Tricia Williams - Our fucking future

“Wow, you can actually use your computer,” he jokes. “How’s UW,” I ask and get a smirk. “Dude I live in an apartment paid for by Lilly’s scholarship and barely have to go to classes thanks to modern technology. Lilly is fine by the way and I’ll tell her you checked up on us,” Jun informs me chuckling. “Well I brought Hideo in today and his girlfriend Vicki,” I brief Jun on current events and he listens but interrupts me at one point to clarify something.

“You do realize that I’m not there anymore and technically that puts me and Lilly out of the family,” Jun says trying to clarify. “No it just means that you are working on the next step man,” I tell him with a smile. “Is there a planned next step, a real one not just you making shit up as you go,” he asks me skeptical.

“Been one since the beginning of summer, just focus on your shit man. When I start to bring it all together you’ll see it for what it really is,” I tell my first friend.

We chat idly about the good shit in life; Lilly wants to be married before she hits her third year. I laugh at that and warn him about her getting pregnant on him and he honestly doesn’t look worried. I’m glad he’s doing well as we end the call and I get about being a good son and brother for the rest of my evening.

Last week in October

I’ve spent a month doing what all my girls expected of me, leading. I have rallied students to sell out of tickets for school sporting events, I have been briefed by every non sport activity club for a budget and while nobody got everything everyone got something. First big dance is the winter formal and I’m looking at two dances then but for now I’m preparing for Halloween. Everyone in the group is setting up for a party at Kyle’s house, yes I said it, Kyle is hosting a party while his parents are away. It’s invite only and as it came to the last couple of days before the party I find myself without a date. I don’t know what to make of it so I go down my list; Kori is sick and missed school due to vomiting but doesn’t want me to wait on her hand and foot. Katy is too tired from college and Mom is helping her stick to her guns on not coming with me. Imelda hates the holiday, nothing I can do about that. Mathilda is spending time at home with her father and they are doing something together which means no party and no company.

Finally Rachael doesn’t want to spend time over at Kyle’s because it’s too weird and her Dad’s are busy with her at their house. To make matters worse when I say I’m not going to the party all my women tell me I ‘have’ to go and that I ‘need’ to enjoy myself. I find it to be kind of impossible to go to a party and enjoy myself when I’m not with at least one of the five women I love.

I get decked out in my costume and while all my women have messaged me to have a good time I send responses that I will try and leave it at that. I’m on Pale Horse; it fits my Mr. Grimm costume idea. Black trench coat, metallic looking gauntlets and some piece mail armor over my body. The best piece is the mask, a worn looking skull mask but it’s hardened and firmly secured to my head like a face plate. I arrive a little later than some but still earlier than others. I approach the house and not one person seems to know it’s me. I’m mingling, I never liked parties and I’m completely alone when I see two people who make me feel better. Devin is bigger than most and seeing him in a giant military uniform I have to chuckle a little, Masha is decked out in military garb as well but it’s not American military. I know they seem me but I’m pretty sure they don’t recognize me as I continue through the crowd.

To say that Kyle’s family has money is to say that Loretta has done well for herself. The house is big and while not supersized like Mr. Delauter’s it’s still pretty good. I decide to wander and keep up appearances that nobody knows me as I pass Liz who is some angel/fairy thing in white and blue. When I see her with Kyle who looks like he dressed up intentionally as royalty complete with the tipped crown for arrogance, I remember why I kicked the shit out of him last year. I move up and can hear them talking, about me which is odd.

“Are you sure he’s coming,” Kyle asks Liz looking around. “All his girls said he’d be here, why are you so hard up for my brother to be here,” Liz asks concerned. “He’s been really cool with me especially after we started dating so he’s kind of my guest of honor, even have a room set up for him and the girls,” Kyle informs my sister. “The girls aren’t going to be here, so we gave him a room that he can sleep alone in,” Liz says a little upset,” I hope we can find him and cheer him up, he loves Halloween and was hoping for some sort of fun tonight.”

Liz actually cares about me, I forget sometimes since she is very self centered a lot but it’s nice to hear. I watch as Kyle get’s Devin’s attention and has him check for my bike, when he reports back that I’m here Kyle heads up stairs to be above everyone when he addresses the crowd. In total I think he has maybe fifty students from two schools at his house.

“I’d like to thank all the invited people here for coming, to the guy in the clown outfit that snuck in I’d like to direct your attention to the two linebackers who will be escorting you out,” Kyle says as two big guys in togas walk him out the front,” Now let’s get some music going and have some fun.”

Everyone seems upbeat and happy, they’re talking and mingling about and more than a few have started dancing in the cleared out living room. I’m wandering the house and a few people see the mask and get out of my way, I can honestly say that I haven’t said a single word since I got here and it’s kind of nice. I miss my girls, not one of them on one of my top three favorite holidays was able to be with me. I get stopped by the two enforcers that Kyle has and sure enough there is my sister’s boyfriend with a bit of a disapproving look on his face.

“I thought I got rid of any uninvited guests but apparently you just come out of the woodwork,” Kyle says as one of the bruisers steps forward. I let him reach out with his hand before slapping it away quickly, the bruiser recoils and actually checks his hand as I stare at the other and cock my head sideways like I’m waiting to see what he’ll do. Sure enough he steps forward and grabs my trench coat; I shoot one hand forward at groin height before taking hold of the nearest ‘appendage’ and squeeze. The second bruiser lets go of my coat and I stare at Kyle before cocking my head to the side again and stare at him.

“Guy? Holy shit man you look awesome, I didn’t know it was you. Please let him go,” Kyle asks figuring out it’s me. I let him go and pat the guy on the shoulder for a ‘no hard feelings’ moment. Kyle leads me to Liz, Devin and Masha who all stare at me before he whispers into Liz’s ear and she lights up. “Guy you look awesome,” Liz lets the cat out for the others.

I shrug and we share compliments on costumes and I get a knuckle knock on my face plate by Devin who chuckles at the hardened plastic facemask. I get led away by Kyle who introduces me around to a couple people he knows from his old school. They are a little impressed by my costume but it’s when we separate and I move off by myself and sit down alone that I realize I just want my girls here to keep me company. Devin and Masha are doing the happy couple thing and Liz is socializing with a few girls in nice hot outfits but me I’m the loner tonight and it sucks.

I must have spent an hour and a half just mingling and talking to random people when finally Liz pulls me aside. We’re away from the crowd when she sits me down on an ottoman and plants herself next to me. “Okay big brother are you alright,” She asks trying to be helpful. “One of my favorite holidays and I’m alone, I guess being engaged means that you don’t get to drag your happiness everywhere or something,” I tell Liz from behind my mask.