The lie
1007 Words
“What?” Brooke blinked at me, then grabbed my hand.
“Wait– hold on.” I said in protest.
Her face was filled with excitement and a hint of disbelief.
“Did you just say Noah Harrison?”
I pulled my arm back slightly. “Keep your voice down.”
“I am keeping my voice down,” she whispered loudly. “You like Noah Harrison?”
I exhaled slowly, realizing what I had just done.
“It’s not a big deal, okay?” I said, trying to salvage the situation.
Brooke looked at me like I just said something insane.
“You like the captain of the basketball team? The guy half the entire girls in this school have a crush on. That Noah Harrison?”
I shrugged, trying to keep my expression as casual as possible.
“Exactly, he's just a guy everybody has a crush on. It's nothing serious.”
Her face was filled with so much excitement now.
“I can't believe this. How did I not notice it earlier? How long have you liked him?” She asked, trying to get all the information she could.
I hesitated because I didn't even know how to answer any of her questions.
“Just for a while.” I said eventually.
“A while?” she repeated. “OMG Kiana, and you didn't bother to tell me.”
“It doesn't matter.”
I Looked at Brooke, she was so excited and happy for me. I felt guilty, because I couldn't tell her who I actually liked. This was easier than telling her the truth, that would only make things complicated.
“It's just a crush, Brooke,” I said again, firmer this time.
She crossed her arms, trying to study me. “I didn't even think you were into guys like that.”
I frowned. “What's that supposed to mean?”
“You know what I mean,” she said. “Popular athlete. Everyone-knows-him kind of guy.”
I looked at her, wondering how long I could keep this lie going.
“It's not like I planned it.”
“I know,” she said. “He's just so handsome. All the other cheerleaders drool over him.”
Brooke suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Wait, this is actually perfect.”
“What's perfect?” I asked, regretting all this even more.
“Hear me out, okay?” she said. “You like Noah, right?”
I sighed. “We’ve established that already.”
He and Ashley broke up last semester, just before she and her family moved to London. And he hasn't been with anyone since then.”
“So?” I asked, already knowing where this was going.
“He hasn't asked anyone to the Spring dance yet. Think about it, what if you both go together? I mean, he doesn't have a date to the dance either. It's perfect.” she squealed in excitement.
“What?” I asked in astonishment. “No way. That's not happening.”
“Why not?” Brooke shot back immediately.
“It’s not like you have any other plans. You like him, he’s single, and the dance is coming up. I’m literally connecting the dots for you.”
“You’re not connecting anything,” I muttered. “You’re creating chaos.”
She gasped. “I’m trying to help you.”
“I didn’t ask for help.”
“You clearly need it.”
I let out a quiet groan, rubbing my forehead. “Brooke…”
“No, listen,” she said, stepping closer again, lowering her voice like this was some serious strategy meeting. “This is your chance.”
“My chance to do what? Embarrass myself?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
I shook my head, already tired of this conversation.
“Brooke, I am not asking Noah to the Spring Dance.”
“You don’t have to ask him.”
“Oh, so now he’s going to magically ask me?”
She paused, then smiled. And I immediately knew that was a bad sign.
“Why are you smiling like that?” I asked slowly.
“It could happen.”
“How? Brooke, what are you planning to do?”
“I'm not planning anything,” She said quickly. “You’re not giving this enough thought.”
“I’m not giving it any thought.”
“I know that, because if you had, you would realize how perfect this is.”
“It’s not perfect,” I said flatly. “It’s unrealistic.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s Noah Harrison.”
“And?”
“And I’m me.”
She blinked at me, and her expression changed. “What is that supposed to mean?” she asked quietly.
“He's this popular high school guy, and I'm not–”
“Not what?” she interrupted.
I looked away.
“You’re perfect, Kiana. And you deserve to have things too,” she said. “You deserve to go to dances, to like people, to do normal high school things.”
“Instead, you hide,” she continued. “You pretend you don’t care about things when you do. And I let it go before, I didn’t push you.”
Her voice softened.
“But this is senior year. Our last year here, together. I just don't want you to miss out.”
We didn't say anything for a moment, then she nudged my shoulders lightly.
“You don't have to go to the dance if you don't want to,” she said. “Okay?
I nodded slightly.
“I'm just glad,” she added.
I looked at her. “Glad about what?”
“That you’re moving on,” she said. “From what happened with Evan.”
I gave her a small smile, even though it didn’t quite reach my eyes.
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Me too.”
But even as the words left my mouth,
I knew they weren’t entirely true.
- Writer
