Page 25 of Pretty Little Fears

JamesL.Blackwood

DeanofBlackwoodUniversity

CHAPTER TWELVE

EMMETT

Halloweenused to be fun.Whenwe were younger,GrimmandIwere the town's troublemakers.Westarted with the more harmless pranks like ding-dong-ditch and leaving flaming paper bags of shit on the front steps of stuffy officials.Aswe got older, our pranks became more advanced.Thetypes that took hours of planning for a few seconds of laughter.

Apartfrom the countless pranks,Grimm’sdad would take us pumpkin-picking at a patch not too far away.We’dspend the day selecting the perfect pumpkins and after returning toGrimm’s, we would dedicate hours to carving gruesome designs.

Itwas an escape from all the horrors of my home and added to my love for art.Ourmasterpieces only made it as far asGrimm’sfront porch, becauseJamesdidn’t give a shit about my creativity.Idon’t know when or why we stopped, maybe we can start up the tradition again this year.

Halloweenisn’t like that anymore, at least not atBlackwood.It’sall about parties.Moststudents atBlackwoodgo crazy overHalloween.

Thegirls rave over costumes or lack thereof.Theguys don’t usually dress up.Aface mask or a t-shirt that says, “THISISMYHALLOWEENCOSTUME,” makes numerous appearances on campus this time of year.

Butfor me, it’s the one nightIdon't have to beEmmettBlackwood.

Ican be whoever my ice-cold heart desires.

Ihaven’t decided on a costume this year because most of my time has been taken up by my new little obsession.I’min all black, sporting jeans and a hoodie.Ihave a mask set out for the party.

Thewhite plastic covers the entirety of my face aside from the black sunken holes that make up the eyes.It’sgot a crooked smile that looks like it was carved roughly into the material, leaving jagged edges along the line.Nodoubt making your skin crawl when you look into its hollow, smiling face.

Walkingout of my room,IseeGrimmhanging up decorations.He’salready fully dressed in his costume.Hisface is covered in black and white paint, designed to look like a skull.

He’swearing a white blood-splattered t-shirt.Theblood looks way too real and asGrimmwalks by, the metallic and coppery notes hit my nostrils causing me to scrunch my face.Notwanting to ask where he got the blood from,Ioffer to help him finish decorating instead.

Themusic tonight is ear-splitting.ToxicitybySystemOfADownblares through the speaker as partygoers enter the house.Mybody is vibrating with need asIlean against the wall, hidden from view of those entering our haunted little house.FromwhereI’mstanding,Ihave a clear view of everyone as they enter, while keeping hidden in the shadows.

EvenifIwasn’t watching the door with rapt attention,Iwould know the moment my little obsession walked through.Icould feel it in the way the hairs on the back of my neck rise and goosebumps trail my nape.

Blairwalks inside and my eyes roam over her body, studying her costume.She’swearing high-heeled boots that trail up to her thighs and stop just a few inches below her skintight, black skirt that accentuates her legs.Ablack corset squeezes her torso and tits, practically showing everyone what’s mine.

I’minstantly hard at the sight of her.

Fuck, she looks good.

Fuckingperfect.

Fuckingmine.

ButIdon’t understand what her costume is meant to be.NotuntilIsee the ink-colored halo above her head and black broken wings strapped to her shoulders.

Mylittle angel came dressed as whatIcan only assume is afallenangel.Ifit wasBlair’smission to get my attention with her costume, she succeeded.Ishake my head and let out a low chuckle.

Blair’sfriends enter behind her and after taking a look around, theymake their way deeper into the party, going straight towards the table filled with drinks.Itilt my head asIwatch, fascinated by her every move.

Mygood girl is choosing to rebel tonight with that costume.Showingoff every inch of skin that onlyIshould be seeing.Iwasn’t the only one to notice how fucking edible she looks.Assholesthat have done nothing to deserve her, gawked and whistled as she walked through the door.

Ifit was possible to kill someone with a look, they’d all be six feet under.Butthe only punishmentI’llhand out tonight will be to the little fallen angel herself.Ipush off the wall and make my way closer to where she stands.Closeenough to watch and listen, but not close enough to be seen.

Movementto the left causes me to turn my head, andIsee the same stupid fuck,Braxton, who plopped down in the seat next to her in class and would not leave her alone.Iremember the sweet smile she flashed at him.Likehe was fucking charming or some shit.

Unfortunately,Blairnot only caught the eyes ofprince charmingbut the fucking villain as well.Iwant her, soIwill have her.Consequencesbe damned.

Myeye twitches at the thought of them.Snappingback into the present moment,Ifocus on my girl.Hehas his sights set on my pretty little obsession, but that won’t last for long.Ashe makes his way towards her, my fists start to clench and my jaw hardens.Thismotherfucker is more annoying than a piece of dog shit on my shoe.

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