Ugly Secrets, Pretty Lies

Three

The class was quiet as they scratched away with pencil or pen on paper. We were suppose to be drafting an introduction for our literary essay. I raised my head and looked around the room. The cheerleader that Blake had smirked at earlier had her phone under her desk and was typing away. I wonder who she was texting. Miss Grant was reading her book, looking up from time to time to check on what we were doing. Lily was highlighting something in her textbook.

I checked that Miss Grant wasn't looking before poking Lily with my pencil.

"Ouch," she hissed, looking up and rubbing the place where I had poked her. I ignored her remark and placed my pencil back on my desk. 

"What time is it?" I asked in a low voice. 

"You have a phone, Quinn," Lily answered in a slightly annoyed voice. 

"You have a watch, Lily," I mimicked. 

She glared at me before checking the her watch she wore on her right wrist. "Ten on the dot."

 I gave her a thumps-up. The bell should be ringing any second now. I 

I slipped my pencil into the pockets of my sweater and trapped my essay in a random page of my textbook before stuffing the book in my backpack. The bell rang just as I zipped my backpack close and stood up. I dash out the room before I got held back by the people back in the room. I stood aside, next to the door, to wait for Lily. 

Lily stepped out of the room, holding her backpack. "What next?" she asked. 

"History."

-

Lunch finally came after 4 very boring and trouble free classes. The lunchroom was filled with students. Most were out on the campus or somewhere in a restaurant near our school. Riverwood allowed students to leave campus as long as we returned by the end of the lunch period. Each year has a different lunch period. My last class didn't have Lily or Harper. I stuffed my things in my locker and speed walked to the lunchroom. 

"Quinn!" 

My head turned to the direction where my name was called and saw Lily and Harper sitting at the table in the center of the lunchroom and went over to them. I grinned, seeing that they had gotten food for me. Yummy fries with melted cheese and bacon bits on top, a slice of cheesy pizza and Sprite. My favorite soda.

 Harper squirted some hand sanitizer in my hand and I rubbed my hands thoroughly before picking up the slice of pizza and biting into it. 

"Oh... This is so good,!" I let out a little moan. 

Harper giggled. "Don't moan too much." 

I slapped her arm playfully and took another bite.

 Lily waved her phone at us. "Guess what!" she squealed loudly, causing a few people nearby us to look over. Lily tends to squeal a lot. 

"Yessss?" Harper said, dragging the word out. 

"Party tonight!" 

"Ooh, a party!" Harper said, clapping her hands together. 

"Who's the host?" I asked. 

"Kelly Hollister." 

"The queen bitch?" 

"The slut?" Harper and I said at the same time. She said slut, I said queen bitch.

 Lily gave us both a funny look and nodded. "Her," she confirmed.

 I groaned.

 "And not just any party," Lily adds, putting her hands together and leaning forward, "It's the annual Masquerade Party held each year!"

 "I've heard of it!" Harper half-screamed. 

I paused in eating, my brows furrowed. I've never heard of it. But then again, when have I ever heard of any party since freshmen year? 

"And, traditionally, the entire school is invited, no matter the crowd we're in." 

"Spectacular," I said dryly, "Joy." 

"No sarcasm, darling," Lily says, wagging a finger at me.

 "Should we go? I mean, it's our last year of high school, we haven't really been to much parties, and this Masquerade one is suppose to be memorable for the whole school, whatever year they're in," Harper said. 

I looked at Harper blankly. To be honest, I'll rather spend tonight lounging around in my room and stuffing my face with snacks. But I could see that Lily and Harper really wanted to go. They were both looking at me with puppy dog eyes. 

"Okay, fine!" I threw my hands up exaggeratedly. 

"Yes!" Harper and Lily both threw their arms around me. I laughed as my air was practically squeezed off.

 "C-can't. Breathe!" 

"Whoops, sorry." Lily giggled, and they both let me go. 

Harper snatched one of my fry and popped it in her mouth. 

"Hey! No stealing my food!" I said, hugging my tray close to me and glaring at her. 

Harper wiggled her eyebrows at me. Lily had floated away from our talk. Her eyes were trained somewhere else. Or should I say, someone else. Namely, Blake Anderson.

The guy was strutting toward the table next to ours, a girl clinging on to his right arm, dressed in the most sluttiest outfit I've ever seen. A crop top cropped very short, making it look like a bra and showing off her tanned stomach. She was wearing a short, lacy black skirt. Her tanned legs were long and slender, and her long, curly blonde hair was flowing around her. And she is also Kelly Hollister, the girl I've hated since freshmen year. And who also hated me.

Every girl was staring at Blake and every boy was staring at Kelly. Even the boys who would definitely have no chance with her, like the math nerds. No offense to them. Harper followed Lily's gaze and fixed her eyes on Blake as well. 

The football guys whistled at Kelly, who flashed them a wink and tugged her top down more, revealing her breasts. I bet she isn't even wearing a bra. 

The football guys and some of Blake's friends who I merely knew by sight were sitting at the populars table with a whole crowd of the popular girls, Kelly's friends. And all of them were sluts as well. All the guys were players. I swear none of them could keep their little friend in properly. But Blake's friends are okay, I guess. I was partnered with one of them, a dark-haired guy, last year for a history project and he wasn't bad at all. Nice, I could say. A little quiet. I doubt he would remember me this year. 

I snapped my fingers loudly, drawing my best friends' gazes back to me and arched a brow. Then my eyes widened slightly. Harper was blushing a little. I looked at Lily. "What's with our dear friend here?"

 Lily shrugged. Harper shook her head, but she was still blushing. 

"Spill, girlfriend," Lily demanded, me and her looking at Harper.

 "Come on, Harp," I said, poking her repeatedly. 

She swatted my hand away and opened her mouth, only to close it again. 

"Spill," Lily and I urged, grinning.

"Alright, alright!" Harper said, throwing her hands up. "You know that blonde guy? One of Blake's friend?"

 Lily and I nodded eagerly. 

"Well, I like him." Then Harper shut her eyes tightly, as if she expected us to be angry at her. Instead, Lily and I exploded.