Fall from Love

Halloween party. Why do you want to go so bad anyway?” Josh asks, but the way his head is falling back and his eyes close with each kiss, it looks like he’s already lost the battle.
    Pulling back, she gives him the biggest puppy dog eyes and says, “Because it sounds like a lot of fun. We’re senior’s in college and it may be the last excuse we have to dress up and look like complete idiots.”
    Ever since we went skydiving, Jenna has been hell bent on doing everything and anything... living life on the edge as she calls it. I’m not sure that dressing up and going to a Halloween party constitutes living on the edge, but she’ll use the excuse whenever she can.
    “Seeing me in a costume doesn’t pique your interest?” She bites her lip as she trails her finger down his chest.
    Oh, she’s good.
    Carter coughs a couple times, I guess to remind them that we’re sitting directly across the table.
    “What are you smirking at?” Josh aims a pointed glare over at Carter.
    Carter just shakes his head. “You, man. It’s pretty pathetic.”
    “I don’t know why you think it’s so funny, ‘cause if I’m going to this thing, you sure as hell are, too.”
    “So, you’ll go?” Jenna’s face brightens.
    Josh curses under his breath and closes his eyes. When he opens them again, he looks directly at Carter and smiles wide. “Only if this asshole right here agrees to go, too.”
    Carter laughs, shaking his head. “No way, man. You’re on your own with this one.”
    Jenna’s already narrowed her puppy face onto her next victim. Carter. Josh smiles, crosses his arms, and leans back into the booth, totally pleased with himself.
    “Sorry, Jenna, it’s not going to happen,” Carter says. Even though his voice is firm, it’s easy to see he’s uncomfortable with the way she’s looking at him. He fidgets in his seat and refuses to meet her gaze. I’ve been in his position before and I know how hard it can be to refuse her. What happens next totally catches me off guard.
    “He’ll go, if you go,” Jenna says, turning her gaze to me.
    “That’s right, Holly. All you have to do is ask Carter and he’ll go with you,” Josh agrees, smiling again.
    I hear a loud thud and see Josh wince and reach under the table. “Fuck, dude; that hurt.” Josh glares at Carter.
    “Um, I don’t think I’m up for it.” I want to die of embarrassment and I’m feeling more uncomfortable by the second. Jenna juts out her lower lip and I try not to look at her. “It’s really not my thing,” I tell them, playing with the straw in my glass. After a few seconds, I make the mistake of looking up and meeting her sad, puppy dog eyes.
    “Please?” Jenna tilts her head and clasps her hands together, looking pitiful.
    “Jenna, it’s just not my thing. I—”
    “Come on, you owe me,” she interrupts. “I jumped out of an airplane for you.” Please, she stresses the word silently to me.
    Dammit , she looks so sad, it’s pathetic and I can’t stand her begging anymore. “Fine, I’ll go,” I surrender.
    She smiles and claps her hands with quick, short movements. “The four of us are going to have so much fun. Just wait, I promise that you will all be thanking me for this later.”
    “Hold up. I didn’t agree to anything,” Carter says.
    “Shut up, dude.” Josh glowers at him. “You know you aren’t gonna let Holly go to a party all by herself. You’re always looking for ways to spend time with her.”
    What is happening here? I’m so uncomfortable that I’m tempted to just get up and walk away from the table—no, run from the table. I’m kind of curious to know what Carter’s face looks like right now, but I’m too nervous to look over at him. I’m sure he’s shooting a death glare in Josh’s direction anyway.
    “Okay, so it’s settled,” Jenna says. “Holly and I will start looking at costumes tomorrow. Since the party’s only a few days away, we will probably have slim pickings, but at least we’ll get some good deals.”
    “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Josh raises his hands in an innocent gesture, shaking his head. “I never agreed to wear a costume.”
    “Um, it’s a costume party,” Jenna says, looking in his direction. “You can’t just show up looking like… you .”
    “Hey, what’s wrong with me?” Josh asks, offended.
    “Nothing.” Jenna smiles sweetly. “But you can’t go to a Halloween party and not wear a costume, it’s just not allowed.”
    “Says who?” Josh