Ugly Secrets, Pretty Lies

One

When I came down to the kitchen early in the morning, dawn had barely broken. It was still a bit dark outside, a little before six. Mom was sitting on a chair, dressed in her waitressing uniform and holding a mug tightly between her laced hands. She looked up as I came over to her and smiled just slightly. 

"Good morning, Quinn." 

"'Morning, Mom," I said, drawing a chair out and sitting on it. Then I  looked carefully at her. I could see the heavy bags under her eyes , no matter that my mom had put makeup on.

 "You've been working all night again," I said. 

She said nothing as she tore her eyes from my face and looked out the window instead. I sighed and stood up. "I can't do everything on my own, Mom. We're poor, we're poor. You do the best you can, but please, Mom, you're never home. You're always working and I'm always expected to take care of myself." I pushed my chair back in, fighting the tears that threaten to fall. "I'm going to school."

The last thing I saw before heading out of the kitchen was my mother continuing to stare out the window, still and silent.

I ran up the stairs and into my room, brushing my hand across my eyes to stop tears falling. I collapsed onto my bed and spread my arms on my bed sheets. 

My family is poor. Ever since my father left my mother and took all the money we ever had. Then my older sister, Jessica, left 4 years after Dad left 6 years ago. Leaving me and Mom alone in our little house, struggling to pay bills. Mom worked day and night; she has 2 jobs; day as a waitress at Millie's, a popular diner a few minutes away from our house, and the night-shift secretary in a firm downtown. She was rarely ever home. I did everything on my own and yet, the money she made in both jobs couldn't even pay a month's worth of bills. 

My phone rang, blaring the tunes of a rap song battle between Katniss Everdeen and Hermione Granger. I sat up slowly and leaned down to pick up my phone. It must've fallen from my pocket when I ran into my room. I tapped accept call and put the phone to my ear.

"Quinn, you ready yet? I'm legit outside your house!" one of my 2 best friends, Lily, shouted.

 I flinched from her loud voice. "Why don't you come on up instead?" I suggested, wiping my nose with a tissue from the side table. 

"Alright." Then she paused and coughed a little. "Is your, er, mother in the house?" Lily asked hesitantly. 

"Yes."

"Open up your window."

"Wait, wait, what?!" But Lily had already hung off and I was left talking to an empty phone. I huffed, but stood up and crossed over to my window. I unlocked the lock and flung the window open, then stretched my head out to see Lily and our other best friend, Harper, climbing the large oak tree next to my window.

"If you both fall and break your neck, I'm not responsible for anything!" I called to them. 

Harper looked up and flashed me a grin. 

"Actually, it was Lily's idea so you can blame her," she called back sweetly. 

Lily grunted.

I said nothing as I back a few steps and watch Lily swung her leg over my window ledge and heaved herself into my room. Harper followed in a similar fashion, though she landed in a lump on the floor, instead of a graceful motion like Lily. I only tried to fight back a smile as I helped her up. 

"So what's up?" Lily asked, flopping down on my bed. Harper pulled a chair over, facing me, and sat down, her eyes focus on my face. 

"My mother is working her ass off 24/7 and right now, she probably left for her day job already. It's been going on for years," I told them, my eyes prickling again.

"Oh, Quinn," Lily sighed, rubbing my shoulder as I sat down on my bed next to her. I shook my head and looked at the ceiling. "Don't matter," I croaked. "We should get to school." 

Harper and Lily exchanged looks, then Harper sighed. 

"We're not letting this go, you know," Harper said.

 I shrugged and stood up. Blinking rapidly to get ride of tears, I stripped my pajamas off and wriggled on a dark blue sweater that I took from my closet and pulled on faded blue jeans. Lily stood up and walked over to me. She sat me down in front of my makeup table. Harper stood up and came behind me, taking a comb from the table. Lily took my makeup bad and pull the zipper open.

"We're going to school, not a party, you know," I joked. 

Lily's lips tugged up in a half smile. "Let's just pretty our best friend up," she said. 

Harper started to comb my long chestnut brown hair. It was wavy. Not very wavy, but not just a little wavy either. She combed out the tangles and swept my hair up. Lily began to apply eye shadow. I closed my eyes and let my best friends do their work.

It seems like ages had passed when they finally finished. "Can I look now?" I asked, opening my eyes. 

"Mhm, yes," Harper said. 

I stood up and walked over to my full-size mirror and looked at myself. As always, Lily had done a wonderful job with makeup. She had applied palest pink eyeshadow. My cheeks were dabbed with the faintest blush and black eyeliner swept across the top of my eyelids. Harper had swept my long hair up in a ponytail. Strands of my hair was taken away and braided. The braid was wrapped around my ponytail, keeping the hair together and several black pins helped the braid hold my hair in place.

"Beautiful," I whispered.

 Harper and Lily smiled softly at me as they wiped their hands with some baby wipes. 

"Shall we head to school now?" Lily said, grinning.

 I nodded and slung my backpack over my shoulders after slipping on my Adidas sneakers. We filed out my bedroom door which I shut behind me and down the stairs. I was right; Mom had already left. I sighed as Harper, Lily, and I walked out the front door. I closed and locked the door behind me, tucking the key into my sneakers and followed my best friends to Lily's mid-size Toyota Camry. Lily unlocked the doors and climbed into the driver's seat. 

"Shotgun!" I called, slapping my right hand on the passenger seat door. Harper huffed good-naturedly and opened one of the back car door. She climbed in and I followed likewise, but in the shotgun seat. We both shut our doors and Lily started the engine. 

"To Riverwood High!" we shouted.