Chapter 7 Halloween

My face squeezed into a frown as I stood up to face him. I definitely aren't surprised how he got to know that. when you have a best friend who's the CEO of spreading news, you'll know what I mean.

"You didn't only even play the game but you decided to test the rules by telling everyone about it right??" His face was mixed with both rage and panic.

"I..didn't tell everyone about it okay. I only told bethel." I stupidly decided to defend myself, with an eye roll.

"Then explain to me how I heard the information from Xavier..." he gritted his teeth.

Oh that bethel is gonna get it from me and Xavier? I'm gonna disfigure that cute face of his.

"Look I didn't tell Xav..." I have to stop myself when I realize something. "why do you even seem so affected by it weren't you the one who asked me to play the game and bring feedbacks??" I retorted.

"Yes I did say that..." he began and brushed his finger through his hair. "but I only wanted you to play the game and see to it that it does exist. I wanted to change your mentality that you shouldn't always sticks to what you believe and now that you know the game is true there's a high possibility that those rules surrounding it are true." His voice was now very calm and I could see in his eyes that he's trying to make me see reasons with him.

I open my mouth to tell him that those rules are just superstitious but right now I don't really know what to believe. I just close my mouth and swallowed hard.

As if noticing my discomfort, He held my shoulder and pulled me closer to himself staring into my eyes with great concern.

"Clarissa, I don't want to think too hard about this. I don't care whether those rules about this game is true or not but promise me that nothing will happen to you." He said softly with so much dismay in his eyes.

I chuckled. "Nothing will happen to me okay." I smiled.

"You know I can't live without you right??" He says hoarsely.

"Ugh...talk about romantic a boyfriend." I rolled my eyes dramatically and we both chuckled. He pulled my head closer and tilted his head forward that our nose were touching. "I love you." He whispered into my face.

"I love you too." My voice was surprisingly husky. His lips crashed with my lips and that's how we started kissing in the library till break period was over.

I later quarreled with bethel for her loud mouth and school wasn't as chaotic as I thought it will be but thankfully the following day was weekend.

My weekend was spent with my entire friends calling and texting me reminding me that I've made the worst decision of my life by starting the game and they all a warmed me not to dare break another rule. Nathan as well called and text me, cautioning me not to ditch the rest rounds for my own good.

They were all worried about me but I don't seem to be too bothered about the game.

Xavier also tried calling overtime and the only time I answered his call was when I have to insult him for what he did.

I also have to avoid our group chat cause I know they will only annoy me or try to make me feel worst for playing the game.

All the pressure made me ask dad his opinion about the game and just like me he didn't quite believe anything about the game.

He doesn't even believe it existed well I didn't tell him I played the game cause there was no reason to and since dad's opinion was no deferent from mine, I have no reason to be scared about breaking the goddamn rule of the game.

At least dad is more experienced than my friends, whether the game was true or not he should be able to fish that out.

But since his perspective towards the game is negative, I've got nothing to worry about.

This was making it the third day that I had totally ignored the beeping sound of a message popping up on my screen every night telling me or rather reminding me to finish the games or my loved ones will die.

Can he just stop with the lies already, we all know it's just some creepy rules to make one scared and it's not really gonna happen, not like they know me anyways.

Of-course I've tried blocking him off but him being the mysterious type will just go off, probably trying to make me scared, well screw you gamer.

Hmmm. I took a deep breath and heaved. Should I come online, no. The last time I did my phone wouldn't rest, the school group chat was bleeding, they all wanted feedback from me, they wanted to know if I had finished the other games and a random girl even had the nerve to tell rumours about me. She said and I quote, 'Clarissa is not a strong headed shii, girl had played all the games but failed drastically and now her loved ones are praying non-stop, leave her alone, she's grieving.'

What a good way to make me not to stress myself by explaining to Bethel, Nathan and the rest why I haven't logged into my Facebook account, they might as well believe the rumour, who cares.

Mark jumped on my chair making me jolt backwards. Hmphh! Oh Lord save me from the people I call friends. "Arghhhhh!" He growled trying to frighten me. Do I look like some kid to him, hilarious.

I stared at him curtly and gently pushed him aside. "Go and play with the other kids, go go bingo." I said with stifled breath and he knocked my head.

"What was that for?" I yelped, giving him a puppy face.

"I'm not bingo stupid, I am joker." He grinned widely, trying to explain to me who Joker was, well I know joker so he should stop stressing himself out cause I'm not gonna act like I know him.

"What do you mean joker?" I said squeezing my face at him, "you look horrible, who's the girl that made you do this."

He scowled at me and I tapped his chest playfully, why is he looking so cute even with red and white paints destroying his face.

"It's no lady dummy, Halloween is just at the Conner and this is the who I want to be," I nodded gumly, "Bethel almost screamed her throat down, she doesn't like it." He muttered duffley.

What can I say, I would really want Mark to appear as Joker on Halloween so those girls that are head over heels with him would let him rest and actually wallow in pain like the real Joker, it will be a nice combo right. I place my hand on his shoulder and gave it a tiny twist, "I want you to be Joker on Halloween." I told him, his eyes screeched to a ball as he nurtured my face.

"The last time you were this serious you made me do something stupid, why do you want me to appear as joker, Bethel doesn't like it one bit." He said, matter of fact. But this situation is different, yes I want him to appear as Joker reasons best known to me.

"Well, you're looking just so cute, and I like your hair." I squeaked, pulling his cheeks and then his hair. He was completely dressed like Joker and it really suited him, no costume would fit that perfect on him, haha.

"Okay, I think this is an honest reply judging from that smile on your face." He blurted and I blew him a kiss.

Just then Bethel matched in, behind her was Royce and Xavier. Okay, what's going on? I ran my eyes around as they filled into the empty seats and the annoying Xavier didn't think of settling down before planning any mischief. He walked to my back and stole a kiss from me not actually on my lips but cheeks. Even though he should have asked me first, which of course I wasn't gonna accept in the first place.

My eyes popped out and I shot him a dangerous glare with a question tag on my face, the hell was that for? And I'm sure he saw as he was quick to shove his butts into a chair and laughed.

"I could die soon baby, I know how much you love me." He threw his hair backwards showing off his nice hair cut.

"You are stupid and to think you're among the list of my love ones makes you a joke, you know you shouldn't bother wearing a costume your face is something to make children go wild." I riposted and he huffed.

"You can't hide it miss feisty, I'm the top of your list." He said like one who had won a medal but denied it.

I glared at him, puff and savvy, who led him here. As I was about to lash him with words, Bethel came to his rescue.

"Girlfriend, are the rumours true?" She asked, and she became intensely interested in me.

With an eye like whatever, I choked on my words. "What rumours?" I feigned ignorance, suddenly realizing I had cheese to crunch.

"The rumours Amber is spreading around the school, don't tell me you haven't seen her talk about it." She pressed and the whole eight pairs of eyes stared at me for answers. What should I say, should I keep denying it.

"Don't grow cold feets now, I've confronted her to stop it and considering how scared she was she will stop." That was Royce, he stood out for me, really? I see I'm making quite an army with this whole game issue.

"Clary, you know you can tell me anything." Bethel cooed, her eyes filled with anxiety. Is she for real, the last time I tried that she had a spoon under my throat.

"Okay fine." I said with a wave of hand and she shuffled in her seat. "Yes, I didn't go for the other rounds and am not gonna play anymore, why are you guys worrying?" I said calmly, like it was no biggie. It really wasn't, I have spent three days of my life with warnings and advice yet nothing happened isn't that proves that the game is just some creepy stunt.

Bethel sighed and clutched her heart, "God knows I warned you." She croaked. Oh, was she gonna cry now.

"Alright everybody, what costume do you want to wear for Halloween." Mark's bleery voice came off and I stuffed in so much cheese that my mouth couldn't carry it. I didn't want anybody asking for my opinion.

The rest of the discussion was of no use to me as I didn't pay any attention to all that they were saying, I just sat there enjoying the crunchy taste from my cheese.

The rest of the day was history, for the first time my mom came early to pick me up and I got home really tired and sleepy.

-

I woke up to the bleary sound of my alarm, still in bed I stretched my hand towards it and off it. Hmm, much better. I had barely laid my head to sleep when my cell started vibrating.

'Hurghh!'

What do they want? I roamed my hand tirelessly on my bed searching for the phone, finally I got it and displayed on the screen was Nathan. This is so unlike him, why is he calling me so early in the morning.

Curiously I took the call and placed it on my ear, "Good morning doll." His voice rang.

Wait.. I'm not dreaming I'm I. I slapped myself to be sure and I wasn't, I brought the phone to my face to confirm it was Nathan I was speaking to and it was him. What's with Nathan calling me pet names this morning, did he win a lottery?

"Hello baby." I heard him say immediately I placed the phone back on my ear. Okay now I think there is a surprise, today is not my birthday right?

"Clarissa, are you there?"

"Sure.. oh sure I am." I said huskily. "What's happening?" I found myself asking.

"Well I am happy." His voice sounded and I almost asked why, I did ask anyway.

But a message popped into my phone and it read, "Happy Halloween Clarissa."

"Oh, it's Halloween." I mumbled and I could see him smile.

"I just wanted to be the first person to tell you that." He smoothen.

"Thank you." I said and the call came to an end.

Phewww.

I am not online. How can a message pop into my phone? I can't even remember the last time I logged into Facebook. This user is just too creepy.

Taking a last look at the message I decided to write to him, I turned on my data and clicked the message. It brought me all the way to our chat and I checked the date we played the first game.

'This is two weeks now and nothing happened. Why not quit fooling around my DM already.' I wrote to him and immediately he responded.

"Happy Halloween Clarissa, what costume will you wear tonight?"

Pftt! What a jerk. "How is that a problem of yours?" I wrote him and instead of writing back he sent some pictures and below it was, 'this is how we are gonna look tonight, this is round two of the game and you have to dress with the same design but a colour of your choice'.