Stolen Truth

New Beginnings

"When will you come back to visit?" Taylor asks as she gives me sad eyes.

"I'm not sure yet. I promise I will visit often. I'm only going to be three hours away," I say as I lay a t-shirt in my moving box.

"But that's six hours round trip!" she says in a screeching voice.

"Ow – my ears!"

"I'm sorry. I'm just upset..."

"Hey. Why don't you help me move? You can stay for the weekend and make sure I am settled in, and make sure that I have everything I need. Then, you can come back home. How does that sound?" I ask. "I would really love for my best friend to help me move. I'm going to be lonely if not."

"Well...that does sound better. I don't like the idea of you moving. You know how much I hate it. But, if it means that I get to see you longer, then maybe. Plus, I need to make sure I approve of where you are moving to and working at..." Taylor says as she lets her sentence drift off.

"Yes, exactly. That's why you need to go. Can you help me load the boxes into the car?" I ask with a smile.

"Fine," she says as she grabs the closest box.

The two of us walk out to my SUV and play Tetris with the boxes – trying to make them all fit in.

"I was never good at Tetris," I say with a laugh.

Taylor laughs and sits down beside my car, "Yeah – I can tell. What are you going to do without me?"

I sit down beside her on the warm concrete and smile. I look back at my apartment and enjoy the moment. I am moving up to bigger and better things. The best is yet to come.

"I know I shouldn't bring this up, but Tom... What is going on there?" Taylor cautiously asks.

I frown and say, "Um. He isn't happy about it. He tried his best to get me to stay, but I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Well if you can't stay, then you can't because of circumstances beyond your control. If you won't stay, then you are making the choice to leave instead of stay. To me, it sounds like you won't stay."

"To move on with my life and start my career, I can't stay here-" I start.

Taylor cuts me off by saying, "Stop, Adrianne. I know what you are doing. You are trying to justify leaving. That's fine."

As soon as Taylor finishes her sentence, I hear a car pull up beside mine. I look up and see the familiar sports car. I smile as Tom climbs out of the driver's seat. His tall, lean body stretches out as he closes the door to the small car. I stand up and greet him with a hug.

"Hey, Tom," I say with a smile.

"Hey, babe," he says as he lets go of me. "So, is it all in here?"

Taylor replies, "We tried. Against Adrianne's will, I am following her down there for the weekend, so I will bring the rest with me."

"Ah, so I see how it is. You refused to let me at least follow you down there, yet your bringing Taylor for the weekend," Tom says.

I shoot Taylor a look saying I hate you. In return, she smiles. She is enjoying watching me squirm too much. I look up at Tom's face – his is expression is unreadable.

"I didn't invite Taylor; she invited herself. She said no matter what, even if I said no, she was going down there," I say through gritted teeth.

Lie. I just told a lie straight to my boyfriend's face.