Lies of Livingston

A man. Or. A killer.

ANDREW:

If this is what Lillian considered to be a "small" bash, then I had no interest in seeing what a true Livingston party is supposed to look like. There are around 30 kids here, all dressed to impress, each trying to outdo the person next to them. Victoria and I stayed in the corner, barely looking at each other. I had a feeling she was probably regretting this impulsive decision to go try and fit in with people we both desperately wanted to avoid.

My eyes stayed fixed on my drink while I could feel Victoria's scanning me up and down. I knew she was probably looking for me to start a conversation with her, but I had no interest in doing so. As much as I wanted Victoria to feel comfortable tonight, I also knew that no words of mine would make her magically fit into this unrealistic society that she so desperately wanted to be apart of. I didn't understand why Victoria felt the need to try to prove herself to all these people.

In my eyes, she was fine the way she was.

We continued standing in the corner of the house in pure silence. I tried to think of what I could possibly say to her but no ideas were coming to mind. She knew that I didn't want to be here. In her mind, she thought I only showed up tonight for her.

Of course, that wasn't exactly true. But she didn't need to know that.

Maybe it was because of the secret I was hiding that I felt a little bit more awkward than usual.

I felt my eyes examine the room slowly and carefully, looking down on each of my fellow classmates as they passed by. In the crowd, emerged Lillian and her "boyfriend" Nate. I felt myself begin to sweat and my eyes were fully watching them tracking their every movement. With every step they took, I immediately felt more uncomfortable by the second. To most they might come off as the perfect couple, but I knew better than to think of them like that. Their relationship was strange and quite honestly, not even real. It amazed me how quickly the students of Livingston would bow to their presence and listen to their every move. It didn't make sense to me, and maybe that's why I didn't make sense to anyone in this town.

As soon as Lillian and Nate were standing dead center, the perfect spot for everyone to admire them, they hugged each other. Normally, I would barely notice if the two talked or even so much looked at each other, but this hug stood out to me. With Lillian's bright blond locks pressed against his shoulder, I could see Nate's eyes glimmer and his mouth widen. Something told me that it was not due to the fact that his girlfriend was showing him some affection. And I was right. One small look to my right, I could see Victoria with the same glimmer in her eyes as her brother. It seems like the two had a moment.

At least that's what Victoria thought.

In Victoria's eyes, that smile was directed at her and only her. 

And I wished it was.

But Nate wasn't looking at Victoria. His eyes and smile were directed at me.

It was a signal. 

But no one else knew that. And no one ever would.

Victoria's eyes still twinkled even when Nate had vanished. I could tell she was still very much on a high from a few minutes earlier where she had a "connection" with her brother. Normally, I would have made a slight dig at Victoria for her moment of weakness with Nate. But tonight, I would not make a scene or draw more attention to Nate. Instead, I would try to be the supportive best friend and try to make myself look a little bit more caring.