Adeline

The rest of the day seemed to drag on, a relentless cycle of discussions about the upcoming festival and the supposed celebration of the Headless Horseman. I found it unsettling to combine a festive event with the recent violence that had rocked our town, especially since the killer's modus operandi was eerily similar to the legend we were now trying to exploit. But Katherine didn't seem to care about the implications; she was far more interested in highlighting the town's history and luring in tourists.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about the festival's theme. My thoughts were consumed with how to decorate my house for Halloween with Ethan's help. I was hopeful he would be willing to dress up, too. The idea of coordinating costumes, perhaps something playful for the three of us—including Beast—made me giddy. Was that too forward?

"Oh, and don't forget about the Pumpkin Patch Gathering this weekend! I expect to see everyone there!" Katherine announced, finally wrapping up her long-winded speech. As she droned on, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was a little too excited about our plans. It was a stark contrast to how I felt in the days leading up to the attack.

"Thank god she's done. I don't think I could have lasted another hour of her talking about how much good she's done for this town," I muttered to Bonnie as we made our way to the exit.

"Yeah, but we knew what we were getting into. This whole 'click' vibe isn't new," Bonnie replied with a roll of her eyes. Beast pressed up against my side, his comforting presence a reminder that I was no longer alone in this.

"I am excited for the big Pumpkin Patch Gathering, though. You're still coming, right?" she asked as we stepped outside, the crisp fall air hitting us like a gentle reminder that autumn was here.

"Absolutely! I was thinking maybe I'll ask Ethan tonight... you know, like a date," I confessed, my heart racing at the thought.

"Finally! The sexual tension between you two is something you could cut with a knife," Bonnie said, winking at me.

"You know it wouldn't be like that if someone hadn't sent him a sexting text," I huffed. "He practically bolted from the room like someone had set his pants on fire."

"And yet for some reason, you came back flushed and in a really good mood," she teased, leaning against her car, clearly enjoying my flustered state.

"Nothing happened! We talked, and then he went to work," I lied, attempting to sound more convincing than I felt. I wasn't ready to share the details of our heated kiss in the hallway, not in a school parking lot where eavesdropping ears could be lurking.

"Fine, but this Sunday, you, me, and Abby are having a girls' night at your house. We need some drinks and girl talk!" Bonnie said, pointing a finger at me, her southern accent thick with determination.

"Okay, okay! Deal. I'll let the boys know," I replied, holding up my hand in a mock scout's honor sign. I knew we needed to spill all the tea, especially since Abby had been unusually quiet lately. Connor seemed to have stirred something in her, and I was eager to dig deeper.

"You better! You two are having all the fun," Bonnie said, her tone teasing.

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"What about your 'friends with benefits' person?" I raised an eyebrow, recalling her mention of a new fling but she had been secretive about the details.

"It ended... they're still not over their ex, and it was just hot hate sex," she said, shrugging it off. Looking at Bonnie, you wouldn't think she was the type to embrace her sexuality so openly, but she didn't care what others thought. Her family was supportive, and she had me and Abby to lean on.

"Damn... I'm sorry. But if you need to talk about it, I'm here for you," I offered, feeling a pang of sympathy for my friend.

"We'll eat ice cream and get drunk on Sunday, so don't worry," she replied, her tone upbeat as she nodded her head toward the entrance. "Heads up! Katherine and her minions are coming over here."

I turned around just as Katherine stopped a few feet from me, her perfectly manicured nails tapping impatiently against her arms. On either side of her stood two board members I didn't recognize; I mentally labeled them Thing 1 and Thing 2.

"Oh, Katherine! Was there something you needed?" I asked, trying to keep the interaction short and to the point. I really didn't want to dive back into high school drama.

Katherine had never liked me, and honestly, I hadn't done anything to provoke her. But once a bully, always a bully, right? I suspected her disdain had more to do with Ethan's and my closeness. While she had basked in the limelight as head cheerleader and social queen, Ethan had been the rebellious bad boy. He'd never cared much for popularity; he was the one who didn't hesitate to speak his mind, even when it could get him into trouble.

It killed her that someone like me had gotten so close to him, and for a while, it had been fine. But now that she had decided she wanted him back, I could see her making her moves.

"I just wanted to ensure you know your place..."

"Excuse me?" I half-laughed at her comment, surprised. I didn't expect a wannabe Barbie in her basic white-girl fall getup to come at me like that.

"Yes, you heard me. You don't deserve a man like Ethan. The sooner you realize he's only with you out of the goodness of his heart and not for the reasons you think, the sooner I can have my chance with him again. We both know if you hadn't interrupted us at the station, Ethan and I would be back together."

Bonnie stepped beside me, and I raised my hand to stop her from responding. I shook my head to indicate that I could handle this; I had to. Katherine had lost it if she thought I would step aside and let her sink her claws into Ethan.

"No... you must be out of your mind, Katherine," I stated, keeping my voice steady as I crossed my arms over my chest, standing my ground.

The two women beside her gasped at my outburst, clearly shocked that someone would stand up to Katherine.

"I mean it, Adeline. Back off... or else."

"Is that a threat?" Bonnie stepped up beside me, her voice dripping with venom.

It felt like a standoff, and I was all too aware of the tension hanging in the air.

"No, sweetheart. It's a warning. By the time the Halloween ball rolls around in two weeks, mark my words: Ethan Brooks and I will be an item again, and you, Adeline, will be nothing but a corpse of a person."

With that, she turned on her heels and strutted away, leaving Bonnie and me staring at one another in disbelief.

"Did she really say 'a corpse of a person'?"

"Maybe she's getting into the Halloween spirit?" I laughed, shaking my head.

I didn't know what Katherine meant, but either way, I refused to let her take Ethan from me. I couldn't wait to show her that Ethan and I were an item, even if it meant playing pretend to make her mad. The thought of confronting her again made my heart race; I needed to prepare for the inevitable storm that was coming.

As Bonnie and I walked toward the parking lot, my mind whirled with possibilities. There was no way I would let Katherine or anyone else come between Ethan and me. I needed to secure what we had, to explore this connection that had reignited between us. It was more than just a spark; it was a fire that could consume us both if I let it.