"Yo, Eli!"
Eli stopped just outside the gym doors.
Someone waved at him. A guy in a skeleton hoodie. Eli didn't know his name.
"…Hey," Eli said.
The guy jogged over. "That was crazy back there."
"What was?" Eli asked.
"You know. You. Them." He laughed. "I didn't know you had that in you."
Eli tilted his head. "Neither did I."
The guy grinned. "You should keep the mask on more often."
"Yeah?" Eli said.
"Yeah. Suits you."
He clapped Eli on the shoulder and walked off.
Eli stood there for a second.
"…Suits me," he repeated.
Inside, the party kept moving. Music louder. Lights brighter. People looser.
Someone handed him another drink.
"You're the stitched-mask guy, right?" a girl asked.
"That obvious?" Eli said.
She laughed. "Kinda. You've got a vibe."
"A good one?"
She shrugged. "Depends who you ask."
Eli smiled. "Fair."
She leaned closer. "So what are you supposed to be?"
Eli looked down at the mask. "Pride."
The word slipped out naturally.
Her eyes widened. "Oh. That's bold."
"Is it?" Eli asked.
"Yeah," she said. "Most people don't admit that."
She walked away before he could respond.
Eli stared after her.
"…Admit," he said quietly.
He took another sip.
Across the room, he spotted the bullies again.
They weren't near him. They weren't laughing.
They were whispering.
Eli met their eyes.
They looked away.
A warmth settled in his chest.
Not relief.
Something better.
"Yo!"
Mara pushed through the crowd toward him. "Okay, seriously. What happened
to you?"
Eli shrugged. "I put on a mask."
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
She crossed her arms. "You don't just wake up confident."
"Who says I woke up?" Eli said.
She stared at him. "You're being weird."
"Am I?" he asked. "Or am I just honest now?"
Mara hesitated. "You don't usually talk like this."
Eli leaned closer. "And you don't usually notice me."
That landed harder than he expected.
Her mouth opened. Closed.
"…That's not fair," she said.
Eli straightened. "You're right. It's not."
She studied him, uneasy. "Are you okay?"
Eli smiled. "I told you. I'm great."
She didn't smile back.
"Just—don't do anything stupid," she said before walking away.
Eli watched her go.
"…Stupid," he echoed.
He laughed softly.
The DJ switched tracks again. Slower beat. Heavier bass.
Someone bumped into Eli hard enough to spill his drink.
"Watch it," Eli said sharply.
The guy turned. Big. Football build. Wolf mask pushed up on his head.
"Relax," the guy said. "It was an accident."
Eli looked at the stain on his sleeve.
Then back at the guy.
"Say sorry."
The guy blinked. "What?"
"Say sorry," Eli repeated. Calm. Firm.
"…Dude," the guy said. "It's not that serious."
Eli stepped closer. "It is to me."
People nearby started paying attention.
The guy scoffed. "Whatever. Sorry."
Eli didn't move.
"…Louder," Eli said.
A pause.
"…Sorry," the guy said again, louder this time.
Eli held his gaze for another second.
Then nodded. "Good."
The guy walked off, muttering.
Someone nearby whispered, "Bro's intense."
Eli heard it.
He liked it.
He checked the time on his phone.
Still early.
He hadn't planned to stay this long.
He didn't feel like leaving.
Later, outside the gym, the night air was cooler.
Eli leaned against the wall, mask still on.
Two freshmen passed by.
"Is that the guy?" one whispered.
"Yeah. Don't mess with him."
They hurried away.
Eli stared after them.
"…Huh."
A laugh escaped him. Short. Quiet.
He pushed off the wall and started walking home.
The streets were emptier now. Party noise fading behind him.
He passed the spot where it had happened.
The sidewalk where the money was stolen.
He stopped.
Looked down.
Nothing special about it.
"…That's it?" he asked aloud.
No one answered.
He stood there for a moment longer than necessary.
Then smiled beneath the mask.
"Too easy," he said.
At home, Eli locked his door and leaned back against it.
He reached for the mask.
Paused.
"…Not yet," he said.
He walked to his mirror.
The stitched smile stared back.
Same as before.
Eli tilted his head.
"People listen to me now," he said.
He waited.
Nothing happened.
Good.
"I didn't even try," he continued. "I just… spoke."
He lifted his hands.
Steady.
No shaking.
"…So this is what it feels like."
He reached for the mask again.
Stopped.
Slowly, he pulled it off.
The room felt quieter instantly.
Smaller.
Eli stared at his own reflection.
The confidence drained like water down a sink.
His shoulders slumped.
"…Wow," he whispered.
He set the mask on his desk.
Took a step back.
The mask sat there.
Smiling.
Eli swallowed.
"…Tomorrow," he said. "I'll just wear it tomorrow."
He turned off the light and climbed into bed.
The room was dark.
Too dark.
Sleep didn't come easily.
Because for the first time in his life—
He missed being someone else.