Masquerade

“Thanks for taking me in, Mrs. Lockwood,” I said again.

“It really is no problem, dear. Your mother was a good friend of mine and it’s the least I could do in her passing. I need to go make sure everything’s going smoothly for the masquerade tonight. Will you be alright?” she asked trying to sound concerned. On some level she was. She did care. She just cared more about appearances and running the town.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“Well, if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask,” she said as she was walking out the door. I didn’t bother replying. She probably wouldn’t have heard me anyway.

I flopped down on the bed and spread my arms. Staring up at the ceiling I breathed a sigh of dissatisfaction. I closed my eyes trying to find some sort of peace or contentment. Then a heavy weight was suddenly on top of me. I groaned and pushed them off. Opening my eyes I saw Tyler lying next to me on the bed and grinning.

“God, your fat,” I complained but a smile couldn’t help but make its way onto my face.

“Nah. It’s all muscle,” he said flexing his bicep. I reluctantly admit that he was pretty buff now, not that I’d say it out loud.

Tyler and my family have always been good friends. It started when my mother and his were in high school together. But then my mother met my father and they both moved out of town. Our mother’s stayed in contact though and usually every other summer we would come to visit the Lockwoods.

When we came over I would always get stuck hanging out with Tyler since we were the same age. Don’t get me wrong, he was fun to be with and he was not bad looking. But the constant flirting does get old after awhile, especially when someone has a boyfriend. Yet I couldn’t help but like Tyler. Nothing ever happened, though I’m sure our parents would have loved it.

My father died when I was about seven years old. I remember my mother was very distraught. To get comfort my mother and I visited the Lockwoods for about a month where my mother slowly got over his death. It wasn’t easy on her.

And now, at age 17, my mother also died. Mrs. Lockwood, having heard the news, immediately offered to take me in. She was like my closest relative in a way. I didn’t have any others. My parents were both the only child. So that’s how I ended up at the Lockwood mansion in Mystic Falls, Virginia.



“Wow,” said Tyler coming up behind me at the masquerade party. “You look amazing,” he said. I swallowed the strawberry I had been eating and looked him over.

“And you do not look bad in a tux.” I smiled before walking off in a random direction. It had been like this for the past week. Tyler would try and flirt with me but I’d just end up shooting him down. Tyler trailed along beside me.

“Hey, I came by to see if you wanted to hang out with me and a couple of friends. We’re in one of the back rooms.” He moved and front of me and we both stood in the center of the party.

“I don’t know,” I said cautiously. I was never one for meeting new people.

“Come on. It’ll be fun.” Without giving me a chance to say anything Tyler grabbed my hand and led me through the throng of people. I thought Mystic Falls was a small town. There were a ton of people in here.

Once we got to the backroom I saw that it was just two other people. “Hey guys, this is Willow. Willow this is Matt and Sarah.” I was suddenly conscious of Tyler still holding my hand and pulled it away.

“Want some?” offered Matt holding up a bottle of what I’d assume to be an alcoholic beverage.

“Hell yeah,” I said walking over as Matt poured me a glass. “I’ve needed one of these all night.” As Matt handed me the glass I felt Tyler’s eyes on me. I took a drink before turning to Tyler. I smiled in a sort of thank you to him. I wasn’t sure what for.



“So what happened to Amy?” asked Sarah.

“I don’t know. She disappeared,” answered Matt taking a drink from the bottle.

“She’s probably drunk somewhere,” commented Tyler and they all laughed at the thought.

“Like me,” said Matt and then he started pouring the contents of the bottle onto the floor.

“Woah,” said Tyler shaking his head. “Don’t do that.” Matt just looked at him with a smile on his face.

“What, man? It’s a party,” he said. “Right dad?” He took a picture of Tyler and his parents off of the desk he was sitting on. “You know,” he said, unscrewing the liquor bottle, “it looks like your dad wants a drink.” He then poured some of the alcohol onto the picture.

“Hey,” said Tyler standing up off the sofa. “That’s not cool.” Matt just gave him another drunken smile. “What’s wrong with you?” asked Tyler moving closer to Matt.

“What the guy was a dick,” said Matt.

“C’mon you’re being mean,” spoke up Sarah still sitting with me on the couch. “His dad’s dead.”

“Give me the picture,” said Tyler trying to take it away from Matt.

“Woah,” said Matt quickly pulling it out of reach. Droplets of the alcohol that still coated the picture flew in every direction. “Remember how your dad used to slap you around,” prodded Matt. He then slapped Tyler upside the head.

“Are you kidding?” asked Tyler. I could tell he was getting pissed.

“Just having fun,” said Matt with a smirk.

“Put the picture down, man,” said Tyler. In response Matt broke the picture on the edge of the desk. Glass shattered and I involuntarily jumped while Tyler backed away from the Matt to avoid the glass. I think Sarah jumped a little too.

“Okay, you need to calm your drunk ass down right now,” said Tyler placing his hands on Matt’s shoulders.

“Do something about it,” taunted Matt pushing Tyler away. Tyler took a calming breath.

“I’m not going to fight you,” he told Matt, fighting to remain calm.

Sarah got up and moved away from them and I followed her. Matt approached Tyler and then tackled him to the floor. Matt then started punching Tyler.

Tyler pushed Matt off and then they both scrambled to get up. Tyler’s fist connected with the side of Matt’s face. They both then wrestled each other to get the upper hand. Suddenly a blonde girl came running in.

“What is going on?” she said while trying to pry the two boys apart. She succeeded and Matt fell into the wall a few feet away. Matt got up and went after Tyler again. “Stop!” commanded the girl. She put both her arms out to keep Tyler and Matt away from each other.

“I can’t,” said Matt struggling against the girl. “Let me go. I have to finish.”

“What the hell’s wrong with you?” said Tyler.

“Let me go!” said Matt. Taking one more look at him the girl elbowed him in the face and he fell to the floor unconscious. Everyone looked at each other in shock. Nobody could believe it went this far.

“Matt?” asked the girl, moving towards him. She knelt next to him on the floor. I went over there to check on Matt as well. Some blood was coming from his nose. “Matt,” the girl kept saying, trying to get him to wake up. He wasn’t responding.

“Tyler, look out,” the girl suddenly yells. Looking behind me I see Sarah stab Tyler. Tyler pushed her away from him and she fell. She hit her head on the edge of the desk before falling to the floor where she lay unmoving.

“No, no, no,” said Tyler moving beside her. “C’mon wake up,” he said slightly shaking Sarah. “Sarah. Sarah, open your eyes. Wake up,” he pleaded. “This can’t happen,” he said to himself. “This can’t happen. This can’t be happening.”

In vain he tried to get her to wake up again. When he realized it wasn’t working he got up and moved away from her. The girl that had run in got up and slowly moved towards Sarah’s body. I stayed next to Matt, making sure he was okay and that if he did wake up he wouldn’t go after Tyler again.

The girl knelt beside Sarah and felt for her pulse. Tyler was standing there freaking out. After a few seconds she lifted her head and looked at Tyler. Tyler moaned in pain and then fell to his knees. He punched the floor in frustration.

Slowly I got up and moved towards Tyler. “Tyler. Tyler what’s happening?” asked the girl.

“Get away,” said Tyler in anguish.

“Tyler,” I said moving closer.

“Get away!” he shouted.

“What’s happening?!” cried the other girl. Tyler then looked up at us and I saw his eyes. The other girl backed away in fear while I moved forward.

I grabbed his wrists and made him face me. “Tyler, focus. Calm down,” I said sounding a little hysterical. I lowered my voice trying to portray calmness.

“You need to calm down. It’s going to be okay.” Slowly I saw the golden color fade from his eyes. He hung his head seeming exhausted. I looked to where the girl was standing there watching us. “It’s going to be okay,” I repeated, hoping to believe it.



I heard Tyler’s entry as he opened his bedroom door. It was late at night. I wanted to talk to him. I walked to his room where his door was open a crack. “Tyler?” I asked opening the door wider. He stood there without a shirt on in just his jeans. “Sorry, to interrupt,” I said blushing but entering anyways.

“It’s fine,” he said. He went and sat on the bed and looked at me. I stood standing by the door watching him. “What?” he asked when I didn’t say anything. I felt sudden tears come to my eyes. “Willow, what’s wrong?” He got off the bed and stood in front of me. He placed his hands on my shoulders.

I didn’t say anything but merely just embraced him. Tyler’s arms wrapped around me instantly. A couple of my tears spilled over and I sniffled. “What’s wrong?” asked Tyler again. He pulled back to look at me. He wiped away some of my stray tears.

“I’m sorry, Ty,” I said. My voice was barely above a whisper.

“You’re sorry? For what?” he asked confused.

“You killed someone.”

“You’re sorry that I killed someone?” asked Tyler trying to make it a joke.

“I know what that means.” Tyler pulled me in for another hug.

“If only you did,” murmured Tyler into my hair.

“I do,” I insisted. “I know about the curse.”

“What do you know?” asked Tyler thinking he didn’t hear me correctly. He pulled away and held me at arms’ length to get a better look at me. “How do you know?” he asked. He could see on my face that I did know.

“Because you’re not alone,” I said sadly.

“You can’t mean…” he said trailing off, afraid to say it out loud. I slowly nodded. “Since when?” he asked.

“Since a couple weeks ago,” I murmured. I looked down at the floor.

“A couple weeks ago?” said Tyler confused. “But that’s when you came to live with us after your mom…” He trailed off again as he put the pieces together. I didn’t want to look at him, afraid of what I might see. “I’m sorry, Willow,” he said and I could hear the sincerity in his voice.

I sadly shrugged. “I just snapped.”

“How are you doing?” he asked. I could tell he meant more about being a werewolf than emotionally.

“Okay. It hasn’t been that rough so far. I’m just nervous about next month,” I said finally having the courage to look at him after spilling my secret.

“Me too,” admitted Tyler and I saw the fear in his eyes. “How much do you know?”

“A good amount,” I admitted. Tyler opened his mouth to ask questions. “Tomorrow,” I said smiling through my tears. “We’ll get through this together.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck in another embrace. It just felt so good, so right to hug him. I just now realized something. I pulled away to tell him something I should have a long time ago.

“It’s you and me, always,” I whispered.

“Damn right,” he said. Then he kissed me.