Monique

Carmen

Monique can lie. Her mother once told her lying got little girls into trouble. Monique never listened.

Little girls don't get into trouble. Only big girls do.

But Monique doesn't remember she's a big girl now.

It's easy to lie, as long as there is a partner in crime. That's what Stella is meant for. It's a quick hit. No messes allowed. It's quite simple actually. Monique does it flawlessly. After all, she is a pretty little liar.

She tells her parents she's going to Stella's for a sleep over, so they can study for exams. Stella backs up the story. Even better, her older sister, Evelyn agrees to the idea. Their parents are out of town so they don't give a damn.

There's something good about parents who don't give a damn.

Monique's parents hesitantly let her leave. They can't say no to Stella and Evelyn, especially when they've offered Monique a chance to catch up on work and study.

It's 4pm when Monique takes her duffel bag and purse, and leaves the house. In her pocket is the Solo Club card. Her heart races with anticipation as she shuts the door. Tonight might bring her the answers to her problems.

John might even come back.

She hops into the backseat with Stella and Evelyn and smiles as her prison disappears into the distance. It takes ten minutes to arrive back at Stella's place. Evelyn is going out with her boyfriend tonight, and can give Monique her ID card. Monique is also using her car. With a little bit of makeup and darker hair, Monique can easily pass for Evelyn. Anyway, bouncers are becoming slack now a days.

Stella needs to catch up on Integrated science. Monique has to help her with English tomorrow as a price for helping her sneak into a club.

Monique dumps her duffel bag on one of the thousand dollar cream sofas as Evelyn places an order for pizza. Stella blabbers on about Channing Tatum. Turns out, she's began watching prison break, all over again just to look into his smoky eyes. Monique pretends to care.

She wants answers.

She's going to get John back tonight. He's going to protect her from the monsters. If she sees Jimmy, she'll tell him what she found out about his disappearance. Maybe he'll cross over like ghosts do in Ghost Whisperer to meet him mum. Hopefully.

Pizza arrives half an hour later and the girls dig in. Monique sticks to meat lovers.

It's John's favourite.

At four twenty, Monique pulls out her sequin dress and platform shoes from her bag, praying to God everything goes to plan.

Nothing can go wrong tonight. Nothing.

She puts on the dress and inspects herself in the mirror. She's halfway there.

Evelyn whistles, "Damn gurl. You look hot!" Monique manages a small smile. She's suddenly become nervous. What if things don't go to plan?

Evelyn takes her makeup kit and works her magic before taking a wig, a darker shade of red and placing it on her head.

Monique looks in the mirror.

Perfect.

She's absolutely perfect.

She puts on her heels, takes the car keys from Evelyn and walks out the door. It's getting dark outside. It's easier to hide secrets in the dark.

She enters the car and drives away from the house.

Nothing can go wrong tonight. Absolutely nothing.