When the Lies Fell Apart

or yelled, "Five more m

pretty sure I was about to throw up the

ed next to me, looking annoy

w o

ended. I practicall

asped to Chloe, wiping sweat from m

, Sarah," she laughed, h

bbed. My legs felt like overcooked noodles. I grabbed my p

actual fire. Pretty sure I'm

ble-checking the recip

d a minute lat

as A

I'd had a planet-sized, secret, totally mortify

ller? If you're 'dying,' you should pr

hoes. I wanted the earth to

ding his text, then mine. "Actual fir

mber! So sorry! Meant for Chloe! Defin

n points. I sounded

e was probably too busy rolling his eyes

y dramatic text wasn't punishment enough. I woke up with a sharp, s

hloe said over the phone, after I

"It'll be fine.

? And you know Dad wants us to use the clinic his

x's clinic. My

ut Alex,"

was

o. But I'm seeing Dr.

desk. "Hi, I have an appointment with Dr.

g that read 'Brenda', smiled. "Actually, honey, Dr. E

there anyone else? Or I could

e only one available for walk-ins with t

rly and compl

d my name. "S

my cheeks burning. A few minutes late

l

coat. His dark hair was neatly combed, and his expression was, a

g' Miller?" A tiny, almost inv

t a muscle strain, I think," I

texted me about." He gestured to the

orse than outright teasing. It made the whole situation more clinical

his voice calm and detached

," I said.

ourself t

ocent, suddenly thre

younger, dumber, and fueled by cheap vodka and a burning jealousy. Alex was there, leaning against a wall, talking to Jessica Thompson. Jess, wi

was going to "stake my claim," as my equally d

t. "Alex," I slurred, grabbing his other arm

, then confused. Jes

kay?" Alex asked,

et, stumbling into a nearby table laden with red plastic cups, sending them fl

le. "She pushed me! Sarah pushed me!" Tears we

ed. My face burned with shame. I hadn't pushed her, b

me, his voice low and cold. "What the hell, Sarah? Look what you did." He didn't even wait for an answer. H

s played the victim perfectly, and Alex bought it. A week later, I applied to transfe