CHAPTER TWO ━━━━━━━

REUNION.

GHOSTFACE. 

That was the mask Stu Macher, Kitty and Billy Loomis used. A white mask that resembles a distorted, screaming face, with exaggerated features like hollow eyes and long mouth. Everything else is black, the back of it, the eyes, nose, mouth, like staring into a void. And usually, it's paired with a long black cloak and a knife. 

Ever since the first massacre, the mask had grown in popularity, and it wasn't at all uncommon to spot multiple Ghostfaces during Halloween. To the point where most costume shops would run out of the costume before Halloween. 

And that's exactly what the person who attacked Tara, in her own home, was wearing. 

She had to be rushed into emergency surgery, whilst all of her friends as well as the siblings of her friends all waited for answers. Seeing as Jack Macher was a nurse at the hospital, he was constantly in and out of the waiting room, informing the group about Tara's condition. 

Everyone – Lila, Carrie, Kayce, Freya, Wes, Amber, Chad, Mindy – stayed at the hospital the entire night. Too worried to leave in case Tara would lose her life and they weren't there to say goodbye or see her one last time. Especially seeing as none of Tara's family were there to support her through this.

Tara's mom was all the way in London for a conference. Her older sister, Sam, had left town five years prior. And although both Lila and Kayce tried to contact their former friend throughout the night, she wasn't picking up until finally Lila managed to get through to her after sending her a text telling her it was urgent and about Tara.

Sam instantly called back, only to be informed of what happened to her little sister. Of how she was in hospital, battered and bruised, but recovering. And without hesitation, Sam assured that she was on her way there. Something that quite frankly surprised Lila when she heard it, not expecting much. But by the afternoon of the day, when Tara was awake and they were all finally able to sit in her room with her, Sam actually did arrive.

Lila watched as her father entered the room, holding the door open wider as two more people entered. Sam and a man who was unknown to the group, who stuck close to her side. She, along with everyone else visiting Tara, all stood up, awkwardly looking at Sam. Jack Macher nodded and left the room again. Giving them a bit more privacy to catch up. 

Lila bit her lip as she made eye contact with her former best friend.

The two used to be almost inseparable. 

And whilst sometimes that wasn't the greatest thing (especially if you were the Sheriff), they were a good pair together. They told each other everything (at least Lila thought that). Slept over at each other's house. Went out drinking together. You name it. They were inseparable. Then, out of nowhere, at twenty Sam decided to just up and leave town without a single word to her friend.

The tension that rose in the air as they stared at each other was suffocating. 

Years of no contact. Years of wondering 'why' and 'what if'. It certainly took a toll. And although Lila couldn't bring herself to delete Sam's contact from her phone, she did scroll past it quicker anytime her eyes scanned the name.

Sam snapped out of it and rushed to Tara's side, "How are you feeling?" She asked.

Lila cleared her throat and looked away.

She felt Kayce's hand brushing her back gently. His thumb rubbing circles on the small of her back. 

"You came," Tara breathed out, staring at Sam in disbelief.

"Of course I came," Sam told her, she then turned to the man standing behind her, "This is my boyfriend, Richie."

"It's so nice to meet you," Richie said to Tara, smiling sheepishly, "I'm-I'm so sorry if I'm intruding."

Tara gave him a small wave, "Nice to meet you, too."

Sam then made her way around the two friends groups. First reaching her sister's friends and giving each other them a welcoming hug. Until she reached Amber. Who simply stared at her as if she could burn her with her eyes and push her into an early grave. Sam got the message instantly and stepped past her, giving her a simple nod, one that caused Amber to almost scoff as she folded her arms across her chest.

Sam then turned to the two oldest. The two that were once her friends. The two that she had abandoned along with her sister and mom. 

"Hi," Sam breathed out. Standing there like a statue. Clearly unsure of what to do.

Lila nodded, "Hi."

"Thank you for calling."

"Of course."

The two continued to stare at each other.

Lila felt the awkwardness rising in the room as everyone watched them. Richie being the only one that clearly didn't understand the history and just stared more in confusion as to what was happening than awkwardness.

Kayce cleared his throat, "Hey, Sam."

Sam's eyes snapped to him, she smiled and reached forward to wrap him in a quick hug, "Kayce, hi."

Lila looked away. 

Sam moved back to stand with her boyfriend.

"These are Chad and Mindy; the twins," She began to introduce everyone, "Freya, Carrie and Wes. I used to babysit them..." She chuckled, making eye contact with Lila, "We did..."

"Which is always how I like to be introduced," Wes chuckled.

"And Amber...Hey."

"Hi. Nice to see you."

"And Kayce and Lila."

Richie's eyes lingered on Lila.

She raised a brow then looked at her boyfriend discreetly. No one seemed to notice, too entranced by the surprise arrival of Sam Carpenter. 

"Hey," Kayce greeted, nodding at Richie, "Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, you too."

"Where's mom?" Sam questioned Tara.

"She's stuck at a conference in London. She called me earlier."

"Yeah, for all of ten minutes," Amber muttered bitterly, "Look, guys, Tara's really tired. Maybe we should give her some space."

No one argued with that, ready to file out of the room when Tara called Sam back in.

"Not you Sam," She said, surprising everyone but especially Sam, "I want you to stay."