Last night was a complete blur. My mind is nothing but a jumbled mess. I barely listened to any of the conversations that were happening over breakfast. Instead, thinking back to last night, the way he had touched me. But this morning, he acted like nothing had happened. We hardly spoke, getting dressed, and heading out to meet everyone. We ended up finding a small cafe near the motel. It wasn't much to look at, but the food was good. Plus it was inexpensive, so it didn't hurt my pocket. 

Everyone seemed excited about our trip to the costume shop, except for me. The ride to the store was quieter than I expected. Everyone was absorbed in the beautiful scenery passing by. The sky was gorgeous, a vibrant shade of baby blue. Mass amounts of oversized pink and white clouds are streaked throughout the sky. They're so fluffy, almost like freshly spun cotton candy. Several tall mountain tops stand off far in the distance, with scattered trees here and there. It was as if the mountains were a part of the sky, blending perfectly in. I've never seen anything else quite like it. It's so beautiful, breathtaking even.

Even the small little town we stopped in was gorgeous. Small stone shops lined the cobbled streets. Each one is unique in a way. It wasn't like the city, with pollution everywhere and people everywhere. It's quiet. Even the air tastes better. Cleaner and more refreshing.

The costume shop is everything that Sky had explained to me. It's huge. From the outside, I would have never guessed it would be this big. There are thousands of rows of different-styled costumes. Completely stocked from the floor to the ceiling. There are over a hundred unique items scattered throughout the store. Each of them Halloween-related. I didn't even know people celebrated this holiday to this extreme.  Anything you can think of, they have. From costumes, face paint, masks, and wigs. To Decorations, even pumpkin carving kits and so much more.

The store is dimly lit, giving off an even more creepy vibe. Ghosts and goblins on wires appear suspended everywhere, hanging from the ceiling. Giant blow-up pumpkins stacked on top of each other create a huge archway. It's placed in the middle dividing a separate section for even more decorations. Aisles of costumes line the floors. They have headless bloody mannequins positioned at the end of every row. Each one is sporting a different type of outfit for display.

A huge projector screen on the far wall plays a horror film. I'm pretty sure it's a scene from the new Halloween movie set on repeat. With no sound, it's even creepier. Thousands of pieces of different-styled costume jewelry are out on display. Showcased, in giant locked cases arranged in the middle of the floor. Huge, colored gems and various-sized diamonds shine each time the light reflects off them.

"We should be dirty nurses," Skylar exclaims. Showing Hope a set of matching red and white nurse uniforms. Hope wrinkles her nose up at them before pulling two sexy cat costumes off a nearby shelf.

"Or maybe we can do a group costume, like The Wizard of Oz" Jessica's voice comes from somewhere on the other side of the costume rack.

I don't have any idea what I'm looking for. Or no clue what I want to be. Halloween is an overrated holiday. My fingers glide over the different materials as I skim through the section of costumes near me. Nothing catches my eye. There are a few zombies, a Hannah Montana one, several nuns, and even a rain cloud. I continue down the aisle. Only finding Nala from The Lion King, a sexy school teacher, a dozen priest costumes, and a pirate. It's equipped with a plastic sword and black eye patch.

"I don't normally participate in dress-up," Hayden whines, walking behind me. My body tenses from his touch. All I can smell is his cologne surrounding me. It's so intoxicating. I hate how he does this to me. He has all control over me, but he has no idea. I would hate to think what would happen if he knew this. 

"Aww, why not? You would make such a cute little pirate," I tease, trying to get my emotions under control. I pick up a loose eye patch, swinging it around on my finger. The more distance I put between us the better. I refuse to let him in.  

Even though I knew we were coming here, I haven't given it much thought. I have no clue what to wear considering that I haven't dressed up in years. I'm pretty sure the last time I did something like this, I was twelve. That was right around the same time that I lost my innocence and everything that went along with it. Maybe, this is one of the reasons I hate this holiday.  

I'm lost in thought, mindlessly running my fingers over the various fabrics. I continue walking,  making my way towards the back of the store. No one notices me disappearing, leaving them to argue about the costumes. I can still hear their muffled voices but I can't understand them. 

It's crazy, I never knew there was so much fuss about a make-believe holiday. Everyone knows that the candy factories invented it, for some get-rich-quick scheme. I don't even see what all the hype is about. I could understand if people used it to hide from themselves. It would be fun to play dress up and pretend to be someone other than myself. 

"Bex, is that you? Oh my gosh, it is" an all too familiar female voice from my past comes from behind me. A shiver runs down my spine. I would know that voice anywhere. Why her? Why now? My feet don't want to move, but my mind tells my body to run To escape her.

But instead, I don't get the chance. She grabs me from behind, spinning me around, and pulling me into a giant bear hug. Her blonde hair whips around, landing in my semi-open mouth as she squeezes me tight.

"Hey Ashley, what are you doing here?" I stammer as she releases me, allowing me to take a few wobbly steps backward, away from her. I'm silently cursing in my head. What did I do to deserve this? It's like the universe is trying to punish me, in some horrible way. I hope she doesn't catch onto the pure annoyance in my voice as I stare at her, lost for more words.

"You know, Halloween was always Johnny's favorite holiday. Plus, how could you forget every year my mom throws an enormous party silly" She lets out a fake laugh. She has to remember her mother never allowed me to attend any of her exclusive parties. Their whole family was against Johnny and me being together. I was too young for him and he was way too good for me. That's why she's bringing this up, she wants to humiliate me. I should have known.

The painful memories come rushing back to me. I was forced to spend every Halloween alone. Bored, waiting late in the night when he could finally sneak away from his controlling family. I shuffle my feet around, standing there silently watching her. I don't know what to say. I wish I could disappear, sink into the floor.

She turns away from me, pulling several scented candles off the nearest shelf. She opens each one, sniffing them. Eventually settling on a pumpkin spice latte-scented one. Carefully, she places the remaining ones back on the shelf. I'm contemplating running for it when she turns back to face me.

"They have the best stuff around here. I come every year," she boasts, walking a little farther before stopping again. She grabs more things from the shelf. Shoving several plastic skulls into her already full overflowing cart.

"But seriously, where have you been hiding? I figured you were dead or in rehab somewhere," she smirks, picking up a giant pink Sombrero. She gives me a fake sympathy smile before placing it on her head. Ashley hasn't changed since the last time I saw her. Which, unfortunately, was at the funeral. She's always been such a pretty girl. Her long wavy blonde hair and enormous round blue eyes are astonishing.  She never overdoes her makeup. It's always perfectly paired with her pale skin tone. And, of course, she has the perfect body to go along with it. A slim waist, big breasts, with a perfectly sculpted butt. Nice long slender legs which she has no shame in showing off. I think to myself as I take in her outfit.

A black suede miniskirt, with a slit ending right below her ass. Her breasts are nearly popping out of a tight-fitted off-white cream sweater. It has an extremely low-lying neckline. The tightness of the thin material outlines her slim waist.

She may be gorgeous on the outside, but her inside is hideous.

Her attitude sucks. It always has. When we were back in high school, she was head of the cheerleaders. Which, of course, made her the most popular girl in school. They were like a group of demons following the devil herself. She was a complete snob, turning her nose down on everyone she thought was beneath her. This included everyone but her little circle of minions. Half the time, she even treated them like they were worthless. I have no idea why they put up with her. Popularity can make you do crazy things. 

If I hadn't known them, I would never believe they were brother and sister. They were as different as night and day. Where she was evil, he was kind and sweet. He never cared about being popular or what anyone thought of him. He was kind to everyone, even people who didn't deserve it. 

Ashley and I never got along from day one. She had always thought that I was a bad influence. I was the one that introduced him to drugs. That somehow I brought her brother down. Even though I did nothing but try to help him. I begged him to stop doing drugs, to change his life. If only she knew the truth. Things wouldn't have turned out like they did. If only they had realized they were pushing him into that lifestyle. Maybe they would have stopped. It was possible to prevent all this, but it didn't happen. 

I've never asked her why she disliked me. I figured it was her mother's influence. That woman was worse than the devil. Ashley had nothing on her witch of a mother. The apple sure didn't fall far from the tree with that family.

"What do you think is this too much?" she asks, twirling around in a circle. Much to my horror, she spins right into Hayden, knocking him back slightly. He reaches out, grabbing hold of the nearest shelf to steady himself. It's like watching a train wreck happen, between my past and present.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," she mumbles.

It makes me happy to see that she's embarrassed. This means that she does have genuine emotions. But my happiness doesn't last long as I watch her step back, taking in his appearance. Her eyes widen, studying him as he adjusts his shirt. A large creepy smile washes across her face. Her tongue slowly creeps across her bottom lip. I know that face all too well. It's like a lioness when she's found her prey after a long day of hunting. Eyeing them before she moves in, right before she pounces.

"It's cool," he mumbles, his hand rifling through his hair.

"By the way, I'm Ashley and you are?" she coos, her smile widening, revealing a set of perfectly white straight teeth. She extends her thin, frail hand out towards him. He nods slightly, reaching out and shaking her hand.

"I'm Hayden. Nice to meet you," he answers. To my horror, returning her smile.

"Umm, Bex, you about ready" he shifts his eyes to where I'm awkwardly standing, not saying anything.

"Oh wow, are the two of you like a thing?" Ashley asks. Her face reveals everything she secretly wishes to say. Her hand drops, placing it on her hip. Her eyes are slit, glaring at me. Once again, It's like I'm back in high school being bullied by Ashley. But without her precious posse. The disappointment and judgment are clear in her voice.

"No, he's my friend's brother," I speak, unsure how to answer that question. Talking to Ashley makes me feel like a little kid again. If she knew how I felt about him what secrets would she reveal? My answer must have pleased her, her demeanor instantly changed. She's back on the prowl.

"In that case, you can jot my number down? Maybe we can meet one weekend and get to know each other better? A friend of Bex's is a friend of mine" She smiles up at him, batting her eyelashes. Naturally, she's using me to manipulate the situation to her advantage. It's like nothing has changed at all. I watch her pull out her phone, handing it to him without hesitation. I stay quiet, my eyes darting around for an escape. He hesitates before typing her number into his and handing hers back.

"Well, it was good seeing you again, Bex. At least now I know that you're not dead," she mumbles to me. Not even bothering to take her eyes off of Hayden. To throw a little more salt into my already sore wounds, she continues. "By the way, don't be a stranger. I don't believe everything everyone says about you, only some of it. And I don't entirely blame you for what happened to Johnny either," she whispers. Her voice was much softer than before. Then, realizing she must have seemed weak, she finishes her statement. "It could have been you instead, but it wasn't." She sneers, pulling me in for another hug. It's hard to tell if she was being sincere or trying to put a show on for Hayden. Either way, it doesn't matter. What happened, happened? And there's no changing that.

After giving Hayden one more quick smile, she walks away, throwing her hips around a little too much. It feels like someone has kicked me in the stomach. My head is swimming. Is it possible to drown without water? I can't breathe. My chest is tightening. She ripped my heart out and stomped on it, not even caring.  Seeing her has stirred up a lot more painful memories. Ones that I'd been burying deep inside me. Most I'm not ready to face yet. I might never be. Turning away, I dart off, leaving Hayden standing there.

I grab the first costume I see in my size, not caring what it is at this point. I have to get out of here. After paying for my items, I rush out to the car. Leaving everyone else still inside, clueless to what happened.