Started With a Lie

Chapter Six

Started With a Lie – Chapter Six

I am an idiot. A complete idiot.

            “You are such an idiot,” Candy says, reading my thoughts. She lounges on the bed, going through text messages from Kevin. I think they’re on the verge of being official. We’re in her hotel room right now. She shares it with a girl named Lisa—someone in our class.

            I’m sitting on the opposite side of the bed, trying to think of ideas to somehow avoid tonight. So far, I have nothing.

            The party will take off in less than four hours.

            “Thanks for the support, best friend,” I say sarcastically. “What do I do? Lee refuses to help and I already told Karen I’d introduce him to her tonight.” I groan, falling flat back on the bed.

            “And this is why you’re an idiot.”

            I close my eyes and try to come up with ideas. Anything. I jolt up. “Maybe I can just like pretend to be sick. Or maybe trip down the stairs and sprain my leg!”

            Candy looks up from her phone, sending me a look. “That’s ridiculous.”

            “I know,” I frown. “I can’t think of anything though.” I run both my hands through my hair, messing it up into a wild frizz. “There’s not that much I can do—time is running out, too.”

            “Just go to Lee. Ask him for a favor—just this once,” Candy suggests. “Just tell him this is the last time before you leave him alone completely. Maybe, he’ll listen. If not, use some blackmail or something.”

            She has a point. A low blow but I’m desperate. I’m trouble-prone. It’s a good idea too. I could leave him alone after tonight. Just tonight. I just want one night where I can be right and have the better life. I just want to beat Karen—just once, at least.

            “I’ll be right back,” I tell Candy before I head out of the hotel room. I don’t think she heard me though. I walk down the hallway and into the elevator to get to the highest floor. Lee lives on the top floor—such a snob. He just has to live on the top floor like he rules the world or something.

            The elevator dings open and Lee’s standing in front of me. Talk about awkward situations of all time.

            I wave. “Hi.” He gives me a glare and I blush. This is embarrassing. He rejected me and kind of told me off. What’re you supposed to do in situations like this?

            Lee walks in the elevator, giving me the cold shoulder. I frown. It stings even though everything is my fault. His rich smelling cologne burns my nostrils. So, he wants to play the rude treatment? We’ll see.

            “What? Did you not take a shower today? Why the overflow of cologne?” I say, my voice flat. I don’t know why I’m mad he’s ignoring me… but it hurts.

            “Excuse me?” His eyes flicker over to me. He scoffs as if I have the nerve to even be talking to him. “Me? What’s with your hair? Did you fall off a cliff and run into a toilet?”

            What’s he talking about? I check my reflection on the silver part of the elevator. My hair looks like a ball of knotted yellow yarn. I remember I messed it up earlier when I was frustrated.

            Blushing, I pat down my hair until it’s decent. “Shut up.”

            Lee smirks, knowing he won. Maybe, I should try a different approach. I suddenly straighten up—causing him to look over. He gives me a confused look. I walk closer to him and he strays away from me as possible. His back is on the wall now.