“Have you seen him?”
“Which him?”
“The guy in the scream mask.”
“Yeah, I've seen him. Are you sure it's a guy? I'm starting to wonder…”

I pick up my drink from the kitchen bench. Andi and I have been hanging out in here for a while, just watching people move around the party. Most people seem to be walking around the lounge, to the food table, out the back to socialize, and then back inside again. But whoever is in the Scream costume seems to always be looking my way.

I know the hosts have invited everyone specifically, and won't let creepers attend their parties. Halloween has become sacred to Geoff and Joe, so whoever is hiding behind the mask is going to be a friend of theirs, but it's a bit unnerving feeling watched…

Okay, yes, there is a bit of a thrill in feeling watched. Is that weird? Should I be worried about feeling weird? Feeling “watched” normally makes me uncomfortable, but maybe because I know this is a safe place I'm not as worried as I could be. As I should be?

What I'm more interested about is who exactly is behind the mask. If I'm going to feel something other than stalked I should at least know who it is giving me these feelings.

“OH oh oh, did you see?”
I look back at Andi and her attempts to be subtle.
“You might be right! “Scream” looks like they are wearing heels! Maybe it isn't a man”.
Hmm… “no, they look like heeled boots, so it could still be a guy”.

We turn back to watch the room again and see Geoff walk in, walking right up to Scream. I can just overhear what sounds like -
“Here's your drink, make yourself at home.”
Geoff hands them a glass, and then walks away again. If Scream said anything back I can't hear them over the noise of the party.

“Okay, enough waiting” says Andi. “Time to try get a response.”
As always, Andi is wearing the hottest costume at the party. And why not… if you have a body that would be seen on the cover of Playboy why wouldn't you dress up like a slutty maid.
“Watch him and see what he does.”
Andi “accidentally” knocks the straw out of her drink, and bends over to pick it up off the floor. She is showing off every inch of her long legs, and in these heels she would get looks even if she wasn't in costume. I'm trying not to giggle at her attempts at getting attention, but I do as asked and watch Scream. There are no signs they have noticed Andi, but that doesn't mean anything.

“So, what did you see? Did they notice?”
I shake my head, shrug my shoulders, and look back around the room.

Drink in hand, Scream is still in the same spot. It feels like they are looking into the kitchen to where we are standing, but maybe they aren't. It's so hard to tell with the mask. Maybe they didn't see Andi at all.

Andi puts down the straw and looks deflated. “I'm going to go directly to the horses mouth.” She turns on her heels and walks out of the kitchen, and I assume she is going to check in with Geoff. The mystery will be over soon enough.

I turn back to look out into the lounge, and Scream has gone. They have vanished. Their glass is sitting on the mantle place, but no other sign remains. Maybe they were interested in Andi after all and have followed her off into the party.

I just start thinking maybe I should mingle when I feel someone walk behind me. I feel their presence. I turn slowly, and Scream is right there. Even up close I can't tell who it is. Male, female, I honestly can't tell.

I’m standing by the corner cupboard, and realise I'm trapped by Scream. Though honestly, I'm sure I could just push past them if I wanted to, but I don't feel threatened, just cornered.

Scream looks at me, seemingly analyzing me. They tilt their head, and keep their gaze on me.

“Uhh, hi there” I fumble to say. “Have we met before?”

Scream says nothing, and just looks to the bench beside me. Andi has left the straw she “dropped” next to my glass. Scream moves their hand on to the bench and slowly, deliberately, pushes the straw back onto the floor. We have been maintaining eye contact as much as possible for a situation where I can't see their eyes.

Scream keeps looking at me as they slowly start to crouch down. Slowly they get lower and lower, until they are almost kneeling on the floor. They reach out and pick up the straw without moving their gaze.

It feels like I'm watching life in slow motion as they drag the end of the straw over to the bottom of my kitten heel, and start running it ever so slowly up the outside of my heel, onto my ankle.

They keep moving up over my nylons. They trace ever so slowly up my calf, up to my knee. When they get there they trace the straw around to the other side of my knee, then pause.

I don't know where to look. The straw, the mask, the straw, the mask. Scream keeps looking at my face the whole time. At least the mask does. It felt like there were so many other people at the party moments ago but now no one seems to notice us.

Everywhere the straw has touched feels electric. I don't understand how a straw can make so much of my body feel alive. I wonder if I would have got the same attention if I'd been wearing my long skirt as originally planned, but now I really don't regret the short shorts Andi made me wear.

I focus again when Scream starts dragging the straw ever so lightly up from my knee, up my inner thigh. It feels like everything moves so slowly. I try not to tense my thighs, but I can feel my pulse beating up higher between my legs.

The straw reaches the hem of my shorts. If Scream turned their gloved hand they would be able to touch my underwear. They start to stand from their crouch, leaving the straw where it is. They stand taller and I feel more crowded. It's the type of crowded you feel when you have a partner over you. Enclosed, thrilled, a little giddy.

Screams hand, and the straw, are still in place when they are standing tall… a little taller than me, but I have no idea how much of that is from their boots. I'm face to face with a mask I can't see through.

I'm still. I can't move. I hardly breathe, but feel almost like I'm panting. I want to melt at Scream's boots.

The straw is pulled away. Scream puts it on the bench beside my drink. They nod at me, then turn and walk away.

I still can't move.

I don't know how long I stand there for before walking up from the pseudo trance I'm in. I look around the party again, and there are no signs of Scream. It's like the moment almost didn't happen.

And then I see Andi, out the window, looking in to the kitchen. And from the look on her face she saw every moment. And I know I'm going to answer for the blush that has spread across my face.