Chapter nineteen | Liar with a skirt on fire

Chapter nineteen | Liar with a skirt on fire

Cynthia: 'Babe, when are you going to show up?'

My text went to read as Andrea ignored me again.

My eyebrows scrunched together in concern as my jaw ticked in annoyance.

With a huff, I shoved my phone in my jeans pocket and leaned back in my seat.

The teacher walked into the class, and the seat beside me remained empty.

It was when the first period got over, that my phone rang.

I didn't need to see the dialer name to know it was Andrea. The unique ringtone set just for her was enough.

"Are you all right, babe?" I fired just as the line clicked together.

It was silent on the other side for a moment as her breathing caressed the phone.

"Andrea?" I asked, concerned with her silence.

With her jovial attitude and ever-present smile, Andrea wasn't one to keep quiet.

"I-I am fine, Cyn. Just a bit busy," she stammered, seeming nervous on the other side.

I patiently waited for her to explain more as I opened my locker.

My eyes met Fern's for a moment as she gave me a questioning look. I shook my head dismissively and turned towards my locker.

"My aunt broke her back in an accident. I had to leave. I will be back by this evening," she explained.

Something inside me didn't sit well with me at her words, but I waved it off. Andrea rarely lied.

"Oh, ok. Tell your aunt I said get well soon," I muttered, pushing back my hap hazardous thoughts.

"Great. I-I mean sure," Andrea murmured on the line. "See you. Bye!"

She disconnected the call before I could get another word in. I stared at the screen incredulously for a moment, wondering if I should call her again or not. With a reluctant and dejected sigh, I shoved my phone in my bag and slammed my locker shut.

Andrea's strange words were long forgotten by the next period came. The school was a blur until the cheer practice finished.

Just as I stepped out of the shower, I heard muted murmurs fill the locker room. By now, many had left, leaving only a few cheerleaders behind.

Not paying them any heed, I quickly pulled up my jeans and top. The locker room was a hub for gossip between girls (and maybe, boys too).

I stopped for a moment when I heard my name. It wasn't something new, but what concerned me was Elias's name they spoke with mine.

"Did you see the nerd she is with always?" A voice snickered.

"Yeah, like they are seriously joined by the hip. Cyn stooped so low in her taste," a voice added, sounding bored.

"I mean, he is good looking enough, but he is not as hot as Ian. She freaking rejected him for that Elias guy," another voice added, sounding horrified at the mere prospect.

"OMG! Really! She did?" The first girl which I by now recognized was Michele, screeched in horror.

"Yeah, I saw it at her party. Ian kissed her, and she punched him on the face. She also said he wasn't as good as Elias!" The voice confided.

I never said the last part, even though it was the truth. Actually, I never punched Ian either.

Done with the drama talks, I stepped out of the shadows. Ignoring their horrifying screech, I turned towards my locker.

"It was great practice, wasn't it?" Michele said, trying to act nonchalant. Others nodded their heads robotically, agreeing with her shit talk.

I am sure if she asks them to jump off the roof, they would nod to that too. My mind snickered as it supplied.

I made my way outside to the school parking, where Eli was leaning against his car with his head buried in the same novel I had seen him reading before.

I couldn't help but notice the way his wet hair was pushed back after he ran his fingers through it, leaving the path of his finger behind. With nothing hiding his icy eyes, the blue orbs seemed to glow in determination.

"Are you a big, Invisible Man fan?" I asked as soon as he came into the hearing distance.

He looked up and shook his head. "God, no. Any kind of literature except textbooks is not my thing."

Amused, I leaned over his book, reading the page he was reading. "You are almost at the end, aren't you? This is the point where Griffin tells Dr. Kemp the truth, right?"

Eli nodded and snapped his book shut. He pulled his car door open and gestured for me to get in.

"I thought chivalry was dead," I joked, making him shake his head.

He got into his seat and just shrugged in answer.

Just as we exited the school parking lot, my phone pinged with a message.

Andrea: 'Come over. I need to talk.'

I read the simple text from Andrea, with intrigue. I quickly typed in response and slipped my phone in my pocket.

"Eli, can you drop me off at the main square?"

He gave me a glance from the corner of his eyes. "Why?"

Because of my habit, my first instinct was to present a cutting remark, but I bit back the words just in time.

I will not keep going on the same path. I reminded myself.

"Andrea is back, and she needs to talk to me about something," I muttered, still lost in my thoughts.

"Oh. I can drop you there," he offered, making me stare at his side profile.

I wanted to say no but held myself back. "Thank you."

He just nodded in acknowledgment.

He most probably wanted to meet Andrea too. My heart clenched at the thought, but I quickly banished it from my mind. I would not be selfish here.

I gave him the address, and soon we were in front of a suburban home. It was so big that it could compete for a mansion.

Getting out of the car hastily, I turned around towards the window."Thanks for the ride." I hesitated before saying my next statement. "You can come over and meet her if you want to."

I kept my voice void from emotions with an impassive mask on the face.

He didn't even take a second to think and shook his head. "I don't want to jump into your friend's time." His words brought a smile on my face.

As he pulled away from the driveway, I blew him a flying kiss making his ears turn red.

His shyness still amused me to bits.

As if triggered, his action from the party came to my mind. The kiss danced through my thoughts as his taste filled my senses again.

He wasn't shy when he was kissing.

Shaking out of my not so pure thoughts, I rang the bell and waited for the door to open.

I silently prayed it wasn't Mrs. Lawson, but to my utter rotten luck, it was her.

Mrs. Lawson's smile strained as she recognized me on the door. "Hello, Cynthia," she said, sounding polite but spitting venom through her eyes.

Used to her tactics, I gave her a sweet smile with a fake sweetener back.

"I am here for Andrea." I tilted my head towards the stairs.

She gave a surprised 'Oh' and moved aside. She pushed her perfect light brown hair behind her ear and gave a questioning look. Her naturally tanned skin glowed under the room lights as she looked around ten years younger than her age.

I stepped inside and quickly made my way towards Andrea's room. I remembered the way to her room, at the back of my hand.

I was sure that I could reach there with a blindfold too.

Pushing through the door with remnants of once Disney princesses stickers, I came across a messy room.

It seemed like a color monster had thrown up here as varied colors contrasted against the pale blue walls.

Closing the door behind me, I made my way towards Andrea, who was dangling from her bed upside down.

"God! I hate that woman," I hissed taking a seat on her bed. "She always gives me those, I am judging you eyes, with a hint of, you shouldn't be my step-daughter's friend's eyes."

Andrea rolled her eyes at my outburst as she was used to it. "She is not that bad," she spoke hesitantly.

"But certainly not as great as my mom," she added with a sad sigh.

I sighed as I remembered the real Mrs. Lawson, who was more of a mother figure to me than my own.

That woman was the one to teach me the basics of periods when my mother moved states away.

"It is impossible to top off her awesomeness," I muttered gloomily.

Andrea sighed and pushed herself up. Pulling back the hair that fell in her eyes, she hesitated before saying her next words.

"Cyn, I cheated on Jacob."