Chapter Text
Chapter 1 – Halloween Party
You couldn’t remember the last time you were this excited about going out. It was a sweaty Friday afternoon, yet your body was buzzing with energy. You didn’t have to go into uni today but the mountains of work from your course had occupied your entire day.
But today was finally the day of the party.
You were hoping that your luck with this year would change today because this year had not exactly been…. good. The start of your university life should have been thrilling and adventurous.
Or so you thought.
In high school, you had dreamed of going out to parties, bars, club hopping until two am and meeting guys. You hoped of meeting interesting people who would become your dedicated friend group in university, just like the friends you had in high school. But life always has a different plan for you. Instead, you made a shitty friend who turned out to be an incel who was a bit too eager to talk about how to win back his ex.
From then on, you became a bit cautious about meeting people and resorted to your old high school habits of just studying and crocheting with a Netflix show on. You thought you should have met more people by now due to your chosen course – Psychology – but alas it felt like you had missed your chance to make any meaningful friendships.
So, all you did was attend lectures and tutorials, only making small talk with your peers. Soon, Semester 1 arrived and left, leaving you with disappointment.
****
This all changed when you met Celine, your biology lab partner who quickly became your new close friend. You had chosen the bio unit on a whim, but you were now glad about the choice. Celine’s smooth confidence and kind smile made you fast friends.
After a long time, you felt relaxed and happy. Lab sessions felt effortless and so very fun as the two of you made silly little jokes while others looked on with confusion. It was during one of these lab sessions that Celine spoke of the party.
“Hey Y/N, I was wondering if you wanted to come to my Halloween party?” she asked.
“Oh, sure! Where are you hosting it?”
“So, it’s at my house and you can get also a plus-one. Also…you know how you always want to meet new people? I think I know someone you might like,”
Intrigued by her words, you ask, “Ooh, who is it? What is their name?”
But Celine didn’t let up and instead said, “Uh-uh. You will find out on the day. I am excited that you will be coming though. I know you don’t go out much, so I am really happy that you are slowly changing your mind.”
“Well, I am glad that you invited me,” you replied.
“Everyone, have you sealed your agar plates? Please come to the front if you have done so,” the lab demonstrator announced, breaking the conversation.
****
After completing your work, you called your friend Ann to remind her that you had to leave at 5.30 to reach Celine’s house. The party started at 7pm and you were now zipping up your blue dress. You were not really one for costume parties, but you decided that your dark blue dress (that your mum altered) would be perfect as a flapper dress. You had recently cut your hair short, so styling your hair was easy. Soon, you completed your makeup and hoped it didn’t look jarring. You usually wore less makeup (mainly because of your acne) but today you wanted to transform into a more confident version of yourself. The one who would engage in lengthy conversations and charm people.
“Get out of the bathroom!” your brother shouted, breaking you out of your trance.
“Wait, one minute.” You quickly put on your jewellery and left.
Back in your room, you packed your purse, soft drinks and put on your shoes, waving goodbye to your parents as you left to catch the bus with Ann.
“Woah, you look so good!” you said when you realised that Ann had dressed up almost exactly like Barbie, down to the blonde wig. She was not kidding when she said she went all out.
“Thanks!! You look so good as well. Okie, so let’s have fun okay. We got this.” she assured me as we walked towards the entrance of Celine’s house.
The first thing you noticed when you entered were the disco lights inside the living room. Red and blue lights illuminated the area, with various people in incredibly cool costumes dotted the house.
“Yay, you made it, guys! Wow, Y/N, you got a haircut! It looks really cool.” Celine exclaimed as you took in the fact that she was dressed as a snow fairy.
“You must be Ann, right? So nice to meet you! Y/N and I met in bio. She told me that you are studying…” Celine and Ann trailed off as you went up to the fridge to place the soft drinks in.
You took one out to drink and as you were closing the door, you noticed someone behind you.
He was standing next to Ann and was dressed up in what seemed to be a ratty bedsheet (?). You noticed that Celine had left to talk to other people and this guy knew Ann. So you relaxed slightly.
He bent down to take a Sprite can and you closed the fridge door hastily.
He gestured to someone, “Yoo..more drinks! Ann said that we should probably move over there”
Moving towards you, he spoke.
“Hello, I am Erik. Do you wanna join me and my friend?” You were quite frankly alarmed by this guy, but this is what you wanted. To meet new people.
****
As you looked up towards his friend, blue eyes met yours and you couldn’t look away. The guy at the table was freakishly tall and he was dressed up in a clear raincoat with a dark blue suit underneath. He had a spotted tie, and you immediately knew his costume. Patrick Bateman from American Psycho.
Despite the dimly lit room, you found his face appealing. Something about his dark hair and pale, almost-vampiric skin was comforting.
You basically strode to the other side of the table where he was standing as Ann followed behind.
“Hi. I am Gabe, Erik’s friend.” He held out his hand as he introduced himself. Shaking his hand, you looked up as you realised that he was even taller and lankier than you realised. But, being a five-foot-three woman in Australia, most people seemed tall.
“Hi, I am Y/N, Celine’s friend from uni. Oh, how do you know Celine?”
“Oh well..Celine, Erik and I all went to the same high school. We all ended up in the same uni as well.” He laughed slightly.
“Oh..that’s nice. I like your costume. Patrick Bateman, right? I have always wanted to watch the movie.”
“Ah yes. Thank you. I like your costume as well. You look really cool.”
As he bent down to answer you, you could trace his aquiline nose and very rounded, orb-like eyes. He had odd bird-like features, but you found him deeply attractive. It had been so long you had found someone attractive.
“So, what are you studying, Y/N?”
“Oh um..Psychology. But I am doing a bunch of science units as well. It’s been mostly fun. What about you?” you replied.
“Oh, I am studying commerce with a major in economics. It’s been okay, I suppose.”
You couldn’t believe your luck. “No way, I am taking economics electives right now. Are you doing ECON1001 this semester?”
You felt like this was the turning point. Gabe’s eyes lifted up in surprise as he began talking about the subject. Truth be told, you had chosen the elective because you had a somewhat weird attachment to the subject and although, you wanted to be a psychologist, your interest remained.
You appreciated the fact he continued talking to you despite the initial awkwardness. You knew it wasn’t always easy to converse with someone like you. You were closed off and only engaged in deep conversations in the rare occasions you liked people. But it was easy with Gabe.
As you continued talking, something he later said caught your attention.
“So, yeah, I really love this subject, but my friends don’t really like talking about it with me. Similar to me talking about horror movies. They think I am too invested in them, but I don’t think there is anything more fascinating than examining the intricacies of fear.”
“I am sorry, but you also love horror movies? No way! I am a HUGE fan of the genre. Especially body horror movies. They are so interesting and so amazing!” you replied.
As you were saying this, Gabe smiled and you realised that his smile was downturned. His eyes sparkled as he did this and this delighted you. You could feel the electricity between the both of you and he continued,
“I can’t believe this. I can’t believe I met someone who appreciates body horror movies. Aren’t they so amazing? I am so glad that I met you, Y/N! So, have you ever watched the movie Raw?”
People were drinking and dancing around you but both of you felt content to continue to stay at the same place and talk.
As you continued with your conversation, you felt at ease in a way you hadn’t felt before. It was calming to be in Gabe’s presence, and you enjoyed the fact that he paid attention to everything you said. You even felt compelled to open about your other interests of anime and crocheting as you both sipped your drinks.
“Y/N! Let’s eat, pizza has arrived,” Ann broke the bubble of your conversation, and you both shifted away.
A part of you was disappointed but you hoped your conversation with him would continue. You wanted to know more about him.
****
As you ate with Ann sitting down the sofa, she began talking to you about the other people she had met, namely Erik. You couldn’t really focus as Gabe sat in front of you guys, and you could feel his eyes on you. This made you nervous, but you didn’t want to look away.
“So, I told them I was studying medical science, and they are also doing the same units as me. Isn’t that great, Y/N? Moreover, they also play Genshin! I found more gamer friends and now we can all play games once the exams are over. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Y/N are you listening??” she tapped your shoulder, and you finally broke eye contact with Gabe.
Soon, Gabe stood up to go talk to other people and you responded, “Yes, Ann. You can play Genshin soon.”
“So, do you like him? He seems a bit scary to me.” Ann asked.
“Um no. He’s not scary. He seems really cool. We both like horror movies and he’s very funny. ” you responded.
“Oh…good. You met a guy with an equally insane humour as you.” she said with a slight smile. She seemed buzzed but not drunk. That was a good sign.
“Hey, that’s not funny. Gabe’s interesting.”
You checked the time and somehow three hours had passed. You both needed to get home soon but you didn’t want to leave without talking to Gabe once again.
“Hey Ann, we should probably talk to Celine before leaving.”
“Uh..yeah. I think she’s in the backyard. Let’s go over there.”
****
As you went out, you once again noticed Gabe. He was standing next to Erik again and he smiled softly as you met his eyes. Unlike Erik who was clearly drunk, Gabe seemed steady and was coming up to you guys.
Soon, Erik and Ann went away to the pool table and you remained standing near the door.
Simultaneously, Celine came up to you. She stood between you and Gabe, with neither of you saying anything.
Gesturing to Gabe, she began, “Y/N! This is who I wanted you to meet.”
“This is Y/N, my super cool friend. I think both of you will get along really well.”
“Uh..yes. We have met, Celine. Also, I wanted to say thank you for inviting us to your party. I had lots of fun.” you said as Gabe shifted awkwardly.
“Ah..no worries. Thanks for coming. Okie, I will leave you guys to it.” And like that, she left.
“So, Y/N, I really loved talking to you this evening. I have never met anyone like you before,” Gabe said.
“Me too, Gabe. I really liked it.”
You both had an eagerness, and you knew this could not be the last time you saw each other. So, as you were about to ask Gabe his number, he began,
“Y/N, excuse me if this is too forward but I want to you meet you again. Sometime soon. I was wondering if you would give me your number?”
You would usually never give your number to anyone you had just met a party, but you sensed that this soft-spoken, vampire-like man would not disappoint you.
“Yes, Gabe. Sure, I want to meet you again as well. Let me get my phone.”
After you filled out your contact, he said “Thank you, Y/N. I am really glad that I met you.” You both walked out to the front of the house.
“I hope we can meet soon, Y/N. Hopefully in the daytime.” he laughed slight as he said this.
“Me too, Gabe.” He smiled once again, and you caught the view of his dark hair shining under the light of the house’s entrance.
You don’t know what you spurred you, but you kissed his cheek. Almost immediately, a blush crept up his cheeks and you parted ways.
“Goodbye, Gabe.”
As you and Ann were walking back to the bus stop, she couldn’t stop talking about Erik and his tattoo shop. She was clearly enamoured, but she was not the only one.
“Why are you smiling so much, Y/N? I take it that things went well with Gabe.”
“Well, we will see.”
Similarly, as Gabe walked back to his car with Erik, he couldn’t believe his luck. Despite Erik’s non-stop babbling about Y/N’s friend, Gabe could only think of the woman in the blue dress he had met.
When they sat down to drive home, Erik asked innocently, “Hey Gabe, why do you have lipstick on your cheek?”
Saying nothing, Gabe blushed for the second time that evening.