Trouble

|Chapter Twenty-Five| Mulberry Tree

Sometimes I'm so proud she's my best friend, it makes my heart unbearably full. I'm sure one day she'll be on the biggest stages she's ever dreamed of, performing roles she has only fantasized about.

"No worries, hottie," I wink at her with a smile, before holding out her pan in front of her. "I believe this belongs to you."

"Thanks, my Goddess," she bows with a modest smile, holding her hands out in front of her as if she's accepting a sward. I place it into her hands with a chuckle, before we start walking back to the gym.

The Halloween party held there is at its full bloom as we enter. Actually, it's close to its conclusion, but I've begged Sydney to stay a little longer. I'm still waiting for a certain someone, but of course I couldn't tell her that. I hate the idea of lying to her over and over again, but I just know that she'll not understand or accept the idea of me and Connor. Trouble, as she knows him.

Looking around for Connor, I notice that many students are still dancing to The Weeknd in their scary and funny costumes, losing themselves in the beat, while some are making out in the dark corners, drinking from the secret bottles of vodka they'd sneaked in, and complimenting each other on their realistic looks.

The whole place is designed with fake ghosts, spiders and webs, vampire statues and artificial blood.

The design is nothing unusual or grand, nothing as unique as my mother would make, but still, I'm happy to be here. Tonight, I feel closer to my mom, more than I've felt in a year.

As I was dressing for the night, I imagined her looking at me in the mirror, and smiling so big and bright, it almost felt like I could see her.

She'd be so excited, so happy to see my first Halloween party at uni. She'd approve my look, she definitely would because she was the one to get me hooked on Greek mythology through architecture, and she was too proud of it.

For a second, I hope I can see her today in my dream, even if it's because of my paralysis.

"Have you seen Jack yet?" Sydney mumbles as we click our Cokes, before moving her head to the right as a hint. "Or should I say Captain Jack Sparrow?"

When my eyes catch Jack across the room, drinking and talking to his mates in his pirate costume, I share a laugh with Syd.

"I was the one to give him the idea. Now tell me I'm not a genius." She says with a huge smile.

"You totally are." I answer with a grin before my eyes travel to the entrance of the gym for the infinite time tonight.

I knew the chances of Connor being here were small, but I was hoping... praying for it, honestly.

Does this mean he went to the other party he was invited to? By the girl that interrupted our project discussion the other day?

My whole body tingles with burning fire, as the memories of how I asked him to come tonight flood my head.

We were so close, so intimate, so lost in each other. But I haven't seen him for two days and it's torture.

I crave being near him all the time, knowing he's close, and our eyes can meet any second. It's like I'm a sunflower, and he's the sun, I'm constantly reaching for him even though he's so far away.

After leaving the study room, I locked myself up in the bathroom for what felt like an eternity, tidying up and trying to look less like I've just been freshly screwed in a dark study room by a hot guy I've been drooling over since I was five.

Took me a while to catch my breath and then just stare at myself in the mirror and smile like a complete weirdo. I started to giggle joyfully too, and of course that's when a girl came out of one of the cabins, eyeing me suspiciously to let me know she's heard me.