Beautiful Lies

Chapter One: How We Met

"Welcome, fellow contestants! How are you guys?!" A chirpy, middle-aged woman greeted the group of us happily, her eyebrows raising to an impossible height on her small forehead; nearly at her hairline. Everyone erupted in cheers and hollers in response to her inessential question, as well as I. Her mouth stretched out into a wide, tempestuous grin, two rows of bright white teeth coming out on full show.

"She has a really creepy smile..." My mate Jamie spoke through a wide-toothed smile, her perfectly plucked eyebrows raising in fright as her nostrils flared. After reconnoitering her expression, I met her blue-green eyes with mine and inaugurated an obnoxious laugh. She honestly looked like she was trying to smile through an atrocious case of constipation.

"Wha-" She began to question, her 'smile' attenuating and her brows furrowing in befuddlement, but before she could complete her palpable question, the crazy, enterprising woman's voice sliced through the air again, cutting everyone off and catching their full and undivided attention; including my own.

"As you can see, we are currently situated in front of the X Factor house!" She shrieked with complete and utter elation, her wild, green eyes amplifying to the mere size of saucers.

"Gosh, you'd think she were one of us..." Jamie leaned in and sibilated in my ear, her voice overflowing with total annoyance towards this daft woman. I scanned her perfect facial features for a couple of seconds before I acquiesced, bobbing my head up and down, my deep brown eyes wide.

"But!" The crazy lady shouted, cutting off everyone before they had the chance to express their thrilled feelings through screams and screeches, "Not only is this the X Factor house," She paused, staring a everybody, trying but failing to create suspense in the air. We all waited impatiently for her to continue.

"this will also be your house whilst you're in this competition! It's all yours!" She concluded loudly, throwing her long arms into the air and twirling around in a full circle on the spot to add emphasis.

Everybody, - including myself-, erupted into loud yells and shrieks of anticipation and anxiety. The woman joined in as well, her loud bellows overpowering everyone else's. Jamie brought her lips up to my ear again, "I swear to god, this chick is going to make my brain explode...!" She hissed, pulling away from my ear to glare up at the girl in aggravation. I chuckled deeply at her reaction to this lady, but I couldn't agree more.

"Now," The woman initiated, her mellow face becoming comprehensively serious, her voice seeming more calm and collected, "we will be calling about a house meeting to go over the rules and expectations in the near future, and I gather you will attend." She informed us all, her green eyes completely sedated.

We, - the audience - , nodded in understanding to her bold and grave statement. "Until then," She spoke up once again, causing a groan to escape Jamie's lips. I laughed airily at her, catching her eye as she narrowed her light orbs at my amusement towards her clear irritation. "feel free to show yourselves around! Oh! And in order for you guys to find your rooms, you will have to take a look at the blueprints that are posted on the bulletin boards in the foyer!" She finalized, clapping her hands together irrationally.

The entire crowd rushed up the front companionway quickly, eager to see the inside of the gorgeous house and discover their dorm rooms. I was one of the first people to get inside and reach the large bulletin boards. I began scanning over the girl's dormitory list as I ran my long, index finger over the dozens of names before finding mine near the bottom.

Vivian Barlow: L-2, DR-8. I deciphered, my exuberance bubbling over. Level two, Dorm-room eight.

I then began exploring the rest of the names until I found the one I was looking for. My heart beat raced with happiness and alleviation.