Boys Are Liars

Chapter 1

Laughter and music vibrate and pulse through my house walls like a live human being, quickly rising and consuming all the teens that danced in every room in my house, all here to celebrate me. I was supposed to be enjoying my party but instead, I was constantly checking my phone, my stomach sickening as I waited for Theo to call. We had been talking for a few weeks now and I liked him.

A lot.

He was cute and funny, and his skin was so soft I could melt into it. I grin when I see Theo walk through the door. He instantly spots me in the crowd and he moves through people, waving at people he knows.

When he gets to me he smiles, reaching for my hand and planting a kiss on my lips. I smile against his teeth.

"You're late," I say.

He runs his fingers through his brown hair giving me an apologetic smile. It makes my knees weak. "I know, I'm sorry, let me make it up to you," he says.

I wrap my arms around his neck. "I just might, what did you have in mind?"

He tilted his head letting his golden brown curls cover his dark brown eyes. "I was thinking we could head to your room and you know..."

My body stiffens. "Oh," I say.

I had thought about how this conversation would go so many times in my head. Parts of me wanted it, craved for his touch, but my fear won this fight over and over. What would happen when he realized I had no idea what to do? I thought it'd be more romantic, something that just clicked you know?

His fingers stroke my face and he leans in to give me a soft kiss. "I promise I'll be gentle," he says.

I smile, the strap of my silk dress already falling off. "Okay," I say. He looks at me hungrily, salvia already dripping from his lips.

I take his hand and lead him upstairs into my room.

~*~

I shook out my hair, yanking it into a ponytail, and walked away from my room as fast as I could. Bile was rising up my throat as the Coca-Cola and rum in my stomach still churned. I slipped on my plush purple robe and went into the kitchen.

Goosebumps trail my skin as my bare feet make contact with the cold tile floor. The cleaning staff was already here brushing away the trash that was scattered all over the floor and picking up empty beer bottles. I open the fridge grabbing myself an ice cold water bottle.

Theo's words echoed in my head. This isn't working out. I think we should see other people.

I was still barely clothed under the silk covers of my sanctuary king-sized bed when he made this declaration. I felt used and the tears started falling before I could stop them. He didn't even try to apologize, just quickly put his clothes back on, backed away slowly, and slipped out the door.

It was an irritating chant that made my skin crawl. I couldn't get his words out of my head. I take a sip of my water, my tongue and throat dry.

Amelia was going to have a field day with this. My best friend and next door neighbor never liked Theo. She had said something was off about him, she had a gut feeling.

But I didn't listen. I never do.

My parents stepped down the staircase and engulfed me in a hug. My dad pulls away quickly, grabbing his laptop, already typing away to his clients. My mom has her earpiece in but she kisses me on the head and promises that the cook will be over shortly to make us breakfast.

I smile, shoving aside the bristle of despair that spikes my heart. I don't think I'll be able to fake an entire morning with them. My parents can read my emotions too well. They'll know something is up.