Celebrity Crush

It was Friday afternoon. School was just letting out and everyone was talking about the dance. The gym had been closed for the entire week. The only people that even knew what it looked like were the dance committee and the administration. The principal kept going on and on about how perfect the dance was going to be.

Obviously the principal was a female. She loved helping with the dances, she hated when they didn't meet her expectations.

Kimi and I were at her locker. She was moving things around trying to find her ring of keys.

“I know that I threw them in here right before lunch. It doesn't make any sense.”

“Kimi I have a set of my own keys for your house. Your mom thought a while ago that I should have a key for emergencies.”

I shrugged it off. I was in some what of a hurry. Kimi and I had done a great job at hiding our costumes from my mom and Robert. Tonight we were sleeping at Kimi's and then leaving for the dance from there.

Mom wanted us to meet right out front though and Kimi didn't like that idea. The problem I tried explaining to her was that I needed to know what they were dressed in. They needed to know about ours as well. I didn't want anything to happen at the dance.

Ben still hasn't been caught. Every day that passes without his capture makes me even more nervous. I worry about everyone I know. No matter how little or how much I care about each one. It doesn't matter in Ben's eyes. Everyone around me is at risk of getting hurt. I can't handle someone I love very dearly getting hurt because of me.

“I swear my mom is sometimes a lifesaver. I just hope during the dance that I can come and try again. I don't like that I can't find them. It gives me the creeps.”

“Kimi you know we are on a tight schedule.”

She sighs and shuts the locker. She snaps her lock back in place and then turns to me.

“Lead the way.”

I grin and we walk down the hall.

We pass other student's lockers when we come across two different ones. Max's locker has words written all over it. Some are nice while others are down right rude.

Goodbye

Scum of the earth

Bastard

You will be missed

Max's family decided to send him off to a different school. They could afford it but when Max found out he wasn't in the best of spirits. He wanted to stay in town until Alex woke but his family refused even though they still cared about the boy.

Alex's locker was even worse. He was still in the hospital hooked up to machines. I made Kimi come with me yesterday after school. I needed to know about his progress. His mom told me that if he didn't wake up soon then they would pull the plug. Even if he did wake up his family was moving out of town.

His father had found out about the whole story. His son was bisexual. His father hated him and when I left he was trying to talk Alex's mom into pulling the plug early. I was still mad at him but he deserved a chance to live. I just hoped that he woke up soon because according to his father's conversation with the doctors yesterday they will pull the plug in a week.

His father was promoted and the family had to move. It couldn't wait for the simple fact Alex might not ever wake up and his family could sit around for years.

Just thinking about him lying in that bed was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

There were flowers attached with tape to the front. His year book picture was taped right in front of all the flowers.

When the school found out about Alex's sexuality it wasn't that big of a deal. I had found a picture of Blake in Alex's things at the hospital and given it to one of the kids. Alex already had a few more an just because he didn't go to our school didn't mean we shouldn't do something for him.

The picture of Blake was taped right next to Alex's own picture.

Pray for our own, hope he makes a speedy recovery.

RIP Blake

I told the school not to put pictures of Kimi and I up there because in the past few weeks we hadn't really been that close. Plus with everything that I told Kimi, she would have seriously done some damage.

I had told Kimi the entire story of the kidnapping to how Alex was a part of it to how I even knew Ben in the first place. She wanted to kick my but at first but she just held me. She was more determined than ever to keep me safe from harm.

“Good oh sun. Come on Laura lets hop in the jeep and get our stuff.”

I laughed and followed her out to my jeep.

We passed other students who yelled out “hey” to the both of us. Most of the students were nice but they were even more nice lately. I was at my jeep and pressed the button unlocking the doors. Kimi jumped in first and started whining for me to get in.

Just as I was about to hop inside a hand sat on my shoulder. I whipped around and met a pair of brown orbs starring back at me. My eyes adjusted to find Luke looking back at me.

“Hey Laura how are you?”

He was giving me a sincere smile. I heard Kimi snicker in the jeep. I held up one finger to him and then turned to Kimi. I held up a hand showed five fingers, telling her to give me five minutes. Then I closed the door returning my attention to Luke.

“Well considering the obvious I am doing fine.”

He just laughed a nervous chuckle.

“Well that's good I guess. Its good to hear that you are doing good. I was kinda wondering though...”

He trailed off for a second. Suddenly I realized what was going on. He was asking me out! This had to be some kind of joke. I looked at him though and thought about it. Luke wasn't really that bad of a guy, he just had his priorities mixed up.

“I was kinda wondering if you would like to go to the Halloween dance with me tomorrow. I mean as friends of course. I just didn't want to go alone and you seem like the only real friend that's a girl to go with.”

I thought about for a minute. Something clicked in my head then.

“Okay but only as friends. We will meet here. I will find you after I talk to my mom and everything. She and her boyfriend are chaperoning the dance.”

He smiled.

“Thanks so much Laura. I just hope that Kimi doesn't hate me to much though.”

He gave me a hug and then walked off. Suddenly he turned back around.

“Oh hey Laura I will be in a white tux at the dance. My mask will be black, I could send you a picture if you like.”

I nodded and we exchanged numbers. I waved goodbye to him and then hoped inside the jeep.

“What was that all about?”

I pulled my door closed behind me. I stuck my eye inside and then turned the music up some. I looked at Kimi and grinned.

“I am going to the dance with Luke sort of.”

Her eyes turned up in confusion.

“What do you mean sort of? What about Robert?”

“I am meeting Luke here after we talk to my mom and Robert. Luke and I are going as nothing but friends. He didn't want to go alone. This could work in my favor. We could make Robert jealous.”

It was like a light went off in her head. This grin came across her face.

“Oh you sneaky girl.”

I laughed and replied, “I learned from the best.”

***
My house was quiet when we arrived. I was glad that no one was home. Kimi rushed up the stairs first. She pushed my bedroom door open before I even got to the top of the stairs. I walked into my room and she was giving me this impatient look. She ran toward my closet and moved stuff around at the top.

I watched her pull out this huge bag and it fall to the floor spilling some of the contents.

“Oh Shit,” Kimi cursed.

I rushed toward her forgetting about the my bedroom door being wide open. I helped her put in the small things that fell from the bed. Suddenly we heard the front door open and slam shut. I looked over toward Kimi and saw her eyes widen. I looked up at my open door.

“Kimi I am going to go downstairs. I want you to lock the door behind me. I am going to see who that is. If it's my mom I am just going to let her know we are leaving for your house.”

“How the hell will we get this shit past them without them looking in the damn bag?”

I looked around the room. I spotted my other backpacks that I kept in the closet.

“If we have to we will get the other backpacks. I know my mom will be curious. I am already fucking curious about her costume. She told me she was going as a witch though.”

I shrugged and stood to my feet. I walked toward the door. I looked behind me to see Kimi at my heels. I walked out the room pulling the door closed behind me. I heard Kimi turn the lock and I walked down the hall toward the stairs.

Once I got to the bottom I heard one voice, Sarah.

“Yeah I can't wait to leave. My damn sister has my mom wrapped around her finger since the whole kidnapping thing. I don't think Laura has noticed because she is so caught up with that fucking boyfriend of moms.”

Silence.

“Yeah I mean mom's dating that Twilight guy. I mean I am not fond of him but he is hot. I need a new squeeze. Plus work is scarce right now. I could stay here and keep an eye on my sister when mom is gone. That would really put a damper on her plans.”

It was suddenly very clear that she was talking on the phone. I could hear taps on the floor instead of heels. I walked toward the sound of her voice, which happened to be the kitchen.

I mean seriously what is the deal with everyone always in the kitchen. The living room has even more seating but whatever.

I walked in the room and Sara's eyes meet mine. She huffs and rolls her eyes.

“Hey I gotta go. My lovely sister is home.”

Waiting.

“Yeah let me know about that. Bye.”

She flips the phone closed and places it in her pocket. I look toward the counter to see a bag. The bag says, Dala's Formal Masquerade Wear.

My eyes widen. Sarah is not fucking going to my dance, hell no. Every fucking thing will be ruined.

I look toward her and she smirks.

“Mom thought it would be good for me to go. I told her I didn't feel like wearing Halloween stuff so she just sent me to Dala's. Expensive place, but it had great dresses and masks.”

She grabs the bag and waves it around. She was mocking me. Everything was ruined now. Sarah would be all over Robert or making fun of me about my outfit. I just knew when I saw her in her dress all those thoughts about my outfit would vanish. After all my sister is a model.

I sigh and walk around her. I open the door to the fridge and grab a bottle water. I unscrew the cap and take a sip. I close the fridge back. I screw the cap back and look at Sarah. She was watching me squirm and was silently laughing about it.

“Let mom know when she gets home that Kimi and I already left for her house.”

I left the room after that. I mean come on, my sister was coming to my high school dance. She wasn't that much older than me but she was to old for school dances. Mom was only going because I didn't feel comfortable alone with just Kimi.

I tapped on my bedroom door.

“Kimi let me in. Sarah was the one downstairs.”

I heard her run toward the door. She twisted the lock and opened the door. She looked at me an noticed the look on my face.

“Laura what's wrong?”

I just stepped into the room.

“Well fucking Sarah is going. She is wearing some nice fucking dress from this masquerade shop and mask. I swear I don't fucking want her coming.”

I heard Kimi sigh and close the door.

“Fuck. Well I guess I have my work cut out for me huh.”

I whipped around toward her.

“You mean she doesn't ruin your plan?”

“Well it would be easier if she wasn't there but maybe with her there than you will know just how beautiful you look. I know that Robert will be looking at you all night, I promise.”

I couldn't help but believe her. She was my best friend. She wouldn't lie to me about something like this.

I nodded my head and we continued getting the stuff.

***
Saturday came quickly. We didn't stay up very late Friday considering Kimi wanted to do my hair and make up early. That way we would have the rest of the day to do her hair and make up. Well she wanted our hair done first and then the make up done.

Ms. Johnson was grinning in the doorway. Kimi had me in the bathroom pulling at my hair. I was a little tired from the tossing and turning I had done last night. My mind was running in over drive.

I was afraid mostly that Sarah would ruin the whole Luke thing. I had to make it seem that Luke and I were dating when we weren't.

I didn't know Luke well enough to know if he would help me out. The only problem was that I couldn't kiss him because I wanted that to be special.

Kimi was pulling at my head even more than before.

“Hey up there some people are tender headed so be careful.”

I didn't want to curse in front of Ms. Johnson.

“Oh well I am sorry.”

I knew she was being sarcastic it proved it even more when she pulled a strand of hair. She chuckled and her mom giggled. I huffed under my breath.

“I sure hope you know when I have my turn with your hair you will be in serious pain.”

I could just feel her rolling her eyes behind me.

“Kimi be gentle. I know you are having fun torturing her but you should be gentle.”

I was so thankful for Ms. Johnson standing in the doorway. She was such a nice woman and mother that I was sometimes envious of Kimi. She had it all even if her father was a douche. She at least had one parent around her most of the time. I didn't have that, Kimi didn't know how lucky she was.

“Laura your hair is going to be great.”

I gave her a smile. Kimi did have a knack with hair and make up. I was so confident that she should go to school to be a make up artist and beautician.

Ms. Johnson walked toward us. She stopped just out of my sight.

“Kimi I can tell that you need a break. Just show me what you want me to do and I will help.”

I smiled. I felt Kimi move my hair around showing her what she exactly wanted. I felt the change of hands and then Kimi came in my sight. She smiled a tired grin and then yawned.

“Stupid fucking tossing and turning.”

She was staring at me. I was trying to avoid her gaze but it was difficult considering her mom was messing with my hair.

I heard her sigh and then walk toward her bathroom. The door shut and I knew she was doing her business.

***
Sometime later in the day our hair and make up was finally done. We were both dressed for the dance. Kimi looked in the mirror and situated her clothes. She must have felt me looking at her because she looked over at me.

She gave me a grin showing off her teeth. The fake fangs in her mouth made her smile look sinister. I couldn't help but laugh.

“That smile was sinister looking.”

I had to talk a little differently because of my own teeth.

She laughed.

She walked out of the bathroom and held her hand out. I took in a deep breath and walked in the bathroom. Kimi hadn't let me look in the mirror the entire time she had been doing her magic as she put it.

I turned toward the mirror and couldn't believe what I saw. The girl, no woman, looking back at me couldn't have been me. The medieval hood was on my shoulders but it wasn't covering my head just yet.

My face was what got me though. To be honest I thought I looked sexy but scary. My eyes were black with eye shadow, my cheeks pink with blush, my lips had black on the outside but toward the center it was red.

I could fix my teeth to the point where they sat on my lips. My teeth made my appearance even better. Then I looked at my hair. It was sort of renaissance style with braids going in the way they use to do it.

My crown sat on the top of my head in the middle of the braids. My necklace hung down from my neck making it look longer that it really was. The gloves were just a little of me in the outfit.

“So do you like it?”

I looked at Kimi and she had this nervous look on her face. Her costume looked great as well. Her hair was done differently than mine. Kinda bushed up at the top and fell down to the side. She wasn't really into her own looks tonight. Her make up wasn't as fancy either, just some simple stuff

In my opinion she didn't need much make up, she was gorgeous without it.

I gave her a smile.

“Like? I love it.”

I gave her a grin, which she returned. I gave her a hug and we walked out of the bathroom. She grabbed her mask and looked at me.

“I will help you with your mask and your help me with mine.”

I nodded and then pulled the string back and put the front of it on her face. I made sure that it was straight and then let it go. She looked at me a grinned. That smile was something else with those teeth.

She grabbed my mask and then put it on my face. We grinned at one another and then we heard footsteps coming down the hall. We looked at the door and saw Ms. Johnson. Her eyes widen at the sight of us.

“My goodness the two of you look amazing.”

We chuckled and grinned.

“Well I think the two of you should get going. Trick or Treaters are out now so I think you should go before the roads get clogged up with kids.”

We both nodded. She walked back down the hall.

“Kimi what are we doing about cars?”

She was grabbing her purse as well as mine.

“Well I got a key from my mom for my car. I kinda thought you were going home without me. I think we need a break from each other though.”

I nodded.

“Sounds fine.”