A Little White Lie

Chapter 1

            “Summer…”

            I looked up from my overloaded bowl of ice cream to see Abbey, my best friend. Her long blonde hair was tied into a neat ponytail, her green eyes squinting with her thin arms crossing her chest.

            “Yes?” I mumbled, with two massive spoonfuls of ice cream melting in my mouth.

            “You’re meant to be writing,” she told me flatly. “You know, writing? That thing you do to earn a living?

            Now she was just being plain out sarcastic.

            “Yes I am aware of my job,” I responded swallowing down the lump of cold in my mouth so I could continue my pointless rant. “But to tell you the truth, I am working. It may not look like it, but I am. I need… inspiration. Something I’m lacking right now. I mean, it’s not like I’m pulling all these ideas out of my butt.”

            “Well I don’t know how else you would have gotten them. Three bestsellers later and I still don’t believe you have the mental capability to write all those novels yourself.” Abbey looked at me, her expression made me think she was generally serious. “I mean, it’s you we’re talking about. The other day, you actually asked me what rhymed with orange.”

            “And that’s exactly why I will never pursue a career in poetry.” I stood up with my bowl and chucked it into the sink, letting it land with a metallic ‘clink’. “But enough about my job; what about yours?”

            She shot me a look, and I raised my eyebrow at her.

            Abbey had never really had a job, and it wasn’t her fault. It’s not like she meant to set that customer on fire. But I guess that kind of stuff stays on your record. I mean, taking into account that fact she hasn’t had a job since that night three years ago…

            “I’m looking at my options,” she attempted to justify herself with. “You know, exploring my various career paths. I could…”

            “Lets see…” I interrupted her and began counting with my fingers just to piss her off. “Receptionist at a law firm, FAIL. Waitresses at a Thai restaurant, FAIL. Cashier at coles, FAIL. Frier at McDonalds, FAIL. Stripper, FA-”

            “Excuse me?!” She exclaimed, a look a pure anguish on her face. “I was never a stripper. I never applied as a stripper! Where the hell would you get that from?”

            “What about that guy who paid you to take your clothes off?”

            “He didn’t pay me. He just… gave me a thank you gift afterwards.”

            This is why I loved Abbey. She had this thing, where she always had to justify everything. Sometimes I honestly just thought she was lying to save herself, god knows she’s done it before.

            “Thank you gift?” I asked sheepishly. “Is that what you call the $1000 flat screen in your room?”

            “You know what? I’ve had enough of this conversation.”

            And with that she rose with her black skinny jeans, green T-Shirt and left the main room.

            I walked around the sitting area, attempting to clean up the disgusting mess that Jack and his friends had made the night before.

            Ah, Jack.

            He was Abbey’s brother, a friend of mine; and since he had nowhere to stay… our housemate. And of course, him moving in meant his girlfriend, Gemma, also had to come. It wasn’t that annoying I guess. The bills got split between all four of us, Gemma and Jack shared a room, and Abbey and I had out own two separate bedrooms. Gemma was normally out either at University, work or partying with friends; I have no idea how she managed to balance the three on top of dating Jack (and that’s a challenge within itself). And Jack was generally at his full-time job as a… plumber. I personally think it’s disgusting. Especially when I have to wash his uniform, when I see the stains on it, all I can think of is ‘You’re touching people’s poo...’