VOICEOVER
Costume Day started as a joke. It ended as a nightmare. But in between, there was dancing. There was drinking. There were secrets spilled and bodies tangled and at least one person who would never be the same. This is what happens when you give young people masks and alcohol and a pool they're not supposed to use. This is what happens when you let them pretend to be someone else for one night. This is what happens when the pretending stops.
THE PARTY – 9:00 PM
The off-campus apartment had been transformed. String lights hung from the balcony. A DJ set up speakers in the living room. The pool in the backyard glowed turquoise; someone had dropped in a dozen glow sticks. The water was warm, inviting, hungry.
Everyone was there.
Aaron stood by the drinks table, wearing his clown costume. White face paint. Red nose. A bright orange wig that itched like hell. He'd added a tear painted under one eye; a nod to Klein Moretti. No one got the reference. No one asked.
Charlie was in a superhero cape and a mask that kept slipping. He'd been drinking since seven. His cheeks were flushed. His eyes were bright.
Wesley wore all black; villain, minimalist. He leaned against the wall, watching the crowd, saying almost nothing. He had a bottle of water in his hand. He was the only sober person in the room.
Oliver wore a reaper costume; black robe, hood pulled low, a plastic scythe that he'd already broken trying to look cool. He was high. Not drunk. High. His eyes were glassy. His movements were slow, deliberate, like he was swimming through honey.
Vicky was a flapper; fringe dress, feather headband, a long cigarette holder she kept pretending to smoke. She was glued to Aaron's side. Her hand never left his arm.
Zuru was a cat; black leotard, ears, tail. She kept hissing at people. She was also very drunk.
Zizi was a witch; black dress, pointed hat, dark makeup that made her look like she'd just cursed someone. She sat in a corner, watching.
Ese was a ghost; a white sheet with two eye holes. No one knew where she was looking. That was the point.
Rose was an angel; white dress, gold halo, wings that caught the light. She moved through the crowd like she owned it. People parted for her. She didn't thank them.
Nelly was a villain; black corset, leather pants, a cape that kept getting stepped on. Kelly was a cowboy; boots, hat, a toy gun on her hip. Mandy was a bride; white lace, veil, a bouquet of fake flowers. Jon was a groom; suit, bow tie, a look on his face that said "I'm only here because my girlfriend made me."
Peculiar had crashed the party. She wasn't a student at MU, but no one checked IDs. She wore a devil costume; red dress, horns, a tail that wagged when she walked. She found Oliver immediately.
"You look like death," she said.
"I am death."
"Edgy."
"I try."
She laughed. He didn't.
The music thumped. The drinks flowed. The night was young.
It wouldn't stay that way.
TRUTH OR DARE – 10:30 PM
Someone found a bottle. Someone cleared a circle in the living room. Someone shouted "TRUTH OR DARE!" and suddenly everyone was sitting on the floor, knees touching, faces flushed, eyes hungry.
Aaron sat between Vicky and Charlie. Oliver sat across from him, hood still up. Wesley sat on the edge, one leg up, watching. Rose sat near the bottle, angel wings spread behind her like a threat.
The girls' squads had merged for the night. Vicky's group; Zuru, Zizi, Ese. Nelly's group; Kelly, Rose, Mandy. A fragile peace. A powder keg.
"I'll spin first," Rose said.
She spun the bottle. It landed on Zuru.
"Truth or dare, cat?"
"Dare." Zuru grinned. "Obviously."
Rose smiled. "I dare you to kiss the person you've secretly wanted to kiss all semester."
The room went quiet.
Zuru looked at Vicky. Then at Aaron. Then at the floor.
She stood up, walked across the circle, and kissed Kelly.
Full on the mouth. Long. Deep.
Kelly's eyes went wide. Then she kissed back.
The room erupted. Cheers. Whistles. Someone shouted "FINALLY!"
Zuru pulled away, wiped her mouth, and sat down. "There. Happy?"
Rose nodded. "Very."
Kelly was blushing. Zuru wasn't.
Vicky looked at Aaron. He wasn't looking at her. He was looking at Mandy.
Mandy was looking at him.
THE SPIN CONTINUES
The bottle spun again. And again. And again.
Charlie had to do twenty pushups while singing the national anthem. He got to twelve before collapsing.
Wesley had to reveal his body count. He said "three" and everyone booed because they didn't believe him. He didn't explain.
Nelly had to admit that she'd once cried during a commercial about a puppy. She denied it. The room didn't believe her.
Oliver had to take off his hood. He did. His face was pale, his eyes hollow. Someone whispered "he looks sick." No one said it loud.
Then the bottle landed on Mandy.
Rose spun it. Rose was still controlling the game. "Truth or dare, bride?"
"Dare."
"Bold." Rose thought for a moment. "I dare you to sit on the lap of the person in this room you find most attractive. For one full minute. No moving."
Mandy smiled. "Easy."
She stood up. Walked across the circle. Past Jon. Past Oliver. Past Charlie.
She sat on Aaron's lap.
The room went silent.
Vicky's hand froze on Aaron's arm.
Jon's face went pale.
Aaron didn't move. He didn't breathe. Mandy's weight was warm. Her perfume was jasmine. Her veil brushed his cheek.
"One minute," Rose said, counting on her phone.
Mandy looked at Aaron. Her eyes were dark. Her lips were parted.
"Hi, Arie," she whispered.
"Hi."
"You look good as a clown."
"Thanks."
"I like the tear."
"Thanks."
"Stop saying thanks."
"Okay."
She laughed. A small, private sound. No one else could hear.
Vicky could hear. She was right there.
"Thirty seconds," Rose said.
Mandy leaned closer. Her mouth was near Aaron's ear. "After the party," she breathed. "Back porch. Don't keep me waiting."
She stood up. Walked back to her spot. Sat down.
The minute was over.
Vicky's nails were digging into Aaron's arm. He didn't feel them. He was already thinking about the back porch.
THE POOL – 11:45 PM
The party had spilled outside. The pool was full of bodies; costumes getting ruined, makeup running, glow sticks floating like little planets.
Charlie was standing at the edge, watching Cynthia. She was wearing a mermaid costume; green scales, a shell bra, a tail that made it impossible to walk. She was sitting on the steps, her feet in the water, laughing at something her friend said.
Do it, Charlie thought. Just do it.
He walked over. Sat down beside her.
"Hey."
"Hey." Cynthia looked at him. "You're the superhero, right?"
"Unfortunately."
"I like the cape."
"Thanks. I made it myself. From a curtain."
She laughed. A real laugh. Not a polite one.
Charlie's heart pounded. "Can I tell you something?"
"Sure."
"I've wanted to kiss you since the first week of the semester."
Cynthia's smile faded. Then returned. Smaller. Warmer.
"Then why haven't you?"
He leaned in. She met him halfway.
The kiss was soft. Sweet. Surprisingly gentle.
When they pulled apart, Charlie was crying. "Sorry," he said, wiping his eyes. "I don't know why I'm crying."
"Because you're human," Cynthia said. "It's okay."
She kissed him again.
No one noticed. Everyone was too busy watching the bottle spin.
THE BACK PORCH – MIDNIGHT
Aaron slipped away from Vicky. She was talking to Zuru, distracted. He walked through the kitchen, past the fridge, out the back door.
Mandy was waiting.
She'd taken off her veil. Her dress was still white. Her hair was loose.
"You came," she said.
"You knew I would."
"Did I?"
"You always know."
She stepped closer. Her hands found his face. White face paint smeared under her thumbs.
"I've been thinking about you," she said. "Every night. Every morning. Every time Jon touches me."
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't say his name. Not here."
"Why? Because it makes you feel guilty?"
"No. Because it makes me feel nothing."
She kissed him.
It was not soft. It was not sweet. It was hungry, desperate, the kind of kiss that happens when two people have been holding back for too long.
Aaron's hands found her waist. Her dress was lace. Her skin was warm.
"Not here," he said, pulling back. "Someone will see."
"Then take me somewhere else."
He looked around. The shed. The dark corner behind the pool house.
He took her hand.
They disappeared into the shadows.
ROSE AND ZURU – 12:30 AM
The party was thinning. People were drunk. People were hooking up. People were passing out on couches.
Rose found Zuru in the hallway, leaning against the wall, her cat ears crooked.
"You kissed Kelly," Rose said.
"Obviously."
"Was it good?"
"Does it matter?"
Rose stepped closer. "I've been watching you all night."
"I know."
"You're interesting."
"I know that too."
Rose touched Zuru's face. Turned it toward hers. "I don't do relationships. I do moments."
"Good. So do I."
They kissed.
It was not gentle. It was not romantic. It was two people using each other to feel something, anything, other than the weight of the night.
Zuru pushed Rose against the wall. Rose laughed.
"Someone will see," Rose said.
"Let them."
They stumbled into an empty bedroom.
The door closed.
The party continued without them.
THE POOL – 1:00 AM
Oliver was floating on his back in the pool.
His reaper robe was soaked. His hood was down. His eyes were closed. The glow sticks bobbed around him like tiny planets.
Peculiar sat on the edge, her feet in the water. "You've been floating for twenty minutes."
"Relaxing."
"You're going to fall asleep and drown."
"Maybe."
"That's not funny."
"Wasn't trying to be."
She watched him. The rise and fall of his chest. The way his lips moved, like he was talking to someone who wasn't there.
Then his chest stopped rising.
"Oliver," she said.
No answer.
"Oliver."
Nothing.
She reached out. Touched his shoulder. He didn't move. His body was limp. His face was slipping below the surface.
"Oliver!"
She grabbed his arm, pulled. He was heavy. Too heavy. The water pulled back.
"Someone help!" she screamed. "HELP!"
The music was loud. The party was still going. In the living room, someone was laughing. In the bedroom, Rose and Zuru were tangled in sheets. On the back porch, Aaron was zipping his pants, Mandy fixing her dress.
No one came.
"PLEASE!" Peculiar screamed again. Her voice cracked.
Wesley heard it.
He was on the balcony, alone, nursing a bottle of water. The scream cut through the bass. He moved.
By the time he got to the pool, Oliver's face was underwater. Peculiar was trying to hold his head up, but she was too small.
Wesley dove in. No hesitation. He grabbed Oliver under the arms, dragged him to the edge. "Someone help me!"
Charlie appeared. His cape was torn, his mask was gone. He grabbed Oliver's robe. Together, they pulled him onto the concrete.
Oliver wasn't breathing.
"Call an ambulance!" Peculiar screamed.
Charlie was already on his phone.
Wesley tilted Oliver's head back, pinched his nose, and started rescue breaths. One. Two. Three.
Oliver coughed.
Water poured out of his mouth. He gasped, choked, rolled onto his side. His body shook. His eyes opened; wild, confused, terrified.
"What... what happened?"
"You stopped breathing," Wesley said. His voice was calm, but his hands were shaking.
Oliver looked at the sky. The glow sticks. The faces of the few people who had gathered.
Peculiar was crying. Charlie was pale. Wesley was dripping.
"Ambulance is on the way," Charlie said.
"I don't need an ambulance."
"You're going anyway."
Oliver didn't argue. He was too tired. Too cold. Too empty.
The ambulance arrived ten minutes later. Paramedics checked his vitals, wrapped him in a blanket, loaded him onto a stretcher.
Nelly ran out of the house, her cape dragging, her face twisted with panic. "Oliver! OLIVER!"
She climbed into the ambulance beside him.
The doors closed. The lights flashed. The ambulance drove away.
The party was over.
People started leaving. In small groups. In silence. No one knew what to say.
Rose stood in the doorway, her angel wings crooked, watching the ambulance disappear. Zuru leaned against the wall beside her, her cat ears gone.
"Well," Rose said. "That was dramatic."
Zuru snorted. "You're a bitch."
"I know."
They didn't kiss again. The moment was gone.
THE AFTERMATH – 2:00 AM
Aaron stood by the pool, alone.
The water was still. The glow sticks had drifted to the edges. A single reaper's hood floated near the drain.
Mandy was gone. She'd slipped away when the ambulance arrived. She hadn't looked at him.
Vicky found him. She put her hand on his back. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You keep saying that."
"It keeps being true."
It wasn't true. He was thinking about the back porch. About Mandy. About how he'd been with her while Oliver was drowning.
What kind of person does that make me?
He didn't want the answer.
THE HOSPITAL – 3:00 AM
Oliver lay in a hospital bed, an IV in his arm, a monitor beeping beside him.
Nelly sat in a plastic chair, holding his hand. Her makeup was ruined. Her eyes were red.
"You scared me," she said.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize. Just... don't do that again."
"I'll try."
She leaned forward, pressed her forehead to his hand. "I love you. I know I shouldn't. I know you're bad for me. But I love you."
Oliver stared at the ceiling.
He didn't say it back.
He wasn't sure he knew how anymore.
VOICEOVER
Oliver didn't die that night. He came close. Close enough to feel the other side reaching for him. But he pulled back. Or someone pulled him back. Wesley, mostly. And Peculiar, who screamed until someone finally listened. That's the thing about near-death. It doesn't change you. Not really. You wake up in a hospital bed, you promise to do better, and then you go right back to doing the same shit you've always done. Because change is hard. And dying is easy. And most people would rather almost die than actually live.