The Lies That Bind

Chapter One

One Week Later

     "What do you think of this dress?" Abby asked, holding up a loose-fitted magenta ruffle dress to her hourglass figure.

     My head bobbed. "Yeah, it looks great like all the rest. But how about this one?" I held up a black bodycon dress from a rack with more of a sassy selection.

     Abby turned to face me, clearly not impressed with my choice from the sour expression she wore. "How many times do I have to tell you that bodycon dresses aren't my style? If you like it, why don't you buy it." She pivoted back to her rack. "I'm sure you haven't picked out anything for the party anyway."

     Abby was right. I hadn't yet, but for other obvious reasons.

     Once I arrived home around midnight from the car accident, I met my distressed parents, wide awake, pacing the living room floor. Okay, so I was a little banged up and drunk, but I wasn't dead. Not yet anyway. Long story short, I stumbled through the night's events to the best of my abilities, explaining how I lied about going to Abby's house and went to a senior party instead.

     And boy could they not chide me fast enough.

     But the real kicker that hit deep was that I did receive an offer for a ride home. An opportunity to circumvent a disaster. A chance to keep my freedom. But since my mind was as fuzzy as a blanket, I said no, granting fate permission to curse me with an accident.

     In fear that my sweet reputation would be tainted, more so my parents, they made the unthinkable decision to hide my car in our garage. And ground me until I was thirty, if not longer, never allowing me to speak about this to anyone. To bury my actions and throw the shovel away.

     But what ate at me like insects on a corpse was that I left the scene of a crime, and if that person was injured or dead, I could go to prison. P-R-I-S-O-N. And somehow, my parents were okay with that, their little girl behind bars. Not to mention that they would be too.

     Needless to be said, there was no way on earth that my parents were going to authorize an invitation to Abby's birthday party.

     I hung the black bodycon dress back on the rack. "I just thought you wanted to get outside of the box."

     "Sorry, Keira, but that isn't my style, and quite frankly, I never thought that it was yours either," Abby said as she continued to admire her choice of fashion.

     Well, people change. I could vouch for that.
Plus, I grew sick of looking like I dressed two ages below me. Turning eighteen was meant to be memorable and exciting. And I was starting on the wrong foot.

     "I don't know. This dress just speaks to me." I eyed the chaotic rack, then turned to give Abby my undivided attention.

     "I think I'm going to pick the magenta one." Abby gleamed like the stars, swaying with the dress in the reflection of the wall-length mirror. "I'm sure Cody will love it too, don't you think?"

     Cody had been Abby's boyfriend since sophomore year; he was charming with dirty blonde hair and possessed an intelligent personality. I wouldn't deem him as popular or obnoxious like Mason. Who was? But he certainly made Abby feel special, and that was all that mattered to me. Abby deserved to have a guy like him. Besides, she had been my best friend since middle school, so I always trusted her decisions.

     A petite smile danced upon my lips. "I think Cody will love it."

     Not as much as the black bodycon, just saying.

     "I'm glad you finally agree." Abby returned my smile. "I'm ready to check out unless you want to keep looking for something else."

     Typically, I would've treasured shopping at the mall with Abby as we had always done every Friday afternoon. But due to my rash behavior, I had pretty much screwed up any opportunity of feeling joyous, let alone permission to attend her 18th birthday party. The worst part, though, I didn't tell her yet.
I peered down at my scuffed-up checkered Vans. "No—it's alright, we can go."