Page 127 of Havoc at Prescott High (The Havoc Boys 1)
He gestures to the plastic bag between our seats, and I reach down to peep inside. There’s a pre-packaged fairy costume, some glittery wings made of wire and tulle, and various accessories. The second costume is a sassy little witch with striped tights.
“At least you went the extra mile and bought add-ons,” I remark, noticing the carved wood broom beneath the bag, and the witch’s hat peeking out from the back seat. “After Dad died, I didn’t get costumes anymore. Well, I mean, there was that one year when I was eight and cried about it, so Mom cut holes in my sheets to make me a ghost …”
“A pink ghost patterned with a gaudy Minnie Mouse print,” Aaron adds, and I smile. It’s not a nice smile though, more like a melancholy one. I’d almost forgotten that he knew all my stories. We have history together, I think, my fingers picking at the holey knees of my jeans. Silence reigns supreme for several moments before Aaron speaks up again. “But you’re right: they’ll remember I put in some effort, at least.” He pauses again and wets his lower lip, like he’s nervous. “Do you think you could help with their makeup? I fucking suck at it. No matter how many YouTube videos I watch …”
I lift my head up to look at him, tucking some blond hair behind my ear. He really is pretty, isn’t he? I think, shifting in my seat and trying not to let those old sour feelings of mine rush to the surface. We have to learn to get along. Blood in, blood out …
“I’d be happy to,” I say, unbuckling my seat belt, so I can climb out and grab Heather. As I reach for the door handle though, I feel Aaron’s fingers on my arms. Adrenaline shoots through me as I glance back.
His face is resolute, determined, his jaw clenched.
“I know it can’t possibly make up for everything that happened, but for what it’s worth, Bernadette, I’m … I’m sorry.” My eyes widen, and I try to pull away, but Aaron won’t let me go. His fingers dig into my skin, and my hands start to shake. “I’ve never stopped loving you; I just thought you should know that.”
I tear my arm from his grip and slam the car door, putting my back to it and closing my eyes. I don’t even care that Aaron can still see me standing there. What the actual fuck?! How dare he throw that shit in my face like that. How dare he. How fucking dare he …
“Are you okay?” Heather asks as she approaches me cautiously, dressed in an orange and black Halloween sweater. Neither my little sister nor Aaron’s girls were allowed to wear their costumes to either school. Makes me sad. I remember how everyone used to get dressed up, and we’d have Halloween cupcakes and candy during class. Guess times have changed a bit since I was in elementary school, huh?
“I’m fine,” I say, pushing up off the van and signing the school monitor’s little clipboard. I throw open the back door and hold her backpack while she climbs in. She, of course, is more than happy to see Aaron. The two of them start chatting about possible trick or treating routes—for years I’ve taken her to the rich people neighborhood in Oak River Heights—and I stare out the window, trying my best to process Aaron’s words.
“I’ve never stopped loving you.”
And that means what? That he still does love me?
I decide I can’t deal with this revelation, not tonight.
We grab Kara and Ashley and then head back to Aaron’s place where the rest of the Havoc crew is waiting for us.
“We have four hours until we need to leave for Stacey’s party,” Oscar informs us, leaning over the counter in the half-bath near the front door. He’s got a black makeup crayon in his hand, turning to face me with some ghastly dark circles around his eyes. I won’t lie, I have to stop and do a bit of a double take.
“What are you supposed to be?” I ask, and a sharp smirk curves over Oscar’s lips.
“You’ll see,” he warns, a dark note in his voice that makes me shiver. I shake the feeling off and roll my eyes, guiding the girls upstairs to help them into their costumes. Aaron hovers nearby, but finally gives up and heads outside to smoke a joint.
“Something happen between you two?” Vic asks me, cornering me as I herd the girls back downstairs for better lighting. He cuts me off at the staircase as the three little ones skip past. My skin feels suddenly too tight, and I have to resist the urge to squirm under that sharp gaze.
“If it did, would it be your business?” I ask, and he gives me this shit-eating grin.
