Caught In A Lie

4: Playing Questions

    I watched as Eleanor ordered her drink – something that looked blue and fizzy as the bartender handed it to her. When I told him I wanted a lime soda he blinked once before he began mixing it.

    “It seems you’re an odd one out today." Eleanor commented.

    I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”

    “Someone's chatty. And overly alert. You’ve scanned the room thrice already. What are you searching for? Or is it running from?”

    I frowned. I had done it out of habit, but I didn’t think she would’ve noticed. Most people didn’t. “Neither, actually.”

    “Mmhm.” She didn’t sound like she believed me. “In that case, you need to relax a little. You’re making yourself conspicuous.”

    “What?” I tensed.

    She nodded. “Basic rule of body language in social gatherings: if you do the scan like you were just now, people are going to think you’re on the prowl.”

    I rolled my eyes and lowered my shoulders a little for her benefit. Secretly, I was relieved she was talking about mundane things like party behaviour. For a moment I was afraid she knew about me somehow but the notion seemed absurd now that I thought about it. “Better?”

    “Much.” She smiled. “Let’s go outside for a bit.”

    I stood where I was, not sure if I wanted to be alone with a stranger. “Eleanor, I don’t think-”

    “Nonsense! Be a sport, come on. And do call me Ellie. Eleanor sounds so... uppity.” She wrinkled her nose slightly.

    I laughed at that, forgetting for a moment that I was supposed to stay alert. You’re in a public place, Selene. No one’s going to try anything, I reminded myself as I nodded. “Alright. I’ll come with you.”

    “Wonderful!” She said gleefully.

    The night was warm, balmy almost. There were some people milling around, but the back street was mostly empty. I sat on the steps outside and looked up. The sky was clear, stars twinkling like little white gems against a deep blue canvas.

    “How long have you lived in Galatas?”

    “Nearly all my life.” I said, almost… wistfully. Yes, that was the word. I wanted my old life back, but the world didn’t work that way. It was always moving forward, onward, marching relentlessly towards an unknown future. One that everyone said was ‘coming’, but never actually came. It was ironic, because each new day became ‘the present’ and the next remained an ever unreachable ‘future’.

    “O..kay. Did you move here alone?”

    “Yes.” I stirred my soda and took a sip. “Yes, I did.”

    “Family?”

    “I never had any real family that I know. My foster father raised me. He’d never married.”

    “Where’s he now?” She enquired curiously.

    “Far from here.” I said, staring across the street, but not really looking at anything. I surprised myself when I said, “I came here to make a new start. Leave the past behind and move on.”

    “Hmmm.” I could tell she was smiling.

    We lapsed into a comfortable silence, but it was interrupted all too soon by the door opening behind us. Somehow I knew who it would be before I turned around.