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he biggest thing about Salem that I have noticed over the years is that Halloween is like a sacred day here, and if you don’t celebrate it, you’re the odd one out. For as long as I can remember, everyone dresses up for Halloween, creating the scariest houses, scariest costumes, do trick or treating and then go to the haunted houses and cemeteries all over town. People would think that we were in Salem, Massachusetts where the witches were burned at the stake but nope. We’re just in little old Salem, Iowa.
You wouldn’t tell the difference though.
Most of the college kids are raving about the parties they are going to throw while their parents are away or do it at the frat house. I never get invited to them anyways, and even if I do, I don’t like to go because it’s not really my thing.
Justin ended up convincing me ONE time to go with him to some frat guy’s Halloween party, and that’s just not something I think I would ever be able to do again.
The entire night, the frat guy was trying to feel me up, ask me what it is like to be with a man. He told me that he’s never fucked a man before, but I was pretty enough that he wouldn’t mind trying it out.
Let’s just say he ended up getting kicked in the nuts and he never tried to again.
“ALEX!” Justin calls my name.
I look up and I see Justin walking towards me in the cafeteria, a big grin on his face that instantly made me think of trouble. Sighing, I shut my college book, knowing the only way to get him off of my back is to give him by utmost attention that way he can’t say that I am ignoring him.
“What’s up?” I murmur, seeing how people were watching us but I don’t really care anymore.
“Now, I know what you are going to say but please hear me out.” Justin says as he sits across from me, looking at me with those innocent angel eyes that immediately screams bullshit, “you know how you love your best friend, right?”
Yep, here is goes.
“What party are you trying to drag me to this time?” I ask him, resting my hand in the palm of my hand as I gaze at him blankly, “don’t you remember what happened last time?”
“I know, but I need your wing-man support!” He protests, reaching out to gently grab my wrist, attempting to look at me with puppy dog eyes, “I know you hate parties, Alex, but you have to go with me to this one! There is this cute boy and I’ve been trying so hard to get his attention. Please! For me?”
For the longest time, I had assumed that Justin was straight because he does not give me any gay vibes, but the moment he came out to me as bisexual, it clicked in my mind immediately as to why certain things happen the way that they did.
Hell, Justin told me if we weren’t best friends, he would’ve tried to fuck me. He could’ve tried but even though he is handsome, he’s really not my type, and I don’t think that I could ever be with a jock. I just don’t think that compatibility wise, we would just clash too much, and I don’t want to have to deal with that for the rest of my life.
No matter who it is that I love.
“Fine.” I finally concede, seeing his face light up triumphantly, like he won a million dollars, “but the moment I’m done, I’m done, okay? You’re not going to fight me on it and you’re not going to try to guilt trip me into changing my mind.”
“What? I would never!” He feigns innocent, looking at me with those blue eyes that could make anyone else but me melt, “I swear on anything and everything that I will not guilt trip you into staying with me at this party. I care about you too much to do so.”
His words didn’t bring me much comfort, knowing exactly how he can be, but I decide to let it go for now, “good. When is this party then? Tonight? Seems like a little last moment.”
“No, it won’t be until Halloween night.” He tells me, a small smile on his face, “you have to make sure to dress up in your best costume.”
I groan softly, shaking my head at him, “really? Are you trying to kill me, Justin? You know I don’t like to dress up this way.”
“I know what you mean.” He agrees, ruffling my hair to the point I wished that I could just smack him, “do it for me though? People are worried about you since you are not so sociable and they want to include you in things but when you refuse to be around anyone else, it deters them from wanting to do so.”
I didn’t think of it that way.
“Okay.” I mumble, turning away from him, “I need to head to class, okay? I’ll talk to you later.”
Before he could say anything, I head out of the cafeteria and to my next class. I could see people staring at me, but I couldn’t really bring myself to care. They could think whatever they want about me, but I am going to stay true to myself.
It's the only thing that I can do now.
As I am about to head in the classroom, a flyer out of the corner of my eye catches my eye. Feeling a little curious since I’m not normally intrigued by flyers, I turn slightly to look at it more closely.
The Boogeyman of Salem
Tilting my head to the side, I saw then that the theatre group is doing a play today on the infamous story of the Boogeyman of Salem. The Legend goes that during the Salem Witch Trials, here in Salem, Iowa, there was a man with no name who was captured by the townsfolk, claiming that he was in cahoots with the devil, and he ended up being starved for ten days before they burned him at the stake.
While he was dying, he placed a curse on the town that he would be back to exact his revenge on those who had betrayed him, and their ancestors shall not be free from his curse either. They say that ever Halloween, the spirit of this man lurks around Salem, patiently waiting for the day he can have his revenge on those of Salem.
I smile slightly, shaking my head as I turn away.
What a strange story indeed.
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