The next day at school, I found a note penned in a semi-scratchy scrawl tucked in the crease of my locker.

  I like you. Will you go to the Halloween Party with me?

  There was no clue of a name. I blushed and tucked the note into my binder. Could I have a secret admirer? Who was it, and why me?

  Maryanne: This seems suspicious, Myra.

  Strength: Don’t people have the guts to show themselves?

  Mark: I concur. They are either playing a prank or cowards.

  Jack: I agree with my bro. Whoever it is, he seems to be a coward. You don’t want to be with someone like that.

  That’s enough! Someone likes me, and you are all jealous! I wanted to shout at them, but I didn’t want to scare off whoever was watching me, so I opened my locker instead. I was beyond surprised at my finding of the note. Of course, I was doubtful of its authentication but another bigger part of me was finally coming to life. I’d always wondered if anyone would like me and now years later I had an answer. I had a secret admirer!

  I put my books away and grabbed my History text and binder before locking the rest. A shadow fell over me, and I smelled that strange scent of a clear blustery spring day.

  Maryanne twirled a lock of her hair and sat up: He’s back.

  Strength rolled his shoulders: What does he want now? More math homework?

  Mark huffed and turned a page in his book: I don’t think so, Strength.

  Jack sighed and scrunched his eyes: You gotta be kidding me!

  I turned around and met Jonah.

  He smirked. “I never thought I’d meet someone worse in math than Ralf.”

  I stiffened and looked at the floor. “As much as I look it; I’m no nerd," I muttered, shuffling my feet.

  “I’ll say, you were the only one who got the French bonus question right tho.”

  “I’m good at languages, English, History, and PE and suck at everything else. But my English essay may get me an F for my point of view on Romeo and Juliet,” I muttered, fiddling with the string of my blue hoodie. History had the best air conditioner, but it was freezing in that class.

  Jonah crossed his arms. “Really, how so? And I came to steal your French homework again. It’s better than cheating.”

  I gave him a copy of my French homework. I had made two copies, as I said I would.

  Maryanne: How does the teacher not know your handwriting? How is he getting away with this?

  Strength: Yeah, that’s sometin’ I’d like ta know as well!

  Mark: Me too.

  Jack: And me. The bastard’s a thief. Surely the teachers know by now?

  Maybe he copies the answers in his writing?

  Maryanne: With what time?

  Strength: He’s always late to class.

  Mark: Unless he can control time, I don’t see how

  Jack: Can he do that?

  Mark scoffed: Of course not!

  Jack huffed right back at his brother: What do you know, Mark?

  Mark shook his head and opened his book shifting the pages: The laws of time, Jack?

  Jack’s hands rose clear in the air: Please, there are no laws! It’s like the fourth dimension!

  I shook my head and faced Jonah. “Mr. Sentero adores Romeo and Juliet, and I put it through the wringer. I don’t believe they had been in love, and it was a tragedy but not of everlasting love.”

  Jonah chuckled. “You’re right, and you will get an F. See ya!” He turned and headed for French class, and I walked toward History class, thinking about the note tucked into my binder.

  Was I too much of a freak to ask if they saw me? I didn’t know.

  Jack: That’s what we meant by this person is a coward. Even your bully faces you head-on. Why not them?

  Mark: This smells fishy.

  Maryanne: It does.

  Strength: I think it smells like bananas!

  At lunch, Katilia handed me a cheese sandwich with another note taped to the plastic wrapping. I took the sandwich and read the message.

  I know you like cheese sandwiches. Can you tell my friend if you are going to the party? My costume will be a vampire. I’ll meet you there.

  I looked at Katilia, tapping her foot and flicking her hair.

  “Well?” she said. “Are you going or not, Myra? I have a life, you know,” I sat uncertainly. I couldn’t handle parties, but…

  “Katilia? Do you know who is sending me these notes?” I asked, cupping the cheese sandwich like a precious gift. And to me, it was!

  Katilia smiled. “You’ll have to come to the party to find out. I promised I wouldn’t tell, and friends don’t tell on each other.”

  “Of course not. Yes, I’ll go to the party. Do I need to dress as anything so he’ll recognize me?”

  “Well, maybe something sexy? You know to impress him?”

  I blushed. “Sexy? I can’t pull that off! Look at me!”

  Katilia stared at me, taking in my clothes and size, then grinned, writing something down in her planner. “I’m looking, and it’s only a suggestion. Well, I’ll tell him you’re coming then.”

  “Katilia? Where is a costume store?” I asked, wary. The last time she helped me, we had to work together for a grade, and I did everything.

  “Go to The Joker’s Box. It’s Halloween twenty-four-seven in that store. Here are the directions to it.” She ripped a note out of her planner and handed it to me. “Bye, Myra!”

  Maryanne: Myra, this is suspicious! Katilia brought you that sandwich!

  Strength: Yeah, don’t eat it!

  Mark: I concur. She might have poisoned it and is waiting for the reaction.

  Jack: Yeah, throw it away!

  I ignored them and unwrapped the sandwich. It was cheese and butter. From the first taste, I was gone! Sharp cheddar, sweet Swiss, tangy parmesan…and the bread! It had a taste all its own! It was so soft! The song I’m in Heaven kept repeating in my mind with each bite. I did feel woozy, but that was from my experience in Cheese Land, more than anything else.

  A scream overtook the cafeteria, and I saw Katilia screaming at Jonah, who was shrugging. She had a nasty ketchup smear on her clothes.

  Maryanne: That must be why she was screaming.

  Strength: Jonah must have given it to her. I thought the popular kids were friends.

  Mark: No, Strength. They all play a challenging chess game, and it looks like Katilia lost it. Jonah didn’t look too apologetic.

  Strength: He’s a bully to everyone, isn’t he?

  Jack: I bet he is. He doesn’t know any other way.

  Maryanne: What a mess!

  Jack: Yes, a big one, A hot one...I’m looking at Katilia! She’s about to take off her shirt right here!

  Mark: I bet she has one under the sweater.

  Jack: It’ll have ketchup, too, won’t it? Take it off!

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Mark whacked Jack with his book: Behave, brother!

  I turned back to my sandwich and kept eating. At PE, Jonah approached me while we ran laps.

  “Whatever you do, don’t go to the Halloween party. It’s a trick,” he said, running by.

  I stopped and blinked. Was Jonah right? Was I being played…again? He was a bully, and it made no sense he’d try to protect me. I picked up my speed and ignored his warning.

  After school, I’d go to this Joker’s Box to get a costume as soon as I could talk Juaquin into it anyway.

  There was still a day before the party. Jonah tried warning me again, but I ignored him. He was my bully, not my savior. Anything done by him was to hurt me. He probably knew who had sent me the sandwich and was trying to separate us already. And I wouldn’t be a victim once I had a boyfriend, right? At least, I hoped not anyway. As it was, my brother and my mother tried talking me out of going, but it didn’t work. Determination drove me to meet this guy.

  The next day after school, I headed to the mall. I took a deep breath in and opened the double glass doors. The booming voices and loud chatter hit me like an asteroid. I became swept into the tidal wave of people and tossed from corner to corner, store to store. The world spun around me and I cupped my hands to my ears. They were ringing with the thousands of conversations held at one time, the laughing of a group of teenagers, and the hollering of a nearby infant wanting his bottle or nappy changed or whatever. I just wanted it all to stop. Everything looked the same tint of gray. Even the fountain with all its colorful fish was gray. I wanted out! My breathing became faster, and my hands were sweaty.

  Maryanne: LET’S GET OUT OF HERE!

  Strength: YEAH, YOU ABOUT TO KAPUT ON US!

  Mark: I CONCUR. WE NEED TO SIT DOWN, AT LEAST. MAYBE BY THE FOUNTAIN?

  Jack: YEAH, IT AIN’T SO NOISY OVER BY THE WATER!

  I nodded and headed towards the fountain with colorful fish. I sat near a turtle that looked natural with the strobe lights hitting it at an angle. The trickling water calmed my nerves. Juaquin found a seat near me and sighed.

  “If you can’t do the mall, you can’t do the party. That was the deal, Myra.”

  “Water stabilizes me,” I said. “We’ll be on a boat for the party, and there won’t be a gazillion people there either. I’ll be fine. I promise.” I had made that stupid bet, but I also knew that there would be loud music at the party, which would be worse than at the mall.

  Juaquin grabbed my hand. “ The store you want is further in, Myra. Can you get to it?”

  “Y-yes.”

  “Okay, let’s go then. Up!”

  I got up from my seat by the fountain, and we launched back into the melee. The swishing of bags entered the chattering, so now there was a cacophony of chattering, screaming, feet thudding, and whooshing in the air. And people shouted not just at each other, but to me, too. I felt so lost, and the world was starting to spin in fairy lights and noise. The lights blinded me as I clung to Juaquin. The air was stifling with so many people heating the air with their bodies. Every time someone brushed against me I went rigid fighting claustrophobia and pushing back the scream at this madness.

  Maryanne: WE CAN DO IT!

  Strength: YEAH, MYRA!

  Mark: MHMM.

  Jack: YEAH!

  My voices were not helping me. They got loud whenever my environment got noisy as if I couldn’t hear them, and giving me a migraine too.

  We got to the Joker’s Box, but everything was for petite girls. I decided to visit my favorite store instead and pull something together. I gathered a flowy off-the-shoulder top in black and black hip huggers, size fourteen. The top had a sweetheart neckline reminiscent of Renaissance tops.

  “What are you supposed to be?” asked Juaquin as he looked at some capes. I picked out a witch’s hat and smiled, twirling it.

  “A twentieth-century witch?”

  “Okay, lil sis. Whatever floats your boat,” he said, inspecting some yellow polos. I smiled and went to change.

  On the way to the dressing room, I heard Jonah’s voice. I panicked and ducked behind a clothes rack. I glanced around the rack. I knew I could get in trouble if Jonah saw me, not to mention how he would react, but I was curious about the tall blonde woman with him.

  “Mom, we’ve been through this. I am not dressing up for Halloween.”

  “Oh, come on, Jonah. You’d look smashing in a cape.” the tall willowy woman said. Her eyes were a clear blue. So, Jonah got his eye color from his father. I wonder if both eyes were the same color or if one eye was different because of a gene aberration.

  “Mom, seriously, in this store?”

  “I like KBC,” his mom said, perusing the store's aisles.

  I was stuck! There was no way around the pair, and I didn’t want to get publicly tortured.

  Maryanne: HIS MOM IS HERE!

  Strength: YEAH, HE WOULDN’T DARE!

  Mark: I CONCUR!

  Jack: WHAT BRO SAID!

  Can you be a little quieter? You’re in my head, for cripes sake.

  I took my purchases and ducked out of the clothes line, remaining away from them. Across the store, Jonah’s mom dragged him to the cape display. But then something odd happened. Jonah suddenly turned his head and our eyes met–his with surprise and mine with dread.

  He approached me, and out of habit, my eyes skittered away.

  He smirked. “Fancy meeting you here.” I held onto my clothes and witch’s hat like a lifesaver.

  “N-nice to see you too,” I replied, staring at a display row of shirts in the distance.

  He smiled. “Why are you here?”

  “Buying clothes,” I said, fiddling with the tags on my shirt.

  “I’m following my mom; she thinks I’d look good in a cape.” He rolled his eyes.

  I glanced at him briefly, then at the capes, and made a comparison. “You would if it’s a long one.” I continued fiddling with the tags.

  He looked at me strangely. “I guess.”

  Juaquin walked over and our strange conversation ended. “Have everything, sis?”

  I nodded and showed him my purchases.

  “Cool.” He looked at Jonah. “Who’s this?”

  Was it me, or was Jonah sweating? I could tell Juaquin about the bullying Jonah did to me and watch the scandal–and I was pretty sure his mother didn’t know about it. I remembered the broken, wanting look from the park. I couldn’t do that to him.

  “He’s a classmate,” I said, and Jonah looked at me with surprise. “We ran into each other, and I talked to him about how a cape might suit him.”

  “Wouldn’t it? Hello! I’m Alice Miller, Jonah’s mom,” the blonde woman said, shaking my and Juaquin’s hands.

  I smiled at the perky blonde woman. She reminded me of an elf, like the ones in The Lord of the Rings. Tall and willowy but with an inner elegance, despite her bounciness. She seemed too young to be Jonah's mother, but looks are deceiving. Look at me. Outside, I appear normal but inside…another deal altogether.

  Maryanne: STOP MAKING FUN OF ME!

  Strength: WE AREN’T MAKIN’ FUN OF YA!

  Maryanne: YES, YOU ARE!

  Strength: NO, WE ARE NOT!

  Mark: MAYBE A LITTLE?

  Maryanne: ARGG!

  I cringed and rubbed my temples. Juaquin caught the message. It was time to go.

  “It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Miller, Jonah,” Juaquin said, “but we’ve got a list of things to buy.”

  “Bye,” Alice said while Jonah nodded, keeping his eyes on me for a minute before following his mother to the capes and whining about not needing one.

  Soon after, we left the mall with only one other stop at Gamestop to buy Miguel a game. It would be his birthday soon, and he wanted Grand Theft Auto, but we got him Pokemon Stadium instead.

  Once in the car, Juaquin laughed. “That was the mighty Jonah? Kid looked like he was going to crap his pants at meeting me.”

  I rolled my eyes but nodded. “He’s complicated. All bullies are.”

  “You sure you don’t want me to really scare him? I can go back in there and say what’s what. I bet his mom knows nothing about his bullying acts,” he said chuckling.

  “No, I got it. Drive Juaquin.” I rubbed my temples again hoping to get to bed soon.

  At half past eight, we trudged up the stairway to our apartment. Mom should be home by now since Mige’s wrestling class had ended, and Mama was usually the one to pick him up on wrestling days. We entered the apartment and caught Mige playing Animal Crossing.

  “Hey, Mige, where is mama?” I asked, placing my bags on the kitchen table

  “She’s taking a bath,” Mige said. He held up a pair of curtains.“Which looks better? Red or blue?”

  “For your house? I’d say the red,” I said, knowing it was his favorite color. He smiled and nodded, shifting to the red curtains. Mama came in from the bathroom and immediately asked Juaquin how I did

  “She was shaky at first but improved once she got used to it. I think she can do it, mama.”

  “Did you find nice clothes?”

  I smiled and showed her the shirt and pants. “I can wear them with my combat boots and witch’s hat.”

  Mama nodded and hugged me. “Be careful out there tomorrow, alright?”

  “Yes, mama,” I said, hugging back.

  The next day school couldn’t go fast enough. All anyone could talk about was the Halloween party.

  I couldn’t get home quickly enough! I had till six to doll up. It was three now, and it would last til eleven. I put on my only pushup bra and the shirt, then the jeans, followed by the combat boots.I disentangled my mane of hair, which usually lay listless on my back. I washed it twice and conditioned it. Finally, I added the witch’s hat. Then it was off to my mom, who was free today so that she could doll me up. Eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick joined my outfit.

  “Take your phone,” mama reminded her.

  I nodded. I had charged it yesterday and kept it in my little black purse. It was big enough for my phone and my wallet, which had fifty bucks in case of emergencies.

  Juaquin walked in and whistled. “You’ll be a heartbreaker, sis. Let’s go.”

  I nodded and hugged my mom farewell. I rushed to get my black hoodie and followed Juaquin to the car. I was ecstatic. I was about to meet my secret admirer!

  Maryanne held her tummy: I’m getting a bad feeling about this.

  Strength nodded: Sometin smells fishy bout this.

  Mark sighed: I concur. We really shouldn’t go.

  Jack raked a hand through his thick black hair: Don’t feel surprised if Jonah was telling the truth!

  I ignored them and enjoyed the sea breeze as we approached Pier One. It was full of people! There were costumes of every design and make. Some were original, some were stereotypical, and some were strange, like the lemon cake guy. There was a banana, a GI Joe, and a mermaid with wings (that was new). A clown, various cheerleaders, pop singers and witches, and vampires galore. I fit right in...mostly.

  Maryanne: You fit in well.

  Strength: Yeah!

  Mark: Yes, you do.

  Jack: Yep!

  Thanks!

  Jack: Right in with a freak show, that is.

  Maryanne: Jack!

  Jack: It’s true.

  Strength: It kinda is, Maryanne.

  Maryanne: Oooh, honestly!

  I ignored their squabbling and went to line up. No one recognized me, and I even got the eye of some popular guys, but none of that mattered because tonight, I would finally become normal.

  I entered the boat and was immediately struck by too much pink. It was as if the room–the walls, the rugs, the sofas–had regurgitated the color and left behind ugly. We weren’t allowed into the rooms except for the pink monstrosity where a game system was set up and the main deck where the party would be. There was a separate deck for lavatories and a snack bar. The main deck shined, and it smelled faintly of lemons.

  The candy was on a few tables to the back, and I headed there. The music was starting, and I already wanted to run and hide. I needed to be strong!

  I lasted two hours.

  The boat was packed, and I decided that hiding like a mouse in the shadows wouldn’t help me stand out, especially dressed in black. I stepped onto the dance floor and was blinded by lights, and deafened by music and chatter.

  It was a nightmare. I whimpered like a frightened animal and I had to get away! I turned and stepped into someone.

  “Hey! Watch where...Myra? Is that you?”

  I looked into mismatched eyes. “Jonah,” I gasped, feeling the room getting smaller and smaller. I searched my satchel for my little black phone that had my brother and mother on speed dial.

  “Shit! If Katilia catches you here... You have to leave. Now.”

  “I-I need water! Take me to the rails, please?”

  “As long as you leave afterward. Katilia’s got something nasty planned for you. The whole note thing was a trick to get you here and into their grasp.”

  I was too dizzy and clung to him as he walked us to the rails. I got hold of my phone and speed-dialed my brother. I listened to it ring. It was busy.

  He said he would be free all night! I was about to try my mother when female laughter startled me. Jonah was surprised too.

  “Jonah,” Katilia exclaimed. “Did you find her first? How nice, and in a place where no one can hear her screams.” Katilia was smirking, wearing her cheerleading outfit. How very original.

  Jonah gripped me tighter. “Let her go, Katilia. She hasn’t done anything to you or your reign, and I doubt she wants to.”

  Katilia smiled. “Jonah? Do you want daddy dearest to hear about how you…refused my offer to help his campaign…my dad, the governor?”

  If Jonah’s eyes could have lit Katilia on fire, they would have. “Of course not. I want to live a little longer.”

  Katilia flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Then bring her!”

  Jonah glanced at me and then shook his head. He pulled me in front of him. “I’m sorry.”

  Maryanne: I knew this was a trap!

  Strength: Yeah, didn’t it smell funny?

  Mark: What is it with you and smells Strength?

  Jack: Am I the only one that’s noticed the fact that it was our bully who came and told us of the trap?

  Mark: Uh, no.

  Jack: No, He’s in on it.

  All: Damn!

  Jack: Double damn!

  Jonah’s hands were like manacles around my arms. I wriggled, but there was no more room for wiggling. Like some dolphin caught in a net, I was led to the boat's edge.

  Ralf tossed a bunch of red liquid into the sea below. He smirked.“That should call them.”

  “C-call what?” I asked, too afraid of what the answer might be.

  “The sharks. What other creature is summoned by blood in the ocean?” Katilia taunted. “Jonah, be a darling and hold her over the rails.”

  “No!” I screamed, fighting my captor, but it was no use. He shoved me over the rails, but I didn't fall in. Jonah held me by my feet...I was screaming and flailing my arms, my face only a dozen feet from the water.

  Blurry black shadows swam around. Sharks! Why did it have to be sharks? Only two things were scarier. Jonah and the rest laughed as I dangled in the air for a few minutes.

  Maryanne paced the floor frantically: Oh my god, Sharks!

  Strength balled his fists: Let me at ’em!

  Mark quivered and hid behind his book: This is scary! Dude, I wet myself! Get us out of here!

  Strength: Why can’t we take control?

  Jack: And do what dipstick? I don’t feel like being shark chow!

  Maryanne slapped both voices across the head: Enough! Both of you! We need to work together. Myra is deadly scared of these things!

  Mark hid under his book: Me too!

  I closed my eyes and prayed. Finally, Jonah brought me back to the boat, and I collapsed on the deck in a heaving ball of nerves and fear.

  “My turn,” said the other boy. But he had more trouble with me, and had to struggle to get me over the side. Still, he managed, and I hung there again by my feet, dangling in midair above the water.

  “OK, Ralf,” Jonah said, “that’s enough. Pull her in.”

  Ralf tried, but he couldn’t lift me, and my feet began slipping from his hands.

  “Pull her in!” Jonah yelled.

  “I...can’t. She’s too heavy!”

  I fell out of his grasp. The air buoyed me momentarily, like a cushion, and then I hurtled face-first into the water. Whether by luck or sheer terror, I somehow managed to flip myself over and swim to the surface. My head bobbed in the waves like a bodyless cork, choking on blood and salty water. I felt a fin brush against me and I screamed. I met Jonah’s horrified stare, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. And then something yanked me under and I was swallowed by darkness.