LIAR, LIAR: High School Bully Romance (Season One | Episode One) Page 2

  I pick my phone up and flip it over. There's a small crack at the top of the screen, but nothing that bad. I unlock it and scroll through my messages noticing immediately that Kiah already opened and read them. One from mom telling me to have a good day and three from Tane. I open them my scowl deepening with each new text.

  Tane: hey sis have a good day

  Tane: stick close to Kiah he will take care of you

  Tane: let me know if you need anything

  I reply.

  Me: hey here now. i'm good. hows dad?

  Tane: same

  My fingers hover over the keyboard. I should tell him what happened. I should ask him to come here, but that feels like accepting defeat and Kiah has already taken enough from me. I don’t want to let him win at this game he's playing too. Plus, chances are Tane would kill him, and while that particular idea appeals to me right now, I'm not sure my heart could handle losing him.

  Me: headed to class. love you

  Tane: lyt

  I shove my phone in my pocket and check my schedule once again. according to the map the lady from the office gave me my homeroom is in building B and at least a five-minute walk from here. I take off at a brisk pace refusing to be late on the first day.

  The door to class is open partially blocking the room number, but a quick peak shows me it’s the right one. I step inside and catch my breath. I didn’t think we would have any classes together since Kiah is a year ahead of me, but there he is in the backrow scowling in my direction.

  I pass my form to the teacher and wait for him to verify my information before taking the only available seat in the room. Naturally it had to be right beside Kiah. It seems no matter how much I want to be away from him, he's still there. Kind of like a cold you can’t shake.

  "Hi. Calliope, right?"

  I put Kiah out of my thoughts and turn to the girl sitting to my left. She's a tiny thing, barely five feet if I had to guess. Her face is half hidden in large owl-like blue eyes. "Yeah, but most people call me Calli."

  "Calli. That's so pretty. I'm Murphy, but most people call me Murf. It's not nearly as cute as Calli."

  Dear God, she talks ninety miles an hour. I paste a smile on my face and nod waiting for her to take a breath.

  "Nice to meet you," I say when she stops chattering.

  "You too. I like you; we should be friends. I'll show you around here. Let me see your schedule."

  I pass her my schedule and watch her out of the corner of my eye trying to decide what to make of her. Murphy is filled with a child like exuberance that flows from her pores. It’s contagious and a week ago I would have jumped at the chance to friend her, but I'm quickly learning that people at Worthington are good at hiding their true motives.

  "Oh, we have four classes together. You’re taking photography? I always wanted to be good at taking pictures, but," she shrugs. "I'm taking medical prep."

  I want to tell her there is a hell of lot more to photography than taking a pretty picture but the last thing I need is to push away the first friendly person I meet so I smile and let it go.

  "Are you planning on becoming a doctor?"

  "Maybe. I don’t know. I guess I will if I don’t marry wealthy, but I'd rather stay home and spend money, ya know."

  "Yeah."

  I wonder how much she knows about my situation. Would she still want to be friends if she knew my family was broke? That I was living at my mom's best friend's house and didn’t have a penny to my name?

  Probably not.

  "Have you met anyone else yet? Everyone here is really nice."

  Ha. Of course, she would think that.

  "I met some guys on my way in. Daniel, and Brax I think."

  Kiah scoffs and then chuckles under his breath. Did he see the interaction earlier? Was he watching me?

  "And of course, Kiah."

  "Oh yay. Brax and I have been seeing each other for almost a year now. He's awesome."

  Great. Just great.

  The bell rings putting an end to homeroom and everyone stands shuffling on their feet before filing out the door. Murphy takes my hand and pulls me toward the door.

  "We have this tradition every year after the first day of school. You should come. It will be fun."

  "I don’t think Calliope would like it that much. Not really her scene," Kiah says leaning over Murphy's shoulder. Her face falls.

  "I'd love to come," I say ignoring the way Kiah's gaze narrows.

  "Yay!" Murphy squeals bouncing on the balls of her feet.

  I make it through most of the day without incident and slowly I find myself relaxing in Murphy's presence. She's so full of light and wonder it's hard to believe she could be as evil as her boyfriend. Thankfully I don’t have any other classes with Kiah, but that doesn’t stop him from finding me a dozen times during the day. Taunting me with his presence, scowling in my direction and on one occasion out right sneering at me.

  By the time lunch time arrives my stomach is growling loud enough to be heard over the teacher’s droning speech. Murphy links her arm in mine and together we walk to the lunchroom. This space is like nothing I have ever seen before. There are no lunch line with little ladies in white mesh caps spooning food onto plates. No small selections of tasteless food that resemble dog food and smell even worse.

  The room is sectioned off in parts. To my left is an area notably titled little Italy with heaping orders of pasta and every kind of pizza you can imagine. Next to it is French cuisine followed by standard American cheeseburgers, Chinese, Japanese, and finally Mexican.

  “What are you in the mood for?” Murphy asks stopping inside the doorway.

  “Um, I have no idea. Is it like this every day?”

  “Yep. Best part of WHS, aside from the million dollar education.”

  “You pick, I can’t.”

  “Okay let’s do Japanese today. I’m dying for a spicy tuna roll.”

  I follow her to the counter and wait as she places our order. When she finishes, we sit at one of the round tables evenly spaced around the center of the room and wait. My eyes have to be bulging out my head. I’ve never in my life heard of a high school having daily catering like lunches. It’s insane.

  Murphy grabs our plates and fills us each a cup of water before rejoining me. I’m hesitant to try the sushi after getting an upset stomach from a prepackaged roll one time, but after watching her shove her second piece in her mouth I give in and take a bite.

  It’s divine.

  No, like really. My mouth tingles from the onslaught of flavor and before I know it we finish the first roll and start on the second.

  There is no bell to signal the end of lunch. Each student is required to keep an eye on the time themselves. Thankfully Murphy keeps up with today and I know for tomorrow.

  So far I really like this school and not just for the wonderful food. The teachers are kind, the classrooms small, and the work challenging enough to keep me from being bored out of my mind. Of course, it would have been a lot nicer if Kiah wasn’t being a dick, and actually showed me around the way he promised, but whatever.

  I’m probably better off without him anyway.

  The final bell rings after what feels like forty-seven days. I pack up my computer and notebook slowly not wanting to follow the rush of the crowd out. All day people have been watching me, whispering under their breath. I knew coming to a new school would be hard, but I thought I'd have Tane and Kiah here to lessen the blow.

  "There you are. Let me see your phone," I jump and then pass my phone to Murphy. She types something in and then pulls her own ringing phone out.

  "I put my number in," she says but doesn’t pass my phone back to me. "And I added myself on social. Now we can stay in touch."

  "Thanks," I take my phone from her.

  "Do you want to come over to my house? Then you can ride with me tonight."

  I weigh my options while checking my phone. Kiah still hasn’t replied to my text asking if he was planning to take me home.
Not that I expected him to, but a screw you would have been better than silence. If I ride with Murphy at least I should have a ride home after.

  "Sure." I sling the strap to my computer bag over my shoulder and follow her out of the room.

  Chapter Four

  I should like to lie at your feet and die in your arms

  - Voltaire

  Kiah

  I wait by my car for ten minutes for Calliope to come out, but she doesn’t show. Pulling my phone from my pocket I reply to her earlier text.

  Me: WHERE R U

  Calli: what do you care?

  I call her then, but her cell goes straight to voicemail.

  Me: wtf am I supposed to tell mom when you don’t come home with me

  Calli: the truth?

  My heart stops.

  When it starts back rage fills me. The truth? Fuck her. She's got balls even mentioning it to me. We agreed to never speak of it. We can’t. If she tries….

  Calli: or sorry mom, I dropped her off on the side of the road. she should be here soon.

  Me: you wouldn’t

  Calli: wouldn’t I?

  Me: Try it. I dare you. You'll find yourself out on the street with NOTHING. Between the two of us who would she believe?

  She won't say anything. If was just her, maybe. But there is no way she'll do that to her mom. She's already lost too much. Clearly, I didn’t take into account her fight. I guess that means its time to push a little harder.

  One way or another Calliope Warren is leaving.

  Searching my favorites, I locate Brax's name and press call. He answers on the first ring.

  "Hey man, what's up?"

  "It's not working. We need to break out the big guns."

  "Dude, what is your deal with this girl?"

  "That's not important. I need her gone. Are you in or not?"

  "Yeah, yeah. I got your back. What do you have in mind?"

  I tell him what I know so far and we toss ideas back and forth for a few minutes.

  "Your girl gonna be a problem?" I ask.

  "Nah Murphy will do what I tell her."

  "I hope you're right because were gonna need her."

  "I got you bro."

  I hang up the phone feeling ten pounds lighter. Calli isn't going to know what hit her.

  Climbing in the driver's seat I press my foot to the brake and tap start. My car purrs to life. I set my phone in the cup holder ignoring the text from Tane asking how Calli did on her first day.

  A part of me feels bad for what I'm about to start with his sister, but nothing good has come from her being here. Just the opposite actually. I need her gone. Sooner the better.

  Tane and I have been friends since before either of us could walk. Our moms organized play dates that consisted of laying us on a mat on the floor surrounded by toys. We were born a week apart. He's literally my best fucking friend, but even he doesn’t know all my secrets. I might end up losing him over this, but some secrets are worth the loss.

  The alternative is inconceivable.

  Loss a lifelong friend or loss my life as I know it.

  When I look at it like that it’s an easy choice.

  Chapter Five

  Only enemies speak the truth;

  friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught

  in the web of duty.

  - Stephen King

  Calliope

  Murphy lives in a sprawling estate outside of town. Tall, white columns stand strong and proud at the front of the house, surrounded by brick the color of rust. She circles her mini coop around the flowing fountain and parks.

  Something about this place makes the ache in my chest throb. Once upon a time I would have pulled my mustang in the drive, in front of my nice house and walked inside without a care in the world. I took it for granted. I know that now, but what sixteen-year-old thinks that everything they own can be taken away at the drop of a hat. Pending investigation.

  Six months ago, I would have held out hope, positive in my belief that it was all misunderstanding. Hell, six months ago I did believe that. But that was before the police showed up to escort us off the property. Before every possession I owned tied up in a federal investigation.

  I don’t believe in fairy tale endings anymore. Whether my father is innocent or guilty has yet to be decided, but I can't… won't look at another situation with rose colored glasses.

  "Are you hungry?" Murphy asks leading into the kitchen.

  "I could snack."

  "Cool. Pizza rolls, or a sandwich?"

  "Do you have ranch and hot sauce?"

  "Yep."

  "Pizza rolls then."

  She pulls out a baking pan and preheats the oven before filling the pan. I glance around her kitchen while she works. Her home is all neutral colors. White, beige, grays. I don’t see a single misplaced item. No functional disarray that most homes have by being lived in. It’s total art gallery style with muted walls to accentuate the details in the paintings, only her house was missing the bright, colorful art.

  Murphy places the baking pan on the center rack and sets the timer then grabs my hand and pulls me up a winding staircase. She's carefree with her touch. The actions of a person who hasn’t ever been hurt. I don’t mind, even if I secretly wish I could be as open and carefree as she is.

  "So, what is this tradition thing you guys do every year?" I ask sitting on the bed beside her.

  "Oh, it’s not really that big of deal. We have a bonfire and just hang out. Of course, some of the guys drink and smoke and stuff, but mostly its just a chance to relax after the first day."

  "Oh." I don’t know what I was expecting from this group of rich kids, but this isn’t it. In my head I pictured a party on a yacht or something, even if there isn't a body of water within two hundred miles. It’s what I would have done.

  I can handle a bonfire. Easy peasy.

  Murphy swaps out the top she wore to school and slides on a pair of dark blue jeans with holes up the front of the leg. She offers me a new shirt, but I pass. She's so tiny any of her tops would be crops on me. Besides I'm not looking to impress anyone tonight. The only reason I agreed to go was so Kiah wouldn’t think he could micromanage me.

  The timer on her phone goes off and we rush back downstairs. Murphy passes me a bottle of ranch and I pour a generous helping onto my plate before mixing in the hot sauce.

  "Do you smoke? Or drink?" Murphy asks between bites. I suck in air trying to cool the hot bite of food in my mouth before answering.

  "I have, but it's not something I do regularly."

  "Same."

  "So, I heard Brax talking about your brother earlier."

  "Oh yeah?"

  "Well, technically everyone was talking about him. Tane Warren is considered a football GOD. To bad he didn’t transfer, maybe our team would have made it to the championship with him."

  "Yeah, Tane lives for football and fast cars. He stayed behind with my dad."

  "So, your parents… are they divorcing?"

  "I don’t know yet. Everything is a mess right now. Mom said she needed time to clear her head so that's why we moved here."

  "I can understand that."

  Murphy's phone vibrates on the counter and after a quick glance she places her plate in the sink and rinses it off.

  "We're good to go whenever you finish."

  "Oh, cool," I say repeating her earlier motions and washing my plate too.

  "Let's have some fuuun!"

  Chapter Six

  One of the most striking differences between a cat

  and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

  - Mark Twain

  Kiah

  After taking a quick shower I slide on a pair of jeans and my favorite hoodie and check my phone. Sycilly has text four times in the last fifteen minutes. Each message another degree of annoying. I open the last one and reply letting her know I’ll see her tonight. That’s all she really cares about anyway.

  Soon I’ll need to break things off w
ith her. I’m not sure what has gotten into me, but since Calliope moved in its been harder and harder to not see Sycilly’s behavior as irritating.

  That girl is fucking me up left and right. Last year I was fine with mine and Sycilly’s status. We both knew the situation and had no problem using the other for our own gain. The thought of continuing this year sickens me.

  Grabbing my keys, I head down the stairs, but stop when I hear voices below. Fuck. I didn’t want to have this talk.

  “Kiah? Is that you?” My mom calls out. I heave a sigh and shuffle down the remaining steps.

  “Hey, I was just heading out.”

  “How was school?” She ignores my attempt to exit.

  “Good. It’s school.”

  Calliope’s mom, Paige, rounds the corner, two glasses of rose in her hand. She passes one to my mother and takes a sip of her glass.

  “Did you introduce Calli to your friends?” Mom asks and my mind flashes to the scene in front of the school.

  “Yeah,” I grin.

  “Thank you, Kiah. It eases my heart to know she already made a friend there,” Paige says.

  “No problem. I’ve got to go, or I’ll be late.” Leaning forward I press a kiss to my mother’s cheek. “You two stay out of trouble tonight.” I wink at Paige.

  “Oh hush. Take care of my baby tonight.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  When the front door shuts behind me I finally relax. For a second there I thought Calli had ratted me out to her mother, but she’s not that stupid.

  I slide into the plush leather seat and pull up my playlist. The gentle thrum of the engine calms my nerves even more before I hit the clutch and pop it into first gear.

  A car like this is designed for speed and I waste no time shifting through the gears. With nothing but open roads between here and Sycilly’s I push it as much as I’m able while blasting Hell of a Night on the speakers.

  Sycilly is waiting when I pull in. Her room is in the guest house at the back of the main house and completely separate from her mom and dad not that they ever pay much attention to what she does. She’d been living back there for almost a year before her mom even noticed.