Time: Halloween Night / Kinsey: Age 17 / Pre-YIM
Rating: Naughty
“This movie is stupid,” Kinsey groaned, shifting uncomfortably on the couch in the Hanson’s basement. The snug black pleather of her Catwoman costume was starting to feel even more suffocating now that she had several drinks in her system.
”Agreed,” Zac said from beside her in his KISS costume, both of their gazes still fixed on “An American Werewolf in Paris.” They’d all been coerced into attending the Hanson’s annual Halloween party, but Zac and Kinsey had other plans in mind. Their attention finally wavered from the screen as they heard someone coming down the basement stairs.
”This is the last time I’m doing this for you,” Brenna said, looking paranoid as she made her way over to them.
”You’re the best,” Zac said with a smile, prompting Brenna’s face to flush the same color as her Little Red Riding Hood costume. Kinsey snatched the basket from Brenna’s hand and opened it to find four beers hidden inside.
”Sure you don’t want one?” Kinsey asked her.
”I’m only fifteen.”
”And that’s how old I was when I started drinking. Loosen up a little. It’d be good for you.”
”I’m not drinking,” Brenna reiterated before sitting on Kinsey’s other side, “Aren’t you hot in that costume?”
”You have no idea,” Kinsey grumbled before taking a long sip on the Coors Light Brenna had sneakily taken from the cooler upstairs while their parents weren’t looking. It was the third time she’d done that for them that night, and as Kinsey felt herself shift from tipsy to drunk, she was more than thankful. Taylor and Isaac had been upstairs for most of the night talking to people about their work in the recording studio and how their tour had gone the previous year. Kinsey couldn’t understand why they’d want to talk business when it seemed all those two ever did was talk business lately, but it didn’t really matter because they weren’t part of their plan anyway.
”So, how drunk are the parentals?” Zac asked.
”Your dad was just looking for a bottle of tequila in the liquor cabinet, if that tells you anything,” Brenna said with a sigh.
”I don’t think he’s going to find it,” Kinsey laughed, remembering how they’d downed the thing during the summer.
”Worst hangover ever,” Zac groaned in rememberence.
”If they’re that far gone, we’re probably good to tell them we’re leaving,” Kinsey said.
”You think they’re really going to be okay with you taking off to go to a party?” Brenna asked.
”Yes, I do. Especially since you’re coming with us.”
”What?! I don’t even know Matt Johnson!” Brenna protested.
”I don’t care. If you come, then they’ll be okay with it. Honestly, would you rather spend the rest of the night with our creepily drunk parents or with our drunk classmates?” Brenna crossed her arms and made a fact to show how unhappy she was about the situation, but nodded lightly.
”Fine.”
”Good girl,” Kinsey smiled before cracking open her second beer. As she was chugging its contents, more footsteps sounded on the stairs. Edward Scissorhands and the Phantom of the Opera came into sight, each with a drink in hand.
”How come you two get to drink with them and we don’t?” Zac asked.
”Because we’re awesome and you’re lame,” Taylor countered, sitting down on the floor while carefully holding his drink in his foam-scissored hands.
”More like because we’re over eighteen and you’re not,” Isaac said, readjusting his mask before sitting next to Taylor, “Not like it’s stopping you two anyway.”
”Whatever, we’re getting out of here,” Kinsey said, standing before finishing off the last of her beer.
”Where are you two going?” Isaac asked, watching as Zac stood as well.
”To a party Kinsey got invited to,” Zac said. Brenna picked up her basket from the floor and rose.
”Brenna’s going?” Taylor asked incredulously.
”If she goes, then they’re going to say yes. Brenna wouldn’t go to a big bad drinking party, now would you?” Kinsey asked, reaching over to pat her little sister on the head.
”You’re so rude,” Brenna huffed before stomping out of the room.
”There will be other people not drinking, so just settle down,” Kinsey called after her, “Ready to go, Gene Simmons?”
”You know it!” Zac exclaimed.
”Come on guys. Don’t just leave us here. Dad said something about doing a body shot off Mom. I can not be here for that, even down here in the basement,” Isaac said.
”Then come along,” Kinsey said shrugged, “The more the merrier.”
”A high school party. Great,” Taylor said.
”I don’t recall inviting you,” Kinsey told him before starting her ascent up the stairs. They found their parents in the dining room, lining up shot glasses on the edge of the table.
”Hey Mom,” Kinsey said as she approached her parents, “Do you mind if we all head out to go to this party I got invited to?”
”Brenna’s going?” her mom asked. Kinsey nodded. Jennifer looked behind Kinsey to find the other four lurking out in the hallway and smiled. “Sure, have fun. Don’t be too late, though.”
”We’ll be back in a few hours,” Kinsey told her, then leaving before she had the chance to change her mind.
”We’re good?” Zac asked.
”We’re good,” Kinsey grinned, leading the way to the front door. As soon as they’d stepped outside, she grabbed the zipper on the front of her costume and lowered it significantly before turning to Brenna, “Can you hand me my phone?”
”Good thing Brenna has that basket, because there’s no way you’re hiding anything in that costume,” Zac laughed as Brenna dug around for Kinsey’s phone, finally producing it and slapping it into Kinsey’s waiting palm.
”Can someone call Tif to tell her we’re on our way?” she asked as she dialed.
”I will,” Isaac said, “Who are you calling?”
”Chris,” Kinsey grinned, “I can’t wait to see his costume.” They started out down the street, beginning the lengthy walk it would take to get them to the party. As they walked, the chatted idly about the decorations the neighbors had put up and what the guys were expecting out of their first ever high school party. After about five minutes of walking, they reached the high school’s football field.
“Is that him?” Brenna asked, looking in the field’s direction. Kinsey just smiled widely and started running in that direction. As soon as she had reached him, she wrapped her around around his neck and her legs around his waist.
“Your costume looks amazing,” she told him once she’d given him a long hello kiss.
“So does yours,” he said, looking at her appreciatively once he’d set her back down, “Ready for the party?”
“Absolutely. Our parents are completely out of control.”
“Who else came with you and Zac?” Chris asked once they were heading back over to the group.
“Well, I brought Brenna along because I knew that if she came, there was no way my mom would say no. And, Taylor and Isaac felt the need to escape the insanity also. Their costumes are concealing enough that I don’t think we’ll have any problems.” Chris just gave her a smile and took her hand in his. They’d been together for almost six months, and were both looking to attend the University of Tulsa the next year. He’d been around Zac plenty, but had only met Taylor and Isaac once before at her birthday party the previous month.
“Nice costumes everyone,” Chris said as they joined everyone else on the sidewalk.
“Batman and Catwoman. Nice,” Zac smiled in approval.
“Or obvious,” Taylor mumbled to himself. Kinsey turned around and glared at him.
“Just be glad I don’t have the Catwoman whip,” she said before turning back around, “Now let’s get going. We aren’t going to be able to stay for that long anyway. Is Tif already there?”
“She was on her way when I called,” Isaac explained, “What’s she dressing up as?”
“Probably something slutty,” Kinsey laughed.
“Says the girl wearing skin tight leather,” Zac countered. She shoved him a bit, causing him to take a step off the sidewalk.
“Whatever,” she shrugged. They walked the rest of the way to the party without much incident.
“Are you sure this is the place?” Taylor asked as they walked up the driveway.
“Yeah, it’s going to be the basement. We don’t want to get busted, and a bunch of drunk teenagers roaming around the yard would definitely tip off the neighbors,” Kinsey explained. They let themselves in and followed the sound of the thumping bass towards the basement door that was standing ajar. Once they were downstairs, they found the entire unfinished basement packed with people in costumes.
“There’s Tif,” Brenna said, pointing into the crowd, “Who’s she with?”
“That’s Aly from our Calc class. She’s pretty cool,” Kinsey said.
“She looks pretty cool,” Zac interjected.
“You’re just saying that because she’s dressed as a slutty cheerleader,” Kinsey laughed.
“Well, yeah,” Zac said, “Now introduce me.”
“I’m going to go talk to the guys for a few minutes,” Chris told Kinsey, giving her a kiss before heading for the other side of the room. By that time, Tif had spotted them and was heading over with Aly in tow.
“Hello everyone,” Tif said, grinning at them from behind the fake glasses that topped off her naughty school girl costume.
“Hey, Skankbot,” Kinsey greeted, “Aly, cute costume.”
“Thanks,” Aly smiled, “Who are your friends?” Kinsey opened her mouth to introduce the guys, but Zac interrupted before she could.
“I’m Luke,” he said, sticking out his hand towards her. Kinsey had to try not to laugh. Of course they wanted to use fake names since they were dressed up unrecognizably enough that no one would be able to spot them.
“Nice to meet you, Luke,” Aly grinned, pumping his hand in hers.
“And this is Jeremy,” Kinsey said, gesturing to Isaac before looking at Taylor, “And Damien.” He glared at her.
“Nice to meet all of you. Luke, you want to come get a drink with me?” Aly asked.
“Absolutely,” he said, before following her through the crowd.
“And they never saw him again,” Tif said, watching them walk away before turning back to the group, “You all look great! Nice hair, Damian.”
“It took an entire bottle of black color hairspray and a hell of a lot of teasing, but we got it eventually,” Kinsey said, having been coerced into helping him earlier that evening.
“I think she yanked half the hair out of my head by the time she was finished,” Taylor said, “Now where can we get some alcohol?”
They spent the next few hours talking and drinking at the party. Brenna found a few people she knew, and therefore was no longer irritated at having been drug along to the party. Zac was still missing in action, but Kinsey knew that he would be fine with Aly.
“For you,” a voice said over Kinsey’s shoulder, startling her. Chris came around into her line of sight and handed her a cup, which she thanked him for with a kiss.
“I don’t think Catwoman’s supposed to be so jumpy,” Taylor said.
“I don’t think Edward Scissorhands is supposed to be such a giant douche,” she countered before taking a sip, “Mmm. What is this?”
“Jungle juice. They just brought it out,” Chris explained. Kinsey turned to face him and ran her hand down the front of his costume, “Careful now.”
“Are you going to punish me? I have nine lives, you know,” she said in his ear.
“Get a room,” Brenna said as she came back up to them.
“What a fantastic idea,” Kinsey sassed, grabbing Chris’ hand and starting to walk towards the stairs.
“Kinsey! It’s almost one. We should really be getting home,” Brenna called out, causing Kinsey to roll her eyes and stop her attempted escape. As much as it annoyed her to admit it, Brenna was right. She looked up at Chris and stuck out her bottom lip.
“I really wanted some alone time with Batman,” she said.
“Not as much as I wanted some with you,” he told her, his hand sliding over her hip and pulling her close, “Keep this costume.”
“Absolutely,” she grinned, “I’ll see you Monday morning?”
“I’ll pick you up at 7:30,” he said, kissing her again before releasing her.
“Fine, let’s go everyone,” Kinsey said. Once they got to the top of the stairs, Taylor sighed loudly.
“We need to find Zac,” he said.
“Not it!” Kinsey called out, followed immediately by everyone else in unison. Tif emerged from the basement a split second later. “Looks like it’s up to you.”
“Up to me to do what?” Tif asked.
“Go find Zac,” Isaac explained.
“Hell no. I want no part of that,” Tif said, shaking her head vigorously.
“Maybe they’re outside talking,” Brenna said.
“Yeah, you wish,” Kinsey rolled her eyes. The sound of hushed voices coming down the stairs from the second level drew their attention. “Oh thank god.” Zac, most of the makeup from the lower part of his face gone, suddenly appeared in front of them with Aly who was wiping at her face with a Kleenex.
“Oh, hey everyone,” Aly said.
“We kind of need to take off,” Kinsey explained. Zac nodded and once he shot everyone a look, they all headed outside, giving them a moment alone.
“Ridiculous,” was all Tif said, “I’m out of here. I’ll see you later.” She just lived on the next block over, and they all watched as she disappeared in between houses across the street. Zac emerged a moment later, trying his hardest not to smile. Kinsey was in front of him in a second while Taylor and Isaac started walking.
“Did you just…?” she asked.
“I just,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. Kinsey cracked up and linked her arm with his.
“My little Zaccy’s all grown up,” she said, “But how are we going to explain that makeup malfunction to the parents?”
“I so don’t care right now,” he said, sighing contentedly.
“So, is this one of those situations that we don’t talk about?” Taylor asked, turning around and walking backwards.
“Yes it is,” Zac said.
“Nice work, little brother. She was hot,” Taylor nodded appreciatively before turning back around.
“This is officially the best Halloween ever,” Zac declared.
“Agreed,” Kinsey said, “Now let’s get home.”