A Halloween Party? Really?

Dear Diary,

It’s happening. I’m starting to like my life again. Well, I’ve always liked it, I’m just learning to appreciate it anew. Something like that. I’m forcing myself to put down things that don’t need my attention. And I’m learning to have fun again.

Hunter appreciates that. I can tell by the way he started acting around me. We’re basically back in old tracks, despite not getting any more time together. But the moments we do spend together are focused on us.

We don’t let ourselves get distracted anymore. We’re in the present moment and remind ourselves why we’re together. It’s almost like another honeymoon faze. If you know what I mean. Anyway, I’m feeling much better. It’s starting to show on my grades, too. And my performance at Fox. I’m the best coffee runner they’ve ever had.

I’ve never been keen on Halloween. Oh, wow, that rhymes. Still, I’m trying to keep an open mind when Hunter comes to me with the idea that we’d go to New Haven to a campus party. He admits he went to it with his friends last year. And they might be pressuring him into going again.

Okay, not exactly pressuring, but they want to hang out with him. I get it, they used to see each other all the time last year, study together and all that, and now he’s so far away. They can’t go out for a drink like they used to last year.

So, after letting him persuade me for a few moments, I agree to it. It’s only fair, since he’s sacrificed so much to be living with me. I know he was thriving at the campus. I’m not blind. I saw it at Family Weekend. Everyone adored my boyfriend.

Anyway, what’s left after I agree into going, is coming up with a costume. I don’t really care about it, because as I said, I’m not into Halloween, but Hunter really wants us to wear a couple costume. I’m not sure what I want to be, though, so I let him arrange everything.

However, anytime he shows me an idea … Well, I really try not to hate it. But he keeps trying to put me into a costume that represents one of the fantasy characters from those video games he likes so much.

He looks bummed whenever I turn him down. But the truth is, I can’t see myself in what he wants me to look like. I wrap my arms around his neck after about a dozenth ‘no’ that comes out of my mouth, letting out a long sigh.

“Look, just find something that we’ll both like. I won’t feel comfortable in such … minimalistic clothing,” I express my preference, making him smirk after a moment. He shakes his head at me.

“NYU is really starting to rub off on you. You’re talking like a true diplomat. A year from now I won’t be able to understand a word you say,” he remarks, making me chuckle. I press a kiss on his lips, then pull away.

“Don’t be silly. Okay. Now … Who are we going to turn into for Halloween?” I ask, making him frown at my face. As I stare at him in expectation, I realize he’s not going to talk. “You’re not going to make another suggestion, are you?” I wonder.

He shakes his head again. “You’ve turned me down way too many times in a row,” he lets me know. I try to find a negative tone in his voice, but it’s not there. He says that with a hint of amusement playing around his lips. Great. I really don’t want him to get mad at me.

“Okay. Good point. If you need me, you’ll find me on the bed. Obsessively combing through Pinterest,” I inform him. He chuckles at my words, but actually lets me do my research on who I want to transform into for one night in the year.

Let’s be real here. I know exactly what I want, but I don’t know if Hunter will be up for it. I need to find something that he’ll agree with. And that it won’t exactly break the bank. I’m trying to spend a little less money, so I could quit the job at the café.

Yeah, I really took Leslie’s advice to the heart. She had a valid point. And I care about this relationship too much to try to sabotage it out of complete foolishness. Hunter is my life. I can never lose him. I’d never be able to pick myself up if things ended between us.

As I finally find the perfect thing for us, well, at least that’s how I see it, I walk straight to him to shove it into his face. He pulls his head back and blinks at the screen in order to make out the picture.

“Okay, try to bring it a little closer,” he tells me, sarcasm clearly noticeable in his voice. I murmur an apology, but I can barely keep a straight face. That’s how he knows I did this completely intentionally.

He sends me a look, but doesn’t comment on my teasing. As he stares at the picture, he tilts his head. Like he always does when he’s seriously contemplating something. Finally, he gives me a short nod.

“Yeah, sure. Why not?” he declares, making me smile. Great. This was easier than I thought it was going to be.

It takes us a week to locate a decent store that doesn’t try to rob us. And that they still have the kind of costumes we have in mind. We still have to improvise a little, but once we try them on and see each other, we just know this is it. Ugh, I hate Halloween. But this costume is going to make it at least a little more bearable.

The days that lead to the party fly by like nothing. And soon, it’s time for us to head towards New Haven to an actual, fully approved by students, college campus party. I’ve never been to one. I know Hunter has attended some last year.

I’m nervous. But he assures me that I have nothing to worry about. Not with the way I look in my costume. I can’t help but smirk at him. “Have you looked yourself in the mirror? I’m not sure I have enough hands to spat all those girls away,” I joke.

He chuckles, shaking his head at me in disbelief. I loop my arm through his, letting him lead me away from the train station, straight towards the scene of the party. I imagine it’s going to be wild. I don’t really like the fact that we’ve already met masked people in Stamford.

As we were walking to the train station, there was one street, completely filled with people in masks. It wasn’t a very pleasant feeling. Then, there were quite some masked strangers waiting for a train ride. Us amongst them. The only difference is, we don’t have any masks covering our faces.

Anyway, we start meeting students that are headed to the party as well. It’s at a fraternity, and I’m not sure how Hunter managed to score himself an invitation to that. They’re supposed to be super exclusive. Maybe he impressed someone out of that circle. Or his friends did.

I soon get pulled out of my thoughts, as someone shouts out: “Cool costume!” We smile at the direction of the sound, then look at each other. Yeah, we truly outdid ourselves with this one.