Love and Its Lies

Three - Decked

“Holy mother of—ow! What the he—” the man exclaimed as he staggered backwards. Aly used this opportunity to lock the door behind her.

“I don’t know what you want from me, but I can give you some money, just don’t hurt me! I-I can withdraw more cash from the bank as soon as I find an ATM. If you come after me, I swear to God, I will scream bloody murder and have my judge brother-in-law persecute you until you never see the light of day, sir!” Aly screamed, her voice shaking. She had her back against the door, trying to catch her breath.

“Money? What—I’m not a robber! Ow, God, I think you broke my nose—ah, s**t, there’s blood. Lady, you dropped something, I was just trying to return it!” He answered back.

Aly frowned and looked into the peephole. The man was still clutching his face, looking quite disoriented.

“Sh-show me, then!”

He raised her wallet and small box of tampons up, while trying to stop the bleeding with the sleeve of his jacket. “See? You dropped the wallet on the street, and this box in front of the hotel!”

Aly closed her eyes in embarrassment. “Okay,” she said, “but how do I know you’re not going to kill me? You’ve been following me around!”

The man rolled his eyes and dropped her things on the floor. Aly watched as he struggled to take out his own wallet and raised an ID. “I wasn’t following you! Look, I have an ID to prove that I’m a taxpaying citizen with a respectable job. I don’t need your money, lady.”

Aly squinted to see his ID, but couldn’t make out the words. “Slide it under the door,” she commanded.

He rolled his eyes but followed. Aly checked his ID. It stated that his name was Daniel Bishop, one year older than her, and that he worked as a journalist from a news outlet in the city she was from.

“Okay, this looks real. But answer me this, Daniel, why were you following me?” Aly asked as she watched him.

“It's Danny—and I told you, I wasn’t following you. I also stay in this hotel, remember?” He answered, looking exasperated with all the explaining.

Aly had always prided herself for being able to read through lies, and it also helped that she was a Psychology major. He looked pissed off—what with just getting punched in the face—but he seemed to be telling the truth.

“Can I have my ID back now, please?” he pleaded.

Aly took a handkerchief from her closet and slowly opened the door. She handed him the cloth and his card, and he returned her belongings with a glare.

“Sorry for decking you,” she meekly apologized. “But you can’t fault me for trying to protect myself.”

The man pressed the handkerchief onto his nose and kept his head up. Thankfully, his glasses were in his pocket, or Aly would be in much more trouble. “God, lady, you sure can throw a punch,” he commented in a snarky tone.

“I’m sorry, okay. I thought you were a criminal! I’ll pay for the damages. How much do you need?” Aly opened her wallet and began to count bills.

He gave her a side-eye. “I told you I don’t need your money, lady.”

“It’s Aly,” she answered, just so he would stop calling her lady.

The man was about to say something when Fred suddenly turned the corner.

“A guest called to say she heard some screaming,” he started to say, but when the sight before him registered, he briskly walked up to them. “Whoa, what happened here?” He immediately glanced accusingly at Aly as he saw the state of Danny’s face.

Aly was about to explain when Danny said, “I tripped and fell on my face. Aly here gave me a handkerchief for my nose.”

“And the screaming?”

Danny only shrugged, and Fred was quick to believe his story. “Alright, well since I’m here, I should tell you kids that there’s an annual party at the town hall to celebrate the town’s anniversary tomorrow night. Everyone goes there, so it’s a good way to meet people. You city kids should see how we here party.”

“Thanks, Fred. We’ll be there.” Danny said.

Fred gave the two of them another look before turning to leave, muttering on his way down about “being too old for prank calls.” As soon as he was out of earshot, Aly made a face.

“Fred's so quick to accuse me—”

“Rightfully so,” Danny snickered. “Especially after you screamed Bloody Ghost last night.”

Aly winced at the memory of it. “Anyway,” she said, “what’s with covering for me?”

“It’s easier that way. I don’t want to get involved in any of the mess while I’m in town.” Danny simply said, then turned to walk towards his room.

“What are you in town for, anyway?”

He sarcastically smiled at her, said, “None of your business,” and closed the door behind him.

“Give me back my handkerchief after you’ve cleaned it, okay?” Aly called out after him. When she heard no response, she went back into her room and locked the door.

That snarky man, Danny, was getting on her nerves, but there was something more important than him at the moment: the party. John would most likely be there. It seemed like the perfect place to finally approach him. Aly could just imagine herself in a dress, wearing make-up and looking pretty, casually socializing with other people when suddenly—oh, who’s this that bumped into her? John? From college? What a surprise! And the rest will be history.

Aly trembled in anticipation as she took out her black dress from the closet.

“Looks like this will be of use after all.”