Hush

Chapter two: A Missed Halloween

October 29th of that year fell on a Thursday night, and as always, the local nightclub held a Halloween themed event a few days prior to Halloween night. Forever has this been a big hit in our town, and in light of Halloween being my favourite holiday of the year, I was desperate to go. I'd prepared my outfit and makeup - A young dead girl, morbid I know - and I was just waiting on the OK from my parents to loan me the money.

Between 6 and 7 O'clock that evening, I received a number of text messages from Rachel questioning what the plan for this evening was to be. With that I hurried down the stairs and burdened my parents for their answer. My heart sank as I saw the look of disappointment on their faces.

"Colette I'm sorry, but the bills came out today and we've received some unexpected bank charges so we really don't have the spare cash for you to go out tonight" she said sheepishly, before turning to my dad for a helping hand.

"I know this was a big night Col, but there's always next Halloween. You could take Kyle trick or treating instead, would be a shame to waste the outfit!"

He must of been joking. How would he think that wandering round the street with my irritating 6 year old zombie brother, begging for candy from strangers even compare to a night out with my friends that had been planned for weeks. With the knowledge that this battle was as good as over, I didn't even attempt to change their minds. Instead I slumped into myself and dragged my poor body up the stairs to my room. I wanted my parents to know that tonight I would be wallowing in my own self pity and they were to blame - even if their reasoning was perfectly justifiable.

After sending a miserable response back to Rachel, encouraging her to go on without me, I wondered what I could possibly do with my night in my tiny bedroom that would make this whole experience less frustrating. The room in which I held my humble abode was nothing spectacular. The walls were painted a sickly cream color, stained from the previous owners nicotine addiction. And the carpet was litter tray grey, and hard as sand. In an effort to make my room homey, I covered every inch of the walls in graffiti created by myself and my friends. A number of quotes from my favourite books, signatures and doodles by anyone who had the pleasure of visiting. I also had one wall that was plastered top to bottom with band posters, receipts and pages from a number of various novels. I liked it because there was always something to look at.

Slumping in my creaky mango coloured office chair, my absent minded eyes monotonously scrolled through the internet, focused, but not really focused.

Concentration was lacking and I began to contemplate just sleeping the night away. I almost didn't notice the familiar jingle of my message tone.
The name above the message was one I couldn't recognise. I was sure that I hadn't befriended this person, so why was I receiving a message

Jack Franklin: Hey! What are you doing online on Halloween night? ☺️

"Jack Franklin, Jack Franklin..."I mused.
Where had I heard that name before.
Even when looking through his pictures I couldn't fathom who this mysterious stranger was.

Colette DeLacy: Hey...sorry, do I know you?

Jack Franklin: yeah! I met you the other night at the lighthouse. You lent me your lighter ☺️☺️

It was the bambi legged ruffian I ran away from in the smoking area. My initially reaction was to sigh and close the window on the message, however I did find it all a little intriguing.
Both the fact that he remembered me, and the fact that he used smiling emojis made me feel uneasy. He was slightly keener then most guys I knew.
Jack continued to converse with me, telling me why he too was left missing Halloween, stuck at home. Somehow he saw this as some kind of strange twist of fate. Considering I had no exciting alternative, I entertained him and socialised.