Boys Are Liars

Chapter 3

Micah pays our driver Benedict, pulling out a roll of hundreds from his back pocket and shoving it in his hands. He whispers something in his ear, probably telling him where to pick us up when the party is over. Benedict has been driving the three of us for years.

He's Micah's driver but Amelia and I are always with him when going out to events that he decided to work for our families too. Micah returns to Amelia's side as she flips open her compact mirror, applying another layer of red lipstick. Her golden tresses flow in waves over her bare shoulders.

She wore a tight silver mini dress that shimmered in the light. She paired it with matching silver heels and a small silver clutch purse. I had my striking dark brown braids in an updo, letting a few strands hang around my face.

After going through over a dozen dresses Amelia and I settled on my fiery red dress with black stilettos and a glossed lip. Red was always my color, it popped against my dark skin. Amelia hooks her arm through mine, confidently striding into Theo's large house.

I sighed biting on my lip. This was a bad idea. Alcohol and a broken heart were not a good mix for me. I should be home, binge watching TV and scooping up spoonfuls of chocolate ice cream.

"I honestly thought his house would be smaller," I whispered.

Amelia offers me a radiant smile. "Your house is three times as big," she squeezes my arm. "It's okay, not to be okay, but wallowing in your self pity just might destroy you. Pushing through is the only way,"

I nod, taking a deep breath. "Okay, let's do this,"

We walk through the front entrance, quickly being greeted with smiles and nods. Heads were turning and some people stopped their conversations and absurd dance moves to stare. Amelia and I were used to this kind of attention by now, we were always the topic of conversation in every room.

The music wasn't as loud as it should be, the energy in the room fizzling through the air. Soon the crowd goes back to what they were doing and I exhale, not realizing I was holding my breath.

Micah smiles. "That wasn't so bad? Now was it?"

Amelia pulls him towards her, putting her lips against his cheek. "You're still in trouble for accepting this invitation,"

"It's hard to keep up! How was I supposed to know that Theo and Sariah called it quits?!" He wines, offering me an apologetic smile.

I cross my arms. "I'll be okay, it's just one night,"

Amelia kisses Micah again, standing on her tippy toes to shove her tongue down his throat, he deepens the kiss in response. I roll my eyes at them. Amelia pulls away from him, plastering a mischievous smirk.

She runs her hand over his chest. "I'm going to dance," she says.

He stares at her, a glint of hunger flashing in his eyes. "I'll meet you there later,"

She squeezes my hand. "Take your time," she whispers to me.

I nod, following Micah up the stairs. I rest my elbows on the railing of the stairs case. Micah and I watch people below us, talking and taking shots.

There's a girl in the corner, wearing an orange dress, puking all over the carpet. Despite all of this the crowd around her moves in a flawless disarray, each person consumed by elated joy.

I spot Amelia in the middle of the crowd dancing with wild abandon and already having a group of girls following her lead. She exudes luxurious style gracefully with every move that she makes. Without even trying, Amelia was the most beautiful girl in the room.

She was always so free. I used to be like that too but more times than once, it led me to a disastrous downfall. A group of boys were standing outside with a beer cannon, laughing as beer flowed from the machine into someone's mouth. They roared taking turns engulfing the liquid.

I laugh, rolling my eyes at it. "So far Theo's party was a success," I say.

"Yeah, it's not too bad," Micah says, taking a sip out of a red plastic cup.

I turn to face him. "When did you get that?" I ask.

He shrugs. "You were so lost in your little world I slipped out for a second to grab a drink,"

I shove his arm. "Traitor,"

He laughs. "You'll move past this, Sariah, I've known you since we wore the same diapers, you've been through worse. Getting your heart broken? Yeah, you'll be wounded but you'll come back stronger. He never deserves you if he could just leave and replace you just like that," he says facing me.

"Thanks, but you get to say that. It's a part of the best friend package," I say, playing with my bracelet.

"Are you being serious right now?" He says. He moves towards me, forcing me to look at him by moving my chin with his fingers. "Any guy would be lucky to have you, you love with your whole heart. Regret nothing, this is just a learning curve,"

"I'm sick and tired of lessons," I muttered.

He grins. "Well you know what they say, the best way to get over a broken heart is to distract yourself with something or someone else..."

I raised my eyebrow at him. "What are you talking about?"

I follow where he is looking and there's a rugged boy with a slender gaunt, his face striking and chiseled. He smiles at me, revealing a set of sparkling white teeth. He runs his fingers through his wavy brown hair, his eyes locked on mine as he raises his red cup.

"I'm going to dance with Amelia," Micah says with a grin. "Maybe you should go try that out?"

"Shut up," I say with a smile, before descending the stairs behind him.

I push myself through warm, sweaty bodies, trying to reach my mystery man. Someone bumps into me and I bump into someone else. She shrieks looking at me and then her dress in disgust.

"Ugh! Watch where you're going!" She snarls.

Someone hands her napkins as she wipes down her dark purple dress. Her blonde hair is curled, and she pierces her sharp green eyes at me. I groan, I bumped into Emma Loxley.

Theo arrives next to her, wrapping his hand around her waist.

"I shouldn't have been surprised that it was you, maybe you should take a hint?" She snapped.

I sighed. "It was an accident, you're not the only person in the room,"

"Desperation isn't a good look on you Ri," Theo counters. "I showed them the text messages, you were practically begging me to take you back,"

The crowd that has formed around us erupts in laughter. My temper sparked anger, twisting in my chest. I clenched my fists in annoyance.

I took a deep breath. "Like I said, it was an accident, so please move out of the way, I'm trying to have fun,"

Emma smiles. "Well in that case," she takes her red cup and tosses it into me. "Oops," she chirped.

I scoffed, as sticky cold liquid clung to the fabric of my dress. "I can see why Theo likes you, he always had a thing for children," I spat.

"What do you mean? It was an accident, right?" She purrs. She walks towards me and lowers her head to whisper in my ear. "Back off, you had your chance, Theo's mine, let's face it, you're not as pretty as you think,"

She backs away from me smiling. My body trembles. Then she wraps her arms around Theo's neck and he leans his head down to kiss her.

My eyes are brimming with hot tears and I sniffle, pushing past people as they cascade down my face. I run into someone and they fall to the floor.

Amelia furrows her eyebrows. "You're crying! What happened?"

I help her to her feet. "Theo and Emma happened," I say.

She huffs pushing past me. I catch her arm.

"Let it go," I plead.