Catfish: Featuring Craig [Episode One]

TEN

“Wake up, Serenity. Today’s the big day,” I sang, opening up the blinds where the sun could come through. Today was the day I was going to meet Craig, and I was excited. I was wearing my best clothes—I even woke up earlier than everyone else to curl my hair and iron my clothes. Serenity got up quickly and went in the bathroom, coming out with a tank top and sweatpants.

“Why are you so underdressed?” I inquired, raising one eyebrow up. Serenity dressed better than this, even if she was just going to the store or something.

“Don’t worry about it. Just come on,” Serenity spat back, cranky. I wonder what her problem is. I followed her out of the room, still tiptoeing since it was still in the wee hours of the morning. I knocked on Max’s and Nev’s door softly, and it seemed like they were ready to go. “Come on,” Nev whispered. “We’re about to meet 'Craig'.”

I followed Max and Nev to a small elevator. This hotel had about fifteen floors, so it would take a while to get down to the bottom level. Serenity kept her eyes on me, even though I tried to ignore it. She’s going to be upset when she sees Craig step out of his house. I’ll be more happy than ever.

“Before we leave this hotel, we have to show you something, Triniti,” Nev told me, earnestly. I stared at him, not knowing what to expect. I pleaded Serenity to give me a hint with my eyes, but she didn’t tell me what was going on. Please don’t tell me that Craig is fake. I tried distracting myself from the thought, but I wasn’t able to do it. The elevator made an abrupt stop, and we were free to leave.

“Follow us,” Nev walked over to cafe in the hotel. I sat down next to Serenity, and Nev and Max took seats together. Max opened his laptop, and clicked on to a video service. I sat back, getting ready for anything.

Max clicked all around, until he stopped at a video with Prodigy’s face on it. It must be a proof video! I felt a rush of excitement come through me. I sat up straight, and then Prodigy’s mouth started to move.

“Well, Triniti, I’m sorry, but the person you fell in love with isn’t me. I hope you could find someone in the future that can love you for you, and you can find someone to call your own. I’m really sorry, Triniti. I wish you luck, bye.” After that, the video went off. I was frozen. I couldn’t move.

It felt like I was paralyzed or something.

“No. This cannot be real,” I pleaded, shaking my head and pushing myself through the computer. I wasn’t talking to Craig? Then who was I talking to all along?

“We’re sorry, Triniti. But it’s true,” Max says, playing no games. I just stared at the computer, not moving a muscle. I felt a single tear roll down my cheek, and I could feel Serenity’s eyes on me too. I wanted to break down and cry, but I had to keep myself together. Every single time I tried to make a friend, it ended up bad. Now that I’ve found someone I love, they’re not even real?

“I want to meet whoever the person is. I have to.” I stood up, with my arms shaking. I knew I was being dramatic, but there was a level of deceit that this went up to. I really wanted to meet ‘Craig’, but I was nervous also.

“Well, we know who  the person really is. I think it would be best if you’d be meet them in person instead of us telling you,” Nev says, leading me out of the cafeteria. All those lies that ‘Craig’ told me broke my heart in very small pieces. Who did I even fall in love with? 

Tears began to stream down my face and my throat began to burn. I needed to clear myself up. I didn’t need anyone to see me like this. I ran outside before Max and Nev did, waiting by the van. I just wanted to go meet this person. I needed to.

“Maybe we’ll find the real person and you could date them,” Serenity suggested, trying to cheer me up. I swallowed my tears and tried to curve my lips into a fake smile.

“Maybe.”

-

“The catfishers agreed to meet us at the Clarion Hotel,” Nev mentioned while keeping his eyes glued to the road. He played music softly in the background, and I tried to enjoy it. I just couldn’t get mind off of who I’d see at the other hotel.

“Wait, there’s more than one person pretending to be Craig?” I asked, coming back to Earth.

“Yeah. Or so they say. We’re just gonna have to figure it out when we get there,” Max reassured. I slumped back in my seat. More surprises. Great. I tried to look out the window to get my mind off of things, but nothing seemed to work.

“Serenity, distract me,” I said.

“Let’s play ‘Lemonade’. We haven’t played that since I was like five.”

“Ok, I’ll start,” I put both of my hands up. “Lemonade/Iced Tea/Coca Cola/Pepsi/Lemonade/Iced Tea/Coca Cola/Pepsi/Turn around/ Touch the ground/Kick your boyfriend out of town/Freeze!” Serenity and I stayed frozen, not daring to make a move. It was funny how Serenity and was fifteen and she was still playing this game.

Serenity made a slight movement. “You’re out!” I exclaimed, laughing.

“Sorry to interrupt your little fun time, but we’re here,” Nev says, unlocking his car door and getting out. If I didn’t catch myself, I would’ve pissed all over myself. My heart was going at least 3,000 BPM, or at least it felt like it. I stepped out of the car, my feet shaking.

I slowly walked into the hotel, cheeks burning.

Who I saw in there would change my life forever.

“MOM? DAD?” I exclaimed at the top of my lungs. Everyone’s mouths dropped to the floor. This stuff only happened in movies, and that’s why I was so shocked. How could my own parents do this to me? How could they plan this out?

“Honey, I am so sorry. I just wanted you to feel like you had a friend. You seemed so lonely,” My mom pleaded, trying to come over to me and hug me. I didn’t know how to feel. I didn’t know what to say. I felt like my own family betrayed me.

“Get off of me! How could you guys do this? You made me feel like I had a real friend for once. But he was fake! Can I just have one friend for a change? Please?” Tears were coming out of my eyes like rivers. My nose was running, but I didn’t care. I wanted to drop down to my knees and have a mental breakdown, but I had to keep my cool this time.

“But what about the naked pictures? Why would you collect naked pictures of your own kid? That’s sick,” Serenity interjected, disgusted.

“We wanted to teach her a lesson about trusting everyone on the internet, but we also wanted her to have a friend. We honestly did not expect for it to go this far,” My dad explained.

But this all was making so much sense now.

When Craig asked me to go to the zoo with him, my father and mother were out of town. My mom and dad seemed to be on the computer a lot more often, and I didn’t even notice that. I felt like the stupidest person on the planet. Everything I knew about ‘Craig’ was a lie.

Every single thing.

“You guys could’ve done something else to prove this to me. I actually loved this guy. I cared about ‘Craig’. You guys were so selfish, that you’d hurt me this bad? I don’t understand. Who could do that to someone they called their daughter?” More tears fell. This honestly the worst I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I hated this feeling.

“We said we’re sorry for doing this Triniti. Why won’t you forgive us already?”

“Because I never would’ve thought ‘family’ would do something so vile. That’s why.”