It All Started with a Lie

Chapter 10.1

I was fat, and it was the only thing people ever saw when they looked at me. "I worked really hard to lose the weight and I do not need a constant reminder of what I used to look like. Please change the photo."

He frowned. "But, you look so happy in this picture."

How could I possibly be happy when I looked like that? "I look happy in plenty of photos." I pinned up my hair.

He frowned softly. "No, you don't. Not anymore." His voice was so soft, I barely heard him.

I was happier now. Of course I was. People liked me. People loved me. I was happier now. Everybody loved me. Except the dance team. And I know exactly who to blame for that.

I pushed the thought of him away. Tonight was not about him. Tonight was about Richard. And maybe after I made a great impression on her brother and secured his approval, we could finally do some investigating on who in the world that liar was. But I could worry about that later.

"I have to get going." I kissed my father goodbye, grabbing my keys. I was early, but that seemed better than late. Her brother seemed like a punctual man, responsible. He will definitely hate me.

I took my time getting to Richard's, not sure if it was better to delay the moment, or rip off the bandaid and get it over with. I pulled into her subdivision two minutes late, windows down, music on full volume, shades on. I rolled into her driveway four minutes late, windows up, radio off, shades in my passenger seat, the first step in my genius plan to make a great first impression. I parked beside Richard's bike, her favorite thing in the world, though I guess technically it is her brothers, but she drives it so often you'd never know. I'm pretty sure she doesn't even have a license for it. But it's only illegal if she gets caught.

Taking a deep breath, I smoothed down my skirt, adjusted my necklace—engraved with the words 'I love you more'—and rang the doorbell. A commotion of yelling let me know that Richard was in fact not expecting me to be on time. After a moment, she finally swung the door open, clearly having slid for the door in her sock on the hardwood floor because next thing I know the door is wide open and she is on the floor laughing like a maniac. "Are you okay?" I tried to suppress my ammusment.

She nodded, her bright smile lighting up the room. "Since when do you ring the doorbell?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Since I wanted to make a good impression on your brother."

I helped her to her feet as she spoke. "Shame he didn't even witness it. His workout ran late so he is getting ready now."

I let out a long restrained breath. Thank goodness. More time to avoid my worries and lie to myself that he will love me.

Richard worked on setting the table, dumping out the takeout containers onto ceramic plates to make them look fancier. On the stove sat what I assumed to be her attempt at dinner, burnt to a blackened mass that I couldn't quite make out. Maybe Mac and cheese? Maybe soup?

Beside the stove sat a small picture frame, containing a photo of Richard and her brothers from before they moved here. Richard stood in the center with a first place trophy in their town's obstacle course challenge. Richard had told me about it once, while her younger brother had beat her at everything from the mile run to high jump, she had kicked his ass in the potato sack carry. Her older brother, the man I was about to meet, stood to the side of Richard, holding a participation medal. Despite having lost, and from what Richard told me, dreading the event for weeks, he looked happy to be with them. Which is probably why Richard loved him so much, and if he hated me, I could kiss our friendship goodbye.

The thought sent my heart racing as I took a deep breath. "I'm gonna use the bathroom," I excused myself as quickly as possible.

I spun around, making my way to their personal bathroom upstairs. The first time I ever asked to use her bathroom she sent me up here, so that she could avoid having to clean the downstairs bathroom as long as possible. As far as I know, that bathroom hasn't been used or cleaned since they moved in. Their bathroom upstairs, however, was cleaned weekly, but you'd never guess by the looks of it.