I think this was the first time in a long time that someone's eyes alone could send shivers down my spine. It wasn’t like any other stare I’ve gotten in my life. It was like she was waiting to pounce on me...

We were up in the cramped closet she called a room. However, even with the small space. It was rather interesting. Her walls were white and filled with old classic horror movie posters. Except for one spot on the wall, that had a dragged red handprint on it. Which I admit was a nice touch. We were sitting back on her bed and watching the original Micheal Myers on her TV. Which was still able to play VHS tapes.

I lifted my hand up in the air, and prepared to snap my fingers. Not looking away from the screen for a second.

“Keep looking at me like that and I’ll pop those damn eyes out.”

“Oh yeah, I can definitely read your hylogryphics of a story without them.” Calypso hummed with a smirk.

I growled and snapped my fingers.

CCCRRRRR

The sound of tarring paper suddenly ripped through the room. I glanced over at her and saw panic in her eyes. I snickered a bit and tossed a candy corn in my mouth.

“No! That was limited edition!” She shrieked as she hopped off her bed without her fake leg.

And I won't lie. It was entertaining to watch her hop over to the wall.

“Remember your place, human. I am the Pumpkin king of Astraya! The whispers in the night, th-”

“YOU PUMPKIN BRAIN! DO YOU KNOW HOW OLD AND RARE An original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD POSTER IS!?” She roared.

I grumbled at the call of that nickname. Must've been Casper. I slowly turned around to face her and leaned back against the wall, grabbing a handful of candy corn and stuffing my face. She was cradling the remains of her crusty old poster like it was her child. I smirked and snapped my fingers again. She sneezed and stumbled,falling back against her wall and ripping more of her poster. And I just started dying.

“That’s what you get human!” I laughed out.

“That’s it! I’m not editing your stupid book anymore.”

“Who do you think you're talking to!? Want me to ruin your only good leg, human!?”

But she just huffed and turned away from me. I could feel my eye twitching. What’s with her..? Can she not see who she’s dealing with?

“Did you hear me you freak of nature?” I called out to her again, which was only met with more silence.

Which made me growl.

“I’m not speaking to you until you apologize to me.” She huffed.

“Me!? Apologize? Ha! Just hurry up and do as I say or else I burn your mother too withering husk!” I declared.

“Like I care what you do to her..” She mumbled.

Which threw me off. I raised my brow at her and watched her more serious look turn soft. Not one of concern though, nor one of fear either. I didn’t smell a lick of it on her. Either she was calling my bluff, or she really didn’t care. I recalled her monster comment from before. Was she really a human?

“You know, the most basic and common fear of the human heart is the loss of a loved one. And I couldn't even find that inside of you. This antisocial whatever you are. The hell is it exactly? Some kind of human subspecies? Is that why you're legless too?” I asked.

We had plenty of different species in Astraya. Winged, hooved, one eye, I just don’t remember a lesson where I was taught about humans having these.

However she just huffed again.

“Apologize, then we can talk.”

I grumbled. You’ve gotta be kidding me. I looked her over a bit. It wasn’t like I could scare her...

“Fine, I’m sorry you're so creepy and laughable that it made me rip your poster. Happy now?”

She sighed and shook her head. I could see a small smile peeking through on her lips.

“Yes, now, what was it you wanted to ask me?”

“What the hell are you.” I blurted out.

She giggled, as she reached up for her dresser. Slowly pulling herself up and leaning on it.

“I already told you didn’t I? I’m a human.”

“Yeah, a human who didn’t bat an eye when I threatened to kill her family. Not to mention your anti whatever you said you were.”

“Oh that, It’s not a species change thing. It’s psychological. Meaning my way of thinking and seeing are just different from everyone else. That’s all.”

“Sounds like a freak to me.”

She chewed on her lip as I said that. I raised my brow and looked her over.

“I suppose I am..”

“What does a freak like you want with the Pumpkin king?” I asked as I took out my little glass bottle of my caramel frappuccino and started drinking.

“That’s easy! I love you!”

I coughed up the drink and spat it out on her bed. I sat up straight and tried to catch my breath.

“The hell!?”

I felt some warmth rise to my cheeks as I tried to process this. Love? Did she really just say love!? I looked up at her and she just started to laugh.

“Eres muy lindo!” She chuckled.

“What did you just say!”

“I said your cute pumpkin brain. Especially when you blush! If I didn’t know better I’d think you were pretty human.”

“Shut it! It’s because I’m a halfling! More importantly, the hell do you love about me!? I am the king of the darkness! Of fear! I’m not lovable! Plus I've known you for a day!"

“On the contrary there are plenty of things to love about you. For starters, I love how you, you are. You don’t care what anyone thinks. You embrace what you are! Your over dramatic grim lines, your aggressive untrusting nature. Your bold bluntness. Plus you're into horror movies, and you write! I could barely read a lot of it. But what I could read was really creative!”

She hummed happily with a soft smile. She seemed overly ecstatic. I felt myself shake slightly as she spoke. She loved me? She loved all of that?

“I’m a freak of nature! A mistake that God forgot to wash away! A plague meant to infect humanity until they purge me away!”

I jumped out of bed and stomped over to her. I got into her face and started my illusions. I morphed my face, turning it into a locust head. I opened my pincers wide as I let a buzzing sound bounce off the walls of the room. I then created a funk that mimicked the smell of a rotting corpse. Then I let out a thick green drool from my mouth. Letting it slide down and off my pincers and onto her clothes. I slowly tilted my head to her and breathed into her face. But, she just. She just smiled at me!

She slowly raised her hand to my cheek, and caressed me gently. And it was at that moment, I was frozen. She gave a soft warm smile and drew closer to my face.

“I know how it feels. To be called a monster, to isolate yourself. You don’t have to worry, I’m not afraid of you Alister.”

Then for a moment, it was like a light flickered on in the room. And everything changed. Calypso was gone, and in her place was Lucile. Her warm smile, her golden locks. I slowly changed back as I glanced around the room. It was lucille's room. I could even feel the hairs of the pink carpet bellow me.

“I’m not afraid of you Dork. And I don’t care what mom says, you're you.”

I heard her soft voice whisper into my ear. I felt the cold trail of my tears coming down my face. I just stared into her eyes, and leaned into her hand. A warm feeling rose into my chest as I tried to control myself.

“Lucile, Lucile..” I cried as I nuzzled her hand and let it out.

Then I blinked, and suddenly the color faded. I watched as her blonde hair and sea blue eyes were gone. The short brown locks, and burning brown eyes of Calypso took my sisters place. The warmth faded, and all I could see was her soft patronizing smile.

“I see, even you have someone you hold precious..” She mumbled.

It was odd, it was like. Like she was jealous

I quickly stepped back from her and wiped away my tears. Dammit! What the hell just happened!? Am I still messed up from earlier?

“This is insane..” I grumbled as I stepped further away from her.

“Your tears, they were grey. I didn’t know Astrayans cried grey tears.” She spoke up.

I squinted my eyes at her and then back to the coffee drink I left on her bed.

“Tomorrow, I expect to have an edited story to discuss. Don’t piss me off.” I mumbled as I hurried out the room.

Me!? The pumpkin king? Crying in front of a freak like her. I thought about her amber eyes for a moment, and I felt this warmth rise in my chest. What was this, this feeling?

…

I laid back in my bed, staring up at the top bunk. I didn’t hear Beasts heavy breathing yet. Which meant he was awake. I had questions, a whole lot of questions. And he was a big dork. I was sure Eugene had some answers. I didn’t want to pump up that already fat head of his anymore. But still, every time I thought about Calypso now. Her eyes came into my mind, and I felt my hearts begin to race.

I groaned. Dammit it all, I needed answers!

"Hey, dog breath, you up?" I mumbled

I was secretly hoping he wouldn't reply.

"What is it Alister?" He replied with a rough sigh.

I went silent for a moment. He actually replied. Dammit...

"Since you're a freaking nerd and all. I figured you know why our hearts would suddenly race."

"What do you mean? Can you be more specific?"

"Well, I've been having this problem. When I think of Calypso, my chest feels warm, and my hearts starts to race. Did she curse me or something?"

Beast was silent for a moment. I heard a rustling, and I saw Beasts head poke out from the top bunk. His dark red eyes and stale face just peered into my eyes. Like he was searching for something.

"What!?" I roared.

But then he popped back into his bed.

"The hell was that Eugene!?"

"Oh nothing, just making sure this isn't an illusion."

"What's that supposed to mean."

"You have what the humans call a crush."

"The hell is that? Some type of curse? Is she trying to crush my heart!?"

I heard beast start laughing.

"No, a crush here basically means you want to mate with her."

"Wait, wait what!?"