were cream colored and shiny, with gold decorations and fancy moldings. The furniture looked like it belonged in a five star hotel well polished wood with glas

e middle of the room, casting a warm ligh

teacher, dropped her pen and looked up

tes," she said. "Please use this tim

to each other across the room. At the back, Zayne leaned toward Jayden and Marc

e slipped out of his seat and m

uarded with her postu

ndering if you'd try to come to Zayn

d up. "Ga

d. "It's tradition. Just some games, snacks, music.

romise we'll keep you safe.

ond, a sarcastic voic

rom her corner seat, her voice laced with

at didn't hide her disgust. Bes

and Aria. She wasn't sure what kind of tra

e said cautiously. "But I

t, a folded piece of paper was slided across her

e to keep you safe. I

pping a little despite the

ck home, she was stopped

lier on she stated with a fake smile on h

ly genuine or just a trap they were setting for

ith a soft but sharp voice. "It's spooky and eerie, something that will really stand out.

theme that wouldn't be a

rick houses close together. Her home was at the end of the street. It was a plain two-bedroom house with fading white paint, a creaky front step, and a porch light

-hand wooden stand. The curtains were handmade by her mother, a dull rose color with tiny stitched patterns. Fam

was tied into a scarf, and her hands moved with practiced grace. Her father, Mr. Thomas Davies, sa

in and cleare

e's something I n

oth lo

chool invited me to a game

tly. "That's wonderful

t think I fit in... not in their world.

rd, brows raised. "

s 'their world' and 'ours', baby. Don't let money decide where you belong. Everyone br

aid it's Zayne's house? Those boys see

's something else. Aria

th parents

That's even more reason to go. The Richmond family h

hem the truth about Aria's cruelty,Th

e offered a

ht. I'

ed. "That's our girl. Go,

-

her dark lace, heavy makeup, a veil, and spooky accessories. She stared at herself in the

g from the open doors and lights twinkled in every window. The backy

s turne

gles. Then

the snack table doubled over. A group

, Aria stood in sleek silve

loudly. "I didn't thin

vered her mouth, prete

ightened. Her

bitterly. I walked st

n and leave, a hand

oice low, face tight wit

r, shielding her from the st

emerged in something

e blue that made her eyes glow, subtle sparkles that caught the light, and m

onversations died. Mouths ope

as ra

t. "Why did you wear that cree

ld me it was the theme. She and

s face

apped. He stormed

" he b

roze m

ttle brats think

g about?" she scoffe

xactly what

idened. "E

ard me.

blazing in her eyes. "You'

ooked at each ot

uietly, "this wasn't our

We didn't want to do

a like a slap. "You

ad. "You're not wel

ormed out of the