My eyes grazed back over to the team when I caught his name on the back of his jersey. Of course he wore that mask. I shook my head as Kelly rubbed my arm trying to comfort me in my mental anguish. “Things are complicated,” she cooed, “but things will be good. I’m here with you, and I’m not going anywhere. Our friendship is real and as solid as bedrock—or diamonds or something. It’s unbreakable and I’m sorry this has been happening. If I could change anything...”

I grabbed her hand and squeezed it, feeling temporarily comforted by her touch. She was my best friend in the whole world. Secrets or not. “Love you,” I said, kissing the back of her hand.

“Then let’s party!” She raised her drink in a mock toast before taking a long swig of it. I followed suit, downing the rest and tossing it to the bar. The alcohol was warm as it slid down my throat, quickly fusing with the beat of the music that thudded through the house, shaking the walls and vibrating under my heels.

I let out a heavy breath, forcing a smile as Kelly pulled me onto the dance floor.

Just for tonight. Forget about everything for a little while.

I pushed the creeping anxiety down, forcing it to fade—even for just a few hours. I focused on the warm hum of alcohol seeping into my veins and thumping music around me.

Kelly grabbed my hand and spun me around as onlookers watched the devil twins getting lost in the moment in a crowd of dancing bodies. The beat wrapped around everyone, the fog machines making a thick haze across the room. I focused on the beats to ground my heart and forced my nerves to play pretend.

But then I saw him.

A baseball uniform wearing figure at the edge of the crowd, semi-hidden behind a group of dancing students. A girl desperately trying to get his attention. His face was fully pointed in my direction hidden behind the bloodied ghost mask.

For a moment, I felt the old paranoia creeping back in. The doubts. The uncertainty. But I bundled it back up and shoved it down. I wasn’t going to let him get in my head.

Tonight was about feeling normal for once in the chaos that erupted around me like a volcano.

He stepped forward, fixated on me as he parted through the crowd. The air became thicker than the fog with tension as he made his way closer to me. I tried to pretend I didn’t notice by twirling with Kelly and swaying to the beat. I knew he could feel my pulse quickening with each step he took in my direction, how my skin tingled with awareness of him.

I couldn’t escape him.