Chapter 22

22

KING

Standing on the field, I toss the ball back and forth with Sam, but my heart isn't really in it. My throws are weak, and my catches are even worse. Sam keeps tilting his head, and I know he wants to know what's going on with me, but he won't ask me while we're out practicing. He's going to corner me in the locker room and try to force it out of me.

But fuck.

I've been in a funk for the past two days. Niko and I aren't getting along that well, and we're both getting frustrated with each other. When I brought up the Halloween Ball, I was so damn excited about going. Niko said he didn't want his dad to know, but I figured us attending the ball would be okay, and I would finally get to show him off.

I've been wanting to show him off the past few weeks. I thought I was okay with keeping us a secret, but I'm not. And I don't know how to tell him that, especially after how he reacted when I asked him to go with me.

I don’t understand why he doesn't want to go to the ball. It’s going to be all about monsterkind. The only thing that makes sense to me is he doesn't want to be seen with me. All of the monsters on campus are going to be in their shifted form, and for many of us humans, we are going to be seeing them in full force for the first time.

And Niko is a monster. A monster who used to hate humans. Fuck. What if he still hates humans and that's why he doesn't want to be seen with me? What if he’s not serious about dating a non-monster, and he’s planning to dump me soon?

I must throw the ball a little too hard as Sam shakes out his hand when he catches it. Well, shit. Rolling my eyes, I huff. Now he's really not going to let it go. He shakes his hand out again and glares at me, and I turn around to avoid him. I'm not dealing with this drama right now. It's making me play like shit, and I can't risk hurting something or someone right before the fundraiser game. I wipe off my forehead and rush off the field and down the hall to the locker room. I barely make it to my locker when Sam rushes up behind me.

"What the hell, King? What's going on with you?"

Taking my hat off, I sift my hands through my hair before sighing. "Nothing."

Snatching my towel off the shelf, I tune out any words he's saying and storm to the showers, needing to calm down. Sam didn't do anything wrong, and it's not fair for me to direct my anger at him, so I need a moment to myself. Turning the water to burning hot, I step in, letting the steam surround me. I close my eyes, the water rushing over my body. I start to relax, but Niko filters into my mind, and I start getting upset all over again.

To be honest, I'm more sad than pissed. I'm upset at the fact he doesn't want to be seen with me in public. I'm pissed at the fact I knew he hated humans and I still let myself give in to him, and I'm scared he's going to tell me there was nothing between us. We are everything to me. Fuck, I hope we're still everything.

But, at the moment, I'm pissed and avoiding him like the plague.

I rest my forehead against the cool tile before jerking away realizing how disgusting the surface here must be. Ugh. After standing in the water for far too long, I finally decide to get out. Besides, I have a test today that I can't miss.

I stop short at my locker when I see Sam sitting there, waiting for me.

"Hey," he says, standing up and moving over to the side. "You might not want to talk, but I'm going to force you." He shrugs, pushing at my shoulder. "That's what friends do."

"Fine, but let me get dressed first." I sigh, dropping my head.

I put on my clothes slowly, trying to prolong the talk I know he wants. When there's no more clothes for me to put on, I plop down next to him on the bench. "Sorry for being so out of it."

"Man, you've been out of it all day. You okay?"

I rub my temples and close my eyes. "I don't know."

"Did you and Niko break up?"

I laugh sadly, because god knows if we did. "I don't think so. But we've barely talked the past couple days. We got into an argument, and neither of us are letting it go. I don't think I'm in the wrong though."

"If you don't mind me asking, what was the argument about?"

"I asked him to the Halloween Ball and he said no."

"What? Why? I thought you guys were dating."

"Fuck, so did I. I honestly wasn't expecting a no. I thought my asking him was a formality, but he shot me down quickly, then got pissed when I tried to pry as to why he didn't want to go with me."

"And he wouldn’t tell you why?"

"Nope," I say, popping the P. "He told me to drop it, so I did."

"Damn, man, I'm sorry."

"The worst part," I say, looking Sam in the eyes. My eyes start tearing up, and I blink quickly, hoping they'll disappear. "I think he's ashamed of me. Dating a human, I mean. I think that's why he doesn't want to go. He doesn't want to be seen with me."

"I don't think that's it."

"Okay, then what else could it be?"

"Didn't you say he was worried about Coach knowing?" Sam says, his eyes quickly looking in the direction of Coach’s office.

"Yeah, but Coach won't be there. And if we ran into Coach we could have said we went as roommates. He wouldn't have known."

"Fuck, man. I don't know. But I do know you should talk to him." He grabs my shoulder, squeezing it in solidarity.

"I will. Maybe."

"No, you will definitely. You both deserve to hash this out."

"Okay, I will."

Sam fist bumps me before we finish grabbing our stuff and leaving the locker room.

I don't talk to Niko all day. I keep avoiding him, or maybe he’s still avoiding me. After my test, I go to the Athletics Center and work out until it's dark, then I head to the dorm room and crash–in my own bed. Which is where I've been sleeping the past two nights.

Today is the Halloween Ball, and I've spent the whole day out of the dorm. I woke up early, went for a run, then went to the gym to lose myself in working out for a few hours.

Niko may not want to go with me, but I'm still going to fucking go. Luckily, a group of the guys on the team are all going together, so I decided to tag along with them. We're downtown at a local shop trying to find something to wear.

"How does this look?" Will asks, walking out of the dressing room in a baby blue tux.

"Um." Staring at him, I'm not sure if he's seriously considering the outfit or not. "There's ruffles on the shirt."

"I know," he gushes, pulling at the neckline. "Isn't it perfect?"

Oh, so he's serious about the outfit. "Well, if you like it, that's all that matters." I grimace, knowing I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that. Looking over to the other side of the store, I see a Lagoon shifter looking through tuxes with a human by his side. My heart hurts seeing them be so open knowing all I want is to be doing this with Niko.

"Did you find something to wear, King?" he asks when he steps back out of the dressing room, changed back into his everyday clothes.

"Yeah, I figured simple is best." I shake the black tux in the air, smiling a bright smile I don't actually feel. I thought I would be dressing up to be with Niko, but now there are other plans.

Fuck, I'm getting in my feelings again.

"I mean, some people like simple things. I don't, but some do."

Laughing, I shake my head at Will. He's always been loud and out there, but he's a great teammate, and he's becoming a great friend.

"I am not wearing this," Sam grits out while strolling out of his dressing room.

I turn and face him, choking on the laugh that tries to break free. "What the fuck is that?"

"I don't know," he whines, pulling at the hem of the jacket. Tilting my head, I take in the tux, or the outfit that's cosplaying as a tux. It's worse than Will's. Sam's tux is powder blue with white ruffled sleeves and collar. The blue jacket of the tux has a deep v at the neckline.

"Where did you find it?"

"It was on the rack. All I saw was blue, so I grabbed it."

"You look fucking ridiculous." Snickering, I can't hold back and let a laugh free.

Sam rolls his eyes, storming back into the dressing room. He comes back out a short while later and walks back over to the racks. He pulls down the same suit as me, and I chuckle again.

"Copycat."

He rolls his eyes shrugging. "Whatever, it seems to be the only normal tux in this place."

"Come on, let's go buy them and get lunch."

We end up eating lunch at a restaurant, the three of us talking about the Halloween Ball. Will fills us in on more of what happens on the blood moon.

"So, all monsters are in their shifted form?"

"Yeah, it's pretty awesome. Before they let humans into Creelin U, there were more monsters walking around in their true form, but this year there's not many that do."

"Yeah, I see some here and there, but not as many as I was expecting."

"You'll see a lot tonight. It's going to be epic."

"I can't wait."

But really, I can. As much as I want to go, I'm also dreading not going with Niko.

Staring at myself in the mirror, I give myself a final glance before deciding I look good enough. I'm not wearing a baseball cap and my hair is styled as well as I could get it. I’m wearing my black tux with a black button-down and light green tie. The tie immediately reminded me of Niko’s eyes, so I snatched it off the shelf without a second thought. Pulling on my sleeve, I adjust the cuff, feeling self-conscious. I'm not much of a person who dresses up, so I can only assume I look fine. I spray myself with some cologne before stepping out of the bathroom.

Niko and Mateo are both sitting on the couch, and when I walk into the room both of their eyes lock onto me.

Niko's gaze scans my body head to toe, then back up again. There's lust in his eyes, and I know he likes what he sees, yet he still doesn't say anything.

"Damn, dude, you clean up nice," Mateo says, filling in the awkward silence.

"Thanks, man, I'll see you there."

"Of course."

Not waiting for it to get more awkward, I walk to the door giving a soft, "Bye" as I walk out the door. I walk out of the dorm and through the quad, making my way to the banquet hall. There are so many other students around me, and I can't stop myself from looking at them. All of them are dressed up, some more so than others. There are monsters walking among the student body, and I wave when I see Savannah, the Harpy from the liquor store. There's a group of Mummies hanging by the sidewalk, laughing and talking. One of the guys from my Intro to Monsterkind class walks over to the crowd before transforming into a gorgeous Phoenix. I'm intrigued and mesmerized by all the monsters before me.

I wish I was sharing this with Niko.

Finally making it to the banquet hall, I pause when I step through the front doors. Everything is decked out in Halloween decor. There are candelabras all throughout the room, dimly lighting the area. Orange and black linens decorate the windows and tables, playing on the Halloween vibe.

I don't see any of my teammates yet, so I walk over to a table in the corner. Grabbing myself a cup of water, I turn and scan the rest of the room.

Maybe it was a mistake coming here.

I shouldn't have come without Niko.