I acted coy and shrugged at him in response. "Don't know who you're talking about."

"Don't fucking lie to me!" He snarled, his blue eyes burning with a wildfire. "It's because of goddamn Noel McKenna with his fucking tattoos and piercings, isn't it ?"

The patrons of the càfe all had their gazes trained on us. And while I was normally a self-conscious person, today, I couldn't care less.

"So what if it is, huh? What are you gonna do about it?"

My temper was flaring as well and I was trying to keep my cool.

Zac merely laughed and I swear I saw his blue eyes turn grey before they reverted back to the  aquamarine I was used to.

"You're messing with the wrong guy, sweetheart."

A chill ran up my spine and I quickly grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder before exiting the càfe.

■■■■

Halloween would be coming to Beaumont tomorrow. Everyone was busy decorating their houses and buying costumes that were a temporary façade for one night while we sang of spirits and spoke of the Devil.

I took the long route home and passed by Noel's house which was painted white and had purple orchids growing out of pots suspended in mid-air on the verandah. I smiled as I was reminded of the time we kissed under those flowers and my heart abruptly skipped a beat.

I didn't have any feelings for Noel back then, so I certainly didn't have any for him now. Did I?

I shook my head to clear myself of my stupor and continued walking. Suddenly, someone yanked my bag and I screamed as I turned and slammed into someone's anatomy.

I opened my eyes warily and glanced up. A familiar pair of green eyes framed by long eyelashes winked at me.

"Noel," I breathed, quickly letting go of his shirt.

He grinned. "Sorry to scare you, I was just wondering if you'd like to come with me to the lake."

The lake, was Hawthorne Lake- our private hideaway. Every weekend during 10th grade we used to hang out beside the body of water which was a popular spot for parties during summer. I hadn't been there since Noel had disappeared. And even though he was back now, I was still hesitant to go.

"I actually have to get home," I blurted out. "Mum wants me to do something for her."

Noel wore a soft smile as he said, "send her my regards."

He walked away and I was left staring at his fading silhoutte.

■■■■

Kira called me as soon as I stepped foot through the front door.

"The Halloween Masquerade. It's tomorrow, and I have nobody to take me."

I rolled my eyes. "As if I have a date."

Kira snorted. "You don't. But everyone knows that Noel McKenna is dying to ask you."

I laughed. "And does everyone also know that I have no feelings for him anymore?"

"Stop lying to yourself, Freya. What is so bad about the guy anyway?"

I fell silent upon hearing her question. What was so bad about Noel anyway? Aside from the ear piercings and tattoos that marred his body, the guy was a walking masterpiece. He had the looks, I couldn't deny that.

"Nothing. I just feel awkward going with him."

"Well, someone's gonna get laid tomorrow night and if it ain't me, then it's definitely you."

She ended the call and I swore under my breath. No doubt she was gonna call Noel and tell him some bullshit story she had created, making it seem like I was desparate.

True enough, my ringtone filled my bedroom as I answered the call.

"Noel?"

"Freya." His words rushed over each other and he sounded flustered. "Would you be my date to the masquerade tomorrow?"

Memories of us flashed through my mind and I was transported back to a time where my innocence was still pure and I was just a girl who had fallen in love with the right boy at the wrong time. I recalled us chasing sunsets while listening to Halsey and for a moment all I wanted to do was lie on a field beneath the sky which was filled with a smattering of stars and just listen to his voice. Who was I kidding? I was madly in love with Noel McKenna.

"Freya?"

The tone of urgency in his voice jolted me awake and I smiled before agreeing.

"Yes."

■■■■

"You look stunning." My mum complimented me as I slowly walked down the stairs.

I smiled at her, showing off my dress. "You think?"

The dress was a ballroom gown the colour of a emerald and I had paired it with a necklace Noel had bought me all those years ago. I had minimal makeup covering my face except for the nude shade of lipstick coating my lips and I had borrowed a pair of my sister's Louboutins for the occasion. My gold hoop earrings finished my look.

"I know," replied my mum.

The doorbell rang and I walked over to answer it. Noel stood on the doorstep with a black rose in his hand clad in a tuxedo and my heart stopped beating for a moment. He looked ravishingly handsome with the ear piercings complimenting his look. I noticed he had switched up the skull earrings for a pair of diamonds studs for the auspicious occasion when I beckoned him in.

I gestured to the flower in his hand. "Gothic much?"

He laughed. "My mum helped dye it."

I tilted my head up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "It's beautiful."

"PICTURES!" yelled my mum as I laughed and went to stand next to Noel. His hand snaked around my waist and came to a rest just above my right hip and I felt my breath hitch in my throat. My mum snapped the first picture and I smiled as he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"You're beautiful."

■■■■

Peyton Hahn's manor was the biggest house on the corner of Hudson Avenue. Being the only daughter of two lawyers, her parents earned enough money to travel to the Bahamas every year. It had become tradition since eight grade to hold the Masquerade at her house considering it was the biggest in Beaumont.

Noel grabbed my hand and we walked through the door. Loud EDM music resonated throughout the house and I winced as the sharp bass hit my eardrum. A girl dressed in a blue knee-length gown greeted us before handing us two masks. Mine was silver with crimson rhinestones adorning the edges and a few white feathers for display purposes. I strapped it on and turned to examine Noel's.

His was gold and had glitter sprinkled all over with onyx stones set into the corners. Only his piercing green eyes were visible after he donned the mask and he looked dashing. Judging by the stares other girls were giving him, they knew it too.

I dragged him over to the snack table and poured us two glasses of gin and tonic. Knocking mine back in one sip, I poured myself another. I was just about to gulp it down when Noel's hand came down on mine and he gently pried the red styrofoam cup away from my grip.

He frowned. "What's gotten into you?"

I sighed. "Seeing all those girls looking at you like that, it makes me regret that I didn't look at you like that before. And now maybe it's too late."

Noel smiled. "Freya, don't you get it? I came back for you."

Hearing that confession drip from his saccharine lips like melted bronze, I felt something within me bloom. The warm feeling spread over my lungs and my heart and I looked up at him to whisper "I love you."

He leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was passionate and bold and intimate at the same time and I felt liberated. All those feelings were coming out of their hiding place and I didn't give a damn if the whole world could see them.

He pulled away after what felt like an eternity and I pouted in protest. He had stirred something inside me and I was left with a burning desire to kiss him again and a lust I couldn't satiate. Luckily, before I could jump his bones, Kira came to my rescue.

"Hey, could I steal you for a minute?"

I excused myself from Noel and followed her to the corner of the room.

"I found a date!" She squealed excitedly.

I clapped my hands. "Who is it?"

Kira smirked, "Erin Maine."

A thought struck me as the pieces finally clicked. Why she didn't date throughout high school. Why she kept staring at girls.

"Kira, are you-"

"Gay?" She finished, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yeah, I think so."

I wrapped her in a warm embrace and whispered in her ear. "I'm always here for you. Know that."

She thanked me profusely and I slowly loosened my hold on her. Erin came over just then and kissed her as I looked away, not wanting to interrupt. It wasn't unti Erin said hello that I realized I should be getting back to Noel.

"A piece of advice, Freya?" Kira asked and I nodded.

"Don't look at him with sex-eyes."

"Dear Lord," I moaned. "Was it really that obvious?"

"It was," they both answered simulteneously and I waved at them before walking away.

■■■■

A round of applause and cheers came from the dance-floor as I went over to investigate. Upon closer inspection, I saw two people dancing in extremely close proximity with each other. Upon squinting, I saw it was Peyton and Noel.

Rage filled me and I stood silently near the outskirts of the crowd. The music ended and people clapped loudly with some of the football boys chanting Noel's name. I caught his gaze and he looked almost ashamed of himself for a minute. Then Peyton's lips came down on his and I couldn't bear to witness the sight anymore.

"Freya!"

I heard his voice echoing behind me but I chose to ignore him, instead grabbing a bottle of Coor's Light from the nearest table and headed upstairs to the balcony.

I sobbed beneath the fluoroscent glow of the moon. Why did I think we could go back to the way things were? Who was I compared to Peyton?

I swallowed the contents of the glass bottle in one sip then threw the empty bottle against the wall where it shattered into a thousand pieces like the current condition of my heart.

"You really fell for him, didn't you?"

Zac stood before me with a midnight-blue mask shrouding his familiar features in shadows and secrecy.

"Guess I should have stuck with you, huh?" I questioned bitterly.

He held his hands up in mock surrender. "I didn't say it."

"But you're thinking it, you goddamm sonofabitch."

Zac laughed. "Of course I am. You're the most beautiful girl in town. Only a moron would not want to be with you."

"That moron is downstairs with the ashes of our love story grasped in his hand."

Zac sighed and approached me wearily. "Freya, come on. We can be together again. Noel doesn't love you like I do."

He was practically begging me and I felt invincible. I wanted so much to break his little heart and tell him no but something prevented me from doing so. Instead, I kissed him.

He kissed me back with a fierce hunger and I felt his hand start to fumble with the zip of my dress. I pushed him back as he grabbed the hem of my dress and it ripped.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Come on Freya. You and I were meant for each other. You belong to me."

I slapped his left cheek, leaving an imprint. "Go to Hell."

■■■■

Noel met me downstairs with an apology. "Freya, I'm so sorry. Peyton kissed me and-"

He finally noticed my tear-streaked face and ripped dress.

"Bloody Hell," he cursed. "Which bastard did this?"

"Zac," I managed to croak out as he wrapped me in a hug.

He let me go and I saw his determined expression. "No," I pleaded, knowing what he was about to do. "Let's just go."

A gunshot rang out and screams pierced the air. The music died down and in the midst of the chaos stood Zac with a revolver in his hand.

He aimed the gun at Noel who moved to stand protectively in front of me.

Zac laughed harshly and I felt bile coat my throat. "Noel McKenna. Why'd you have to come back? I thought I gave you enough money to stay away from Beaumont."

Noel growled angrily. "I was a stupid kid, thinking money could buy it all. But only Freya was capable of giving me love."

Zac shook his head of unruly flaxen curls. "Always the hero, aren't you?"

He grinned, showing off a row of perfectly-aligned teeth. "But heroes always die at the end ."

"Wait!" I yelled. "Don't shoot him."

"Freya," hissed Noel as I walked across the room to Zac.

"Take me," I whispered, my gaze meeting his.

He laughed and leaned down to steal a kiss, the gun in his right hand. I kept my eyes open as he caressed my cheek and kissed me roughly. My left hand moved to snatch the revolver but instead hit his thigh.

He slammed into my ribs with the handle but I refused to give up, trying to pry the gun out of his grip. But one of us must have accidentally pulled the trigger in our scuffle, because I heard another gunshot.

A strangled sound escaped from behind me and Noel fell to the ground, clutching his abdomen.

"NO!" I screamed, running to his side.

"Someone call an ambulance!" Shouted Kira as Peyton took out her phone and started dialling 911.

A few of the quaterbacks marched over to where Zac was standing, shocked, and tied his hands up with some cable tie they had found.

I cradled his head in my lap. "Noel,hey. You're gonna be alright."

He coughed up blood and I winced at the sheer amount. I clasped his hand tightly. "You're gonna live, okay?"

"We're gonna sit on your front porch and you're gonna strum your guitar and sing Hey Jude with that goddamn awful voice of yours and we're gonna go to Hawthorne Lake and feed the ducks and we're gonna move to New York and see the Empire State Building. But you have to hold on,okay?"

"I can't lose you twice," I admitted, my voice cracking.

He smiled up at me and gestured to remove his mask as I untied the strings. His green eyes shone brightly even in those final moments and he tightened his grip on my hand.

"Whatever happens, Freya, know that I came back for you. And nothing's ever gonna change that."

The sound of sirens could be heard from outside as I told him to save his energy.

"I love you," he whispered before his eyes closed for the final time.

And as my screams drowned out the wail of the sirens outside and the twelve strikes of the clock marked the arrival of the midnight hour, Noel McKenna was no more.

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