All Hallows Eve, Vol. 3

Chapter 3

Three

Ava

I wake up early and get ready for class. Micah texted me to tell me to take the night off, so I’ll take him up on that. I’m going to go down to the square to see all the costumes and get some good food. I’ll ask Sandy if she wants to join me in grabbing a pumpkin spice latte. Maybe I’ll ask Dillon, my lab partner. He’s cute and quiet, which I like. I know I have to be extroverted at the bar and talk to people, but it’s all an act. I’d rather sit at home and binge watch The Office or something than go out. I’ll take a chance today, plus as the mayor’s daughter, I should show face once in a while.

I yell to Mom that I’m leaving and go out to my car. I wave at Herman, the guard at our gate, and sing with the radio as I take my usual route to campus. I’m at a stop sign when I see a figure out of the corner of my eye. He’s masked and disappears quickly into the trees.

Weird, but again it’s October.

Sandy bounds up to me as soon as I park. “Finally!”

I snort, “I’m early. Want to get coffee?”

She claps her hands. “You’re talking my language.” I laugh as we weave in and out of students on their way to and from classes. The line is short at The Brew Cart and as soon as we have our coffees in hand, we find a booth.

“What’s up with you?” I asked her. She seems unusually giddy.

She smiles. “I was asked to the Omega party.” For her, it’s a big deal. She pledged a sorority when we first started here. She got her second house but has loved it since. The house you want to be seen in is Omega.

“Who asked you?”

She looks around, “Forest Grady. He’s a junior like us, and probably will be president next year. Oh, and he’s on the football team.”

I’m not sure why she said that to me. I know who is on the team. If she’s happy, then I’m happy for her.

“What are you gonna wear?”

She taps her chin. “A couple’s costume or something. He hasn’t given me any ideas yet, but there’s still time.” Sure, there’s time if this was put together last month. I don’t want to tell her, but the costume store is surely picked clean by now. But knowing Sandy, she’ll put something together even if it’s last minute.

We sip our coffees in silence for a bit until she asks me about me.

“Nothing new, just work. Roark tried to talk to me. I did tell some girls that the guys were gay.”

She nearly spits out her coffee. “Why?”

I shrug. “I don’t know what came over me.”

She sighs. “You still care, and you’re probably jealous.”

What? Wait. Was I?

That can’t be right.

“Moving on, want to go to the square tonight and people watch?” I ask her and her eyes light up. “Are corn dogs involved?” I just laugh as we grab our things to head to our classes. She always knows how to make me laugh. Though she’s a big Roark supporter and says I should hear him out. I don’t hold it against her. He’s a likeable guy.

I know it seems like a lot to have the town run my sister out, but I had nothing to do with that. After my friends and family found out what happened, other things came to light, including how she stole money from our dad and the city office. She has tried a few times to call and apologize, but I think it’s because she has no one now. It’s not my problem. I’m not stopping my parents from having a relationship with her. They just choose not for reasons that are their own. If they ever forgive her, I’m okay with it because she is their daughter. But I just won’t be in the same place as her.

The walk to my business class at a brisk pace as I watch the leaves dance across the pavement. Fall is always beautiful, it’s why I choose to stay. I mean it is beautiful year-round, but I love autumn.

I hit the steps to my class when I see Bastian. They’ve been around a lot lately. I get it, we go to the same school. But it seems like they’re up in my face lately.

“Angel,” he greets me in passing. I jolt. He used to call me that because my hair is almost white. He said I used to have a glow about me like I was a gift from heaven. I haven’t heard that nickname in so long.

“What?” I stop and turn to face him.

“Just saying hi. No need to be hostile,” he smirks. Why is he smirking at me? And why does he look so good doing it?

“Just saying hi? Except for asking me for a beer, we haven’t spoken since the rehearsal dinner like I did something wrong. Guess it’s okay for a man to cheat on his fiancée.”

He winces. “No, it’s not. I’m sorry for everything.”

I don’t get to reply as he turns and walks away. The encounter was just weird. Also, it’s not his fault Roark cheated on me. I’m just hurt they chose him over me. I loved them all, and they turned their backs on me. I never would have made them choose between the two of us, but it seems like they did, and they chose Roark. In a time when I needed friends and family, they weren’t even there for me.

Whatever.

I step into the building and for some reason I get a weird feeling, like someone is watching me. Glancing around, I don’t see anyone, so I proceed to class. Dillon is in this class with me. I’ll ask him if he wants to go to the festival tonight. I think it will be a fun time.

I hit my seat, and he turns to me. “Have you ever heard about the river party?”

Weird question to ask, but I nod. “It’s been going on since I was in high school. The jocks on the football team host a big Halloween party down there.”

He taps his pencil on his notebook. “Is it true? It’s invite only?”

Shrugging, “No idea. I’ve never gone.” Now that I think of it, the guys go every year. They are the stars of the football team. Why haven’t I ever been invited?

“Are you going? You know the quarterback.”

I shake my head, “Didn’t get an invite and I’m not friends with the quarterback.”

He frowns. “Oh, I heard one of the twins talking and he made it seem like you were friends.”

Huffing out a laugh, “Yeah, well, they chose my cheating fiancé over me, so no, we’re not friends.”

His eyes widen. “Story time later?”

“Sure, come to the festival with me and Sandy. I’ll tell you all the dirty details.”

“Sounds fun,” he says right as the professor talks.

The class gets over and we pack up to head to our next classes. I wave bye to him and start my trek across campus to English. I only have two classes today. Afterwards I’ll go home and veg out until I meet up with Sandy and Dillon. Other than going to the bar to work, I enjoy staying home.

Is that why Roark cheated on me? Adaline is a social butterfly. I’m a homebody. That’s not the only difference. I’m on the curvy side, whereas my sister is thin and pretty. Well, others say she was pretty, I don’t think looks matter because if you’re an asshole, that trumps looks, a personality can make someone ugly.

Well, I’m going to live it up tonight, show them I can have fun, too.