Page 93 of Truth or Dare

“I’m not sure what I did but you can’t just close me out. I love you, Presley,” I said before I hung up.

I settled into my usual spot, idly scrolling through my phone while keeping an eye on the Rossis’ driveway. Presley’s jeep was nowhere in sight. After an hour of futile waiting, frustration gnawed at me. I gave up and decided to head home.

This weekend was Halloween, and my mother had gone all out with the decorations. A huge blow-up witch loomed over ourfront yard, cackling mechanically when motion was detected. Several pumpkins, their faces carved into various expressions of ghoulish delight, lined the pathway to the front door. The sight of it all should have lifted my spirits, but today, it felt like a mockery of my mood.

I parked the truck and trudged up the steps, the witch’s laughter ringing in my ears. The contrast between the festive yard and the heaviness in my chest was almost too much to bear. My mom popped her head out of the kitchen, a cheerful smile on her face.

“Hey, Hudson! How was your day?”

I forced a smile. “It was fine, Mom. Just tired.”

She gave me a knowing look but didn’t press. “Well, there’s apple cider in the fridge if you want some. And I could use a hand with the finishing touches on the yard later.”

“Sure, Mom. I’ll help out in a bit,” I said, heading up to my room. The truth was, I needed some time to clear my head.

Once inside, I flopped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything. Presley’s distance, the uncertainty of it all—it weighed on me more than I wanted to admit. My phone buzzed with a text, and I grabbed it, hoping it was Presley. But it was just a group chat notification from my classmates about the upcoming Halloween party.

I sighed and tossed the phone aside, closing my eyes. The weekend loomed ahead, filled with the promise of festivities and distractions. But all I wanted was to figure things out with Presley, to understand what was going on in her head and heart.

Eventually, I dragged myself downstairs to help my mom with the decorations. As we strung fake cobwebs and positioned plastic skeletons, I tried to lose myself in the simple tasks, hoping that by keeping my hands busy, my mind might find some semblance of peace.

But as the witch let out another eerie cackle, I couldn’t help but think that the real hauntings were the unresolved feelings and unanswered questions that lingered in the shadows of my thoughts.

CHAPTER 28

Presley

It was Saturday, Halloween, and the last thing I felt like doing was celebrating. But Jennie’s party was the event of the season, and I knew skipping it would only raise questions I didn’t want to answer. So, I found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror, adjusting the ears of my sexy cat costume.

The black bodysuit clung to me, accentuating curves I normally didn’t think about. My makeup was dramatic—cat eyes and whiskers, a deep red lipstick that felt too bold for my mood. I sighed, pushing a loose strand of hair back into place. This costume felt like a mask, hiding the turmoil underneath.

What I’d found at Evan’s house still haunted me. The notebook—filled with intimate thoughts and observations—wasn’t his. It was his mother’s. Discovering it had been a shock, peeling back a layer of Evan’s life I hadn’t been prepared for. It made me see him in a different light, and not in a good way.The pages revealed a side of their family dynamics that was unsettling, and it explained a lot about his behavior, but it also made everything more complicated.

But there was something more involving Hudson and I couldn’t bear to tell him the truth. I’d been avoiding him for days, but I knew I would need to reveal what I knew, or I couldn’t live with myself.

My phone buzzed, a message from Jennie asking if I was on my way. I forced a smile and typed back a quick response before slipping the phone into my small black purse. I didn’t want to go, but staying home meant dwelling on everything, and I couldn’t handle that tonight.

I grabbed my coat and headed downstairs. My parents were in the living room, watching a horror movie and laughing at the cheesy effects. They looked up as I walked in.

“You look great, honey,” Mom said, her eyes lighting up. “That costume is perfect on you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I replied, managing a small smile.

“Be safe and have fun,” Dad added, giving me a thumbs-up. “Call us if you need anything.”

“I will,” I promised, though I didn’t plan on needing anything but a distraction.

Neil bounded down the stairs dressed all in black and holding an old pillowcase in his hand. This would probably be the last year he would trick or treat.

“Where you going?” I asked.

“Out with Jerry and Tim. We’re going hard on some candy collection.”

I laughed but I was happy my brother was finally hanging around with kids his own age. At least I wouldn’t need to babysit him tonight.

“Have fun.”

He yanked the ski mask he had on his head over his face and slipped out the door in front of me. I followed, closing the door behind me as a group of young children made their way up the sidewalk. At least I didn’t have candy duty this year.

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