Lone [MATURE HS]

Chapter 37 (Part 1)

I stick my last piece of the mini Snickers into my mouth, watching my mom hand out candy to the little kids that were dressed as minions from that Despicable Me movie. My eyes avert to the television hung up on the wall, a horror film on that I watch so aimlessly, and without an interest.

I've been going over and over in my head how to tell my mother all that has been happening. Besides the details she's already been told, I want to let her know who the real danger is. The woman who's been torturing Harry and I with mind games and threats. I've come up with no angles how to specifically approach this issue, and so I'm forced to conclude that it has to come out either way, and the way I say, it must not really account for much.

I cuddle into my blanket, lifting it right beneath my chin. On these days, I'd usually go out with Charlie and Martha, dressed in whatever sexy thing I could find. I imagine doing the same, but with Harry at my side. He wouldn't be able to take his eyes off me, not to mention his hands. But I'm here, alone, slightly depressed, worried to no limit. Eating candy non stop and trying to fall back asleep so I don't have to face my mother.

Harry's out with Nathan, taking him trick or treating. I think I should've gone with them when he had offered, but I was too lazy and lifeless to move from the position I still hold on the couch.

"Tara," I hear my mom's voice calling me from the kitchen.

"What?" I respond.

No answer. I groan, agitated, throwing the blanket off of me and standing to my feet, moving towards the kitchen. She's pouring more candy into a bowl when I approach her. I furrow my eyebrows, remarking, "Jesus, how many bags of candy did you buy? Handing a bag to every kid in the neighborhood?"

She gazes up at me with a bitter, sarcastic expression. "Yes. Now, there's cookies in the oven. They're soft baked, so you gotta take them out right now. Let them cool, then we can start decorating."

"Why are we baking cookies and decorating? Are you throwing a party I don't know of?" I laugh lightly, crossing my arms over my chest. She throws out the empty bag of candy, rummaging her hand through the bowl to mix the sweets up.

"No, but I figured you need to do something other than glue yourself to the couch," she retorts, sending me a sarcastic smile. I send it back just as she walks past me.

Sighing to myself, I go to take the cookies out of the oven, having the oven mitts she left out, careful not to burn myself. I can hear the doorbell ring and the sound of my mother's overly enthusiastic voice. When a familiar voice speaks out, my ears perked and I place the tray onto the marbled counters, slipping off the mitts before quickly walking towards the front door.

Nathan stands dressed as what is obviously a Harry Potter costume. My eyes widen, lips breaking out into a grin when Nathan notices me, smiling wildly and pointing to the painted scar on his forehead, eyes shining behind his rounded glasses. I manage a soft laugh before commenting on his accurate depiction of the character. Behind him stands Harry, who I look to afterwards, face covered by a Michael Myers white mask, his hazelnut brown hair brushed back and gelled. My mother pulls his mask up to peek at his face underneath, telling him something that makes them both laugh.

"Oh my —" I stop myself, chuckling at my boyfriend as he steps inside behind a Nathan who cunningly grabs from the bowl of candy my mother holds loosely by her waist while she distractedly talks to Harry. She sets his mask back on his face, shutting the front door. I wait for him to approach me, and he lifts off his mask once in front of me, dipping down to press a quick, loving but sloppy kiss on my lips. Smiling, I mock him entirely through my eyes, which he notices and reaches out his hand to flicker the tip of my nose. "In the spirit?" I ask him, playfully smacking at his hand.