How We Lie In The Dark

Secret Skeleton Closet.

"Happy Birthday to you!" The group all sang in unison. Vienna stood with a bright smile before she leaned over and blew out the candles shaped as a 1 and 4. They all clap, "I can't believe you are finally 14! Welcome to the club bestie." Suki says to Vienna. The girls looked so grown up, they noticed a change of their bodies after they finally got the patented stamp of women's hood last year. Suki still had her silky black hair, however it was longer now, it just reached about her elbows. She was toned from playing softball which she started when they entered middle school, her facial features toned out into a slim jawline and a button nose. Her eyes are still a bright hazel, genetic to her by her father. Vienna's hair matched the length of Suki's, however was a dark cocoa color, her eyes resembled golden honey in the sun. Her lips full but doll shaped, her face grew into her mother's soft jawline and freckles decorated under her eyes traveling onto her nose. Her body toned from when she started playing volleyball in 5th grade. Her button nose matched Suki's. The girls got their nails done as Vienna asked for her birthday. Suki went with a natural nail, with a light pink polish you would think she has nothing on. Vienna got short almond french tips, which would become a signature feature about her for the rest of her life. Vienna had her cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, two friends and Suki's side of the family over to celebrate. The girls have been friends for over 8 years now. Countless sleepovers, tears over boys, (who honestly were not worth the time). Stressing over exams and getting good grades to get play time in their selected sports. Julie cuts the cake as Jennet handles the plating. One of her friends giggle, "Who is he"? she asked pointing to Owen, who is now 17. His hair has grown a bit, his jaw line sharp. However those eyes still green like a forest. He hit a growth spurt when he was 13, now at 17 he had reached 6'0". "Hazel, absolutely not." Suki said. "He is off limits, that's my cousin and he's way to old for you." Hazel pouts, "That's a shame, he looks tasty". "Hazel if you don't shut up I actually will vomit." Vienna responds. It wasn't because of how close their families where, it was the pit of jealousy she felt, shaking her insides like an earthquake. "Way to go Hazel, you're making the birthday girl queezy." Grace said. "Here you go birthday girl, first to get a plate and first to bite." Jennet said. The cake was absolutely delicious, Suki's mom had a nack for baking, and she was damn good at it. After cake and presents the girls wanted to go walk at the park. "Bring the boys with you, they need to take in something that isn't blue light." Janice said taking away their phones. "Mom, come on." Quinn said. "What if we need to get a hold of you" Sam remarked. "Oh, I guess you're right, the girls definitely don't have my number or anything." Sam rolls his eyes. "This is bullshit". "What will be bullshit is us taking it entirely. So hopefully on your walk you shapen up so that doesn't become reality." His father said. "God, you guys are such babies and you're slow." Vienna says. "Shut up V, your legit so annoying". Quinn replied. "Whomp whomp." she snarks back. Even though she was in awe of Quinn since she was 6, she knows her wishful thinking would never come true, so she figured to act like the feelings never existed, however they still did and would fester from time to time. On their walk down to the park the girls giggled and chatted about boys and the latest freshman drama. Suki chuckles before she speaks, "Did you hear that Brianna Kop got caught in the girls bathroom with a boy." Hazel gasps, "What? When was this, and how have I not heard about it yet?" "Oh yeah! Wasn't it like near the end of the day, it was in the math hall bathroom." Grace blurts. Vienna laughs, "Of course it was the math hall bathroom, that area is always dead, they just got unlucky." "How do you know that it's always dead". Hazel scoffs. "Im not that innocent Hazel." "Oh really so what boy did you bring in there? You're such a lying virgin." "Hazel, please shut the fuck up and stop bitching for once." Suki responded. "How about we stop talking about who's a virgin and who's not, I don't want to know if my cousin or cousin's friend is or isn't." Sam says. "Whatever" Hazel whispers. When they get to the park Vienna and Suki sit on a set of swings and talk a bit as Hazel and Grace bicker at the gazebo about god knows what. "I don't even know what's gotten into her, she's so fucking bitter all the time." Suki says. "I couldn't tell ya." Vienna replied. "If she doesn't stop being the most insufferable person by the time we are Sopmores we're dropping her." Vienna sighs, "Deal". Quinn comes up and sits next to Vienna. "What are you two talking about? Probably something stupid I bet." "Actually, we were talking about Hazel and her god awful personality she's adopted recently." Suki says. "She's probably just jealous. You both are way out of her friend league." Quinn says grabbing onto the swings chains. "You two are... eye catching to the guys in your grade and upperclassmen." He says hesitantly. "Why did I hear hesitation?" Vienna asks. "First off, i was trying not to be creepy because Suki is my cousin, and you're practically blended family." He says pointing at them. Knots. Knots are forming in Vienna's stomach from his words. "Run away from them." "Push them back, it's not that deep." Vienna thinks to herself. "Also, you two shouldn't be taking any boy from that school into a bathroom, I wouldn't trust 'em". "That's bold of you since I'm sure you've tried to do something with your girlfriend at school before." Suki says with a chuckle. Gutted. Absolutely gutted. Vienna can no longer hold back and her birthday cake lands right in front of her onto the wood chips. "Oh my god, I am so sorry." Vienna says standing up and stepping over her vomit walking away embarrassed. "Told you Hazel, you were making the birthday girl sick.". Grace said teasingly. "Shut up Grace, you're so annoying for real." "Sam, Looks like we're heading back!" Quinn yells as Suki runs up to Vienna. "Hey, are you okay?" "Yeah dude, I'm fine, I must have just eaten too quickly, that was also probably a lot of sugar." They get back home and the girls update them on their adventure as Vienna brushes her teeth from the taste of embarrassment. "Are you okay sweetheart? We don't have to do the sleepover, I don't want to other girls getting a bug." Julie says peeking into the bathroom. "I'm okay mom, you know I don't eat sugar much. Probably just didn't sit right, I'm okay, we can still do the sleepover." Julie smiles. "Okay honey". The sun starts to go down and the parents sit by a fire on the back porch while the teens are upstairs. "I'm so bored". Grace moans. "I'm sorry, Is the movie not entertaining enough for you?" Suki says. "Oh! How about we play 7 minutes in heaven." Hazel exclaimes. "Of course you're feral ass would recommend that." Grace replies. Hazel rolls her eyes. Vienna thinks for a second and glaces over at Quinn who is on his phone. "No, no, I think we should." She says. "Vienna". Suki says sturnly. "I am definitely not kissing any of you". Sam says. "You wont have to if you don't want to, we can do it like a personal one on one, get to know each other better. I mean it would be extremely weird if you and Suki got paired and we have a kissing rule. Let's just do it PG." Vienna says, "That's so boring though." Hazel whines, "You're bo-" Vienna catches herself. The last thing she would want is Hazel to feel how she felt back then. "Bound to enjoy this version." she finishes. "How should we determine who goes in together?" Grace asks. "What if we all stand in a circle. The person choosing in the middle, with a blindfold and they spun while pointing and whoever they stop on is the second person?" Suki suggested. "But they don't know who they picked until they are in the closet." Vienna added. The girls agree and let Hazel go first. She spins and spins till she finally lands on Grace. They walk Hazel into the closet, Grace follows and then shuts the door. "Okay you can take your blindfold off now." Sam says. "Are you fucking kidding me." Hazel says annoyed. "You're like the plague, I swear to God Grace". "Insufferable." Suki sings just loud enough for Vienna to hear, however Quinn must of gotten some sound of it because he smiles that white smile that looks like fresh snow, Vienna can never get over just how put together he is. She snaps out of it as she hears Hazel barge out. "Wasn't seven minutes". Quinn says teasingly. Vienna smiles at his quip. "I don't care, she's so boring I can't." Vienna drops her smile and can feel her blood get hot. "I'm sorry?" She says to Hazel. "What? It wasn't to you, it was to Grace and she's boring." Suki shifts on the couch. "Oh shit." she whispers. "You know what? Hazel, go home." Vienna says. "Excuse me?" Hazel says confused. "Gather you're things, go downstairs, call your mother, and go home, you insufferable bitch". Vienna says sternly. Hazel schoffs. "Someone get the birthday girl, she's gone birthdaybitch. I'm not going anywhere virgin." "Hazel, I said gather your shit and leave my fucking house!" Vienna yells into Hazels face. Quinn pulls her back as they hear the parents coming inside due to hearing the commotion. "Whoa whoa, cat fight! What's going on up there?. Jaince asks. Hazel starts to fake cry. "She just started yelling at me Mrs. Hubert. "Oh bullshit!" Suki blurts. "Suki!" Jennet exclaimes. "Quinn, what happened, I would assume you would know since you have your hands on my daughter." Julie says. Quinn slowly brings his hands off of Vienna. "Hazel said some pretty mean things about Grace and things got heated from there." "Hazel has decided that this sleepover just isn't for her". Vienna says to her mom. "Vienna." Her mother says. She looks at her daughter and sees the pain on her face. "Are we sure this isn't just a bunch of hormonal teen girl drama?" Suki's uncle asked. Everyone shoots him a look. "Daniel". Janice says under gritted teeth. "Yep, I'll just see myself out, I got another beer waiting for me near the fire." Jennet sighs, "So what was all exclaimed at one another?" "I called her an insufferable bitch because she is." Vienna says. "V." Suki says with a look. "What she meant to say is, Hazel called Grace boring, and also Hazel has been a bit overstimulating with her attitude with everyone." "I told her to go home and she told me no, I want her to go home." Vienna said. "Vienna, meet me in my bedroom will you?" Julie said. They walk downstairs into her room. Julie sighs, "First off, it's too late now, she's staying. No one's calling her mom because you two got into it. Second, I understand you're frustration to her words, however that was not the appropriate behavior to go through with that now was it." Vienna sits on the bed. "No, it wasn't." "I want you to go up there and apologize to her. I'll have a talk with her after we are done here. I'll have her apologize to Grace and anything mean that she might of exchanged during your squabble. Now go. Tell her I want to see her, but first you apologize you understand me?" Julie asked. "Yes mom". Vienna walks back up the stairs and into the loft. "Hazel, I'm sorry for yelling at you." "It's okay." Hazel says brushing off Vienna. "My mother wants to see you as well." She tells her crossing her arms. "What?" Hazel asked. "Her mother wanted to se-" Suki tells her, however Hazel cuts her off, "I heard her the first time." Suki put her hands up defenselessly. "You wanted to see me Miss, Soyer?" Hazel says into the cracked door. "Yes dear, come in. I wanted to talk to you about what happened upstairs." A few minutes passed, Hazel mopyly walked to Grace and Vienna, "I am sorry for how I acted towards you both." "It's cool." Grace said wiping her nose, eyes red from crying. "I forgive you, let's just have a fun rest of the night, okay?" Vienna says. "It's only 8, I'm still down to play the game, and not complain this time." Hazel says. "I'm down, though, I have a change. We all write our names on a piece of paper and put it in a box and we pick it out, but we can't look at it. And if we pull our own names, we get a free pass." Vienna suggested. The group agrees. Grace was next up, she gives the paper to Vienna and goes into the closet. Vienna shows the group Sams name. "Oh great." he whispers. Another round goes by and Suki shows the group the paper. Vienna. It read. She felt her face flush as she made her way to to the closet. She closes the door behind her and with help from a step stool, slowly takes off Quinn's blindfold. She let's it fall to the floor. Their eyes meeting, his eyes full off life, Vienna stares at him before breaking the silence. "You really shouldn't be playing this game, since you have a girlfriend you know." He smiles, "I thought it wasn't like the original game." "I guess not". Vienna says breaking eye contact. "And in 100% transparency, I don't have a girlfriend. We broke up last week." He says leaning back on the wall, the dim light creating a shadow sharpening his already define jawline. Vienna felt her heart skip a beat. "Oh damn, really?". "Yeah, she was into another dude." "Her loss." Vienna says. "Really." She adds looking into his eyes. "You have much life behind your eyes. They're so doll like however so full of light even though it's so dim in here." She looks away, "Thanks. You know, Hazel was thristing over you earlier, and I can't blame her. You're very alluring." She says flirtatious. He looks down and smiles. "Could say the same for yourself." "Pfff me? I'm not even at full potential yet." Vienna jokes. "I beg to differ". He says stepping forward, tucking her hair behind her ear. Vienna turns around as she hears Suki yell "Two more minutes losers!" When she turns back around their lips meet unexpectedly. They stare at each other again searching for the okay. Their lips meet again with passion behind them. Quinn pulls away. "As much as I oddly enjoyed that, we shouldn't. You're fourteen I'm seventeen. It's not right." Vienna takes his hands, "To ease your mind, It was legal, but I agree. I feel we can both whole heartly agree to take what happen in this closet to the grave." He kisses her forehead. "Happy birthday Vienna." The door opens and Vienna quickly drops his hands. "Times up. Girl, why the stool?" Suki asks. "Staring contest you weirdo, what else? By the way I won." Quinn said walking out with a smirk. "Uhm- I don't think so I'm pretty sure I saw you slightly blink when she opened the door." Vienna said stepping off the stool and walking out. They did a few more rounds when the last round Vienna turned around and it was Hazel in the closet. "Hi Hazel". "So what do you wanna talk about? Hazel asked. "Mmmhh I wanna be honest with you and this is the perfect chance. I don't want to loose you as a friend, I feel deep down you are a good person, but all the complaing and bickering with the group, it's not making us wanna keep you as a friend and I'm not trying to tell you this to hurt your feelings." Hazel gives a slight smile. "No, I understand. And I appreciate your honesty. But you're right, it does no good to the group, I just think I'm growing out of the group." "No, don't say that, your definitely not, we've all been friends since 3rd grade." "Vienna, my family is moving." Hazel blurts. "What?" Vienna says breathless searching Hazels face for some type of bluff but fails. "We are moving during Summer break. That way I can start Sopmore year there. My mom got a better job offer in San Diego. She says with tears in her eyes, "I'm not trying to be mean to you guys. It might just be built up resentmet. I love you guys so much and it hurts so damn bad". She starts to sob and Vienna brings her down to the floor and holds her, tearing up as she combs through her hair. "We are going to miss you so much Haze, I hope you know that we will miss you so fucking much. Why didn't you tell us sooner?" "I didn't want to admit it. Because admitting it means its real." Hazel sobs in Vienna lap some more. The door opens a bit and it's Sam. Vienna shoo's him with her free hand. He closes the door and sits back down on the couch. "I don't know what all happened in their 7 minutes, but Hazel's crying." "Of course she is" Suki says rolling her eyes. In the closet Hazel calms down a bit. "You have to inform the other girls when we get out of here or they will be very confused to why our eyes are red." Vienna says with a laugh. "Okay". Hazel says with a smile.

.......

"You're moving!?" Suki yells. "This summer, and I'm sorry I've been such a bitch. It's not fair to you guys." The girls hug her tight. "Why didn't you tell us sooner now we only have a month together." Grace pouts. "Alright girls, time for bed." Julie says as she reaches the top step. "Quinn, Sam, let's go!" Janice yells from the bottoms of the stairs. "Sam, let Mom know I'll be there soon, I really have to use the bathroom." Quinn says getting up. A few minutes later Quinn opens the door to Vienna's bedroom. "Yo, how do you work this fancy ass sink". "You don't know how to work a sink?" Vienna said getting up to help. When she reaches the bathroom she notices he wrote his number on a piece of paper. She grabs it and slides it in her pocket. "It's like this you weirdo". She says turning the sink on. "It's not that fancy it's just a waterfall faucet." "Sorry, I'm just so tired." he says going to wash his hands. "Goodnight Quinn." Vienna says with smile walking out of the bathroom to join the girls in her bedroom. "You would think since he also lives in a fancy house he would know how to work things." Suki says getting settled into Viennas bed. They've shared Viennas bed since it was a twin size. When her mom got a good promotion they were able to move a couple doors down from Suki and Vienna was able to upgrade to a full size bed. Her mom has also been seeing someone who looks like new money. So she can only assume he's helping expand her already wealthy pockets. "Ill be right back." Vienna says as she exits the room and goes into the bathroom locking the door behind her. She pulls out the folded paper, opens it and lays it flat on the counter and adds the number to her contacts. She gives him a new name is case Suki happens to glance over and get a peak of her screen. Vienna crumples up the paper and flushes it down the toilet, and wastes no time to message him.

V: Hello Mr. Bryan, it's Miss Soyer.

Q: Hello Soyer, I see we are using code.

V: Certain someone looks at my phone from time to time.

Q: Should of known. Message me back when everyone is asleep. Mr. Bryan signing off.

......

The girls gossip a bit before one by one they all fell asleep. Leaving Vienna the last one standing. The time was 2:00 am. She hoped he was still up.

V: you still up?

Q: Yes ma'am, I'm usually up till 4am.

V: Damn, I think that blue light IS effecting you

Q: Ha. Ha. Ha. Funny funny. Joke all you want I can take it. I've been around you for 8 yrs. I know your works

Vienna smiles.

V: Yeah sure pal. 😏

Q: While I was waiting I was thinking and I just wanted to say I, by all means, am not trying to groom you.

V: Idk man, that sounds like something someone would say if they were trying to groom someone

Vienna bites her lip as she smiles at her joke.

Q: Full of jokes, makes sense, should of known you were the Joker by the makeup you be wearing. 🤡

V: Watch it pal😈

Q: I know we mentioned not speaking about what happened last night. I just wanted to apologize for kissing you, it definitely wasn't a bad thing and I don't regret it.

V: You just feel guilty because of the age gap. I understand, no hard feelings.

Q: Glad you understand, hope we can be good friends.

Friends.

Viennas stomach twirls. She was silly thinking anything more would come from what happened in the closet.

V: Friends. :)

She clicks her phone off and goes to bed ignoring the vibration of a new message.