The Devil In Disguise

CHAPTER 20: Liar, Liar

The next few days went quickly and Xander and I decided to forget about our little spat. We both knew there was no point, and Simon had told both of us to get a grip — so we did.

At 8pm sharp, I was at Frankie and Benny's. My parents warned me to be extra careful, and only after I'd promised, they had let me go.

Walking in, I smoothed down my sleek black hair. I was wearing a jade sweatshirt saying, 'If you think I'm being sarcastic, you're definitely wrong.' This was matched by a pair of light blue jeans and a choker.

"Over here, Karissa!" I heard Simon yell, and I looked around to find his wildly waving hand in the corner, on a table for ten. The friendly hanging lights set an easy atmosphere and I relaxed, the knot of anxiety in my stomach (that I wasn't even aware of) loosening.

Walking over, Corina and Grace shuffled over on the sofa connected to the wall and I sat down opposite Xander and Simon. Grey suddenly appeared from the men's toilets and exclaimed, "Rissa, you've arrived!"

I crinkled my nose at the unimaginative nickname while the other four snorted. Grey came over and sat next to me and I gave him a quick, bright smile before rolling my eyes at the others.

"Let's order drinks!" Grey said, oblivious to our bitching. We murmured incoherent agreement, and opened our menus, ordering our specific drinks when the waiter came. I ordered a Pepsi and got a disproving look from Grey.

"So unhealthy," he shook his head. I raised my eyebrow in indignation and opened my mouth to say something when —

"I thought I saw you eating a burger for lunch today, Grey," Corina interrupted, and I pursed my lips to stop myself from cackling wickedly.

"Me too," I added innocently, "You know, those things are absolutely saturated with oil..." I trailed off, tutting in disappointment. Grey's smile had been replaced by a murderous glare and he said, "A boy has to eat, doesn't he?"

"A girl has to drink, doesn't she?" I retorted, earning loud 'Ooooh's from the other four. Grey rolled his eyes but gave up, muttering to himself. Corina gave me a high five from under the table.

Our drinks came and the waiter put them on the table. Since Grey was the closest to them, he decided to give them out, which made me uneasy because he was the type of guy who'd spill one on you, ruining your entire outfit, and not even say sorry.

He didn't do that though, just gave them out normally. But when he reached the Pepsi, his hand lingered above my drink for a millisecond more than normal. Immediately, I caught it and was instantly alert. I glanced at the others to see if they'd noticed; Xander was staring right back at me with the same suspiciously unsure expression.

Did you see that? he mouthed at me. I nodded.

"Grey. What was that?" I asked outright.

"What was what?" he replied innocently. I glared.

"Did you put something in my drink?" I accused. I knew he was going to deny it but I didn't care; he had no one to back him up.

Immediately, his grey eyes turned serious. "No, Karissa. I swear, I would never."

For a moment, I was mesmerised. He seemed so genuine in that moment, his eyes willing me to believe him...

I narrowed my eyes. Oh, he was good.

"Grey," Xander said cheerfully, and Grey's eyes shot to him at once. "You know, I have a talent. Almost... like a sixth sense. Know what it is?"

Grey shook his head cautiously.

"I can tell when people lie," Xander's tone hardened as did his gaze. If looks could kill, Grey would have evaporated by now. Grey felt this, and he visibly gulped.

"It's true," Simon stage-whispered. "If I were you, I'd be shitting myself."

Grey seemed to struggle with himself, then sighed in defeat. "I didn't spike it. I don't have anything to spike it with; and besides, why would I want to? We're not even at a party!"

None of us had arguments for that, so after exchanging glances, we settled down and ordered our food. But I decided not to drink the Pepsi — just for good measure.

***

"Did you even invite any others? 'Cause you said they were coming," Corina harshly accused Grey, and he shot her daggers.

We had exited the restaurant and were walking to the bus stop where we'd take the bus to the shopping centre and our parents would pick us from there. I didn't know why the plan was so complicated, but Grey had arranged it so that's what we told our parents.

"Yes. But they canceled."

"I don't blame them," I said without thinking. Xander snorted — but Grey hadn't heard.

"Why'd they cancel?" Grace asked. She was the only one who wasn't hostile towards him — she just didn't have it in her. We all understood so we didn't force her.

"Because they had other plans," Grey shrugged.

"And you didn't tell us... why?" Simon interrogated. He could be pretty intimidating went he wanted, and just then, with his chocolate eyes narrowed, he was evidently making Grey uneasy.

"Um — 'cause I just — didn't think to," Grey stammered in response. Xander smirked. But then he staggered.

I gasped sharply, taken by surprise. "Xander? You okay?"

Bending over, he fell to the ground. He held his head in pain, and though he didn't make a single noise, his eyes were scrunched through the agony.

The four of us rushed to him and kneeled beside him, asking what was the matter. Simon looked especially worried, saying that he's never been like this before.

"I don't know what it is..." Xander trailed off, groaning, gripping his head as if it was about to explode.

"Shit. I'll call my parents, tell them to pick us up from here instead —" Simon offered, fumbling for his phone.

"You're so ill. Why'd you come out today?" Grace worried, holding Xander's shoulder in a talon grip, her face filled with anxiousness.

I said nothing. Because I felt something.

Foreboding anxiety.

"Something isn't right," I said grimly, making them all turn towards me, Xander even opening his eyes.

"Wait — where's Grey?" Corina asked sharply. And when we all whipped around, he was gone.

A/N:

CLIFFHANGER!!! What do you think will happen now? Maybe you see it coming... but maybe you don't. 

VOTE!!

Hope you liked this chapter! From here it only gets better... or should I say worse?

;)

See you in the next chapter.

-- deainlustris