If She Only Knew

Lies

Around six, dad had gone into town for a spare part for his truck, while mom was in the kitchen cooking dinner, all downstairs smelled like pot roast, chicken salad, and veggies. I was in my room doing homework, also known as, half of my energy wasted on random knowledge. 

Then my cell vibrated against my desk. Nearly jumping, I turned it over seeing a text from Jesse, "hey want to meet up ?" Pulling up the text, "sorry, can't" I replied. Picking up my pencil he texted back, "come on, it will be fun, going to the arcade mall" I read his message.

I didn't really like arcade malls, people just playing games for hours trying to win something, or showing off their talents to their friends. Chewing on my lip, I was really thinking about it. Then also Hayden's name popped in my brain as I chewed on my lip, how it "turns" him on. 

I wondered how he was really, I should text him, but he may be busy or so. Should I ? I did like Hayden. Jesse texted again, "come on please" sighing, "yeah sure" I wrote and sent. Going down stairs, "dinner is almost ready sweetheart" mom saw me. 

"Ok" I said. "Why don't you set the table" she suggested. Normally dad does it, but he isn't back yet. Pulling out three plates, three glass cups, three forks and knives, "Oh set another place sweetie "mom said. "Who's coming ?" I asked. "Your brother" she said. 

"Wait... back up, Max is coming ?" I asked shocked. "Yes he is. So set another plate" she said opening the hot oven. "You're serious mom, Max is coming ?" I asked again. "Mona yes" she said pulling out the pot roast. "Wow, I haven't seen Max in... I don't know, what a few years" I said.

"Yeah, I know. He'll be staying" she said going to the fridge. "Really ?" I asked. "Yes" she said pulling out a pitcher of lemonade. I wondered when he'd get here, it was nearly like Christmas morning, being excited to open gifts. I was excited to see Max. 

I wondered what he looked like now ? Did he grow out of his awful hair dying days ? "Home and look who's here" dad walked in. Behind him stood Max. Mom stopped what she was doing and they went and hugged.

 "Holy shit... this can't be Mona ? The Mona I knew was more shorter" he said. "Language young man" Dad said over at the sink washing. "Sorry" he said. "Ha what happened to hair dying and chubby Maxie ?" I asked. "He grew up" Max laughed then pulled me into his hug. 

His hugs were always strong but gentle. Max looked so different, his hair pushed back under his baseball cap, was taller and more muscles. Sitting down, "wow looks great mom" Max said pulling off his hat. 

"Thank you Max, so how's life with you ?" she asked passing dad the potato salad. "Going very great" he said. "Been in any movies ?" I asked grabbing the veggies. "Nothing big, but soon I'll be casting in a movie. My agent tells me when there's the big producers around" he said. 

After saying prayers, we began eating. "That's good Max" dad said. "Yeah" he said in between a bite. "So Mona what about you, how's life ?" Max asked glancing at me. I swallowed some potato salad down, "it's going fine" I said then took a drink. 

"Just fine? What about school, friends, boyfriends ?" he asked. "Going to a high school, one friend and no boyfriends"I told him. "What no boyfriends ? How can that be you've got to be at least the prettiest girl there" he said. I smiled. Max was pretty good at that. 

"Thanks, but I don't" I said. "Oh what of that boy... Jesse ?" Mom asked me. I glanced around, "who's Jesse ?" Max elbowed me. "No one, just a guy" I said. "Yeah right... I know you a little too well" he said after taking a drink. 

After eating both dad and mom were washing and loading the dishwasher, "so are you sure about what you said at dinner ?" Max asked. "About the boyfriend thing ?" I asked. "Yeah" he said stretching out on the couch. I started chewing on my lip. 

"Mona Saphira Jacks !" he exclaimed. "What ?" I asked. "Chewing on your lip...I know you like someone" he said. "Ok...maybe" I stopped chewing. "Come on tell" he said. I handed him my cell and showed the picture, "that's Jesse, I really like him" I told him. 

"He's ok, he kinda looks like some punk that's so asking for it, tattoo's, goth look going on. What is he goth ?" Max pointed out just looking at it. Max himself was a little too good at describing people and what they do. "He's not a punk, and he's not goth" I said grabbing my phone back. 

"You know, I describe people by the way I see them. And I see in Jesse he looks like some bad boy who wants to cause trouble. Trust me sis, don't tangle with him" he explained. I felt down now because of what he said, I didn't want to believe Max. 

I didn't even tell Max that Jesse invited me to an arcade mall. I waited til he went to bed to ask mom. "So can I ?" I asked her pressing my palms against the counter top. "I don't know, it's getting late Mona" she said stirring her tea. 

"It's not that late, please" I asked. "It's a school night young lady. So no" she informed me. I left it at that, "did you learn anything new at school ?" she asked. Thinking, obviously not enough, only cause I have to go back again tomorrow ! "No" I said. 

"Did you get home safe ?" she asked sipping her green tea. My brain kept thinking up more stupid hilarious things, this time I thought,  yeah no I think I died a few times. "Yes I did" I told her. Sometimes I automatically think up things like those. 

"Ok, is there any other things you want to talk about ? Or on your mind ?" she asked. More sarcastic thinking, huh yeah I'm so not mentally prepared to go back tomorrow. "Not that I can think of" I said. "Ok, well good night sweetie and sleep well" she said coming in for a hug. 

It was about nine forty, I so wanted to see Jesse, be with him. So I called him, "Jesse ?" "Mona, hey yo" he said over a loud noise in the background. "What I can't hear you Jesse" I said. "What ?" he asked. "I said I can't hear you, why's there so much noise, where are you ?" I asked. 

"I'm at the club, that's why. Hold on" he said. Wait... did he say club ? It got quitter. "Hey can you hear me now ?" he asked. "I asked why are you at a club ?" I asked. "The guys wanted to go, so I said ok let's party, you should so come there's beer, swimming, games, you know fun" he said. 

"Jesse you told me earlier you wouldn't go since I couldn't" I informed him. "I never said that" he said. "Yes you did, you said if she can't go, I'm not. You lied" I told him straight out. "Whatev I got to go, I'll see ya" he said then hung up. 

I couldn't believed he lied. I went to bed mad as ever, laying there I stared up at the ceiling still couldn't believe what he said, whatev. Geez. All night, I tossed and turned never really sleeping. It was so hard to even sleep when someone you really like lied to you.