Chapter 67

Celeste

Just as I was about to delve deeper into my conversation with Matt, a subtle, pre-decided hand gesture from Fiona caught my attention. It was our discrete signal, alerting me that something was amiss.

“Hey, Matt,” I said, trying to keep my voice even despite the flutter of anxiety threatening to betray my calm facade. “I have to go for a bit, but I’ll be back.”

He paused his dancing and raised an eyebrow, his azure eyes searching mine with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. “Where are you going?” he asked, his breath reaching my neck from our close proximity.

I hesitated for a split second, scrambling to come up with an excuse. “I… need to make a phone call. Bad reception inside the circle.”

Matt looked around, clearly noting the lack of anyone else stepping away for a call. But his voice was gentle when he spoke. “Alright. Are you sure everything is okay?”

I nodded, offering a reassuring smile. “Yeah, just something I need to handle. Family stuff.”

For a moment, the weight of my secrets hung in the air between us. I almost considered ripping off the mask right here and right now, like a bandaid, and face the consequences head-on. But as my fingers itched to reach up and remove it from my face, I found myself unable to do it.

“Alright,” Matt conceded, his voice low. “But come find me when you’re done, okay? Don’t leave without saying goodbye.”

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread in my chest. “I promise. It won’t take long.”

Matt held my gaze a moment longer, as if trying to decipher a puzzle. Then, with a nod and a half-smile, he stepped back, letting me make my escape.

As I retreated, I could feel his eyes on my back, and a pang of guilt tugged at my heart. It was getting harder and harder to keep my two worlds apart, but maybe tonight would be the end of it… one way or another.

I slipped into the woods, a haven of shadows and solace amidst the vibrancy of the party. The cool breeze rustled the leaves, providing a stark contrast to the pulsating beats that still rang in my ears.

My fingers moved deftly, untying the laces of my heeled shoes and slipping into more comfortable sneakers that Fiona had hidden for me in the bushes.

The transformation from “Rose” to Celeste was familiar by now—each action deliberate and practiced. I had practiced it several times already that day before the party, just to be sure.

Off went the vibrant red lipstick, replaced by my usual soft pink gloss. I pulled my hair back into a sloppy bun on top of my head, cringing a bit at the sensation of having to tie up the beautiful curls that Fiona had so painstakingly helped me create earlier that evening.

When I was finished, I decided to head back.

The rustling of leaves underfoot seemed louder in the stillness of the woods, and in my hurry to return to the party and complete my goal for the night, I almost ran head-on into a shadow figure.

“Oh! Sorry,” I mumbled, bustling past.

“Hey, isn’t that... Celeste?” an oddly familiar voice called out.

I turned, expecting to find a familiar face, but instead met the slightly glazed eyes of Alyx, a boy I vaguely recognized from a couple of my classes. He was leaning against a tree, clutching a half-empty bottle. His usually neat hair was tousled, and a crooked smile played on his lips.

“Oh, hey,” I replied cautiously, taken aback. I had never really had any interaction with Alyx outside of group projects or occasional classroom chatter.

His eyes roamed over me, and then he pointed at my hair, a playful grin on his face. “Your hair, it’s... I mean, I’ve always liked it. It's unique.”

I raised an eyebrow, tugging self-consciously at a loose strand. “My hair?”

“Yeah,” he said, taking a step closer, his voice earnest. “It’s just... really pretty. Actually, you're pretty. No, more than pretty. Hot, even.”

I blinked, my heart pounding. No one other than Matt had ever called me ‘hot’ before, especially not when I was in my baggy jeans and oversized sweaters, hiding myself.

I instinctively looked around, half-expecting to see Sabrina or one of the other girls snickering in the background. But to my surprise, the space around us was empty.

“You’ve... seen me in class?” My voice came out softer than I had intended.

Alyx nodded, taking another swig from his bottle.

“Of course. You always sit at the back, doodling on your notebook. You probably don’t notice me, but I definitely notice you.” He paused, looking almost shy for a second. “I've been wanting to ask you to hang out or something. Just never found the right moment, I guess.”

My mouth went dry. Here I was, getting so used to the lavish attention ‘Rose’ got, but never expecting the unmasked Celeste to be the subject of someone’s affection. It was jarring, yet oddly validating.

“Um, thanks, Alyx,” I finally managed to say. “That’s really kind of you.”

He looked almost… hopeful. “Want to head back to the party and dance?” he asked. “The night’s still young.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his audacity. It wasn’t often that someone approached me this way, especially given the dual life I led.

“Thanks, Alyx, that’s sweet,” I said. “But I’m a bit tied up right now. Maybe some other time?”

A hint of disappointment crossed his face, but he shrugged, that playful grin returning. “Fair enough. Can’t blame a guy for trying, right?”

“You certainly can’t,” I replied, a hint of amusement in my tone. “Have a good night, Alyx.”

“You too, Celeste.”

The weight of that unexpected encounter pressed on my shoulders as I neared the party’s perimeter once more. The muffled sounds of laughter and chatter grew louder, the bonfire’s warm glow cutting through the trees.

Slipping into the shadows, I found myself instinctively looking for signs of Jack. A chill went down my spine as I caught sight of his unmistakable silhouette by the fire, talking animatedly to someone.

I kept to the darker edges, trying to remain inconspicuous. The last thing I needed was for Jack to see me and make a scene. I knew that he would never understand the double life I’d been living, and I wasn’t ready for that confrontation.

Peering around a tree, I finally spotted Matt, who seemed to be in deep conversation with a friend. A nervous flutter settled in my stomach as I approached him, hoping he’d be just as taken with Celeste as he had been with Rose. But how would he react when he saw me?

“Matt?” I ventured, trying to keep my voice steady.

He turned, his eyes widening with surprise. “Celeste? What are you doing here?”

I shrugged, trying to come across as nonchalant. “Just wanted to check out the party, you know? Everyone’s been talking about it.”

“Oh… yeah.” Matt smiled slightly and tousled his dark hair. The shadows that his hair created on his face, in combination with the shadows cast by the flickering bonfire, made him look even more handsome. “I hope you’re having a nice time.”

I nodded slightly, managing a weak smile. Talking to Matt without my mask made me feel so naked, so revealed. It felt strange, not having that extra barrier between us.

But then, Matt’s eyes flickered towards Jack, concern evident in their clear blue depths. “Does your brother know that you’re here?”