Picking Up The Pieces

ch.10

Halloween

It was a Halloween weekend, the air was in the mid-'60s during October which was perfect for Florida's weather.

''Black boots or white ones, I can't choose,'' Phoebe said. She was dressing as a Powerpuff girl, more like bubbles. Her hair was split into space buns, makeup was icy blue with a hint of light of lipgloss.

''White is prettier,'' Chelsea said to her after spraying perfume.

The girls were getting ready to go to a Halloween party that was hosted by a classmate. Theo was supposed to be there, including Asher. Asher and Chelsea have continued to talk more but since Theo kissed her, she couldn't get that out of her mind.

Even with Asher she still feels invisible. She's not sure if Asher likes it or not. But when it comes to Theo, it's a different story.

His soft, pink lips against hers, the thought of it made her have goosebumps all over her skin.

''You're right,'' Phoebe said as Chelsea brushed softly to her natural curls. She placed it into a half-up and half-down hairstyle, adding diamond earrings. Chelsea was dressed as Scarlet Witch.

After getting ready, the two head downstairs and said goodbye to Phoebe's mother.

''Wait! Wait! Janet said grabbing her camera.

''Ugh, mom!" Phoebe said.

''Just a quick one!" Janet said, her fuzzy hair was tied into a bun, wearing an orange jacket with grey leggings. ''One, two, three!''

''Cheese!'' They said together.

The girls left the house and took Janet's car to the Halloween party. Phoebe was the one who was driving while Chelsea was in the passenger seat. It took them about twelve minutes to arrive at their destination. Phoebe parked by a tree along with other cars and turn off the car.

''Ladies, welcome, welcome, make yourself comfortable,'' and a guy said to us, He was towering over Phoebe with a red cup in his hand.

''Hey Frank,'' Phoebe responds, flirting with him with her eyes and biting her lips.

''Hey B,'' He smiled, showing his pearly white teeth.

Chelsea walks past the two and wanders around the house. Her arm was touched by Asher and she turns around fully.

''Hey cutie,'' He said to her, dressed as Thor.

''Hey.''

''Come with?"

"Sure.''

Asher escorts her to the kitchen area where everyone else was. He gave her a bottle of Beer but Chelsea denied it politely.

The party was getting hyped and Chelsea founds herself dancing with Asher to some throwback music. From afar Phoebe was with her classmate Frank playing spin the bottle and from another angle, she could see Theo by himself with Diana.

Within a few minutes, a girl from a senior class gathered everyone for a game of Flip it Or Sip it. Flip a coin and guess if it will land heads or tails. If you're wrong, sip your drink and pass the coin to the left. If you're right, you can pass the coin to the right.

''But there's a twist,'' she continues ''Kissing is involved.''

''Ooooo!'' The crowd roared at the thought of making the game steamy than before. Chelsea excuses herself to the bathroom leaving Asher behind.

Whistles and cheers escalated each minute while Chelsea was in the bathroom, pampering and refreshing herself. When she walked down the steps she saw Asher flipping the coin and lost to his guess. He kissed the girl next to him, hard with a tongue.

''Ohhh, Asher!" One of his friends said as he continues to drink and they cheered him on.

Chelsea sees a coldness that brings her to a higher feeling of life, more aware of her internal flame.

''Chels,'' Asher said, not knowing she was giving him a hard glare. ''You wanna join?'' He said in a dry laugh. ''Chels?''

''Do you like me?'' Chelsea blurts out of the blue which Asher then looked confused about. He smiled slowly at her.

''Not really,'' one of his friends said and the others laughed. ''Ash is using you.''

''Yo!" He snapped at his friend then turns to Chelsea. ''I'm sorry, he doesn't mean--''

''What exactly?'' Chelsea said.

''Let's talk, somewhere else.''

''No,'' Chelsea responded sharply. ''I don't believe you.''

''Come on Chels, it was just a kiss. You're being dramatic.''

''I'm not being dramatic.''

''Ash, it's fine, there's plenty of fine girls in this party,'' his friend inserts again.

''Stop, alright!'' He shouts again.

''Whatever,'' Chelsea mumbles and heads outside, storming her way out, going to the front of the house as Asher followers her behind. She took a deep breath and let out a small one.

''Chelsea it's not what you think,'' Asher said fixing his costume. ''Okay maybe I made a mistake but--''

''But what?''

He chortles ''You know, I don't get it, it's not like we are dating you know, sure I took you on a date or something but this, this is... I don't know a big deal.''

''You know Asher, if you didn't want to be with me you could've said that yourself. If you didn't find me attractive you could've said that too, but now I know you're nothing but a f*****g dickhead who thought it was okay to tongue kiss a girl when he's on a ''date'' with someone else.''

''Chelsea.''

''I don't want to speak to you, ever again, please leave.''

''Chelsea, can we work this out?''

''No, please leave.''

He shakes his head 'okay' and leaves Chelsea all one to herself.

All alone in this cold weather, Chelsa finds herself shivering as the cool wind breezes through her hair and costume. She looked around to see where Phoebe was but it seems she was already distracted with her friend Frank and others.

A jacket tugged her from behind and she turns around slowly. Without a doubt, she knew instantly who it was and felt butterflies fluttering through her stomach.

Theo.

He was wearing a white t-shirt and leather pants, hair gelled to the side like he was living in the sixties. He tucked a string of his hair behind his ear and leaned against his motorcycle.

''Who are you supposed to be?'' Chelsea asked.

''Johnny Depp.''

The two snickered together.

''You dressed as him almost every single day,'' Chelsea said, hugging the leather jacket closer.

''My style, you know?''

''Yeah, I know,'' she said and they snickered again.

''Are you okay?'' He asked.

''I'm fine.''

''Are you sure?'' He asked again and she heaves a sigh. Chelsea wasn't okay. Not at all. She thought she had a chance with Asher but it turns out he was just playing with her. I mean that kiss haunted her in some way.

Yes, technically they are not dating but the point is Chelsea just wanted a spare of respect at least.

''Not with Asher anymore, trying to channel everything in.''

''You'll be fine, there's plenty of fish in the sea,'' he grins which made Chelsea snort a little. She was embarrassed that she covers her mouth and clears her throat. ''I'm serious,'' he said. ''There's someone out there for you.''

''You think so?'' She asked.

''Yeah, I know it.''

END OF PART 1