First Time

I trembled like leaf as Madison questioned me, insisting upon knowing why I wouldn't be at Sarah Gray's party Halloween night. I tried to be cool and shrugged, saying I just couldn't make it.

"Oh, come on, Chelsea," she responded, "Your parents haven't ever minded you going to parties. You were going to high school parties in 6th grade!" She shouted, clearly getting angry.

"I know, I know. It's just..." I trailed off. What could I possibly say to make her accept that I wouldn't be coming.

"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me," I told her, acting as mysterious and exciting as I could.

"Try me," She responded, placing her hands on her hips.

"Well..." I started, leading up the suspense, "I have a date!" I squealed.

"No. Way!"

Madison shrieked and jumped up and down I joined her, and after a while we parted ways to get dressed up for our separate events.

As I slipped out of my jeans, I thought of how Madison would react if she knew where I was actually going that night. The thing is, I didn't have a date at all. It was my first year in the USAW (United States Association of Witches), and I was scared to death. My mother had been a part of this association, and being 18, I was old enough to attend. Actually, I was required to attend, and if I didn't, every living woman in the line of witched before me and myself would be gravely punished. Now, the thing is, no one really knows about the USAW except for the USAW itself. I hadn't known until my 18th birthday, when I was told I would take my mothers spot at the next meeting. The USAW meets once yearly on Halloween, and additional meetings can be called to address pressing matters. I had been constantly shaking ever since I had learned about the USAW, and now all of the sudden, Halloween had come. Once I had peeled off my nervous-sweat drenched shirt, a knock pattered on my bedroom door. I grabbed my robe off the corner of my bed and turned the knob. The hall window was open, so when I unlatched the door, it blew right open.

"Hey, sweets," said my dad, who was holding a large bag. "Your mom isn't feeling well, so she told me to bring up your outfit."

He held out the bag, and I took it reluctantly.

"Get changed and then come to office, okay?" He asked and raised his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

"Umm... yeah," I said and closed the door quickly.

I heard him step back, but was too frazzled to even think of opening the door and apologizing. I brought the bag over to my desk and set it down. I couldn't sit in my chair and look inside, so I stood in front of the desk and pulled out a pair of short, matte black boots. They had laces from the toe to the ankle, and extra bits of material an the toe and heel. I placed these on the floor and reached in the bag again. The next thing I pulled out was a rust colored pair of leggings, with a black printed number on the waist - W.47059. Following these was a long sleeved black shirt with little ruffles on the shoulders. I took out the two final items; a black masquerade mask and a small card. I placed the card on my desk and stepped into the outfit, but waiting to put the mask on. I picked up the card and saw it was blank. I flipped it over, only to see the same white plastic. This can't be right. I thought. I'll ask dad. I slipped the mask on my wrist and grabbed my phone before going down the hall to my dad's office. I knocked lightly on the door, but when there was no answer, I knocked again. I heard a rustling inside, and then my dad came to the door and opened it.

"Hey, darling," he greeted me happily, "What's up?"

"Oh... I just was wondering what was up with this card? was it some sort of misprint?"

He chuckled and took the card from my outstretched hand. He flipped it to the very edge, and showed the paper thin ridge to me. I squinted at it, and saw - very faintly - black lines and dots.

"Only the right people know the right place to look," he said, sticking his chin in the air. The way he said it and the redundancy in the phrase with the word 'right' twice, I could tell it was some sort of quote. my father was never redundant. Ever. I got a glimpse of the clock hanging on the back wall of his office and snatched the card back from him.

"I have to GO!" I told him, and rushed quickly to the powder room. Before the door was even closed, I was slipping out of my robe. I hastily pulled on the pants and the boots, and wrestled my adrenaline-quickened arms into the tight top. I had dropped the mask on the way to the powder room, so I gathered my things and rushed out to slip it back onto my wrist. I sprinted up to my room, skipping steps as I went. I pulled on a small black cross body over my head and stuffed the card, my phone, and some cash into it. I ran out the door with a yell goodbye and jogged down the street and around the next few corners. Once I was within 2 blocks of the Community Center, I slowed and pulled my phone out of my bag. I checked the time: 8:47. I had plenty of time to walk. When I rounded the next bend, I pulled the mask around my ears. It was tight, biting into the back of my head. I tugged at it, but all in vain. I gave up once I reached the building. I walked in the large old fashioned doors and bounded up the stairs. I saw a disappointed looking lady walk the opposite way I was going, and instead of rust, she was wearing bright - I mean bright - blue joggers. Everything else was the same, though, as my outfit. I shuddered and kept going. Once I reached the top floor, I glanced around, and waited for a young man to walk a little girl through some door before slipping into an "Employees Only" door. I tripped over buckets and old chair legs as I made my to the back f the dark room. Once I reached the damp wall, I pulled out my phone again and turned on it's flashlight. I shone it up and down the long wall, and strained my eyes until the beam of light landed on yet another door. I stumbled over white bags filled with some sort of fluff and when I reached the door, I stood in front of it for a moment. It had an old keypad above the knob, that was now hanging by one corner. It was blackened and rusty, and when I tried the door it creaked open, catching every so often on bits of rust clinging to the hinges. Once I pushed the door wide enough to squeeze through, I emerged into a dark stairway. I looked up at the twisted stairs and shone my light up. It wasn't very long at all, and I started up the steps. Once I reached the top, I found myself standing in front of a slightly ajar door. I heard chatter on the other side, and pushed the door open. Unlike the door before, it cruised smoothly open and swung closed to the exact position it had been when I had reached it. I turned around and found myself facing a grim looking old woman. She held out her hand expectantly, and it took me a moment to realize what she wanted. I popped open the flap on my bag and placed the card into her hand. She looked at it and slipped it into and then back out of her back outfit and closed her eyes for a moment. She nodded at me and opened her eyes. She handed the card back and waved me past. I walked passed her a few steps, and then looked around. We were on the roof, and the chilly October breeze lifted my hair. I walked over to where a circle of various seating items were arranged and where the majority of the ladies were. I sat on an empty chair, as everyone else was seating themselves now. A tap on my shoulder made my turn my head around, and I saw a blonde teenager glaring at me. I instantly rose and stepped aside. She scoffed and plopped down in the chair. I heard a few giggles and looked back. A few girls beckoned me over and invited me to sit next to them. I heard everyone's voices fade and listened as loud, pounding footsteps echoed louder and louder up the stairs. Suddenly, an annoying blaring jarred me out of my sleep. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Bright sunlight flitted through the curtains and blinded my sleepy eyes. Throughout my morning routine, all I could think about was how strange that dream had been.