I Lie For A Living

Chapter1

CHAPTER 1

The steady drumming of my fist against the punching bag were barely audible as the rain outside fell heavily from the dark skies onto the ground. The barn door was open and a slight sprinkle of rain water fell on me every once in awhile.

My sweat trickled down my face, but I didn't pause to wipe them away. My breaths were getting more laboured as I continued, my knuckles getting raw from the contact.

"Rider!" I heard my name being called out. I ignored it. "Rider!" Someone called out to me again. Sighing to myself, I stopped, and turned to look at the person that was making her way towards me.

"Evelyn?" I said, surprised. "It's barely six in the morning. What are you doing here?" Her face was set in a grim position. "What is it?" I asked my roommate and tried to search her face for answers. But Evelyn just stared at me. Her eyes giving nothing away. "Is something wrong?" I tried again.

Evelyn just looked at me and placed one hand on my shoulder. "Headmistress Morgan wants to see you in her office." She finally replied, her gaze dropped to the floor as she continued, "Your mother is here."

***

At the Gallagher Academy, hardly anyone ever gets called to the headmistress office. I'm not sure about other normal high schools, but I'm sure when getting called into the principles office meant you did something bad like cheating in exams, starting a fight or even lighting the chemistry lab on fire.

But the thing is, no one ever cheats here, and fighting here is a norm, where you are actually expected to defend yourself and fight back. But only during our P&E lessons where girls challenge each other to a round of kickboxing or a random sparring fight.

The walk to the headmistress office was short. It would barely take 5 minutes to walk from the P&E barn to the office. Yet, when I followed Evelyn, the walk seemed much longer.

Evelyn threw me a small towel as we walked out the barn, following the small pathway leading the barn to the main building. Our path barely lit by the light shining from the barn. I wiped the sweat off my face and slung the towel across my shoulder as I quickened my pace to follow Evelyn's one.

My thoughts were racing as I tried to think of what could've happen that caused my mom to come to the Gallagher Academy so early in the morning. Isn't she suppose to be in Thailand chasing a drug dealer? I knew they found a lead in that particular case so they sent my mom there.

Did I do something wrong? I thought to myself and I scaled the grandstaircase, my hands lightly skimming across the wooden railing. Did one of my relatives die? Or maybe it's an imposter trying to act as my mom? My mom would never abandon her mission just to see me in the middle of my semester. Especially so early in the morning.

I shook my head and tried to clear the thoughts from my mind as I walked along the corridor, trying to keep up with Evelyn, our footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting on the floor.

But when I paused outside the headmistress door, with my hand raised above my head, poised to knock, I found myself being unable to do so. Knowing that something is about to happen and was going to change my life forever as soon as that door opens.

***

"Take a seat, please, Ms. Rider." Headmistress Morgan instructed. I obliged and sat down. "You may leave now, Evelyn." She addressed Evelyn who was standing in a corner. "Thank you."

Evelyn nodded at the headmistress and gave me one last glance before heading out of the room.

"Where's my mom?" I asked. "I thought she was here?"