Lies 1

Three minutes to my date's arrival, I was standing infront of my full length mirror digesting my new look. The barely noticeable makeup I had complemented the blush pink lace dress I had on. It was given to me on my sixteenth birthday by my cousin Neiyah.

Love at first sight defined the dress and I, well that was before I got it out of its sophisticated rectangular box. Its length was so not me: three inches below my butt. Immediately, I tossed the pieced of material somewhere in my closet until this day. Change is the only constant thing.

The doorbell brought me back to earth, my heart began to race with fingers crossed, I prayed everything goes on smoothly as I planned.

I smoothen the edges of the hair which led to a perfect ponytail. 

Here stood a part of my heart, looking dangerously handsome in his immaculate white-rolled up sleeved shirt on a pair of black skinny jeans and black converse. His lips owned a beautiful blood red rose flower which he handed to me upon opening the door. “ Thank you.” I said to him with the flower beneath my nose and a warm smile. “ You look stunning tonight babe.” he said.

I nodded to him once hoping I succeeded in charming him. 

“ You OK?”

Right now we were seated in a fancy french restaurant after a long ride of silence, the table he reserved was beside the glass wall on the third floor. The view from the inside was magnificent; the half moon spilling its radiance from the almost dark sky of a thousand stars all the way to the busy city illuminated with streetlights and headlights.

The question nudged me when I was busy fidgeting with my fingers beneath the table. “ Yeah I'm good.” I said, diverting my attention from my fingers to his coffee brown eyes.

“ You sure? I mean if you don't like this place we—"

“ I'm good, believe me.” I interrupted.

Truly speaking, I wasn't good at all since my encounter with Mr. Booky earlier that day. I was presently trying to brainstorm the answers to the questions which flew past me...in the middle of my date!!! “ Babe.” his voice got me out of my trance. Then I realized the presence of the waiter holding his pen and paper waiting for my order. That's when I glanced through the menu on our table and ordered for God knows what.

“ Are you sure you are alright?” he insisted.

“ I'm worried.” I finally coughed out. “ Did you hear the howls last night?”

“ No, I was pretty much deep into sleep.” he stopped and looked like he was thinking about something more to say to it.“ But I saw the disaster it caused on TV this morning.” he sighed “ it was gruesome.”

Indeed it was. 

Some minutes later, our orders came and boy I have no idea on what was in front of me. “ De l'escargot de bourgogne.” he said, noticing the way I stared at the plate before me. “ Taste it. You'll like it, trust me.” so it was...sooo delicious. 

We were now in his car, just reached our driveway. His right hand rested on the bare part of my lap promoting goosebumps to shoot all over my skin. My hormones flew in all directions and my heart began to thump as coffee brown eyes met mine. “ I love you Aud.” he began. “ I may not show it to you the way you want it but believe me, I will do so in my own way.”

What does he mean now?

A kiss on my forehead answered it. He heaved a heavy sigh. “ You wonder why I don't do what people in relationships do don't you?” 

When I said nothing he went on. “ You are very special and I want to do it the right way and at the right time.” 

I'm totally lost? Was he indirectly talking about marriage or something else? Whatever it is, kissing has no right time does it? As if reading my mind he said, “ I don't want to start something I won't finish.”

Oh why not? I looked at him to be the bad boy kind the first time I saw him but never crossed my mind he could be this religious. Or was he just abiding to some rules or something.

I nodded my head to everything he said in pretend understanding. 

He walked me to the doorstep where he said his goodnight and ready to leave. “ Wait.” He stopped in his track. “ I was wondering if...you could sleep over. Just for tonight, I'm kinda scared sleeping all alone.” 

For real. I hated sleeping alone. When my parents weren't home, what I do is call Jess over but lately...things ain't normal between us.

“ I wish I could but—” he stopped when he noticed something at the window of my room. “ Ok...i will.” 

I smiled from molars to molars. I owed Whatever it was he saw up there which made him change his mind.

The night was great, I didn't succeed with what I planned but making scott sleep over deserved a thumbs up. The way he cuddled me confirmed his love and affection. “ Good night babe.” he whispered in my ears.

*******

Another new day and week. Succeeded in walking past the first week and few days without my parents. Not that I wasn't used to their absence but I needed parental comfort and encouragements like every other teenage human of my age. 

I now understand what Jess goes through, no mum and almost no dad. His business makes her see him less. Talking about Jess, I haven't spoken to her in two good days. Tried her number the previous day but fell on answering machine a dozen times. The habit she's been putting up lately made me wonder if she's still into this friendship of ours.

“ Hey red.” 

I turned to look at the owner of the familiar voice dressed in short floral dress and a shawl around her neck. “Red? Jess? Seriously?” I questioned. Where did she get this from?

She laughed out loud. “ Just popped in my head.”

“ Why do I always fall into answering machine each time I call you?” I asked.

“ Oh, I'm sorry sweety my phone's got some problems lately. No worries I'll get a new one on my way home. Problem solved.”

Something about her story told me she wasn't truthful. 

I heaved a sigh and closed my locker. “ You know, I care and worry about you. I just hope you—” I stopped at the sight of something white above her shawl. “ What's that?”

“What is what?” 

“This.” I stretched my hand towards her neck which was quickly smacked before it reached there. “ Ouch! That hurts.”

“Sorry.” Jess said casually while trying to adjust the shawl so it could cover the white plaster.

“What happened to you.” I asked, still rubbing the back of my palm.

“Nothing you should worry about.” she said flatly.

Was this Jess or an Alien in Jess' clothing? This strange behavior she  was putting up was uncalled for; distant, cold, emotion free and less jovial. I didn't insist on questioning her about what happened. “ So, are we heading to class or you just gonna stand there and stare at me the whole day?”

After our classes, She speed walked through the corridor to the school gate. I ran after her immediately she was spotted. “Wait up will you?” I managed to say as I tried to catch up my breathe. “What the hell is wrong with you lately?”

I questioned as her eyes searched for practically nothing.

“Gotta reach home ASAP. My dad's got a two days break and wishes to have some father-daughter bond after my classes.”

"Wow! Really? Why didn't you let me know earlier?”

“Euh...pff! Slipped off. You know, I've been busy making my list of do's with my dad during this 48 hours. So...” she shrugged.

“It's fine.” I know how much she's wanted to spend sometime with her dad. He uses work to get over his wife's death not knowing he isn't the only one suffering from her deficiency his daughter too does, even though she hides it behind  bravery. She smiled and nodded. 

*****

Jess' POV.

I did it again, I lied to my bff for the hundreth time in a week. I hope she forgives me when she finds out someday. I entered my room expecting to see the beast in person. Fortunately he wasn't there. I laid on my bed staring at the ceiling and reminiscing the happy moments I spent with Aud before the appearance of the devil incarnate. 

“What took you so long?” The belly churning voice said.

I raise my head to look at the once charming guy sitting on my window frame staring at me.

I cleared my voice. “I had to stop by the grocery store.”

“Are you aware you got me starving?” He said sternly.

I sat up, tilted my head and furrowed my brows. 

“Why don't you just kill me?” 

He got to his full height and walked toward me.

“I've told you this times without number sweetheart.” his index finger lifted my chin. “ but you keep forgetting and keep asking the same thing. Perhaps I should stop compelling you.” 

He was talking more to himself. “ No, I can't. Being the weaver bird you are, I'll be exposed within the twinkle of an eye.” 

“But I got no problem repeating it.” he smirked.