Chapter 2

I tried to pull away, but just like a boa constrictor, Gina sensed my discomfort and tightened her grip on my arm.

"This is going to be so much fun," she chirped with exaggerated cheerfulness, hauling me toward her table like a predator dragging its prey to its den.

I gave in and followed her.

It was easy to tell where she sat because she never studied alone. Wherever Gina went, her group of followers followed. These followers shifted from week to week, but they all had the same signature look: layers of makeup, long manicured nails, fake extensions, and designer clothes. I liked to call them the living Barbie dolls.

As we reached their table, they stared at me with icy indifference. Gina wasted no time explaining why I was there.

"This is Kala, and she’s going to help me with my seminar work."

The Barbies nodded in approval and greeted me with plastic smiles. I hesitantly took a seat among them. It felt like I was an outsider entering a foreign country on a limited visa.

One of them tried to make conversation. "So Kala, do you have any Halloween plans tonight?"

I suddenly realized I had completely forgotten it was Halloween. Just like Christmas, it seemed to sneak up on me every year.

"No, nothing exciting… maybe I’ll watch a scary movie or something…" I trailed off, feeling lame.

Hearing myself say it out loud made me cringe. I sank further into my chair, hoping they’d forget why I was even there and continue talking amongst themselves.

"So, do you have a boyfriend, Kala?" Another one inquired curiously. At that moment, Gina suddenly burst into laughter. "Oh heavens no. I've never seen Moore with a man."

The situation was quickly deteriorating. My cheeks flushed bright red as I desperately wished for the ghastly gray carpet to magically open up and swallow me entirely.

"Uh, no, I don't have a boyfriend right now," I stammered out.

The Barbie look-alike gave me a pitying smile and commented, "That's such a pity. You know, with a little bit of makeup and some hair products, you could really enhance your looks." Was she trying to compliment me or insult me?

Before I had the opportunity to respond, Gina, with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop, interjected again, "That's something I've never understood about you, Moore. You seem to prefer the weight of a book over the company of men."

"Alright," I said, pulling out a photocopy of Durkheim's study on suicide from my bag. "We should probably concentrate on the seminar readings rather than discussing my nonexistent romantic life."

Gina snatched the paper from my hand and insisted, "No, we should be focusing on improving your nonexistent romantic life. I think it's high time you let yourself go a bit, Kalani Moore."

"I really don't want to change who I am," I replied softly.

"I think you should, and I know exactly how. Tonight, we're going to a frat house Halloween party, and you're coming with us," she declared.

Part of me wanted to refuse. I considered making up an excuse about having other plans, but for some inexplicable reason, I didn't. Instead, I agreed to go to the party with her and her friends. Reflecting on it now, I realize that if I had just said no, things might have turned out differently... but that wasn't my destiny. My fate that night was sealed by death.

On the night I died, I arrived at her dorm wearing a simple, plain blue dress. She opened the door dressed as a seductive devil. Her first words were: "Where in the world is your costume, Moore?"

"I don't have one," I admitted.

"It's Halloween, Moore! You need a costume!" she exclaimed, clearly frustrated. "I guess we'll have to make do."

She pulled me into her dorm room and started searching through her wardrobe. "I have a few stretchy dresses that might fit you."

Her wardrobe was overflowing with designer clothes, jackets, and handbags. She impatiently sifted through her collection until she finally settled on a long white maxi dress.

"Here," she said, pulling out the white dress. "Put this on, and we'll pair it with a wedding veil and lace gloves to turn you into a sexy bride."

"Wait, do you actually have a wedding veil?" I asked.

"Yeah, I have one left over from last year. It was from an eighties-themed party where I dressed up as Madonna," she explained.

I took the dress from her and went into the bathroom. A couple of minutes later, I emerged dressed as a bride. The wedding veil felt awkward on my head, and the form-fitting designer maxi dress left little to the imagination, clinging to every curve and making me feel exposed and vulnerable.

Gina looked me up and down with approval. "Wow, Moore, you look amazing! Those frat boys won't know what hit them."

Though I wasn’t entirely convinced, I once again chose not to argue.

We left her dorm and headed towards the fraternity house for the party. Along the way, we ran into her friends, who were all stunned by my transformation. One girl even squealed with delight when she saw me. She rushed up to us and gushed, "OMG, Gina! I can't believe you got her into that dress—Isaac is going to freak!"

"Shut up, Kylie!" Gina snapped, suddenly becoming defensive.

"Wait, who's Isaac?" I asked, suspiciously.

Gina shrugged dismissively, "No one—absolutely no one."