Chapter 2 Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Michelle's POV

My hand grazed the price tag of the Wonder Woman costume. $2,599.

"You might as well just add the extra cent," I muttered as I continued scanning the rack of superhero costumes.

When did costumes get so expensive?

It wasn't even Halloween yet. This was daylight robbery.

I sighed for the hundredth time. The shop owner peeked at me from behind the counter with a look of distaste.

Obvious much?

I continued looking through the store for an affordable costume that at least looked good.

Eventually, after passing a shocking amount of leotard costumes, I found a bunny costume for around $1500.

I headed to the counter to pay.

"You're finally ready to pay?" he asked as he took the costume to wrap up.

"No, Tony, I just came for a chat," I muttered sarcastically, flashing him a bright smile.

"Cheeky little thing, ain't ya," he laughed.

"Only for you," I mock blew him a kiss.

He shook his head with a smile as he rang me up.

"So what's the occasion?" he asked, trying to make conversation.

"There's a costume party today."

"Huh, I haven't had many customers," he mused. "Must be that darn new costume shop close to the college gates."

"Or your prices are scarily high," I said under my breath.

He raised his eyebrows at me but didn't say anything.

"That will be $1500 plus tax," I sighed as I took out my credit card.

Aunty Mel had given it to me for emergencies only, but sucking it up to your ex-best friend and boyfriend counted as an emergency, right?

I was about to hand him the card when someone walked into the store carrying a huge dry cleaning bag.

"You're late," Tony said with a slight scowl.

"Yeah, sorry about that, Big T. I had practice till around 11."

"You know the rules. That's $50 plus a $15 late fee, hand it over, Rockie."

I withdrew my hand quickly, the math coming together in my head.

"You give out costumes for $50?" I asked.

"I rent costumes for $50," he said, emphasizing the word rent.

"I want to rent the bunny costume instead," I said, sliding my card over.

"What, you blew your entire allowance already?" the other customer joked.

"That's none of your business," I muttered as I rolled my eyes.

From the corner of my eyes I saw a dark helmet in the bag Rockie was holding. Without thinking twice I moved to take it out of the bag but his reflexes were faster.

"What the hell?" he asked, looking at me like I was crazy.

"What's in the bag?"

"None of your business."

"A Darth Vader costume."

Rockie and Tony answered at the same time.

I felt my lips slowly form a wide smile as I put two and two together.

"You're the masked streaker," I said finally.

The confused expression on his face gave way to an annoyed one, a deep scowl settling in.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll keep that information to yourself," he said as he slowly made his way towards me, cornering me against the counter.

"And if I don't?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"I can make your first year hell," he said with a cruel smirk.

"Leave her alone, Rockie," Tony said, putting his hands on his chest and pushing him away from me.

Rockie backed off but kept his glare in place. Tony shook his head at him and turned to face me.

"I have rules for renting."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," I said as I tapped my card on the counter.

"It's not whatever. If the costume gets damaged or stained in any way, you'll pay the full fee of $1500."

I hesitated on that. I was going to a party after all. After deliberating for a while I made up my mind. I'd just have to be extra careful.

"Ring me up, Tony," I said, sliding my card to him.

As I waited I could feel Rockie staring holes into the side of my face.

"Can I help you?" I asked, irritated.

"Nah," he replied smoothly. "What's the occasion?"

He nodded towards the costume.

"Costume party," I answered.

"A costume party?"

"Yeah. At the Kappas," I said slowly.

The Kappas were a really popular sorority on campus. I was shocked he hadn't heard about the party.

"Ohhhh, the Kappas party," he repeated, a twinkle in his eye.

"Yeah."

"Well, I guess we'll be seeing each other there then, freshman," he smirked as he walked out of the store.

Tony handed me my package and I left, heading back to my room to get dressed.

My phone chimed incessantly. I looked down to see a dozen messages from Aunty Mel asking about a $1500 charge on my emergency credit card.

By the time I walked back to my dorm room, calmed Aunt Mel down and got ready for the party, it was already a few minutes past 12.

I debated taking a cab to the Kappas sorority house but decided against it. I kept getting weird stares as I walked to the Kappas. I didn't think anything of it since I was wearing a giant bunny costume.

I flipped a guy off who tried to catcall me. I felt the ground vibrate with the bass of music before I even reached the house.

How haven't they gotten a noise complaint?

When I finally got to the house, my footsteps faltered a bit when I saw the people out in front wearing casual clothes.

Dread settled in my stomach. I was taking slow steps backwards, planning to bolt before anyone really saw me, but I bumped into someone.

"Oh, careful," the voice behind me called out.

I turned around to see a girl dressed up as a sunflower, with the flower pot and everything.

"It's fine," I muttered, trying to move around her and leave before she attracted even more attention with her loud voice.

She stepped in front of me, holding out her arms.

"Where are you going? The party is just getting good," she said as she adjusted her glasses.

"Yeah, where are you going?" a familiar high-pitched voice called out.

I clenched my fists as I turned around.

I wasn't surprised to see Annalise but I was surprised to see the entire Kappas behind her. She gave me a cruel smirk as she walked towards me with another blonde.

"You're the guest of honour," she said cheerily as she hooked her arm around my left arm and the blonde dragged me inside by my right arm.

"Annalise, let me go," I hissed at her as I felt every eye in the room on me.

"Not a chance, freshman," she said with a sickly sweet smile.

They dragged me to the middle of the living room. Everyone had stopped what they were doing; the group that had been playing truth or dare, the guys playing beer pong, even the couples who had been busy making out followed us into the living room.

"Hello everyone," the blonde one that had been silent the entire time spoke. "As with Kappa tradition, we crown the most promising pledge a Kappa during the first party of the year."

The crowd immediately went into hoots and cheers as Annalise beamed beside me. Even before the blonde said it, I had already understood what was going on.

"Tonight, Annalise Keating is a fully fledged Kappa," she announced.

Annalise beamed as she took in the cheers.

"Thank you so much, Vesper," she smiled as she hugged the blonde.

Vesper, more like Viper, I thought to myself. I tried to wrestle my arm out from their hold but they were stronger than they looked.

Annalise looked down at me, all smug. She grabbed a glass of wine beside her.

"You know, Chelley, I really couldn't have done it without you," she said coldly, a twinkle in her eyes.

Before I could come up with a sarcastic retort she doused my rabbit costume with red wine.

I gasped as everyone around me burst into laughter.

I stepped back in shock as their laughs echoed around me. Flashes of my last senior year party, Katlyn and Marcus announcing their relationship to the entire class, reducing me to nothing but a social pariah, Katlyn dousing me with beer as Marcus and his friends laughed at my expense.

Suddenly the rabbit costume felt too small, too hot. I pushed Annalise roughly away from me as I bolted away from the house. Their laughter echoed as Vesper announced the party was officially on.

I didn't get far when a hand gripped mine tightly.

"What is it now? Is there another task for you to fulfill?" I asked angrily, but when I turned around it wasn't Annalise but Rockie.

He was wearing a plaid shirt and a pair of baggy jeans. I looked at his exposed chest for a second too long. When I looked up again there was a knowing smirk on his face.

"You," I said as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Me," he responded with a bright smile.

"You knew about the prank, you knew this was going to happen," I said angrily.

He lifted his hands in mock surrender.

"Hey, it wasn't my place to say."

"Yeah, why stop the freshman from embarrassing herself," I rolled my eyes and made to walk away.

I sighed, looking away as I thought for a moment. I had promised myself not to let bullies like Katlyn and now Annalise rule over my life. It was a Friday and I had come out because I wanted to just be normal for one night.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as Rockie handed me a bottle of vodka. I looked at him, confused.

"I don't want anything from you."

"Trust me, you're going to need it since you've just lost $1000," he smirked as he looked at me.

"What are you—" My question died in my throat when I looked down and saw the giant red stain on the bunny costume.

The blood drained from my face. Aunty Mel was so going to kill me.

I sighed as I took the bottle and flashed him my middle finger as I walked away while he laughed his butt off.

"You really are a dickhead," I threw over my shoulder.

"Stick to solving your own problems and not others," he called out.

I stopped walking. My hand tightened around the bottle as I walked back towards him.

"You've had your laugh, my first year is already ruined. What's stopping me from dragging you down with me?" I jabbed his chest as I spoke.

He caught my finger and looked at me with an intensity that made me

shiver.

"Pissing off the Kappas is one thing," he continued. "Pissing off the captain of the Hellcats is another."

I clenched my jaw as I glared at him.

Of course he had to be the captain of the Hellcats.

Rodrick fucking Ward.