Flawless Lies

ied to a

ual flirty jokes at the lunch table. But inside, her brain was ticking like a clock winding down -

the last note in the b

gret trus

the crease in the p

got sharper.

e was starting

y when she foun

ra had forgotten her Physics textbook in her locker and decided to gr

key and pulled

fr

e it

the back wall

tals. Just one line, wri

use you lock things. But even

breath

locker key. N

left it

. Her eyes darted up and down the hallway - but it was

in pri

ten into h

nt they w

cl

the aftern

sed to be teaching. She couldn't remember what her tutee

when the locks

tle so she could walk home with less attention. Students were slowly leaving -

th

omeone sit

king, she a

rd

st sat with his hands clasped betwe

?" he ask

lump in her throat.

Because you haven't touched your rice at lunch in two days. And

jaw. "You're im

paying at

ly, her voice low.

odied and still, like he want

o let me in

could let in," she snapped b

stayed when things got hard for you last year. But I d

looked

hed between th

, "But I'm here now. You don't

welled un

and stood. "It'

leave, his hand cau

s messing with you - we'll figu

second, she let herself believe him. Let hers

trembling, "if I let you i

won

r old feelings to resurface, but far e

lipped her hand f

didn't

ow, that

ay in bed staring a

e was tucked u

over until they etched the

d doors ca

t just a thr

s a p