The Liars

Prologue

One of my very first memories took place in front of my childhood home on Summer Street.

It was a hot summer day, a few days after my 6th birthday. I had begged my father all day to teach me how to ride my brand new "big girl" bike. When he finally gave in I was so excited my dad couldn't even get me to sit still long enough to put on my helmet or knee pads. Boy, did I regret that.

I remember standing in my front yard urging my dad to hurry up as he was struggling to bring my bike outside. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a little girl with blonde pigtails watching us from my neighbor's porch. Our eyes met for a moment but I didn't pay her much mind. My dad finally managed to get my bike through the door. I ran towards him and ignored every bit of instruction he attempted to give me. I swooped my leg over the seat and pushed the pedals as fast as my little feet would go.

I was a natural!

I was doing it all by myself!

I was so proud of myself. I looked back at my dad expecting to see him smile with pride. Instead, a worried expression covered his face and he was yelling for me to stop... but it was too late. The next thing I see is the cement rushing towards my face after my bike crashes into a fire hydrant. I remember crying before I felt any pain or saw any blood. My dad rushed over to examine my wounds.

"It's okay its just a few scrapes," he says as he hugs me and tries to calm me down. "Let's go clean you up," he continues as he picks me up from the ground.

After my mom fixed me up with bandages and kisses, I sat on my front steps holding an icepack to my sore elbow. I sat there staring at my bike, remembering how I got hurt and swearing I would never ride it ever again.

Then, I noticed a little blonde head peering over the fence, it was the same little girl from earlier. We just looked at each other for a moment then she disappeared. Next thing I knew, she was walking up my driveway, pulling a purple bike beside her. She noticed the ice pack and placed her bike down next to mine then took a seat next to me on the steps.

"What happened to your elbow?" She squeaked.

"I fell," I replied.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"No."

"Do you want to ride bikes with me?"

"No."

"Why not?" She asked with a cocked head as if it wasn't obvious.

"Because I fell!" I shout.

"Well maybe you won't fall this time," she says after a moment, "Plus I'll be there to help you if you do," she finishes and I suddenly don't feel that sad anymore.

"I'm Cecelia but my mommy calls me Cece." She says with a toothy smile.

"My name is Regina but my mommy calls me Gigi," I reply.

"Do you want to ride bikes now?" She asked with an arched brow and I couldn't say no.

Ever since that day, Cece and I were inseparable.

That is until last week, when my world was turned upside down.

                                              -

Oh God, this isn't right.

To keep sane I focus on the pain I feel as my stomach churns. I'm sitting in the pew at the very front of the church, sweating like a pig despite the fact that it's about 10 degrees and I'm wearing nothing but a short black dress.

I feel as if my throat is closing and I grasp the arm rest to my left to keep from fainting. I try to focus on my breathing but everything is too overwhelming. It just all seems unreal. I suddenly feel a warm hand on my arm, I look up and meet my moms empathetic eyes.

"Breathe," She whispers as she rubs my head softly. She pulls me close to her and rests my head on her chest to calm me down.

"Good morning everyone," I hear a familiar voice say and the church goes quiet. Noah, Cece's older brother is standing at the altar with his mother Joelle. Noah looks as if he hasn't slept in days, the bags under his eyes are so dark it almost looks like he has two black eyes. Joelle's makeup can hardly cover her red puffy eyes from days of crying.

"Thank you all for joining us today, this would have meant a lot to Cece," he pauses to clear his throat. Joelle can't take her eyes off of the casket. "My sister.." Noah continues on with the eulogy about how much of a great person Cece was but I can't focus on anything he says.

The rest of the service is a blur of apologies and tears. The trip to the cemetery seemed never ending. It had started to drizzle and the day began to resemble everyone's mood. My head pounded with every step I took towards Cece's gravestone.

By the time they lowered Cece's casket into the ground, I've run out of tears to cry and just sit there trying to swallow the relentless lump in my throat.

Joelle and Noah drop the first pile of dirt onto the casket and say their goodbyes. I can tell Noah is trying his hardest to stay strong for his mom, as Joelle cries into his chest I can see his lips tremble from holding back tears.

I can't stand seeing them like this especially since I understand their pain. I get up to embrace them both. Joelle looks at me with so much sorrow in her eyes and my heart breaks even more.

After a few more moments in our tight hug, Noah leads his mom back to their seats and my mom joins me in front of Cece's grave. I feel her hand slide into mine, she squeezes it gently, as if, somehow, she is sending me strength through her touch. I glance over at her and I can see the tears in her eyes. Cece was like a daughter to her. She couldn't handle saying bye to one daughter and seeing her other one in so much pain at the same time.

We both bend down to grab a handful of dirt, it is wet and cold in my warm hands. I watch as we let the dirt fall from our hands down to the casket. I try to come up with my last words to my best friend, but I can't think of anything. How do you say goodbye to someone knowing you'll never say hello to them again?

My mom places her arm around me and leads the way back to our seats. I sit there in despair as everyone else says their goodbyes to Cece, forever.