OnceUponNow: Trapped in a Tower of Lies

Trapped in a Tower of Lies

"Sorry," Christine mumbled as she bumped into the one and only Elizabeth Hunt. "I'll watch where I'm going next time."

"Yeah," Elizabeth responded. "You better, hon. Don't wanna have to mess your face up even more." She walked off, surrounded by her ever-present clump of friends.

Christine walked to her table in the school cafeteria where her friend, Tess, was waiting. She sat down and groaned.

"Way to upset the devil," Tess said. "I sincerely hope you didn't break one of her nails. Not for her sake but for yours. It's a surefire way to land you in hell. Quick, go confess your sin of destroying a poor girl's self-esteem."

Christine laughed at her friend's joke. "I hope Satan isn't a perfectionist because, if he is, he sure won't like me."

Tess finished a bite of her burger and said, "Seriously, though. What makes Elizabeth think she's the princess of the school, God's gift to Earth?"

"Um... Maybe because she is?" Christine replied. "How else do you get hair that flawless? Because if it isn't being sent down from the heavens, then we would both be over there with them."

"Christine Ford. Listen to me," Tess said, glaring at her. "She's just a stuck up little a-hole who thinks being pretty is the most important thing in the world. Seriously. It's high school. It isn't going to get her anywhere in life."

"Yeah," Christine sighed. "I guess you're right."

Just then, Jason Morring, Elizabeth's boyfriend, walked up to their table. "Christine." He said. "Don't you dare hit my girl again."

"No promises." Christine said under her breath, choosing not to mention that it was a slight bump; she didn't actually hit Elizabeth.

"What did you just say?" Jason punched Christine in the eye, causing her to fall off of her chair. Pulling her back up, he said, "Don't bother me and Eliza again."

Elizabeth was still satisfied with what happened at lunch when she got off the bus at the end of the day. Her amazing boyfriend stood up for her and now she was going to be the talk of the school. Again, obviously.

Entering her house, Elizabeth was surprised to find it quiet. She headed to the kitchen to get an afternoon snack only to find her mother passed out on the table, a glass of wine shattered on the floor. Sighing, Elizabeth grabbed a broom and mop out of the closet to clean the mess.

Afterwards, she got an apple and walked up the stairs to her bedroom. Her dad's voice carried through his office, and it sounded like he was yelling.

"I don't care if it was important! You do not use company money for your own personal needs," Mr. Hunt's voice rose. Elizabeth stopped to listen in. "You get a paycheck every month! What do you use that for? Gardening?" He was quiet for a moment. "Listen. You know that we're having money issues. Okay? Laura is too drunk to get a job or raise our daughter and I'm having to pick up the pieces. And that would be much easier without these sorts of problems."

Hearing enough, Elizabeth stepped away and into her bedroom to relax and get her homework done. Before she started, she decided to checked her Instagram. She saw that Tess, Christine's friend, posted a picture of them. Elizabeth smiled, and decided to comment. She knew that would cheer her up.

Christine walked into her bedroom, keeping her face down so her mother wouldn't see her black eye. Closing the door behind her, she crumpled on the bed and crawled under the covers. Pulling her phone out, she opened up her Instagram. She smiled as a picture of her popped up, posted by Tess. She scrolled into the comments and immediately frowned.