Lie Lie Lie

I walked toward Jamie’s lunch table, clutching my tray. People stare, making it even harder to walk through the masses.

“Hey, Maddy,” Jamie says. He shoves one of his friends over to make room for me and grabs my tray, putting it down for me. I sit and pick up my apple.

“Where’s the rest of your food, Mads?” Liam, Jamie’s closest friend, asks. He’s seated across from me and is frowning at my apple and yogurt.

“Leave her alone. She’s a girl, Liam. Doesn’t need as much fuel.” Jamie flexes his muscles and all the boys laugh and agree. The chatter at the table picks up again, and Jamie starts talking to one of the dudes sitting across from him.

He’s acting like I’m not even here, so I chuck my yogurt into my hoodie pocket and go to stand, but Jamie’s hand pulls me back down. Still talking with his friends, he wraps an arm around me, pinning me down. Stuck in my chair, I take the yogurt back out of my pocket and eat it.

The bell sounds and Jamie finally lets me go.

“Meet me at my car.” He says and heads off to class. I sigh and start the trek to P.E.

“Hey baby,” Jamie sweeps me into a hug. “Sorry, I’m late, class ran late.”

I glance at my watch. School ended at 3.10. It’s now 3.45. “It’s okay, Mum’s running late too.” Jamie kisses my cheek and opens the door for me.

“Let’s get you home, babe.” Once I’m in the car, he shuts the door and walks round to his side.

Jamie has a pretty good car, but he comes from a pretty good family. He got the car when he became quarterback of the school’s football team.

The car pulls out of the almost empty lot and into the road. We cruise along at about 60 mph. Jamie takes a hand off the wheel and puts it on my shoulder.

“So there’s a party next weekend for the end of the football season,” he says, taking his eyes off the road to glance at me. “And I was wondering if you’d be my date?”

“Am I not already?” I ask, turning to look at him. His face scrunches a little bit.

“Of course you are, I was just wondering if you would be able to come,” Jamie explains, moving his hand a little, so it rests more comfortably on my shoulders.

“Of course. What other social life do I have?” I ask lightly. Jamie relaxes and laughs a little.

“Just making sure.” Jamie frowns as his phone buzzes. He leaves it, though.

“Want me to check?” I ask, leaning forward slightly, ready to grab it if I need to.

“Nah, it’s not important.” Jamie turns down my street and slows according to the speed limit.

“Goodbye,” I say as I grab my bag and climb out of the car. I turn to shut the door and Jamie starts leaning forward.

“Bye babe,” he kisses my cheek and I shut the door. As I walk past his side of the car, I see him checking his phone.

“Why are you late, Madison?” A loud male voice blares through our small house as I shut the door. I start my walk down the hall on our worn down carpet.

“Hi to you too, Stefan. My ride was late.” I walk past the kitchen and see my mother’s latest boyfriend reading the newspaper.

“Unreliable boy.” Stefan grumbles, turning back to his paper, and I carry on to my room.

At the end of the short hall is a door leading to a staircase. I open the door and lock it behind me. I take my stuff upstairs and into my room.

Mom gave me the biggest room, a fact which many of her boyfriends hate, and I’ve made it my haven. A double bed on the side away from the windows. I chuck my bag onto the chair beside the door and collapse on the bed. The LEDS above my bed are off, so I turn them on and set the color to a calming blue.

My phone buzzes from my pocket, so I grab it and check.

Jamie: Hey babe

Madison: Hey

Jamie: Mom wants to know if you’re available for dinner tomorrow night after the game?

Madison: I’ll ask Mom when she gets back

Jamie: Ok

I wait for another message, but there is none. His light stays green, though. I chuck my phone to the end of the bed and grab my book. The LEDS provide the perfect light to read. I open the book, take the bookmark out and smooth down the dog-eared page.

“Dinner’s ready Maddy!” Mom calls from the kitchen. Her voice bounces around my room.

“Coming!” I call back, putting the book back on my bedside table. I stand, glance at my phone, and decide to leave it there. Push open my door and hurry downstairs, locking the doors behind me.

“Nice of you to join us,” Stefan mutters as Mom passes me a plate of potatoes and lamb.

“Oh hush Stefan. Maddy’s probably tired from being at school all day.” Mom smiles at me as she dishes up her own plate.

“When I was at school, we learned day and then came home and worked. No complaining.” Stefan says, eating his food.

“Jamie’s mother wants to know if I can go to dinner at their house tomorrow.” I say, cutting my food nicely. I sit alone at the table, Mom and Stefan are at the counter.

“After the game? Sure you can.” Mom says, cutting her food and grabbing the paper from where Stefan left it.

“She just wants to do the dirty with that rich kid.” Stefan mutters. He puts his plate in the sink and wipes his mouth, staining his sleeve with gravy.

“Jamie is a good kid,” Mom says, folding the paper nicely. “You may go.”

I stand and take my plate to the sink. “Thanks Mom.” I leave and go back o my room and grab my phone.

Madison: Mom said yes to dinner

Jamie: okay good

Again there are no other messages, yet he’s still active.

The next day, I wake early and get ready to go to the gym. I grab a water bottle and make some toast before I walk outside and start the walk to the gym. We only have a half day today because of the game, so I don’t have to worry about being late. I eat my toast as I walk, trying not to choke on the crumbs. My water bottle dangles from my fingertips, ready to attack if need be.

I make it to the gym without trouble, and claim a treadmill to start my workout. A few other people are here. Two are standing by a bench press, talking at the other end of the gym. Another two are closer to me, a few treadmills away. One is a girl, on the bigger side, cheering on a boy running. He flips the hair out of his face in a very familiar way.

The girl points at me and the boy turns to look. For a second I swear it’s Jamie’s face looking at me, but he turns back to the girl.

I finish my warm up run and head over to the bench to do my leg exercises. I grab my weights and feel eyes on me as I start. The feeling doesn’t fade when I swap to arms.

When I’m done, I check my watch and grab my stuff, taking a sip of water. The couple from the treadmill is still here, doing stuff with a medicine ball by the door. As I walk past them, I register it is Jamie. His face is in shadow, but the way he throws the medicine ball gives it away.

I pretend not to see them and leave.

The sunlight hits my eyes, temporarily blinding me. I start my walk home, thankful I chose to not drive. Now I have time to think.

She’s a new girl, he’s probably just being nice. Showing her around, I tell myself. But my brain refuses to listen.

What if he’s cheating? You’ll just be the dumb girl who fell for a fuckboy.

“He’s not cheating,” I tell myself, actually saying it out loud to make it seem more real. But my phone buzzes, reminding me that I have to get to school in two hours. I put it back in my pocket and walk a little faster. My water bottle swings from my fingers, and it drops with a clang. Embarrassed, I pick it up and pretend nothing happened.