Reasons For My Lies

Chapter 8

**2 & 1/2 YEARS AGO - Flashback To The Night Of The Fire**

"LETS GO PANTHA'S, LETS GO" Chloe and her squad chants. Chloe Carter, head cheerleader, most beautiful girl in school, popular and loved by all. She had long brown hair, bright green eyes, with a perfect beige complexion. "YEAH! GOOD JOB PANTHA'S!" Tanner shouts, running towards the locker room, as his team follows behind him. Nathan Tanner, the quarterback. He had short jet black hair, always spiked up with gel, diamond blue eyes, a muscular frame and a soft sand completion. Every girl wanted him. He was a flirt and known as a player, though this was all an act. "McCoy...where's Charlie?" Tanner asks. Jake McCoy, Tanner's friend and teammate. He had shortish brown hair, always flipped to the side, dark brown eyes, a square face and a lean muscular body. "Uh, I think he's still out on the field with Chloe" McCoy responds in a slightly annoyed tone. Tanner sighs and speaks while holding a finger up to the team, "OK, one sec guys, I'll go get him", and with that, Tanner runs outside to go get Charlie.

Charlie was Tanner's best friend and right hand man on the field, who had won the heart of Chloe. Charlie Cooper had short blonde hair and light blue eyes. He was taller then most the boys on the team but slimmer in caparison. As Tanner goes to turn the corner, back out towards the field, someone grabs his arm, pulling him into the shadows. "Ley?" he questions quietly. "Hey" Ley responds, answering his question. Hayley Carter was Chloe's younger sister, but only by 10 months. She had short brown hair, bright green eyes and freckles that extended to her cheeks. She was the complete opposite of sister; smart, quiet and kept her head down in books. Ley was a nickname Tanner started calling her when they first kissed in the barn, behind her house. Ley & Tanner were neighbors and secret best friends who fell in love. Though Tanner being popular and the quarterback, was afraid of being judged by his teammates, so calling her Ley whenever they were together, ensured him the satisfaction on knowing he wouldn't get caught. Ley however, despite not liking the secrecy of their relationship, her father was quite strict and would never let her be with Tanner, so she willingly agreed to his proposition. 

Tanner wraps his arms around Ley's waist, pulling her in for an urgent and deep kiss. Ley's lips responded instantaneously, desiring his taste. Tanner cups Ley's cheek and pulls away slowly. "what are you doing here?" he asks, looking deep into her eyes and smiling in satisfaction. "I just wanted to say good job", Ley smiles in return, leaning her head into his cupped hand. *ARGUING* Tanner Turns his head to the direction of raised voices and huffs. "I have to go" he mumbles, as he leans back down for another kiss. Ley looks up at him with saddened eyes and grabbing his hand, not wanting him to leave. Tanner steps away, slowly releasing Ley's hand. He turns back to her and whispers "see you later tonight?". Ley nods with a nervous smile, knowing in the back of her mind, they were going to take it a step further tonight. Tanner winks and blows a kiss, before running to the direction of the argument.

As Tanner reaches Charlie, Chloe storms off in the direction of where Tanner came from. "Charlie, what was all that about?" Tanner expresses his concern. "She just confessed to cheating on me", Charlie responds, his hands holding his head in frustration. Tanner grabs his shoulder and asks "what are you going to do?" Charlie looks up at Tanner, his eyes lost in the situation. "I...I don't know man...she said it was just one night and that she regrets it and wishes it never happened", Charlie looks back to the ground, "I believe her and still want to be with her, but he has.." Charlie stops and clenches his fists. "He has a photo of her, and will show everyone at school if she doesn't leave me to be with him". Charlie continues. "Who is it!?" Tanner sharply replies. Charlie looks Tanner straight in the eyes and lets out a long breath, "Jake McCoy".

Chloe jumps into her car, where Haley sits reading, whilst awaiting her arrival. Hayley looks at her sister to see tears streaming down her face. "What's wrong Chloe!?", Hayley says, expressing her concern. "Nothing", Chloe answers back. She wipes the tears from her face and starts the ignition. 5 minutes driven in complete silence, Chloe finally turns to Hayley "you know.." Hayley looks up from her book as Chloe continues to speak, "you should more careful kissing quarterbacks". Hayley sits upright and turns bright red from embarrassment. "Nathan Tanner huh?", Chloe laughs. "How did you know?", Hayley confesses. "I saw you together in the library, last Tuesday" she turns back to face Hayley, "why haven't you gone public?" she says with questioning eyes. "Well...uh...well dad" Chloe nods in agreement, "and well....I don't want to riuen his reputation", Hayley further confesses. Chloe parks the car and stops Hayley from getting out, "If he really loved you, he wouldn't keep you a secret" Chloe protests. Hayley's eyes begin to water, knowing what her sister had stated was true, but shaking her head, refusing to hear it. "You don't understand!" Hayley snaps back, exiting the car hastily. "Hayley!?" Chloe calls after her. 

After dinner, Chloe walks upstairs towards Hayley's room, to apologize for what she said earlier, except Hayley was no where to be found. Chloe races downstairs, informing her parents that she was going to her friends house quickly, to collect a textbook for school tomorrow. Chloe jumps in the car, dialing Hayley's number, to soon find her phone on the passengers seat. She reverses out of the drive way and makes her way back to school, assuming she'll be in the library, with her head in the books. As she walks to the entrance of the library, taking out the spare key Hayley was given by Janine, the schools librarian to study late at night, she sees Tanner & McCoy arguing through the glass doors. Chloe sneaks in and hides in the stationary room, behind the front desk. Listening in on the argument, she hears Tanner threating to kick McCoy of the team if he doesn't hand over the photo. Chloe starts panicking as she realizes their arguing about her. She closes the door quietly and starts pacing back and forth, unsure of what to do. 

McCoy pushes Tanner in anger and rip's off his shirt. Eyes completely black and staring down Tanner, as he pulls out a lighter. "McCoy, don't be stupid and just give me the photo" Tanner pleads. "f**k off Tanner!" McCoy snaps back, "you've just lost your best player!", he announces, lighting his jersey on fire. Tanner snatches the jersey from McCoy, throwing it to the ground and stepping on it, trying to put it out, but McCoy pounces on Tanner, throwing punches in rage. The jersey still on fire, soon setting everything aflame around them. The boys finally stop, sweating from the intense heat and coming into realization of the blazing flames around them. McCoy runs towards the door, leaving Tanner behind. Tanner quickly calls the fire brigade and runs out, after McCoy.

The Fire now blazing out of control and filling smoke throughout the building. Chloe pounds her fists against the door screaming out for help. She tries searching for the keys to the door, soon realizing she left it on the desk before walking into the cupboard. She continues to pound harder on the door, begging for someone to hear her. *BANG....BANG.....BANG* "HEEEEEELP....HELLLO!" she screams again. Smoke soon consuming the air inside, she stops banging, releasing her tight fists. She turns around, leans against the door, now acknowledging the fact that she isn't going to make it and pulls out her phone. The air becoming thick around her as she struggles to breathe. "Hi this is Hayley, leave a message", Chloe tries to gather her spit to wet her throat and begins recording her last words. After recording, she redials the number again. Chloe starts to become lightheaded, as her breaths become shallow. She soon falls to the ground, dropping the phone beside her and smiling for the last time, as she hears through complete darkness...."Hi this is Hayley, leave a message".