That next morning I left and went home making sure I had everything I needed for tonight. My day went by normally. I couldn’t wait for it to be night. I went to Nina’s house around 8:00pm she was going to be doing my makeup. We had decided to go dressed as a 2000s tv show. I was going to be the grim reaper, her my lover, Stephine the girl and Logan the little boy. Kinda weird since they’re a couple and in the show their cousins but it doesn't matter. They aren’t related in real life. 

Nina had painted my face to look like a skull and I wore a black robe. Nina had a black dress to match the character with red lipstick. When we arrived all together people complimented our costumes Stephanie was already there since it was at Logan’s house. Everyone was either down stairs in his basement or in the living room and kitchen area. Everyone one was having a good time. I had spotted Mathew like I said it was easy to find him. He wasn’t wearing the mask. It was probably too hot for him to wear it all night. He had the jumper zipped up to his chest and was talking to a group of guys. He didn’t notice me and I didn’t want to bother him. He wouldn’t probably recognize me without seeing Nina or being up close to him. There were people from our school and other schools from around.

I went over to say hi to Marco and everyone. “Damn I didn’t even know it was you.” Marco said with surprise.

“Yeah it looks good. Looks like you don’t have checks.” Chris started touching my face.

“Stop. You’re going to mess it up.” I told Chris. We all talked and went down stairs where most of the drinks and stuff were. They had music upstairs and downstairs but the one down stairs was way louder. 

After a while me and Nina went upstairs to go to the living room. The way the house is set up the stairs going to the basement is between the living room and the kitchen area. Almost right in the kitchen, towards the back of the kitchen is the back door. Dinning room to the right of the kitchen. While going up we passed Marco, the guys, and a group of dudes from another school. 

“I don’t know how he gets all the fine bitches if he’s wearing makeup.” One of the guys from the other group said to his friends. 

Marco heard as they were standing next to each others groups. Marco turns around to see who said it knowing he was talking about me as I just walked in front of them. 

“Chill bro. Don’t be saying stupid shit.” Marco yelled but with the music it’s as if he’s just talking normally.

“What?” The guy laughed. “We all know he’s a faggot but he doesn’t have to do gay shit and wear makeup.” 

“Hey! I told you chill out bro.” Marco starts walking up to him puffing his chest up. Both groups of guys get tenses. Everyone in both rooms close enough heard as did I. I didn’t know he meant me because it’s Halloween. Lots of guys have prosthetics  and makeup. Everyone could feel the tension in the air. 

“Or what?” The guy screamed back. His four friends ready to have his back for whatever was next. 

Troy, Mathew, Chris, Jordan, Jace,and Mark all ready for whatever happens next standing right behind Marco. The other guys and girls in the hall area they were at moved out the way. 

“Say something again and find out.” Marco pushes one of the guy's friends hands out of his way. 

“That mother fuckers a fag-“ before he could finish his sentence he would probably regret saying later. He was punched straight in the face. Mathew had basically reached over Marco punching the guy in the face. 

Both groups of guys are now all fired up. The guy falls back to his friends. Marco confused as he saw Mathew arm just come over him and is now standing behind Mathew. Mathew just charges. Trying to land another punch on the guy who was talking crap. Once he did all his friends started to try and jump Mathew. Mathew started to go into a brawl. Stephanie was coming up the stairs and almost fell because the guys all started moving towards each other. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the living room. 

Before the guys could help Mathew he just started swinging on all of them fighting off four guys and winning. If they did land any punches on Mathew it didn't affect him.  The guys ended up having to jump in to stop Mathew instead of helping him. Everything was happening in a small confined area. Logan had now run up the stairs with more dudes hearing the commotion. With the help of them and others everyone separates Mathew from the guys he’s now left bloody and bruised. The first guy was still on the floor from when Mathew punched him. It takes Marco,Troy and Chris to push Mathew back off.

“Talk shit again mother fuckers! I got all night!” Mathew screamed as they pushed him back. I was still in shock at what just happened. Jace and Jordan stood between Mathew and the group just in case Mathew charged or the other guys came at them. Mark kinda just stayed back at that point. I make sure Stephanie’s okay because I kinda just yanked her towards me. I try to make my way to the kitchen. They manage to push Mathew to the back door to the back yard. You could still hear Mathew screaming till the door close. 

Both groups of guys inside both yelling insults at each other are still being separated. When I walked past the guy on the floor was waking up dazed. His friends were bleeding from their mouth and nose and one had a bruised eye. The guy on the floor didn’t have marks yet seems like Mathew just landed a good hit. Jace and Jordan let me through and I went to the door. I can see Mathew railed up in the back with the guys. I go outside and he’s yelling.

“That’s what happens when you talk shit!” Mathew yelled. “Talk shit get hit!” 

“Bro, relax. They're going to call the cops.” Marco begged Mathew.

“Let them! I’ll bet them again in front of them!” Mathew screamed.

“Yeah! That’s my mother fucking best friend.” Troy yelled at Mathew pushing him. And nodding 

“Troy!” Marco yelled.

“We ain’t done. They're still in there talking shit.” Troy told Mathew, egging him on. Mathew is getting more fired up.

“Stop. You're making it worse. Chris take him inside.” Marco demanded. 

I was standing at the door. They went inside and I walked down the steps toward them. Mathew still fired up pacing back and forth still saying stuff. 

“Watch him, I'm going to get some ice.” Marco told me. 

The other guys were starting to leave and take their friend but still yelling back throwing insults at my friends. We could see through the kitchen window. 

“Why did you hit him? You left them really bad?” I questioned Mathew.

“Why? What do you mean why?!” Mathew replied, still pacing.

“Yeah. Why? You knocked him out.” I start approaching him.

“What do you mean why! I DID IT FOR YOU!” Mathew exclaimed. He paused and extended his hands to point at me. 

I honestly got a little scared. Even though I know he would never hit me it’s still scary seeing a 6’4 ,200+ ,muscular guy yelling at you. Mostly when they're so mad the veins in his neck were showing. And I know he’s been drinking. 

“I wasn’t going to let him talk about you like that! Calling you names not when I’m there!” Mathew was screaming at me. If it wasn’t for the music playing and arguing inside, I’m pretty sure everyone in the kitchen could hear our conversation. 

“Why? Because he called me a faggot? You can’t just hit people because they call me names.” I insisted. Watching as he continued to pace back and forward.

“People can’t just go around saying whatever they want thinking nothing is going to happen to them. I won’t let them disrespect you!” Mathew stopped moving now standing in front of me staring straight down at me.

“This won’t be the first or the last time this happens. What are you going to do, hit everyone that calls me a faggot?” I questioned him.

“Yeah. If I have to.” He Shouted. 

“Im used to it-“ Mathew cuts me off.

“YOU SGOULDNT HAVE TOO!!!” Mathew shouted. He crouched so we were eye level. His hands at the sides of my head almost cuffing me. Marco had now come back with ice.

“But I am.” I whispered back to him. 

"Here put it on your hand.” Marco handed Mathew the ice.

“No. I can go for more.” Mathew told Marco. 

“Put the ice on your hand!” I yelled at him. 

He looked at me and grabbed the bag of ice. 

“Their leaving Logan kicked them out.” Marco to us.

“He should have told them to come back here. I’ll let them fight me at the same time.” Mathew insisted. 

“Chill bro. Why did you do that? I was handling it.” Marco told Mathew. 

“Handling it? You weren’t doing shit!” Mathew was starting to get heated again. 

“I was then you just attacked.” 

“I was sticking up for your best friend!” He pointed, “What you should have been doing!” Mathew interjected and started yelling again.

“I was-“ Marco was cut off.

“What was I supposed to do? Just watch? They were going to jump you. I’m not going to let people talk or hit my friends and the people I care about!” Mathew shouted. 

I’ve only ever seen Matthew like this once before back in 8th grade. His mom had dropped him off in the morning. She yelled at some kids picking on someone. At lunch three guys in our grade were talking about his mom. How she was a bitch because she yelled at them but was hot and they would smash. As soon as Mathew heard just like today without saying a word he got up from his seat and started decking all three of the guys punching them fighting them at the same time. More beating them up then a fight.

Mathew’s mom was called and was mad that he did what he did even if he was sticking up for her. Her being a lawyer didn’t condon violence. She worked on a lot of cases involving violence and didn’t like it. She made Mathew go to their class the following day and apologize in front of the whole class to why he hit them. Mathew was then suspended for two weeks. His parents after that took him out of boxing. Not wanting to encourage him to fight anymore. Even if he only has been doing it for three years he was really good.

Marco talks to him, calming him down. Marco isn’t really the type to like physical contact with friends but he goes and gives him a hug to calm him down. 

“Give me your keys I’ll drive you home.” Marco told Mathew. “You're drunk and high as shit you shouldn’t be driving.” Mathew gives him the keys. “I’m going to tell Kayle to take my car and I’ll check if they're gone so we can leave.” 

Marco goes inside leaving us alone. Mathew didn’t say anything to me, just stood with the ice on his hand. I didn’t know what to say either. Should I comfort him? Or tell him why he was wrong? He won’t look back at me now that he’s calmed down and isn’t fired up anymore. Almost like he’s ashamed. He just looks at his hands switching the ice once it gets cold on one hand. Only now noticing his costume was ripped probably from the guys trying to grab him during the fight. 

Marco comes back outside. “Ready?” He asked Mathew. 

Chris walks outside. “Tori texted me to tell you to take Troy home too. I have him out front waiting.” 

Marco and Mathew walk to the front of the house from the side. Avoiding going inside to not get into any more problems. I follow behind them. Once in the front yard people were now outside. Probably to avoid what was happening inside. You could hear them mumbling and whispering about what happened. 

“Just drive to Mathew’s house and wait there. I’m dropping off Troy first.” Marco told Kayle. They walked to their cars I walked behind. I kinda felt lame now walking around in a black robe.

“Mathew get in.” Marco called to him. Mathew gets in not saying anything to me and they leave. 

I go back inside looking for my friends. I wanted to go with him but how could I leave my friend here alone. Nina was a little tipsy. I told her let’s leave so I could take her home and she didn’t want to. I went to look for Stephine. I found her with Logan. 

“Hey. Uhh .. umm I’m sorry for what happened-“ 

“Nah bro you’re all good. I wouldn’t let them be here if I knew you guys had beef.” Logan said, cutting me off. 

“No. I don’t even know them. I don’t think they did either. But Nina doesn’t want to leave, just wanted to know if you would watch her?” I told Stephanie 

“Of course that’s my best friend. She sleeps with me if anything.” 

“Okay cool. I left her with Jessica and Rita. I’m going to leave too. That kinda killed the vibe.” 

They agreed. I said bye to Nina and told her to call me if she needs me to come back and when she gets home. Now do I go to Mathew’s house? Does he even want to see me? 

I think about it for a while before driving off. I haven’t drank because I was barely even at that party long enough to drink. Once I get to Mathew’s house his truck is there but I don’t know if Marco is still here. I’m pretty sure his car would be here too. He told Kayle to wait for him. Unless he told her to go home and stayed with him. I guess I’m just going to have to risk it. I get out of my car now. I changed before coming, taking off the robe and throwing on a hoodie. 

I go to the side of his house like I used to when I would sneak out. I reach over his fence gate and I unlock it. Open the door and lock it once inside. I walk over to the balcony. I’ve never climbed up just down. I grab the post and make my way up struggling. Once up I see him in one of the chairs outside. So I jump over the railing. I think I scared him as he jolted. I don’t blame him my face is still painted. He’s smoking and I walk towards him. 

“Hey.” I mumble.

“Hey.” He replied. Slightly looking up at me. 

“Are you mad at me?” I asked him. 

“Why would I be mad?” He reached his hand out asking me to come to him. 

I walk over holding his hand as he leads me to his lap. I sit on his lap throwing me legs over the armrest.

“I don’t know?” I replied. Trying to look at his eyes in the darkness. 

“I thought you were mad at me.” He runs his fingers on my legs. 

“I’m not mad I just don’t agree with what you did.” I don’t want him to feel like I’m disappointed in him. I feel like now twice in his life when he’s stood up for people he’s cared about they get mad at him for it. I could see the shame on his face when he left. It broke my heart. “It was just kinda scary.”

“I’m sorry I yelled at you and scared you. That’s the last thing I wanted. I don’t want you to be afraid when you're around me.” Mathew replied. “I..I just wanted to defend you because I care about you.” He whimpered.

“I understand but you can’t just fight everyone who is going to disrespect me. There’s always going to be ignorant  people.” I don’t think he gets it that not everyone is like our group of friends or maybe it’s never happened in his face like this before. 

“Okay. I know. I just saw red. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again unless-“ 

“No unless. I get if someone is attacking us but words only hurt if you let them.” I interjected.

“They didn’t hurt. I just don’t like the way some people talk to you.” Mathew sternly relied. “Next time I won’t fight I’ll ignore it. I’ll just use my words if I have to.”