Page 14

Greyson

The day after our win against Brightstone Boars, I'm stood in the dining room, leaning over the table as I attempt to paint a ghost onto the plastic board Chase and I picked up earlier today for the Halloween party we're throwing tonight.

“What are you dressing as?” I look up at him as he dips his brush into the black paint.

“I’m not.” He responds.

Scoffing, I point my paintbrush in his direction and say. “Uh, yes you are!”

“No, I’m not.”

Laughing, I walk toward the chair in the corner and pick up the bag I placed there earlier before making my way toward him and shoving it into his chest.

“What’s this?” He asks, glancing at it with confusion.

“Open it and find out.” I grin.

Grabbing the paintbrush, I dollop a little black paint on to the board and spread it in a circle, creating a body for the spider I’m attempting to paint.

“Fuck off, Montgomery,” he scoffs, and I sniffle a laughter. “I’m not wearing this.”

“Yes, you are.” I grin, making small strokes from the circle to create legs.

He brings out the black feathered angel wings and the matching plastic devil horns, glaring at them like they’re his enemy. “Get fucked,” he shakes his head. “Not happening.”

“You know what?” I muse loudly, dipping another paintbrush into the white paint as I attempt to paint a web next to the spider.

“What?” He grumbles, annoyance lacing his voice.

“If you don’t wear them…” I purse my lips, trying my hardest not to break out in a smile. “Then I guess I’ve got no choice but to let every single goal in at our next game.”

“You won’t.”

“Oh,” looking at him, I grin mischievously. “I will.”

I’m not stupid, obviously I won’t. But he won’t call my bluff…I don’t think so anyway.

Huffing, he throws everything back into the bag and throws it across the room, the bag landing on the chair it was in previously. Mumbling something incoherent under his breath, he picks the paintbrush up and finishes the witches hat he was painting beforehand.

“Does that mean you’re wearing them?” My mouth breaks out in a smile.

“Fuck off, Montgomery.”

Yep, he’s definitely wearing them. Grinning, I walk tow ard him, acting like I’m getting another color paint before bringing my hand up to his face and rubbing his beard. “Who’s a good boy.” I taunt in a baby voice, squeezing at his cheeks.

He slaps my hand away and I laugh. “You’re lucky I like you.” He grumbles.

“Oh, I think you love me, Kingston.” I grin, booping his nose.

***

Adjusting the feathered plastic parrot on my shoulder, and the red sash around my waist that I made with an old tablecloth, I grin at myself in the mirror.

I really am a creative fucker.

It wasn’t too difficult to decide what I wanted to dress up as, after I went to the thrift store last week and saw the parrot and a hook hand, I decided the only option was dressing as a pirate. A dead pirate, keeping in theme with the spooky season and all that.

I also managed to find an old dress shirt that I cut up, and a long trench coat that I superglued silver buttons to before splattering fake blood all over myself.

It might’ve been easier to order a pirate costume online, but where’s the fun in owning a costume that’s probably owned by thousands, when I could just make one myself. Because now somebody’s once loved possession has been transformed into my Halloween masterpiece—I’m also being biased because I made it, but it’s still a masterpiece regardless of what anyone else thinks.

“ Argghh matey .” Sticking the hook out to the mirror, I curl my lips and cower in embarrassment.

Nope, never doing that again.

Shaking my head, I grab my phone from my dresser and make my way out of my room, triple checking my door is locked because I do not want to walk in on people fucking in my bed tonight, before making my way downstairs.

Smiling at a few people as I pass them, I walk into the kitchen spotting Chase and Theo engrossed in a conversation, and my face lights up with a smile once I see Chase wearing the angel wings and devil horns.

Walking toward the fridge, I open it and take out a cold beer. Twisting the lid, I throw it in the trash before making my way over to the boys. “Loving the costume, Kingston.” I grin widely.

“Fuck off, Montgomery.” He sneers.

“I have to agree with Greyson,” Theo reaches out, picking at a feather. “They suit you.”

“You can fuck off too, Jenkins.”

Theo snorts just as Hunter makes his appearance.

“A vampire?” Chase raises an amused brow.

“Still better than what you’re wearing.” Hunter smirks.

Chase growls, gripping the edge of the wings and plucks a feather off. “Greyson forced me to wear these.”

“I did no such thing!” I gasp.

He turns and glares at me, throwing the feather in my direction. “You said you’d deliberately let every single goal in at our next game if I didn’t wear these stupid things.”

“That’s a matter of semantics.” I shrug.

“H onestly, they suit you.” Hunter chuckles.

“You can fuck off too, Fox.”

Hunter chuckles, leaning across the counter to grab a beer. And as he’s about to respond to Chase, Theo wiggles his eyebrows and tells him that Nina’s walking in our direction.

We all glance toward her as she walks closer, a smile lighting up her face once she sees him. I watch Hunter as he nervously wipes his hands down himself, and I have no doubt in my mind that if his face wasn’t painted white right now, his cheeks would be glowing red.

They talk among themselves as Chase, Theo, and I listen in on their conversation, making no move to leave.

“Do you want a drink?” Hunter asks her.

Shaking her head, she declines. “Lilly’s already making me one of her awful drinks.” She laughs, gesturing her head to the other side of the kitchen.

I follow her eye movement and spot Lilly standing in front of the counter with their other friend Payton, pouring various bottles of liquor into an orange solo cup.

Fuck, she looks beautiful.

She’s dressed as an angel, which is very fitting for her. She’s laughing, eyes lighting up as she walks toward us and passes Nina one of the cups in her hand, not once looking in my direction.

I know at some point tonight I need to talk to her about what happened in my car on Thursday, but she seems to be in such a happy mood that I don’t want to ruin it for her.

Nina splutters out her drink, her eyes widening as she glances at Lilly, accusing her of trying to kill her. In return Lilly scoffs, telling her she’s being dramatic before saying she’s going to find Callie because she’ll appreciate her “mixology” skills.

I watch as she turns and exits the kitchen, weaving through the crowd, gripping the cups tightly with both hands to make sure no liquid spills and a small smile grazes my lips.

“Why are you smiling?” Theo nudges my shoulder, a smirk on his face.

Faking a cough, I bring the beer to my lips and take a sip. “I’m not.”

“Hmm, sure.” He smirks.