Chapter Text
Nick
“Nick, Nick, Nick!” Imogen ran towards Nick. He moved, giving her a spot to rest on the picnic bench. “Are you coming to the Halloween party next Wednesday?”
Nick moved his hand through his hair. “It was at Higgs, right?”
Harry turned towards Nick and Imogen. “You are not considering coming, are you?”
“Why not, Harry? Are you too scared?” Imogen snapped back.
“I’m scared that I will be surrounded by boring year nines and theatre kids.” Harry got up, looking at the rest of his mates. “I refuse to go to a party without any booze.”
“I think it could be fun,” Nick said.
“I would suggest going as a zombie, but you wouldn’t want to be caught dead there,” Harry said, making his mates laugh. “Going there is basically social suicide.”
Nick looked at Imogen. She was staring at the grass. He knew that she was looking forward to this almost the entire year and had put loads of energy into planning it. He didn’t want to disappoint her, as just showing up would mean a lot to her. But on the other hand, as Nick was rugby captain, he wanted to maintain his status. People, mainly Harry, were already watching and judging every step he made, and sadly, Harry was dominant enough to change people’s minds, no matter what his opinion was. He feared that if he did something unagreeable with him, even if it was just attending a party, he wouldn’t be able to fulfil his role as captain anymore.
After school, Nick was doing his homework, when he heard his phone buzz.
Imogen (17.05)
Hey hey!
How are you feeling about the Halloween party?
Nick (17.06)
I’m so sorry for Harry, he was a total dick
I do want to come
Imogen (17.06
Cool!
Nick sighed. He didn’t want to offend Imogen. Did the party seem like the most interesting thing? Not really. But spending a spooky evening with his friend couldn’t hurt. Or at least, it shouldn’t.
Nick (17.07)
It is just, I wish they wouldn’t be such assholes
Imogen (17.07)
Well screw what they think
Nick (17.08)
I wish it was that easy
I’m not as free to f the rules as you are
I don’t want half the rugby team to turn their back on me
Nick looked at his phone. Imogen was typing, but then the bubble disappeared. She wouldn’t understand. She’s confident and careless about what others think of her. Nick wished that he was able to speak his mind about the things he liked like she could. As he kept waiting, picked his pen back up to continue working on his homework, but he was busier thinking of how he could make it up to Imogen.
Imogen (17.14)
I have an idea
What if
You go incognito
You can wear a mask or something
Or be a ghost, hide under a sheet
I have probably an old sheet lying around
Nick stared at the wall. He hadn’t even thought of what he was going as. Maybe the doctor from doctor who, as he had just rewatched the series again and it was safe to say that he was obsessed with David Tennant, up to the point he had seriously started to question his sexuality. But then would need to get a costume and possibly a wig.
Imogen (17.18)
Yesss, I found it
So what do you think?
Ready to haunt a bunch of kids?
Nick (17.20)
I think that could work.
Nick adjusted his sheet, peering through the eye holes. He did feel hidden. Only his lower legs and shoes were visible, but nobody was going to be able to recognise him by that alone. He went into the Higgs gymnasium. Imogen and the rest of the committee outdid themselves. The place was covered in pumpkins, ghosts, and cobwebs, topped off with a thin curtain of smoke and spotlights. A skeleton, probably taken from the biology classroom, was placed on top of a large speaker that was blasting a Halloween-themed song.
“Nick?” a whisper said. He turned around, behind him was Imogen. She was wearing a glittery jumper, flowy dress and matching glittery thighs. They were all cut up and distressed and combined with fairy wings and bloody make-up.
“Yes, it’s me,” Nick said. “You look amazing. Now I can no longer think peacefully about fairies.”
“I had to do something pretty yet spooky,” Imogen said. “You can get drinks if you go down that door, through the hallway and then to your left. Let me know if you need more tokens, I have plenty.” Nick looked at the door and nodded. “Come, let’s go dance, have fun and meet some new people.” Imogen grabbed Nick’s arm and dragged him to the dancefloor. It was filled with people in loads of different costumes. He already spotted multiple Spidermen, a Shrek and there was also an impressive vampire, who had definitely spent quite a lot of time on his makeup. Two of Imogen’s friends had matching devil and angel costumes and joined them on the dance floor. Nick didn’t know them that well, but they were friendly and welcoming to dance with him. Imogen slowly moved towards a good-looking attempt at Jack Sparrow. He complimented her outfit and after pointing out every little detail of each other’s costumes, Nick decided to give them some alone time.
Nick felt the single token that he had gotten at the entrance in his pocket and made his way to the corridor where Imogen pointed towards. He looked around the gymnasium, admiring the costumes. As he made his way, he found another ghost, leaning against the wall.
“Boo!” Nick said.
“Booooooooo,” he responded, as he waved his arms around. Nick mirrored him, booing back as they started to move in circles around each other. They started laughing between their stupid dances. Screw what Harry said, what’s wrong with doing silly dances with total strangers? For once, he could do things without worrying about someone’s opinion.
“Am I witnessing a gay ghost mating dance or something?” The vampire had walked up to him, accompanied by a zombie.
“O my god, Tao, let wandering souls have their moment.” The zombie said and she dragged the vampire away from him.
The other ghost peered through his eye holes at Nick. “Sorry for them, I would kill them if they weren’t already dead.”
“From experience I can say, it’s a hard life being dead,” Nick said. “I was going to get a drink, also want to get one?”
“Yeah, sure,” he responded.
Nick squinted as he stepped into the fluorescent lights. They walked into a classroom, where two witches were handing out drinks. They joined the queue at a bar that was made out of tables.
Nick looked at the ghost, waiting for their turn. “I like your costume by the way. Very classy,” he joked.
The ghost picked up on the sarcasm. “Well thank you. I love yours too.” He adjusted the sheet a bit. “And now I only have to convince my friends that drinking isn’t out of character for a ghost. Well, mainly Tao, he is kind of intense. He is the vampire, or technically some character from an indie horror movie that no one knows.”
“What movie was it?”
“I don’t even remember,” he chuckled. “He made me watch it, but I slept through most of it.”
“You slept through a horror movie?” Nick asked and the ghost nodded back, as they stepped forward.
“Hello ghosts, do you want blood of the innocent or souls of the dammed?” one of the witches asked.
“What do they taste like?” the ghost asked.
“Cherry and Orange.” She held up the respective bottles.
“I would like the blood then.” He handed over a token.
“I’m going for souls.” Nick also fetched his token and traded it for a cup with an odd orange drink.
Nick carefully moved his drink under the sheet, holding it up with his other hand. After taking a few sips, he looked back at the ghost, who was obviously staring at him.
“Whut?” he asked.
“I just… I wanted to see how you would drink it.”
“How I absorb it to feed my ghostly vessel?” This was ridiculous and he loved it. He looked at the queue that had formed after they arrived. Nick took a double take. Was that someone that he has geography with? Better head out. “Come, let’s go.” He grabbed the ghost’s arm through the sheet and pulled him towards him. The ghost wasn’t prepared for the sudden change in force, making him stumble and spill his drink.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” he said. Nick looked down, there were splatters everywhere, including his shoes.
“Don’t worry.” He looked at the upset ghost. “It gives them character.” Nick walked away, checking in that the ghost was following him. The last thing he wanted was that his identity would be revealed through having to clean up a spilt drink.
As they walked down the hallway, he saw Imogen leaning against the wall, staring at her phone.
“Hey Imogen, everything alright?” Nick asked.
She put her phone away. “Yeah, just taking a breather. That Jack Sparrow guy was kind of an ass. He started talking shit about people’s costumes and why guys shouldn’t wear certain things in his opinion.” She pushed herself off the wall. “And he would refuse to do the Jack Sparrow walk.”
“That sucks. I guess fairies and pirates still don’t work well together.”
“Maybe I should see if there is a Peter Pan out there for me then. But I see you found your soulmate.” She had started to sound a lot more like her cheery self.
Nick looked at his ghostly companion. “Yeah, my soul doesn’t have to wander the face of the earth alone anymore.”
“I’m happy for you. I’m going to get a drink, I guess I will see you later.” She turned away. “Don’t forget to let me know if you need more tokens,” she said as she walked off
“So that was Imogen,” Nick said. “I guess our friends are intense in their own ways. Do you want to go back to your friends? I don’t want to be accused of kidnapping or something.”
“If they are not busy sucking each other’s faces. And is it kidnapping if I’m a ghost?” They started walking back to the gymnasium. “Wouldn’t it be more like haunting each other?”
“Well, I can open doors? Ghosts do that when they are haunting, right?” Nick opened the door, letting the ghost pass through. He closed the door behind them as they found themselves back in the gymnasium. The ghost leaned against a table that was pushed against a wall.
“As predicted, they are making out.” The ghost nodded towards the vampire and zombie that Nick met earlier, who were kissing each other. “I should have convinced Isaac to come, so we could have third wheeled together.”
“And leaving your soulmate behind?” Nick fake gasped.
The ghost looked back at him. “You don’t mind spending time with me?”
“Of course not. As long as I don’t pass to the other side, I will stay with you.” Nick placed his drink on the table. “So do you want to dance?” He presented his hand.
“I would like that,” The ghost took his hand and walked with him to the dancefloor, abandoning the rest of their drinks.
After they had moved to the crowd, Imogen found them and joined. They found out that the flowyness of the sheets gave a great effect as they waved their arms around. Imogen swirled her skirt around, mimicking the ghost.
The song faded into a more upbeat song, and they started to jump around. Nick held onto his sheet for dear life, as it wanted to shift with the movements. With his limited vision, he saw that the other ghost was having the same issue.
After the song ended, he caught his breath, adrenaline rushing through his veins. The other ghost’s sheet had shifted and the eyeholes had moved to near his neck.
Nick reached out and grabbed the sheet. “Here, let me help.” He gently moved it, aligning his eyes with the holes. “Here, you can see again.” He realised that his hands are almost on his face. He had to resist the urge to cup his cheeks.
“Thank you,” the ghost said. Nick saw that he was reaching out his arms towards him and instinctively he leaned forward, as he felt him rest on the side of his head. He slightly moved the sheet, returning the favour.
“Want to get another drink? My treat.” Nick scanned the area for Imogen, seeing that she had dripped to the side, catching her breath. “Imogen, can we get two tokens?”
“No problem.” She fetched two tokens out of her pocket, handing them to Nick. “I wish I was as athletic as you, I really have no stamina.”
“Oh, would you also like a drink, I can bring you something?”
“No thank you, I’m good,” she said. Nick moved his hand out to the side, and he felt his fingers wrap around the ghost’s palm. It felt as natural as if they had always been there.
As they walked down the corridor, he came across some guys from his year. Nick had gotten quite some faith in his costume. Normally, they are the kind of guys that give Nick a quick bro nod as they cross each other. But that evening, things were different. They ignored him. That evening, Nick could walk, holding hands with a boy, without having to care about what others think of him. He could just hold hands with the boy he fancies. But only for that evening.
Nick stopped walking in the middle of the hallway, the ghost turned around and looked at him.
“Everything alright?” he asked. “We can stay out here for a bit if you would like.”
“Yeah, it was quite noisy in there.” But that wasn’t it. He needed to say it. He took a deep breath. “I’m having a great time.”
“But?”
“But I have to be honest.” He looked down, at the stains on his shoes. “I don’t really know…well… my sexuality. I like hanging with you, but I just can’t promise anything will happen afterwards. I thought you should know, as I don’t want you to think that I’m using you. You can’t know who I am, I’m not ready to come out or anything. You can go back to your friends if you want to.”
“Hey.” Nick felt a hand on his arm. “Thanks for telling me. Is this alright?”
Nick looked at the arm, how the fabric draped over it, showing only the cuff of a jumper and his hand. There was only a thin sheet between it and his skin.
“Definitely. I definitely like it when you flirt.”
“So we will just flirt back and forth for this evening?” The ghost stepped closer to him.
Nick held his breath in anticipation. “Yes please.”
The ghost moved his hand down, grasping his hand. “Come, let’s get our drinks.” The ghost tugged his hand, and before Nick knew it, they were running through the hallway, racing to the classroom.
The ghost won and took place at the end of the long queue. Nick followed. Without letting go of his hand, the ghost twirled around his axis, ending up in front of Nick, his back facing his. His arm had been wrapped around in the process. Nick wrapped his other arm around the ghost’s stomach. He felt the ghost lean back and rest his back against him, feeling his chest expand and contract as he caught his breath. As the queue slowly moved, they kept standing behind each other, slowly waddling forward. Only when they arrived at the witches, Nick slowly pushed the ghost away, letting him carry his body weight again.
They ordered their drinks and drank them quickly, as they had gotten thirsty and to get over the hassle of having to drink in costume. Next, they went back to the dancefloor, trying to find the best excuses to keep touching each other.
They kept dancing until the ghost walked to the side. He looked at his phone. “My dad is here to pick me up. I have to go.” Nick held his sigh in. The dreadful end was here.
“Thank you,” Nick said and held out his arms. The ghost stepped forward and let himself fall into them, coming into a warm embrace. “This evening was one to remember.”
“I agree. Thank you too. Also for the drinks.” He let go, but didn’t step backwards, so all Nick could see was his eyes and a tiny part of the surrounding sheet. It was now or never.
“May I kiss you?” Nick asked.
“Yes please.”
Nick gently placed his hand on the side of the ghost’s head, slowly moving forward. He felt their noses brush against each other as their lips finally met. Or at least what Nick hoped were his lips, as he couldn’t exactly feel them through the layers of fabric.
“I really have to go now, bye,” the ghost said after they parted. The ghost sprinted away, and Nick started at him, watching the sheet float after him as a cape.
---
The next morning, Nick walked out of the kitchen, holding his lunchbox.
His mum was walking downstairs, still wearing her dressing gown. “Hey Nicky. How was yesterday? Not too scary?”
Nick opened his schoolbag. “It was fun. I actually spent most of the night with another ghost that I met there.” Nick raised his voice as he rushed upstairs as he just realised that he had forgotten to pack his maths homework.
“Glad to hear you made a friend,” his mum said.
He quickly shoved his homework into his bag. Friend. That was not really the word he would use to describe it, but he was still trying to grasp what happened, let alone try to define it to his mother. He put on his shoes and checked his bag for one last time, making sure he had all his homework, lunch, textbooks, and his rugby gear.
“I have to go, love you.” Nick leaned in for a quick hug with his mum before he headed out the door, off to school
“So, how was your party with gay theatre freaks?” Harry asked.
“Please remind me again why I spend time with you?” Imogen walked to the other side of the bench.
“No, but really.” Harry followed her. “I heard that there were two guys, both dressed up as ghosts, kissing at the party. Who are they?”
Nick looked away, trying to act as invisible as possible.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you get a Ouija board and ask them?” Imogen got up, headed to Higgs. Without listening to what Harry was going to say next, Nick got up and went to Truman.
Imogen (8.20)
You ended up kissing him?
(That is really cool)
(Also cool if you didn’t)
Nick (8.23)
Don’t tell anyone, but yes.
Imogen (8.23)
Ashifhagkda
I am happy for you
I won’t say anything
Who was it?
Please keep me updated
In the meantime, Nick had sat down in his seat in the classroom. Who was it? He wished he knew. It must have been someone from school, based on his height and behaviour he must be around his age, but that still left too many people. He looked at Imogen’s Instagram profile. She had already made a new post with some pictures from last evening, and tagged everyone she knew, except Nick. He clicked on a profile of her friend, went to the posts she was tagged in and on to the next profile. After a few dead ends, private profiles, he found what he was looking for, his ghost. He was standing with his friends, the zombie and the vampire. It was posted by the zombie. ‘Its_elles_universe Spooky night with my undead friends’ read the text underneath. He tapped on the picture, and the names appeared on the screen. the.xu.tao and cfspring. He clicked on the second name, nervously waiting for the profile to load. He put his hand in front of his mouth in anticipation.
Charlie.
His name was Charlie. He looked at his profile, and one picture caught his eyes. It was a portrait of him, smiling and squinting his eyes in the sun. Nick zoomed in, examining the face that had been hidden underneath the sheet the entire time. The first thing he noticed was his smile, accompanied by the most adorable dimples. And then to mention his hair, curly, bouncy—
“Nicholas, put your phone away please,” the teacher yelled at him. “Come guys, class is about to begin.”