Ugly Secrets, Pretty Lies

Ten

~ Quinn's POV ~ 

RIIINNGG 

My alarm clock blared loudly, jumping from side to side. My eyes fluttered open, startled at the loud noise. I groaned, realizing it came from my alarm. Can't it just shut up? I buried my face deeper into my soft pillow, trying to block out the damn annoying sound. As if it could hear my thoughts, the alarm blared even louder. It sounded so damn taunting. I muttered a curse and sat up, tossing my pillow aside. I got up, grabbed the alarm and threw it across my room. It hit the opposite wall and fell to the floor, finally silent.

"Finally!" I said, yawning and stretching. I flounced off to the bathroom and started brushing my teeth, getting rid of my bad morning breath. I gurgled with the mint-flavored water, then spit it out before rinsing my mouth with clean water and spitting that out too. Then I splashed my face with cold water and rubbed my eyes with a wet towel. I looked in the mirror. 

Isn't my hair just lovely, I thought, looking at the tangled nest that I call my hair.  I picked up a comb and started brushing my hair, trying to comb out the knots. I got rid of all the knots in my dark chestnut brown hair, then combed my hair a few more times just to make sure. When I was satisfied, I gathered my hair together and braided it in a single braid down my back. My hair was pretty long too, and that's good. Just reaches down to my mid-back. 

I walked out of the bathroom and dressed quickly, in a pair of black jeans, a grey shirt, and a white cashmere sweater over the shirt. Then I picked up my backpack. I closed the door to my room and went downstairs. Yep, Mom's gone. Already. Like always. 

I checked my phone. It was a little before 7:50 in the morning. Since school started at 8:40 AM, I have plenty of time. But Harp, Lily, and I always get together early and stop at the diner near our school for breakfast. 

My phone pinged. I check it, seeing a text from Lily.

LilyFlower ~ u up yet, Quinn? Harp here is getting real impatient. she also got a nice hangover 

I laughed a little and texted back.

Quinnster ~ up and ready. and i'm coming so tell Harp to sit her ass down. i can see her kneeling on her seat

And indeed I can. My eyes peered out the window next to the front door as I tucked my phone away and slipped on my white Converses. Then I opened the front door, stepped out, and shut the door behind me, locking it. I slung my backpack over one shoulder and headed to Lily's waiting car. The passenger seat door was open, waiting for me. I got in and shut the door as Lily started her engine and we headed off. 

Harper was moaning in the back seat. She was holding a bottle of water that was nearly gone. 

"Did you give her Tylenol?" I asked Lily.

"Yup. Two."

"And she's still like this?"

"Uh-huh."

"How much did you drink, Harp?"

Harp grumbled loudly and took a swig of water. "Not even much. Just a few cups, some shots and some beer."

"Some shots?" Lily scoffed, stopping  at a red light. "More like ten shots." 

My eyes widened slightly. 

"We were playing Truth or Dare after Never Have I Ever! Not to mention the fact that something really awesome happened!" Now Harper sat up straight and her eyes were twinkling.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I danced with Justin! And that's not all! We were playing Never Have I Ever, right? And Justin said this- Never have I ever liked someone who is not in my league. And he looked at me! And he drank! And so did I! And we were the only people to drink! But then I was like, wait, no. He can't possibly mean me because we barely even know each other, right? My imagination's just running away. But then why would he look at me?" Harper was rambling. 

I fought back a laugh and looked at Lilly who was biting her lip. Her face was slightly red. 

"Very interesting." I coughed, disguising the laugh that had escaped. 

The car surged forward as Lily lost and quickly took control, her body heaving in a laughing fit. Harper glared at us, finishing the rest of her water. 

"Very funny."

Lily pulled into the lot of the café. "So where did you head off to last night, Quinn?" she asked. 

"Oh yeah." I recalled the events that had happened last night and told everything to them. 

"A guy name Andy, hm?" Harper said slyly. 

I blushed a little. "That's not his actual name. That's what he told me to call him." 

"And he calls you Crimson," Lily says, getting out of the car. 

Harp and I followed behind. "My middle name." 

"We know that." 

They we're both looking at me with mischievous looks. I groaned. "Can we not talk about this?" 

"This isn't over yet," Harper warned.

 I went ahead of them, pushing open the diner door and hearing their laughter behind me. The bell jingled. We headed over to a 4-seater table. Harp and Lily sat together and I took the other side, glad to have the extra space. A waiter quickly hurried over to us, notepad and pen in hand.

"What would you like?" he asked.

"I'll have the vanilla yogurt and French toast with maple syrup," I ordered.

 Lily and Harp ordered the same. Every time we go to this diner, we all always order the same thing; vanilla yogurt and French toast with maple syrup. This diner has the best French toast of all the other diners and a bonus that it's near the school.

"Right up," the waiter said, scribbling the the order down and hurrying away. 

Harp and Lily were having their own conversation. I tuned them out. I heard the bell jingle and looked over to the door. The person who came in froze me. I inhaled sharply, cold running through my body.

*

Right, so who do you think came in that got Quinn so shock? Any guesses? *wiggles my eyebrows*

Okay, anyway, I've got this contest ready in mind and I'm going to announce it soon. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow so yeah. Anyway, 'later!

- Hollis