It wasn't necessarily that she was having second thoughts, but now that her hair and makeup was done she felt increasingly self conscious. She'd never worn so much before. The matte red lipstick that Charlie had swiped on her felt sticky and heavy. Everytime she opened her mouth to speak it was like her lips had glue between them. Her eyelids were no better--what with the fake lashes Teresa had insisted she wear. She finally relented to let them have their way with her and gave into the pressure.

The final product was someone she didn't recognize. Her wavy brown hair had been sprayed enough for her to be considered flammable to hold in the finger curls that took hours to perfect. Charlie and Teresa had been ready before she walked through the door--courtesy of Jake picking her up.

"Wow," Charlie breathed, "you look amazing!" she squealed, forcing her to look at her reflection once more.

"I feel like I'm going to freeze to death in this thing," she said with a grimace. Skylar turned from side to side, admiring--and detesting--the low cut neck and hem. 

"Gives you an excuse to have Jake warm you up," Teresa replied, winking. The three girls fell onto the bed in a fit of laughter as the door opened.

"Charlotte, honey, your father wants you to take this when you go." Skylar gaped at the put together woman in the doorway. She'd never seen Charlie's mom before, but she figured she worked full time like hers did. 

She looked nothing like her own mom. Charlie's mother wore a pastel yellow shirt that buttoned up to her throat, leaving nothing to see but milky white neck. A string of pearls was laid neatly over the top, set off with a set of matching stud earrings. Her blonde hair was cropped short in an a-line bob, and her face was set with the perfect amount of makeup to accentuate her natural beauty. She saw where Charlie got it from.

"Okay, Mom," Charlie said, hopping up. "By the way," she beamed, "this is Skylar, she's new."

The woman smiled warmly. "So nice to meet you, Skylar." She gasped and reached out to grab her hands in hers. "My word," she gushed, "your eyes are absolutely beautiful."

Skylar swallowed, glancing to Charlie for assistance. Compliments were not something she was accustomed to receiving. "Mom," Charlie gently pried her hands from Skylar, "you're being weird. Please go."

Her mother was still staring. "I'm not being weird, Charlotte. Her eyes are gorgeous. Heterochromia, right?"

"Excuse me?" Skylar's brows knit together.

"Your eye color," she clarified.

"Uh--they're just brown." Her lips thinned.

Charlie's mother gave her a wide grin and shook her head, bringing her hand up to brush a thumb just above Skylar's eye. "No, sweetie, I mean the condition that causes them to be two different colors. One brown, one green--it's called heterochromia, right?"

Skylar didn't know what to say. She turned to look at herself in the mirror. Her jaw slackened at the sight. If she wasn't looking for it, she may have missed it. Her right eye was still golden brown, but only just around the outer edge of her iris. The inside was completely green and swimming with gold flecks. "It's so rare. I see it every now and then at my office. Such a beautiful thing to see though."

"Mom go!" Charlie groaned dramatically, pushing her back into the hallway.

"Okay, okay," she sighed as the door shut.

Charlie let herself flop against the back of the door and let out an exaggerated moan. "Sorry, my mom is super annoying. She works at the vision center and gets to poke people in the eye all day so she thinks she gets to get inside your bubble to see what color your eyes are. It's so irritating."

"She seems nice," Skylar decided, trying to keep her mind off her eyes. 

Now we aren't strangers. The text was still on her phone, unreplied to, but she'd stored the number as Bear. She'd started to reply to it at least six times, but something always stopped her. Now it was too late and would just be awkward, so she left it.

"Whatever," Charlie cringed at the notion.

-------

The music was thundering in her ears before she even walked through the door. To her right, stood Teresa in a jean romper that was unbuttoned to her navel. Every visible inch of her skin had been painted green. Charlie had opted for a different color--blue. A white wig had been placed on her head, and a navy latex jumpsuit hemmed in ivory fur clung to her frame. Killer Frost and Hulk--they'd had to explain the comic book characters to Skylar at least twice.

Charlie's mother wasn't privy to their costume choice, however. They'd all left the house with heavy coats and footie pajamas--the real costumes worn beneath. Charlie's dad had given them a hundred dollar bill for food and drinks to last the night. Her parents crumpled tens shoved into her bra suddenly seemed like pocket change.

"There he is." Charlie turned to face them both and pulled her breasts up, zipping down the zipper of her jumpsuit and tossing her fake curls back. "How do I look?"

"Good," Skylar answered automatically.

Charlie looked horrified. "Good?" She practically shrieked.

"Sexy as fuck. A boner magnet," Teresa quickly fixed. Charlie sighed with relief.

"Wish me luck," she mumbled, taking off in her high heels to a boy standing in the corner. He was the epitome of cool in a pair of ripped jeans and a black leather jacket. He didn't change his indifferent stare when Charlie approached way too giddy. 

"She'll be back," Teresa said, steering her towards the drinks. "Two Sprites please," she ordered.

"Who is that?"

"That," she said, gesturing to the boy still ignoring Charlie, "is Jet Brady. Charlie has been trying to get in his pants for two years, but I don't think he even knows who she is."

She watched Jet lean down and grab Charlie by her cheeks, pressing a kiss to her lips. Her brows shot up. "Looks like they know each other pretty good."

"Oh," Teresa laughed, "they make out all the time. He kisses everyone." Jet pulled back, wiped his mouth, and walked away. A dazed and satisfied Charlie staggered back over.

"You guys want to dance?" she asked, as though nothing had happened.

"I don't really know how--"

"Bullshit!" Charlie blurted and dragged her outside to the dancefloor set up. A live band dressed up as zombies were playing cover songs beneath rows of twinkle lights draped between the potted trees.

The music was deafening in back of Romulus. Skylar awkwardly swayed her hips, attempting to look like she knew what she was doing. Charlie pulled out her cell phone and scoffed. "Jake is late. He just left the house. Dad made him clean the garage to earn his hundred." She beamed.

"What did you have to clean for that?"

Teresa snorted. "Nothing, she's the princess. Daddy's little girl," she cooed to her friend.

Charlie didn't hide her grin as she shrugged nonchalantly. "It is what it is," she drawled with a smirk.

The band announced they were taking a ten minute break, and top hits blasted from the speakers. "I love this song," Charlie shouted over the music and grabbed them both by the hands to drag them out. 

"Here," Teresa grabbed two red solo cups from a nearby table. 

"What is this?" Skylar sniffed and crinkled her nose. Alcohol.

"Who cares. Drink up, you'll dance better." She tilted the cup back until whiskey spilled onto her chin. Skylar finished the cup with a sour look and tossed it in the trash beside the table.

"When you see a red solo cup unattended at Romulus, it's alcohol. Don't ask questions. Just grab, chug, toss." She demonstrated her meaning by reaching over to the next table and snatching up a cup as the owner was busy talking. She pounded it back in no time and let out a triumphant, "Ahh, that hits the spot."

Skylar and Charlie giggled relentlessly and soon, the three of them had stolen nine drinks from tables. Having a pretty low tolerance for alcohol, Skylar's head was swimming within the hour. "I'm going to get a water. Do you guys want one?" Skylar rubbed her temples, needing a break from the music and dancing.

"No way, I'm not driving." Teresa kept her hips going, not even glancing in Skylar's direction as she stumbled towards the doors. 

Inside the club was a sea of bodies, all grinding together and sweating. She could smell the sweat--smell the salty sweet scent of everyone as they danced on and on. A scent stood out from the rest. She recognized it before a husky voice muttered, "Malibu sunrise, Tom."

She turned around and gave a glassy eyed smile to the man seated next to her. Once again, his attire was entirely black. "What are you supposed to be?" she inquired.

"CEO," Bear purred, gesturing to his crisp, midnight suit. He'd traded in his usual silk tie for a satin bowtie. There was no denying how absolutely attractive he was.

"I see," she giggled, nerves dissipating thanks to the alcohol.

Tom set the drink down in front of her, eyeing her suspiciously and no doubt weighing whether or not serving her would cost him his license. "So," he went on, "enjoying your dance?"

She shrugged, blinking too slowly and using the counter to hold her weight. "S'okay," she slurred.

"How's Jake?" Drunk or not, she didn't miss the bite in his tone.

"Late," she confessed. SHe groaned, her head pounding from the noise. Bear smiled into his glass. "Why are you here?" Her eyes narrowed.

He looked over at her, green eyes glittering with mischief. "So you haven't danced with anyone yet?"

"Just my friends," she answered honestly. Realization struck her harder than the stolen whiskey cokes, but he was already bringing her to her feet and pulling her back outside. Deja vu permeated her mind as the people parted for them like royalty. "Whoa, wait," she protested, but his arms were around her and she couldn't deny how good his warmth felt on her exposed skin in the October chill.

"What's wrong?" he asked with a cocky grin. His plump lips thinned out as his white teeth were put on display. 

"I'm not good at dancing," she confessed.

He grin widened, eyes crinkling ever so slightly. "Fortunately for you, I am." He pulled her closer, flush against his chest as the music slowed down to a comfortable beat. His cologne invaded her nostrils, making her eyes flutter shut. It was all she could do to keep from laying on him and letting him just drag her around. "You look lovely," he complimented. 

She snorted a laugh and he pulled back a bit. "What?"

"No one says lovely anymore," she giggled. "Sorry," her head snapped up, "I'm being stupid. I think I had too much to drink." She palmed her forehead, cringing.

Bear let out a chuckle and pulled her back. "Maybe you should switch to water for a while," he observed humorously. 

"Shit," she cursed under her breath, "I was supposed to get water for my friends."

Bear let her unwind her arms from around him. She shivered as soon as his body heat left her. She looked up at him with an apologetic frown, but he was staring at the crystal draped around her neck. The way it rested between her breasts perfectly, like a glowing star on her tan skin. Her breath hitched when his fingertips grazed the tiny scratch on her collar bone. "I'm sorry that happened to you," he whispered so only she could hear. Her mouth went dry, heart hammering. He moved down, trailing his index finger until it was touching her crystal. His knuckles, ever so lightly, brushed against the sides of her breasts as he lifted the stone for inspection.

For a moment, all she could do was watch him. Watch him set the crystal down, his fingers lingering on her skin. Watch him move his hand behind her neck, massaging the curls on her nape. Watch his lips part and draw nearer. Draw nearer. He was going to kiss her. She blinked, trying to decide what to do.

"Skylar!" She jumped at the interruption. Bear was still gazing into her eyes, his stare flickering down to her lips.

Jake stepped around Bear's towering form, coming up inches shorter. "Jake," she breathed, looking back to Bear. His eyes were fixed on hers now.

"Sorry I'm late," he apologized, completely ignoring Bear's presence. "Unlike Charlie, some of us have responsibilities."

"It's okay," Skylar cleared her throat. "I was just--"

"Sup," he greeted Bear casually.

Bear's eyes squinted, but he held out a large hand regardless and replied, "You must be Jake. Skylar's told me a lot about you." A lie. They both knew it, but Jake accepted the handshake and flashed a toothy grin at him that was about as fake as Bear's comment.

"Handshakes? Old school," Jake sniggered.

Skylar swallowed. "I was just about to get some water for Charlie and Teresa and me," she said, earning Jake's attention.

"Cool, I'll help you carry them." He stepped in front of Bear and hooked her arm in his. "See you around," he said, saluting Bear.

"Yeah," Bear grumbled and Skylar tried to look back at him, but the crowd swallowed her whole.

-------

Jake's hands were like ice on her back. His grip was much tighter than Bear's had been. He pressed against her while they danced, whispering things into her ear that she could barely hear. They stayed until Tom began shouting that the dance was over and all minors needed to leave. Bear was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, you guys ready?" Charlie caught up to them on the sidewalk.

Teresa looked absolutely wasted. She was snoring with her eyes closed, standing up with arms limp at her side. Jake shook his head before she could answer. "I'll drive her home. I had to take my car here anyways." 

"Uh," Skylar tried to say more but Charlie pursed her lips and shrugged.

"Okay," she chirped and let Teresa lean on her as they crossed the parking lot.

"Ready?" he checked. The parking lot was beginning to empty fast. Charlie was stuffing Teresa into the back of her mango Jeep. 

"Yes," she decided. "I can't go home yet though," she managed to get out while he tugged her to the Honda. 

"Why?" 

"My parents are home," she whined. For once, they were set to be home before midnight. "They can't see me like this," she waved a hand over her costume and glassy eyes. "I'll be grounded for a year."

Jake barked a laugh. "I doubt they'll ground you that long." He opened the door for her to slip into the front seat. "Do you want to drive around for a bit? Sober up some?"

She nodded, moaning softly and slumping her head against the headrest. "Yes please."

The car started and she felt the earth move away from her well before her eyes ever bothered to take in her surroundings. "Where are we driving to?" she asked with a yawn.

"Somewhere everyone goes," he stated. She was vaguely aware of taking a few turns and what seemed like going uphill, but she was too exhausted to open her eyes and actually look. She only deigned to sneak a peek when the road became bumpy.

"Where are we?" she checked, looking out at the heavily wooded path. The smooth street was gone. All that was left was a gravel road riddled with holes and dips.

"Tongue Tip," he boasted. He'd stopped driving once they reached a clearing that dropped off into a steep cliff. 

"What?" She sat up straighter, sobering up almost instantly. "Tongue Tip?"

Jake cut the engine. "Yeah," he continued, "where everyone goes to mess around." He reached over, his hand toying with her neckline and giving it a playful tug.

"Stop," Skylar said, clipped. 

"Stop?" Jake laughed, but stopped when he realized she was being serious. "Why?"

"Because," she slid farther into the door, "I'm not ready."

His lips curled into a devious smile. "Not ready?" He looked her up and down and scoffed. "Oh shit," his eyes widened, "you're a virgin."

"What? No," she protested, "I'm just not ready right now."

"Your costume says, 'come fuck me' basically." He moved his head towards hers again but she dodged it.

"Excuse me?" Her gaze burned. 

"Whatever," he snorted and started the car up again. "Fucking tease," he said under his breath.

Her chest tightened, eyes burning. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide the plunging neckline, and pulled her hem down to hide her thighs. THe costume was a stupid idea--Charlie's idea. The lump in her throat grew and grew.

"You know, I've been a pretty decent guy to you since you've moved here."

It caught her off guard. "What? Are you kidding me?"

"I've given you rides, been nice to you--"

"So that means I have to fuck you?" Skylar turned away disgusted. "Entitled much? Grow up."

She wasn't prepared for the abrupt stop. Her forehead smashed into the dashboard, stars blinding her vision. Warmth trickled down her face. "You ungrateful little--"

Metal. She could taste it in her mouth, but she could hear it too. Metal whining under pressure, like the soft groans of an old house worn by time. Cold. It was so cold, like the air conditioner had been cranked up. The radio continued to blare and she could barely hear, but she wasn't entirely deaf to her surroundings.

Her eyes may have been blurry, but she could still make out the tall, dark figure looming over a frightened Jake. "Go home, sleep it off." A grunt thumped in her ears and then retreating footsteps. Then...darkness.