The Truth In My Lies

15

MADISON

ONE month. That's how long it's been since I've spoken to Andrew or Kaiden. Andrew even moved spots in our human anatomy lab. That kind of hurt, knowing he was giving up on apologizing.

Kaiden... well, he never made any efforts to talk to me after he dropped me off at my dorm. I didn't try talking to him either, so that's just how things have been between us.

Valentine's Day came and went. I spent the whole day in my dorm watching horror movies and eating chips. Kassie spent the day with Cameron.

Today is the sixth of March and I am determined to have a good day.

I got a manicure and a pedicure, and now I'm shopping for a new outfit. I hate shopping, but I've been down in the dumps and I'm in need of a lift-up.

I currently have a mini-jean skirt and a black top picked out, but I notice there's a cute pink midi dress hanging in the corner of the store. Pink isn't usually my color, but the style of it is too cute not to try on.

Just as I pluck it off the rack, I hear my name.

I whirl around and find Alyssa staring back at me. A smile plays on her lips, but it looks fake. Her hair is in a bun on top of her head and I notice how tired she looks. There are dark circles under her eyes and her clear complexion is now littered with breakouts.

"Alyssa, hi." I say back.

"Have you talked to Kaiden lately?" The smile drops from her face and her eyes look frantic. I guess she hasn't been taking the breakup too well.

I shake my head. "No, not for a month."

"Well, I need you to give him a message for me, okay? I need you to tell him that I need help." She nods her head frantically, like she's trying to reassure herself.

"Help with what?" I'm so confused and a little shocked by her behavior.

"I just need you to tell him that I need help!" She reaches out and grabs my wrists. "Can you do that? Can you?"

I jerk away from her and take a step backwards. "Are you okay, Alyssa?"

That's really a pointless question because she's obviously not.

"Do I look okay?" She snaps. "Tell Kaiden to call me."

She walks away and exits the store before I have time to comprehend what just happened.

———

I stare at the white door, unsure whether I should knock or just leave. They don't know I'm here, and they won't unless I knock and make myself known. I don't know what to say to Andrew he's the one who answers, but I don't have much to say to Kaiden either.

The haunting look on Alyssa's face replays in my mind and I raise my hand, then knock on the door.

I hold my breath when I hear footsteps approaching the door. I could leave now, hurry and run the stairwell and disappear.

The door opens and I'm brought face to face with the man I was looking for.

His eyebrows raise when he sees me, obviously shocked by my presence. "Madison? What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you." I don't know why I'm so nervous. It's just Kaiden. At least it wasn't Andrew.

"About?" He crosses his arms and leans against the doorway. His hairs grown a little in the past month, but it looks good on him. Then again, I think anything would look good on him.