Page 7 of Promised to the Nightmare Realm
“You’re right. I’m done. I’m breaking up with him.”
“Yesss! Finally! I know where he’ll be tonight. They’re having a huge Halloween party at their frat.”
I bite my lip. “I… Maybe I’ll just text him. I don’t want to cause a scene.”
“Babe.Causea scene. Make him pay. And then find yourself a rebound stud. Come oooon. Live a little.”
I’m not the kind of person who hooks up with strangers. But if I had good chemistry with someone in real life, maybe it would feel a bit like a moment from one of my favorite stories? I bump into someone, we start talking, and who knows…
“I don’t really have a costume.”
Viola pats my cheek. “You have this cloak. And I have some masks.”
The decision feels draining, because I kept excusing Richie’s actions like a fool, only for him to ditch me when it mattered most. I really am naive. “If I’m to survive this day, I need coffee.”
Chapter 4
Nate
Iwas feeling so confident when Viola waved me off, but as the monumental silhouette of my soon-to-be-ex’s frat house emerges from behind the trees, my resolve dwindles.
Because what if instead of embarrassing Richie in front of all his pals, I end up making myself the butt of the joke? I stall in the shadows of the park on the edge of the university campus and tighten the fine navy cloak around my body. Viola lent me her former boyfriend’s poet’s shirt, and wrapped a colorful sash around my waist, to create a costume of what she called a fantasy prince-slash-charming rogue.
I liked the result of the styling so much I gave her free rein with my hair, since it’s Halloween, and I need to look my best when breaking up with Richie. But now that I imagine myself stepping into the frat house with a faint line of silvery eyeshadow under my eyes, it occurs to me that Richie and his buddies likely won’tgetthe costume, nor find it particularly impressive.
They might laugh me out of the party.
I don’t even know why I care so much. I’m here to break up with him.
I put on a black Venetian-style mask and walk toward the glow of green lanterns on the porch overshadowed by a colonnade. The frat takes Halloween very seriously, not because of their love of dressing up or gothic aesthetics, but because they know people (especially women) in costume let loose when the atmosphere is just right. They want to attract as many girls in fishnets and cat ears as possible.
I was surprised by Richie being openly gay among all hisbros. All of my previous boyfriends hid their sexuality, so maybe that was what made me fall for Richie so fast? All I ever wanted was for a man to acknowledge my existence and hold my hand in public.
Did I really set the bar so low? Or is it that my expectations are too high for this reality?
After all, Richie and I had so many good moments—No. I need to stay strong and dump him. He left me behind. He cost me my job. So if he tries to win me back, if he does that wink thing, or happens to invite me upstairs, I will tell him exactly what I think about his actions.
I take a deep breath, following a group of girls in skimpy outfits with my gaze. For a moment, I consider trying to join them for a bit of social stealth before I make my move, but that’s just silly.
Richie knows my body by heart and will recognize me the moment his eyes settle on me, and maybe then he will reconsider his actions. Understand how badly he failed me and apologize. In public!
Who am I kidding? He would never admit to being wrong, even less so in front of witnesses.
I hesitate, wondering if I shouldn’t hide the fancy shirt after all, since I don’t want to be seen astrying too hard, but it’s toolate at this point, and my only choice is between breaking up tonight or doing so in a more private setting.
I’m about to retreat, but then I imagine the disappointment in Viola’s eyes and step out of the shadows, my gaze fixed on the menacing clown face built around the entrance to the frat house.
I won’t be chickening out.
If I survived last night, I can deal with Richie.
I force my legs to move, but it’s like an out-of-body experience, and just thinking that takes me back to last night. I laid there, lifeless, soul floating above. But it couldn’t have happened, or I would have been dead. Maybe it’s best to remember the good parts of my hallucination. The dashing red-haired knight was most definitely a highlight.
As soon as I walk in, I’m hit by the smell of weed, cigarette smoke, and perfume. The party isn’t even in full swing yet, but the frat house is already packed with people dancing, flirting, laughing, yelling to each other over the music. I’m not the most sociable guy on my best days, but the mask helps me feel a bit safer, isolating me from being recognized as ‘Richie’s boyfriend’. The lights are a mix of green and yellow for a spooky vibe, and every now and then, fake lightning illuminates the window at the end of the hallway as the rumble of thunder comes from a small speaker surrounded by empty bottles and cups.
The amount of people crowding every inch of space is overwhelming, so I drift upstairs, stepping over a girl so drunk she’s laughing at every single word coming from her companion’s mouth.
The loud pop music blasting at me from every direction is far from my favorite, but I’m not here to have fun, so I ignore all the sexy policewomen and nurses to finally end up in the second floor. It’s a bit less crowded here, but when I reach the open door to my almost-ex’s room, it’s being used by a group of his frat brothers for what looks like an impromptu arm-wrestlingtournament. They are all dressed as gladiators, Greek gods, and barbarians, which is so not my scene. I flee before any of them can spot me.
