I Need You Here Tonight

Halloween

The weeks seemed to go by so quickly and I found myself staring out the window in my dorm room. The whole of the student body had had this week off and people were making the most of it. I glanced at the dorms across the way, watching Danny and Ronnie getting drunk and trying to hang up Halloween decorations.

I pushed my chair back and stood up. I had promised that I'd help set up the lounge and the front door for this evening. I walked over to the dress. My Alice in Wonderland dress had arrived a couple of weeks back. It was just so awesome and I touched the material.

Well, I guessed it was time to go and help my dorm mates. My phone buzzed and I paused, grabbing it off the table where I'd left it. I hadn't heard from Jake for a couple of days as he said he'd had quite a few tattoo appointments.

Looking forward to tonight ;).

I giggled, but mostly due to nerves. I knew everyone said we were dating, but nothing had ever been made official and I'd much rather it be something we both decided rather than what others decided.

Haha, shut up :p

I grinned, that should stop him. I opened the door and could hear music and voices in the lounge. My phone buzzed and I swiped it open again.

That's right, baby. Talk dirty to me ;)

I nearly choked and my mind spun, trying to think of what to type back to him. When Jake and I met for the second time the texts were never mentioned. Nowadays, Jake would openly flirt with me, as Shay put it.

Quit being a weirdo :p

I pocketed my phone and carried on down the hallway. Ben was outside his room, chatting with Jordan. I nodded and smiled at them. Ben grinned back.

"Hey, Kota?" Jordan had said goodbye to Ben and was next to me in seconds.

"Hey Jordan, happy Halloween." I laughed when he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, right. You guys gonna be going to Fluid tonight?" He looked hopeful.

"That's up to Shay." I smiled, turning to face him. He grinned and ignored Ben when he appeared behind him.

I laughed when Ben slapped Jordan on the back of the head, "Pay attention when I'm yelling at you, shit for brains."

The two of them started squabbling and I stepped back when Ben wrestled Jordan to the ground. I stepped back, leaving them to their play fight.

"See you later, guys." I called over my shoulder.

"Later, Kota." Ben grinned, pushing Jordan's head into the carpet, stopping him from speaking.

The corridors were decorated already with pumpkin streamers and a life-size cardboard
zombie. I stumbled on a pumpkin that was sat by the lounge door. Its smile was haphazard and I snorted in laughter.

The door was open and I wondered who made the pumpkin. My question was answered when I saw Jack carving another pumpkin. Alex seemed to be supervising things.

"Dude, why are all your pumpkins so ugly looking?" He asked, picking up one pumpkin.

"These pumpkins are my children, Alex." Jack turned on the spot, grabbing the pumpkin and hugging it. Alex stepped back and nodded. He rolled his eyes at me and went to help Tay put up some decorative ghosts.

"Hey gorgeous." Kellin skipped over. I had to laugh though. His face was covered by a werewolf mask. It was a strange sight.

"Hey, Kells." I laughed, grabbing the nose on the mask and tugging it. Kellin pulled back and whimpered like a puppy. "You excited?"

"Of course she is." Shay looped her arm round my shoulder. "Better question is; are you going out like that?"

"This is how I usually look," Kellin straightened up. "Right, Vic?"

Vic was changing the music and glanced round to look at his boyfriend. He smirked and ignored Kellin, who deemed this offensive and hunched down. He crept over and stood behind Vic.

Shay and I laughed when Vic turned round and nearly head-butted Kellin. The younger boy snarled and Vic reached out. Shay and I moved out the way as Vic started chasing Kellin round the room. They nearly trampled a pumpkin.

"Please, stop. You're setting a bad example to my pumpkin offspring." Jack lifted his latest creation up to avoid being squished.

"Well, if you didn't make them so ugly." Vic paused, holding Kellin by his hips.

This pumpkin had one eye fully open and the other was slightly squinted. You could say it was winking, but its smile was quite deformed too. Shay pulled a face and Kellin lifted the mask and started to laugh.

"Hang on. I want a photo with it." He sat down, and Jack held the pumpkin up. Kellin pulled a face whilst Vic took the picture.

Alex sighed and stepped over, grabbing the final pumpkins and taking them outside. Jack screeched and grabbed Alex's ankle.

"Don't take my babies." He laughed when Alex nearly fell.

"Let go you idiot." Alex tried to shake Jack off, finally suceeding in getting the pumpkins to the front of the dorms.

Tay sat next to Jack and patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry Jack. You still have your friends."

The two of them hugged and someone suggested ordering pizza.


************

When the dorm ate meals together it was usually something like pizza or chinese takeaway from round the corner. I had been hoping for pizza, but Ben had wanted chinese. The takeaway round the corner was an odd place.

The curry always tasted like it had pineapple in it. I usually settled for their chips, which were really tasty. It wasn't really the food it was the company.

"This dorm is the best ever," Danny had joined us. His eyes flicked to round the room. "Ever."

"Yeah, we get it. You want to live here." Tay took a bite of her curry and pulled a face.

"Pineapple?" Alex asked, sniffing the prawn curry.

"Pineapple." She muttered, sourly.

"Should have gone for chow mein." Ronnie laughed, shoving a forkful in his mouth, pausing for a moment.

"Let me guess. Pineapple?" Alex laughed, chuckling when Ronnie winced.

"Yeah, and it's so sour." He swallowed it, ignoring Danny's laughter.

I finished another chip and felt full up after eating an entire cod fillet as well. I handed Ronnie the food.

"Are you sure, Kota?" He seemed reluctant, but I nodded.

"I should think you are full." Shay shoved my shoulder playfully.

Shay didn't seem to mind the curry. She accepted Ronnie's chow mein and ate nearly all of it. Tay was still struggling to eat the prawn curry.

"You know what, I'm going to heat one of the micro meals." She set the plastic container down, admitting defeat at last.

"Can I have some of it?" Kellin held out his hands and Tay gave him the container.

"Lunatic." She grumbled as she sauntered to the kitchen.

Shay and I stayed with them till nine and she declared that we needed to get ready. I didn't see what the fuss was about, but she wouldn't leave me alone till I let her do my make-up.

Getting ready with Shay was part of the fun. I helped her clip her hair up as she put in her new extensions. Shay always took longer, but she liked to listen to music and talk.

Whilst she did her make-up I slipped to my room and put the dress on. I had become quite good at doing the zips up even when they were on the back of the dress. By the time I was dressed, Shay reappeared dressed in her costume.

The corset type top squeezed her full figure. The only part of her outfit that would make you think of a bunny were the ears and the small tail on the back of the corset. The outfit was completed by a pair of high stiletto heels.

"You look so cute." She squealed. "Time to do your make-up."

I let her do my make-up and she stepped back, grinning at me. She was probably going to say something.

"I cannot wait for Jake to see you." She smirked. She certainly didn't disappoint.

We walked down to the lounge arm in arm. Nearly everyone was dressed up. Tay was dressed like a cat, or what I assumed to be a cat. She was wearing a little, babydoll dress and black, stiletto boots. Alex was wearing zombie make-up as was Jack.

Kellin had painted his face white and smudged black eyeshadow under his eyes. Vic had decided not to dress up and was arguing with Jack over it. Danny was still here and his t-shirt had the word 'costume' written on it.

"You two look amazing." Tay gushed. She hugged Shay and then me.

"Are we all ready?" Vic said, seeming to want to avoid bickering with Jack.

Everyone seemed ready and we left the dorm. There were people everywhere tonight. Other girls were dressed up in next to nothing. A few guys were dressed as zombies and some guy had dressed as a vampire.

Oli was waiting down the street. He hadn't dressed up and Shay reprimanded him for it. He laughed and ignored her. Hannah arrived a couple of minutes later. She was dressed as a fairy with multi-coloured wings. She and Oli kissed and we carried on to the clubs.

I had arranged to meet Jake outside Fluid and I could feel my nerves building as we rounded the corner. I didn't think Jake was there, but I saw him leaning against a wall.

I wandered over and tapped his arm. He turned round and smiled when he saw me. He pulled me into a hug and I melted against him. Someone cleared their throat and I glanced round to see Danny and the others. I pulled away from Jake very quickly.

"You look awesome." He grinned.

"You didn't dress up." I pretended to be annoyed.

We followed the others into the club. Fluid was heaving and I was suddenly yanked back. A guy barged by and I looked round. Jake had gripped my hand and pulled me out the way.

"No, I didn't dress up. Thought I'd leave that to you," He leaned down, his breath fanned my ear.
He kept hold of my hand and we went to the bar.

"My turn to pay." I pulled out my purse.

"Nope, you paid last time." He said, finalising it.

I relented and let him buy me a drink. We stayed together for most of the night and even danced together for a bit. I danced with my friends and had an amazing time. They all got drunk, including Jake. I had never seen him drunk.

He was a lot more touchy when drunk and kept hugging me. I didn't care. I was so happy. I wasn't drunk, but was ok with watching them all get drunk and laugh. Jake disappeared a little while later and I assumed he had gone toilet.

When he didn't reappear I tapped Shay on the arm. She stopped dancing and leaned in so she could hear me over the music.

"What's up, babes?" She slurred.

"I'm going to look for Jake." I replied, and she nodded.

"Be careful, all right." She pulled back, giving me a thumbs up.

I nodded and shuffled through the crowds of people. I stood on tiptoes to scan the throng of people. I couldn't see him and I was a little worried now. I went over to the bar and couldn't find him. I walked over to the toilets and waited for a minute or two.

When he didn't appear I sighed and shuffled round the corner to the outdoor area. The outdoor area was usually used for smoking, but a lot of people had come outside to chat and make-out. I spotted Jake in the corner, chatting to a girl with long brown hair. She was dressed as a witch, but her black skirt was tiny, barely covering anything.

I assumed they were just chatting, but her face was inches from his. I shrugged and started to walk over until she tilted her face and kissed him. I stopped in my tracks. He returned the kiss without hesitation, pressing her against the wall.

A knot formed in my throat and I could feel my hands shaking. What was this feeling? I had no idea, really. I went to touch my face, only to find that I was crying. Why was I crying?

I couldn't stay and watch them make-out so I turned and left, pushing through the crowds of people. I glanced at the dancefloor where my friends were and sniffled. I didn't want anyone to see me like this. I carried on towards the exit.

I got outside into the cold night air and the first sob escaped, then another and before I knew it I was full-on crying. I walked over to a bench and sat down, resting my head in my hands.

"Kota?" A very familiar voice said. I peeked up and saw Bret standing in front of me.

"Hey Bret," I sniffled, barely managing to get my words out.

I glanced up and saw Chad, Robbie and Jenna watching me. They all looked worried. I returned my attention to Bret.

"Are you all right?" He sat down next to me. I nodded, but the tears wouldn't stop.

"No, seriously you need to tell me. You're clearly not all right." He laid his hand on my shoulder.

"I went outside and Jake was kissing this girl and I just freaked out." I laughed a little. It sounded so stupid.

"Awh, bless." I heard Jenna say.

She walked over, stumbling in her heels and sat on the other side of me, hugging me. She smoothed my hair out and sighed.

"Let us walk you home." She pulled back to meet my eyes.

I nodded, not really feeling like clubbing anymore. They walked me back to the dorm and each of them hugged me and wandered back towards the clubs. Bret was the last to leave.

"Will you be all right?" He asked, sounding so sweet.

"Yeah, I kinda want to be alone now." I mumbled.

He nodded and hugged me. I watched him go and entered the dorm, walking past all the decorations and down the hall to my room. Once inside I unzipped the dress and hung it up. I stared at it for a few minutes. I never wanted to wear it again. I shoved it in my cupboard.

I put on my pyjamas and washed my face free of make-up. I stayed at the mirror for a minute or two just looking at myself. The little ginger weirdo. The girl no guys wanted to kiss. I bit my lip, fighting the tears again. Correction; the little, ginger weirdo only wanted to kiss one guy and he didn't want to kiss her.

Notes