Willow’s fairy face wrinkled up and she pointed her wand to the stairs. “Go on up. Everyone’s in the upstairs game room.”
Lights flashed from the top and Halloween pop songs came through the speakers. So it wasn’t difficult to find. Inside, Kristnaldo wore a toga while bent over a bucket of water, bobbing for red apples. Around him, the other guests lounged, danced, and hung out. Their costumes varied in quality, but the toga was probably the best. “Next year, we’ll do a Greek God theme,” Mia promised Alexi. “Which Greek God do you want to be? Call it now, or I choose for you.”
Alexi examined the array of costumes. “We don’t go over the top in Europe, like you do here.”
“Will you be here next year or in Europe?” She couldn’t stop herself from adding, “We have awesome universities.” She blamed the buzz of the tequila for her final line. “I’d miss you.”
“My father said you’d pressure me to stay.” He pulled away.
Ouch. It felt like the bucket of apple water had tipped over onto her, chilly and slightly painful.
“Yo. Yo. Mia.” Jake grabbed her hand, walking backward, towing her toward a group who were dancing. “Hot green alien with turquoise eyes coming through. Uh. Huh.” Jake pulled her this way and that.
“Be careful, I’ll get green on you.”
Jake shrugged a big shoulder, making the alien antennae on his back bounce. “Doesn’t bother me.” He held up his arms in the shape of a W and was bouncing in a dance move.
Mia spun and pulled Lauren and Maddie into the dance with them so it became a group thing. She was totally focused on the dance and the fun, but every now and then someone bobbed down and she glimpsed Alexi.
Alexi stood by a table filled with Halloween treats: spiders crouched over cupcakes, toffee popcorn ball pyramid, smoke-pluming punch bowl.
With just a glance at him eating a green witch’s hat shaped cookie, wearing an iconic Star Trek Captain’s costume, standing around with all the other teens, he could be anyone. Just a guy from her high school.
Mia eased away from the dance floor and leaned into the black and orange crepe streamers. She adjusted her hot wig.
Two girls sidled over to Alexi, one dressed as bubbles, the other like a bubble wand. He did look like a normal guy at a normal high school party. He was the most handsome guy there, sure, but he looked American. But when he spoke, his accent came out and his unique take on things emerged. And that was what she wanted, to be close to him, to hear what he thought about the party. But she was glad he blended in.
Maddie joined her, sweat glowing on her face like they’d been at practice. “Whew. It’s hot in here.”
Mia nodded.
“Do you hate it when people hit on your new brother, or just sort of?”
It was half an inside-joke. It was how they teased Lauren about her older brother. Mia was feeling new sympathy for Lauren. “Would you?”
“No point of reference. I only have a bratty little sister. Maybe I should be grateful. My parents could’ve saddled me with that.” Maddie jerked an antenna Alexi’s way. “Then everyone would be pestering me instead of you.” She shook out her tentacles. “Why had I thought an alien would be a great idea? Your alien is so much cuter.”
“Thanks.” Alexi seemed so distant, so different. “Do you think people can change?”
Maddie bobbed her head. “I know they do. Think of Ella.”
Ella, Maddie’s bff, had always been quiet, but she’d really closed off after her mother passed. Ella had moved away at the beginning of the semester. “How’s Ella doing?” She cringed a little on the inside. She should have asked before now.
“She said the East Coast is weird but good.”
“Cool.” She couldn’t help still pondering the question. “What if there’s no big event, like a loss, like Ella, can you change then?”
Maddie checked out Alexi as if she knew why Mia was asking. “I don’t know. If you want to, I guess. But you’d have to want to do it.”
Lauren popped into their group, juggling three red cups. She gave them each one.
It tasted like watered-down lemonade, but was red and over-sweet. “Thanks.”
“For the most part, people don’t change. They may hide who they are, though.” Maddie raised hers in a toast and they clinked the plastic cups. “That’s what I like about people drinking.”
“Here. Here.” Lauren said.
“Give them a drink and their true selves come out.” Maddie wiggled.