The Lies We Share ✔

Chapter 22

"I'm not with her, seriously let go." Laura heard Todd yell, struggling with his words through the grasp the Ryan had on him. As he managed to free himself from Ryan's grip. A crack resounded throughout the nearly empty parking lot. Ryan had punched Todd squarely on the nose. Ryan stared intensely at Todd, his face contorted furiously, his jaw clenched beating up the sound of his broken voice.

"You expect me to believe that handsome, huh? All dressed up tonight I see," Ryan spat. He grabbed Todd again by his collar.

"Stop!" Laura screamed, Todd kicked at Ryan to get him to let go. Ryan punches Todd again, this time Laura blurted, "Stop it, we're not together, he's gay!"

The words came out before she can stop them, but they at least captured Ryan's attention.

Ryan just laughed cruelly, "Faggot."

Todd was let go then; the fight was over, as quickly as it began. Ryan had beat up her best friend. Laura felt her skin crawl as helped Todd off the ground. His nose was bent, she saw through the dim light. She couldn't see much else besides his blood gushing out of it. The sight disturbed her immensely.

Todd tried to speak, but he just groaned in agony. Blood streamed down the side of his mouth, he couldn't even look at her. Laura worked quickly holding him to her side and hobbled back to Todd's car he needed to go straight to the emergency room.

"I follow you here, you bitch, now I am going home," Ryan slurred getting into his car, she didn't bother yelling, all she could do was lead her battered friend to his vehicle. Her heart and mind going miles at once, this was the disaster she was warned about by Todd, this was the result of keeping secrets. This was the result of keeping lies, sharing lies, and it wasn't fair. Todd didn't deserve this, as he sat in a catatonic like state all he could say to Laura was, "Be careful." He cared more about his damn car getting into an accident than himself. She smiled weakly at him assuring him everything would be okay, unsure of his condition, she pulled out of the parking lot quickly and rushed him down to the nearest hospital.

Laura's world was coming down and she only could think how could she have fallen for Ryan?

When they arrived at the emergency room Laura's dress is soaked with tears, Todd's nice suit is soaked with blood. The receptionist handed Laura form as the mangled Todd is whisked to the back of the hospital in a gurney.

Laura was left in the waiting room, she didn't know how long she would be there, but she knew who to call, her mother. Laura sat explaining the situation to her, in ten minutes her mother was there, upset and feeling slightly pissed off that she hadn't called an ambulance.

The room became packed. The nightly over-intoxicated weekenders filled up the waiting room by pure negligence. Some of the more violent offenders showed up after dark those with unsavory attitudes. Laura's mom suggested they go wait in the car, but Laura insisted she wanted to know if Todd would be okay, Laura and her mom went up to the receptionist at who referred to the patient chart.

She told Laura and her mom that Todd was doing fine, he had lost a bit of blood, he had stitches and he had broken his nose. She assured us that his parents knew and were coming as soon as possible to the hospital. The receptionist handed them a card and wrote down the visiting hours of the hospital. Laura would be visiting as soon as possible to make sure he was okay.

Laura and her mother left the hospital. Laura felt so defeated and tired after her rush of adrenaline that all she had left was a feeling of loss. The first boy she had ever loved a psychopath and her best friend of all but a couple of weeks in the emergency room by Ryan's own doing.

When Laura finally arrived home, it was after eleven. The feeling of sleep came over her fast as the dizzying day had finally gotten to her. A bit of dried blood blended into the mesh fabric on her shoulder from where Todd rested his bleeding head. The stench of sweat filled her bathroom as she stripped out of the dress. Laura's body felt worn and clammy. She got into the shower, scrubbing her body with soap, wishing to wash off the night she had. Tomorrow had to be better, she would go see Todd right away and then things would feel okay. But the week of school loomed ahead Laura wondered if Ryan would be back at school.

The next morning Laura woke to a text from Todd.

Hey Laura, I got out of the hospital this morning, super tired. Anyway, my parents contacted the authorities, we are pressing charges. I know he was your boyfriend, I hate him, but I don't know what we should do, just get back to me.

Without thinking Laura texted him:

I'm not dating Ryan anymore, please press charges.

He replied instantly.

Okay, if you say so, do you mind coming over?

Laura thought this was a good idea to check in on Todd and replied with:

I'll be over in probably fifteen minutes.

Laura looked over at the clock she had slept until noon, she ultimately decided to skip "breakfast" she would certainly be able to eat at Todd's especially if it was around lunchtime. She shoved her feet into some faux leather boots and pulled up her hair into a bun, she hoped she could find where Todd lived on her own, but the district of town he lived in was rather exclusive and she had only been to his neighborhood that one time.

Laura went downstairs to say good morning to her mom and ask for the car keys.

"Hey, Mom," Laura said as she descended the stairs, her mom called back.

"In here, Sweetie," her mom's voice came from the living room, she was sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat. She was wearing a grey sweatshirt and cotton sweatpants, her thin frame adjacent to the television, she had been playing the tape of a master yogi instructor. The woman on the video had an entire set up including the mandatory light wood flooring, large windows in the background, and the signature number of plants in the corner to create a peaceful yet tacky setting. Her mom paused the television and looked back at Laura.

"Yes, dear, I'm in the middle of Janis's lesson," her mother motioned toward the television.

"Yes, and Janis can wait. Anyway, I was wondering if I could borrow the car for a bit, I'm headed over to Todd's house to check on him." Her mom gave her an approving nod.

"Just get back here soon, I want to talk to you about what happened last night, I love you," her mom said; her hazel eyes were almost green in the lighting of the living room.

"Of course, love you too. I just gotta go check on Todd, see how he is doing," Laura repeated, her mother's voice sounded concerned, she felt bad for leaving, but she knew she wanted to see Todd as soon as possible.

"Well, okay, Laura. Keys are in my purse," Laura's mom told her before turning back to her yoga video.

"Thanks."

Laura grabbed the car keys from her purse and left immediately. The trip to Todd's was surprisingly easy, the road was the one that she took to the golf course with her dad some days when they would hit a few balls. It wasn't a hobby per se more of a bonding activity with her Dad in the summer. When she arrived at the mansion-like home, she wasn't sure how to get in exactly, she checked her phone.

The gate code is 2604.

She typed in the gate code into the small panel, the metal gate opened revealing the large estate. She breathed heavily and drove up to the front door, the circular driveway was so large it was hard to figure where to park so she just parked right in front, she hoped it wasn't too obnoxious.

She walked up to the tall front door, large rectangular windows on either side of it. Unfortunately, it was frosted glass, so she couldn't see into the home.

Todd appeared at the door momentarily and invited Laura into his house. Her jaw was getting a real workout with this lifestyle her friend was used to, in awe she instantly felt small in the large foyer. The bright wide marble staircase, the antique furnishings, the large red patterned carpet, and a large glass chandelier overlooked the entire space, lighting the room as it dazzled those lucky enough to step foot in front of it.