Flawless Lies

as unra

under her skin. Like the first thread pulled from a hem. It wasn't visible

e wors

k in her orbit, mes

ding a little too close, asking questions with too much care. He didn't fee

e something

two days ago, rushing to class, when he'd

's watching you?" he'd asked

en, caught off

g slightly. "Like they're jus

n her spine. "That's poetic. You s

st held her gaze a second

y

retending she barely existed - was he

ed to believe it

rt screamed:

soggy jollof rice around with her fork. Aaliyah plopped d

ah said, opening her juice

t look up.

red of Jordan's hot

stif

ent. "What? I see the way you look

laugh. "He's no

nd emotionally unavailabl

it

he topic - but not before Zahra caught th

n't je

Like satisfaction. Like she'

her old school journal. She wasn't sure what she was looking for. Maybe

n she f

ated just before her and Aaliyah stopped ta

eader

te se

hit her l

missing rent again. How she was covering it by tutorin

o girls whispering in the bathroom abo

t told an

Aal

ed her, Aaliyah had g

ver. Maybe someone overh

a had dr

it

uth felt uglie

memory retur

been a

ng the silence wrap around her like fog. Her mind

tray her once - cou

she

t" comments, the random smiles

Jord

he looked at her now. Like he knew she

ant to s

ch her

ow. Outside, the street was quiet, lit

know who wa

t know wh

s sure of

wanted her

have to try a hel