AllFreeNovel
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Tonight was about all of us, or so Jake and Archie insisted, while Coop said we’d stay as long as I was comfortable. Corey’s parents had a place almost as nice as Archie’s.
Almost.
Halloween was chilly, so the heavy costumes were actually comfortable, which was good ’cause the skirt I had on also had layers. At least the ruby slippers had chunky heels.
Inside, drinks of all variety including alcoholic were flowing. Kids were dancing in the living room where all the furniture had been shoved back against the walls and draped with covers, probably to protect them.
There were witches and sorceresses, superheroes and cops, a few firemen and enough naughty witches, nurses, and more to turn all the guy’s heads. There was even a naughty Dorothy.
Rachel found us five minutes after we arrived.
“Nice costume,” Jake told her as he eyed her Hogwarts School uniform. “You are…?”
“Hermione of course.” She gave a toss of her hair. “The only intelligent one.”
I grinned. “I like it.”
“Looking good.”
“I know, right?” So modest, too. I glanced around, looking for Skylar, and Rachel gave an exaggerated sigh, then nodded toward the bar where the sodas were flowing and, without a doubt, alcohol. Another girl in a Hogwarts uniform waved at us. The platinum blonde wig threw me though. “Luna Lovegood. I love long time.”
Coop groaned at the tease, but I just laughed. “Good.”
“You want to dance?” Rachel asked me, then glanced at the guys. “’Cause I’m not sure there’s a Yellow Brick Road for you to skip on.”
“Go torture Ron and Harry,” Archie suggested. “You’re supposed to be agoodwitch.”
“Ha.” But the laughter that followed was real, and I was grinning all over again. At least they were getting along. Skylar joined us with drinks at the same time Ian nodded to the make shift dance floor and “Who Let the Dogs Out” started playing.
“We have to,” he said, then grasped my hand and tugged me with him. Yes, we absolutely did. Ian danced with gusto, singing along with the lyrics, and it wasn’t long before the guys joined us.
The rooms were getting more crowded, but they kept a barrier up around me. Rachel and Skylar got in, no one else.
On one cool down break, I spotted Maria. It was the first time I’d really seen her since everything happened. Our gazes locked, and I gave her a small smile. She offered the same back. I’d been the lucky one, I knew that. We might never be close again, but we had been friends once upon a time, and I really didn’t wish her ill. Then people moved between us, and I lost sight of her.
Mathieu came by with his date and introduced us. There was a lot of grumbling from the Cowardly Lion until I stepped on his foot, and the Tin Man elbowed him. Whether he was aware of the grumbling or not, Mathieu only stuck around for a couple of minutes before he wandered.
Patty appeared, hanging off the arm of one of the football players, but I didn’t remember his name. Ian wrapped an arm around my middle and pulled me back against him because there were more and more people filling in.
“Want to go outside?” he asked against my ear.
I kind of did. There were so many people here. So many costumes. I knew some of them, but not all. Coop and Jake had gone to get us drinks. When Ian jerked his chin toward the door and said in a little louder voice, “We’re taking this outside,” Archie nodded.
“You got her?”
“Yeah.”
“Good, I’ll let the guys know.”
Like I wasn’t right there. Then again, Ian hadn’t moved from my side all night. My one and only trip to pee, he’d gone into the bathroom first, then parked it inside with me, back turned while he leaned against the door.
It had been very sweet.
Hand in hand, he guided me out while Archie headed for the bar. I looked around for Rachel, but Ian found her first. She and Skylar were lip-locked in the corner. And the ferocity of those kisses suggested they should find a room sooner rather than later.
The tempo from the bass throbbed through me, and the sudden cessation as we made it outside was a relief. The colder air was more than welcome against my flushed cheeks. I hadn’t even realized I’d gotten a little sticky and clammy, though that made sense from all the dancing.
Some of the party had spilled outside, but we walked around toward the drive. Despite the open-air, Ian held onto my hand.
