Secrets and Lies

Chapter 2

Hey Readers,

I decided to go ahead and put up Chapter 2.  I hope you like it.

~*~

"Where are you going?" my mom questioned, sounding a little shocked that I already had plans.

"Emma invited me to go to dinner and a movie with some of her friends and her boyfriend," I lied through my teeth. Emma had coached me for over ten minutes on what to tell my mom, knowing that the likelihood of our parents letting us go to a house party was pretty slim.

My stomach was turning from the fear that she would see through my lies, and I'd get both myself and Emma into huge trouble, and from the guilt of lying to my mother. I didn't lie to my mother very often –I never really had any reason to.

"I don't know. You don't really know this town yet, and what about all the unpacking you have to do?" I couldn't tell if she was suspicious or just worried about me.

"Don't worry, Aunt Claire," Emma's voice chimed from behind me. "I promised Mina I'd help her unpack tomorrow. This is a good chance for her to meet some kids from school. Plus, I'll be with her all night, so you don't need to worry."

The way Emma spoke, with such confidence and surety, had even me believing everything that she was saying. I snuck a glance at my mom's face to see if she believed it as well and found that the skepticism and worry had melted from her face. "Alright, you can go. Keep your phone on, and I want you home by midnight."

"Thanks, Mom," I said, giving her a hug.

"Yeah, thanks Aunt Claire," Emma added. She linked her arm with mine and started to walk me towards the front door.

My aunt's voice echoed from the kitchen. "Don't forget, you have the same curfew, Emma. If you are even a minute late, you will be grounded."

"Okay, Mom. Bye," Emma called back to her, closing the door behind us before anything else was said.

"You're ten minutes late for curfew one time..." she complained to no one in particular.

I quickly took note of the black SUV that was parked in the driveway, along with the well-built, attractive looking guy sitting in the driver's seat, who I assumed was Tyler.

"Hey, eyes off," Emma said as she passed me to get into the SUV. I blushed as I realized I'd been caught gawking at her boyfriend, but could she really blame me? He was hot. Not that I would ever pursue him.

I climbed into the backseat, and as soon as I closed my door, we pulled out of the driveway.

"Introductions," Emma began, turning around in the passenger seat. "Mina, this is my boyfriend, Tyler Kelly. Tyler this is my cousin, Mina. I've mentioned her before."

"Nice to meet you," Tyler said while looking at me in the rearview mirror.

"You too. I didn't know Emma had a boyfriend. How long have you two been together?" I asked, hoping to start a conversation. I tried to remember Emma ever mentioned him, but couldn't think of it. I did remember her being more absorbed in her phone last Christmas, though. Maybe she had been texting him.

"About a year and a half," Emma said fondly.

"How did you two meet?"

"Well, we were good friends for a while, but then he asked me to Homecoming freshman year. After that our feelings grew into something more. " She had a sappy look on her face while she told the story, which made me almost want to roll my eyes.

"So you two were the stereotypical best friends that started dating?" I summed up, not really asking.

"Yeah, I guess so," Tyler answered for the first time.