Ugly Secrets, Pretty Lies

Eighteen

~ Quinn's POV ~

Pauline hands me two of the diaries. "Both of these are her diaries. The one with the sparkly cover is the more recent one, for this year."

My eyes glistened. "This year, huh?" I wrapped my arms around Pauline. Lily took the diaries from me and puts them in her bag. I hugged Pauline tightly and it surprised me. I guess it surprised her too since she didn't hug me back right away; she hesitated, then hugged me back slowly. Pauline laughed a little. "Yeah, well, good luck. I look forward to seeing her fall from grace." 

I let her go and stepped back as she stood up. She brushed invisible dirt of her designer jeans. "Hope I can see you soon," she says, facing us. 

Lily smiled a little. "In that case, could you escort us out? So the guards know us? Perhaps when Kelly isn't home, we can visit you."

Pauline smiles brightly. "I'll love that!"

I smiled too. Maybe Pauline and us could actually be friends, minus the fact that she's Kelly's sister. Then curiously got the best of me and I asked, "How come you don't go to school, Pauline?"

Pauline hesitated. I added quickly, "You don't have to tell us. It's none of our business."

Pauline shakes her head. "If we're going to be friends, I guess I'll have to tell you. It doesn't matter. I have brain injury and amnesia. When I was younger, about six or seven, I got in a car accident and I hit my head hard on the dashboard. And I also got amnesia on the way."

Lily gasped. "Oh, that's terrible."

Pauline smiled slightly at us. "That's why my parents don't want me to go to school. They're afraid for my safety."

"They're right to worry though," I told her. 

Pauline shakes it off. "I've been to a few clinics and therapy lots of times in my life. I'm a bitter, but the amnesia lingers."

Lily patted her in the back. 

"Alright, let's go now," Pauline said. She ushered us out of Kelly's room. We walked down the glass stairs. She led us to an enormous front room with a large crystal chandelier and dozens of shoe racks and coat hooks. Pauline threw open the front door and we followed her out. She called out to the guard at the front gates. The guard nodded and pressed a button on a remote in her hand. The silver front gates opened slowly. We walked quickly to the gates and stepped through.

"Keep the gates open," Pauline instructs the guard. The guard nods and steps back.

"Bye," I said to Pauline. 

"Goodbye," Pauline says. 

Lily waves a little. 

"Wait. Give me your phones."

Lily and I took our phones out, unlocked them, and handed them to her. Pauline grabs mine and punches in her number. She does the same to Lily's phone. I slipped my phone back' in my pocket, as did Lily.

"Okay, now bye," Pauline says. Lily and I waved and walked away quickly.

*

 We met Harper along the way half-way back to school. She had a large smile on her face, her forehead glistened with sweat, and her eyes twinkled. She halted in front of us, as did Lily and I. Seeing the grin on Harper's face got me thinking. Then I smiled slowly.

"Wait. Don't tell me. You-"

"Recorded the whole thing successfully!" Harper exclaimed, pointing at her pocket. 

Lily squealed loudly. "You're kidding me!"

"Unfortunately, I'm not," Harper says, clapping her hands.

I laughed. "Group hug!" I shouted, throwing my arms around Harper. Lily did the same. Harper tightened her arms around us, burying her face in my hair. Then we let go of each other. 

"Well. Should we head back to school?" Lily said.

Arm in arm, Lily, Harper, and I walked the rest of the way back to school together.

*

By the time we got back, the assembly had already ended the it was halfway through last period. We decided to skip the rest of class.

"We'll do the rest of the plan tomorrow?" I said. 

Lily nodded. "Tomorrow," she confirmed. 

I handed my bag to Harper who took it and slung it over her other shoulder. 

"My mom says you guys can keep the masks by the way," Harper tells us.

"Really? I was going to return it to her today," I said, hugging myself.

"Well, tell her thanks," Lily said.

Harper nods and adds, "And I suppose you two can keep the dresses."

I beamed. "Thanks."

We parted ways and I quickly hurried home, letting myself into the house. I shut and locked the door behind me, then went up to my room. I went into my bathroom and took a quick shower, then dressed in my comfy SpongeBob pajamas. I zipped up, grabbed my phone, and hopped into bed just as my phone pinged. I frowned as I looked at it. A text from an unknown number. But I unlocked my phone and looked at it anyway.

Unknown: heyy, Crimson. hru?

I smiled. That little sneak! He must've stolen my phone and typed in his number before giving himself a missed call from my phone. I changed the 'unknown' to Andy and replied to his text.

Crimson: just chillin', Andy. and u little sneak!

A reply came quickly.

Andy: don't scold me, Crimson ;) just chillin', huh? nothing else?

Crimson: ofc not. -_- unlike some people, i prefer staying at home, not partying and getting drunk

Andy: so why'd u went to Kelly's party, hm?

Crimson: my friends forced me to

Andy: ah, and being the apparently good friend u r, u went with them?

Crimson: ok, maybe I sort of  wanted to go. but still

Andy: whatever u sayyy. anyway, do u maybe want to meet up someplace without our masks?

Crimson: are you asking me on a date? :)

Andy: moi? not exactly, just want to see if your face is as pretty as the rest of you ;)

Crimson: u remind me so much of someone I know -_- u could be brothers for all I know

Andy: and who's that?

Crimson: not saying. and yeah, guess i'll meet u. where?

Andy: be at Rose Celesté in 10 mins

Crimson: c u

Andy: wear something sexy ;)

Crimson: in ur dreams, jerkface 

Andy: every night 

I didn't bother replying to that, knowing full well we'll just continue texting back and forth if I do. Instead, I got up and strip out of my pajamas and dressed in a pair of ripped mid-blue jeans and a dark purple sweater. Then I slipped my phone in my sweater pocket, as my keys, pulled on a pair of high heel boots, and went to meet Andy.