She's A Good Liar

Prologue

Prologue:

“I’m sorry, Sweetie, but with all of these medical bills, I won’t be able to afford your dance classes anymore.” Alice’s mom told her as she straightened a stack of papers and stuffed them neatly into a drawer at her desk.

“Mom, I understand that you need to pay for Nana’s hospital bills. So, if you would just let me get a job-“

Her mom cut her off with a stern look. “No, that is definitely out of the question. What if I need you to run to the hospital if I’m held up at work? No, I’m sorry, but that’s definitely a no.”

Alice’s shoulder’s sagged. This was her third attempt at asking her mother about her dance classes, and yet again, she was denied. She walked back to her room and slumped on her bed. Something crinkled under her covers and she pulled out the newspaper she was looking at earlier. It was open to the Wanted Ads, and a few sections were circled in red ink. She focused on one in particular. It said, “Custodian” and it was from the dance center downtown.

“This would be perfect,” Alice whispered to her empty room. She read over the article for what seemed like the millionth time. All of a sudden her cell phone started to vibrate. She peeked at the screen and a picture of her best friend Grace was shining brightly. She taped the green circle on the screen and groaned into the phone.

“Someone doesn’t sound happy,” Grace said with a hint of a smile in her tone.

“You’re very observant,” Alice mumbled into the phone. “Mom denied me again. She also said I couldn’t get a job in case I needed to help out with Nana.”

“Isn’t the job you want at the dance studio you wanted to go to?”

Alice groaned a soft, “Yeah, so?”

“So, why don’t you just go secretly?” Just tell your mom you’re taking up those free classes at the library and go to the dance studio instead. Simple,” Grace declared, obviously satisfied with herself.

For some reason, it didn’t seem that ‘simple’ to Alice. “You want me to lie to my mom?” Alice starred down at the newspaper once more.

“Don’t act like you haven’t done it before. You are pretty much the queen at lying and not getting caught.”

“Doesn’t mean I enjoy lying to my mother.” Alice smoothed out the newspaper and retraced the circle around the dance studio job with a black pen.

“Listen, Alice, do you want to dance or not?” She could imagine Grace sitting on the fluffy chair in her room, legs crossed and blowing on her just painted fingernails.

“Like you don’t already know the answer to that question, Grace.” Alice started fiddling with the corners of the newspaper, folding it in odd ways.

“Well, then, you know what you need to do,” She finished, and Alice knew she was right. The only way that she was going to be able to dance was if she lied her way in. She shook her head quickly and pushed her hair behind her ear.

“So, why did you call me anyways? I know for a fact you didn’t call just to talk about my day.” She leaned back on her pillows and waited for the gush of words that she knew was about to come.

“Oh Em Gee!” Alice scrunched up her nose. Did she actually just say that? “So, I was talking with Sarah, who heard from Meghan who heard from Jane, who heard from-“

“Grace…”

“Right, Anyways. There’s a new kid at school. His first day is in a few weeks and apparently he’s gorgeous.”

“Oh really? That’s nice.”

“Wow, Al. Please, hold back your excitement.”

Alice shrugged but realized Grace couldn’t see so she said, “Sorry, I just don’t really understand what this has to do with me.”

“Well, you do need a boyfriend, and a new kid might be your only chance since all of the other guys here actually know you.”

“Wow, thanks, Grace.”

“I meant that in the nicest way possible.”

“Sounded like it.”

“I’m just being honest here, Al. Which is something you need to learn to be. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The phone clicked, and Alice tossed it aside. Hopefully this plan will work. It’s dangerous, but if she did it carefully, no one would know, therefore, no one would get hurt.

Alice didn’t lie all of the time. She had the demeanor of a ‘good girl’ which made it easy for people to believe her. She didn’t abuse this power though, only fibbing when absolutely necessary. She didn’t want to lose anyone’s trust, especially her mothers.

But this was something she desperately wanted, and it seemed pretty easy to pull off. She would discuss with the teacher the whole situation, where she might need to leave to tend to her sick grandmother. She would understand, right?

Alice picked up her phone once more and dialed the number on the newspaper.