The Lies of the Moon

3

Paul glanced at Fiona, still recognizing his concern. At a glance, you would see nothing besides a normal girl, but if you studied her, you'd seen the drained energy. Her eyes usually a bright vibrant blue; stalled in a murky color. Her face looked sunk in and lost. As if she was searching for something. Paul still couldn't wrap his mind around how tiny she was. Not just in height but in weight. He was questioning these past eight months, wondering what happened to her.

Both sides of the car door swung open, staying there for a moment feeling withdrawal of seeing Mary. Yes, Paul could have turned around and bought new things for Fiona but that would have been a dick move. Fiona started stepping first, used to feeling out of place. She quickly glanced over and saw Jayden's car. She glanced away, trying to not let the tears fall. Paul couldn't help but wonder why she acted off. As he went to ask her, she quickly opened the door and ran up the stairs. He sighed. What is going on with her? Paul questioned.

Fiona grabbed her large suitcase that was stored under her bed. She slammed open her closet grabbing her clothing rolling it into tiny rolls to fit it all. Most of her clothing was purple she chuckled at it. Purple is her color and nobody else could convince her otherwise. She glanced around her room quickly thinking of things she may need. Her suitcase was full already, with all of her clothing. Fiona's eyes danced over a picture of her and Ashlynn from the Junior bonfire. This was before the two girls had gotten drunk. Fiona walked to the frame and picked it up. It had to come with her. She tossed it next to the suitcase and continued to grab what she needed. Fiona could picture the moments leading up to that picture, but she didn't want to remember. But she did.

"Fiona! I can't believe we placed first and now we're at the Junior bonfire! How unreal is this?" Ashlynn cheered at her best friend. Ashlynn couldn't help but notice Fiona's puffy eyes. She sighed, not wanting to deal with Fiona's family drama. "C'mon let's take a picture!" She cheered.

Fiona smiled at Ashlynn appreciating her energy. Though Fiona was feeling out of it, because of her family drama, she still was excited. Fiona knew Ashlynn would get upset if she acted like a freak, in Ashlynn's words, so she kept it inside. "Maybe later, kay?" Fiona asked, not feeling her best self. Ashlynn groaned and dragged Fiona towards her.

"Smile!" She cheered holding the phone up. Fiona laughed at Ashlynn's energy.

"Ash, wait no!"

"Yes, now smile!"

"Fine!" Fiona dragged out. Ashlynn snapped the picture, the night sky sparkling perfect behind them.

Fiona shook away the memory, not wanting to cry. She knew her father was hanging around downstairs and the walls were paper thin. Fiona knew she was going to miss the town of Remington but she couldn't handle any more pain here. To her new town, new friends, and new life she thought to herself. Fiona went through another mental checklist before zipping up her bag and grabbing the picture frame.

Aside from the argument Paul and Mary were having the father-daughter duo shuffled to the car. Paul lifted Fiona's hefty bag into the trunk. Fiona was clutching onto the picture frame. Paul grabbed it from her grasp trying to recall the girl's name. He smiled at how happy Fiona looked in the picture. Her name hit him like a truck.

"Her name's Ashlynn, right?" Paul questioned. Paul recognized her best friend of almost ten years from the various calls he had with her.

"Yeah, her name was Ashlynn," Fiona said, glancing at the ground. Paul ignore the fact she said 'was' and tucked the picture in the trunk.

"Would you like me to stop by her house so you can say goodbye?"

"She's dead, Dad," Fiona said coldly. Her emotions were out of wack. She wanted to scream but she also wanted to break down into her father's arms. Paul could feel a pound of guilt on his shoulders. What has he missed in these past eight months?

Fiona turned away and walked to the passenger side of the car. She held back her tears at Paul's worrisome glances. He wanted to ask her questions like When did she die? How did she die? Did you go to her funeral? but he remained silent. Paul couldn't understand Fiona's impeccable strength but also wondered, What else is she hiding? Fiona plugged her headphones into her phone and blasted music into her ears. She wanted to forget everything. Just for one moment, as she left Remington behind.

Fiona's mind drifted to Ron. Her gay best friend, and her only male friend. In the small town of Remington, finding LBGTQ people was rare. Not that the town was homophobic per se, but just very tiny. Fiona was the only bisexual woman, that was out, and sometimes it worried her. Giavanna, her ex, was the only lesbian in the town. Ashlynn liked to joke that they were made for each other. Fiona had zero attraction to her now.

Fiona also thought of the Choir. Though Ashlynn was the head of attention most of the time Remington couldn't deny her raw talent. Ashlynn like to say that Fiona should show off more, but she lacked the confidence. I'm Ashlynn's understudy, she used to tell herself. She felt bad for leaving her duties as choir leader behind but running was safer. As she watched out the window of her childhood she wondered if she rushed her decision. Then she saw Jayden's car following them. Fiona made the right decision.

Fiona's eyes slowly drifted asleep to the beat of the music. Paul smiled at his sleepy daughter. He turned down the music and continued to focus on the road. As he drove farther from the small town of Remington he kept glancing at Fiona. Her face was wrinkled and stressed. Sweat trickled down her forehead. Paul attempted to roll up her sleeves to cool her down, but what he saw wasn't pleasant. Scars and self-inflicted wounds covered her arms. He quickly placed the sleeve back down. Something happened to her. Paul knew it, and he blamed himself. A tear trickled down his face. What happened to her?

"I'm sorry," He whispered, before glancing back at the road heading to Fairpointe.