Chapter 4 - Haunted

Mackenzie's POV. -

She closed her locker and headed toward the cafeteria for the National Bully Awareness Month assembly when she heard Aisha call her name.

"Kenzie!"

"Hey, Aisha," Kenzie greeted as Aisha caught up to walk beside her.

"I have a question," Aisha said.

"Sure, what is it?"

"I'm planning matching costumes for me and Sam for the Halloween dance, but I can't decide whether to go as sodium or chloride."

Kenzie smiled. "Which one are you leaning towards?"

"Sodium."

"Then go with that!"

Aisha grinned. "Thanks, Kenzie."

"You're welcome."

Later at lunch, the conversation shifted to the Halloween dance that night. Kenzie still wasn't sure what she wanted to dress up as, but she was leaning toward a vampire costume. As she pondered her options, she checked her phone and noticed a Snap from Demetri—a funny cartoon meme. She chuckled and sent a laughing emoji in response. Over the past few weeks, she and Demetri had been chatting regularly. When she had asked Emmy how Demetri got her Snapchat, Emmy admitted she had given it to him. Kenzie wasn't upset; in fact, she was secretly glad.

Me: What are you going as to the dance?

Demetri: I'm debating between a necromancer or Spider-Man. You?

Me: Spider-Man would be cool! I'm thinking of going as a vampire.

Demetri: You're a Marvel fan?

Me: Yes! I love Marvel movies, and Spider-Man is my favorite hero!

Demetri: Same here.

The teacher entered and began the assembly. "Cyberbullying is no laughing matter. Sending a cruel message online can be just as hurtful as saying it to someone's face," he lectured. "Just the other day, a mother called me because her son was in tears after some kids made fun of his facial deformity." The teacher's eyes landed on Eli, who was trying to hide the scar on his lip. Kenzie noticed Emmy giving him a sympathetic look. "Our goal today is to make this school a safe space for everyone."

During the assembly, she overheard Aisha excitedly telling Sam about her costume idea. "I was thinking I'd be sodium, and you could be chloride. And when people ask what we are..." Aisha grabbed a salt shaker from a nearby table and mimed sprinkling it.

Yasmine scoffed. "What is that, some dumb inside joke?"

Aisha smiled. "It's not really an inside joke. Sodium chloride is table salt."

Yasmine rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I was kidding."

"We actually decided to go as Laker girls," Sam interjected. Aisha's face fell, clearly disappointed.

"But maybe we can order another. They're one-size-fits-all, which seems like false advertising," Yasmine added snidely.

Kenzie shot Yasmine a glare. "Hey, it's Halloween. People can dress however they want."

Yasmine shrugged and returned to her phone, while Kenzie quickly texted Aisha to ignore her.

●●●●

She spent after school getting ready for the dance. She decided to continue with her vampire plan since she had the perfect costume idea in my head.

Kenzie looked herself in the mirrvampirher vampiric appearance consisting of a deep crimson red strapless dress with a black leather jacket to go with it completed with a fancy black choker, a ring with a red stone in the center and black heeled ankle boots. Her red hair was done in a simple twisted crown with the rest down and curly.

She have out done herself; she just need to do her makeup.

Twenty minutes passed and it took her several times and mess ups but she is now ready to party! She grabbed her fake vampire teeth she nought from Spirit Halloween and put them on.

"Kenzie Emmy's here!"

"Ok I'm coming!"

She took her phone off the charger and met up with Emmy donned in a cute Gothic witch costume.

●●●●

The school gym was decked out for the dance with black lights, lanterns, smoke machines, and a snack table. Emmy spotted Eli in his surgeon costume and led Kenzie over. Standing next to him was Demetri, dressed as Spider-Man.

Eli wrapped his arm around Emmy, smiling. "Cool costume," Kenzie said.

"Thanks. You're Kenzie, right?" Eli asked.

"Yeah, nice to meet you."

Turning to Demetri, Kenzie smiled. "I see you went with Spider-Man."

He grinned sheepishly, removing his mask. "Yeah, and I see you went as a vampire."

He took the mask off revealing his toothy grin. "Yea," He said in a bashful way. "And I see you went as a vampire." She nodded. "Yep." She striked a goofy model pose, earning a laugh from them. Miguel appeared dressed as a Skeleton with face makeup. "Huh, a Skeleton..classic, nice!"

Miguel nodded in thanks. "Thanks, I like your Spiderman costume." He complimented. "Thanks." He looked over at Eli. "So are you a regular doctor or-"

"Plastic surgeon." Eli corrected, "I....fix lips."

Miguel complimented Emmy then looked at Kenzie. "Your Mackenzie, right?" "That's me." "I'm Miguel." "Nice to meet you." "You too."

She talked to them for a while; exchanging topics and taking pictures together. She spotted Aisha, who was standing alone and decided to go see her. Kindly excusing herself from the group, she went over and hung out with her.

The group chatted for a while before Kenzie excused herself to check on Aisha, who was sitting alone. Sam soon joined them, dressed in her Laker girl costume.

"Hey, guys!" Sam greeted, trying to lift the mood.

Kenzie complimented Sam's costume and tried to make small talk, but it was clear Aisha was still down about their costume plans falling through. After a few more minutes, Kenzie decided to give them some space, cheerfully saying, "Stay salty, my friend!"

3rd POV. -

Meanwhile Demetri, Miguel and Eli were at the snack table watching everyone dance while Miguel was checking out three girls who were dressed up as Daenerys Targaryen aka the Mother of Dragons.

"Ok, let's ask the Dragon Queens to dance." Miguel suggested.

"Slow your roll, we got time." Demetri said.

Miguel saw one of the boys sweep one of the dragon girls away. "No, no... shit. We just lost one to Doctor Who."

Eli noticed Demetri staring and saw that he was watching Mackenzie dancing away with Emmy on the dance floor. He smirked knowing his friend was crushing hard. He's been messaging her nonstop since his girl gave Demitri Kenzie's Snapchat and been staring at her the whole time.

"Hey babe!" Emmy ran up to Eli followed by Kenzie. "Come dance with me!" She grabbed his hand and tugged it.

"Do you want to come dance?" Kenzie asked Demitri.

"I-I uh, sure." He stuttered hai fade, flushing a pink color; letting the beautiful redhead with sparkling blue eyes pull him to the dance floor and began to sway to the music. Making small talks here and there. "I'm sorry that I am nervous."

"It's ok," Kenzie said, "I was a bit nervous since this is my first time going to a school dance."

"You're kidding." She shook her head.

"Damn." She giggled at his facial expression.

Priceless!

Kenzie giggled at his expression. pulling her close, earning more laughter from Kenzie as they continued dancing.

​​Mackenzie's POV. -

After the dance, they regrouped at the snack table, but Kenzie's phone buzzed. Her smile vanished as she saw the screen—a video of Aisha with a pig sticker on her nose, eating Cheetos, with the caption: THE BUFFET TABLE IS UNDER ATTACK!!!

Laughter erupted across the gym as everyone watched the video. Aisha, humiliated, ran out. Kenzie's fists clenched as she shut off her phone, while Emmy stormed off to confront Yasmine.

Kenzie wanted to comfort Aisha but knew her friend needed space right now. Emmy returned after a heated argument with Yasmine, no longer in a party mood. Together, the group decided to call it a night and left the dance.