Lies

“Tamar, Tamar”

“yes” I turned to see Celia running towards me her brown curls bouncing but still Managing to frame her perfect face delicately.

She was beautiful in every way possible both inside and out. Sometimes, I couldn’t help but be envious of her and the things she did effortlessly. She is represented everywhere – school council, drama club, music club, literary club and even science club. She was smart, rich and kind. Every guy wanted her, everybody wanted to be her friend, every teacher wanted to teach her and most of the time she was so clueless she just kept doing her thing and being herself.

“so, I was wondering if you would love to be part of the committee that is taking care of the graduation party” she asked smiling.

“uhm me?” I asked surprised that she wanted my help.

“yes, you are good with numbers and your no- nonsense attitude could make the rest of the members more dedicated”

I blinked at her not knowing whether to be offended or glad about her statement.

“I am not…” I turned to Christy and George silently asking them the question.

They both turned their faces. George was even more dramatic by whistling.

“wait you guys think I’m strict or something” “I don’t have a no-nonsense attitude. I smile see” I flashed them a smile.

A click sound jolted me from my forced smile.

“did you get that?” Christy asked George

“yep” George flashed her a genuine smile. His smile immediately dropped when I gave him an angry scowl.

“what the heck was that?”

“that was the first smile you’ve given us in days” Christy said raising an eyebrow.

“oh, how I wish I could do that. I mentally wished referring to Christy smooth eyebrow raise.

Celia kept looking at us amused and probably enjoying the show.

“I smile everyday okay”

“if this, Christy flashed me a creepy/scary smile, is a smile then yes you smile everyday”

“so, will you do it” Celia asked again her eyes shining with laughter.

“uhm I guess, I can help”.

“oh, thank you” she gave me a quick hug and she left.

We started to walk to class the both of them arguing which picture they should post.

“you guys are unbelievable” I muttered under my breath.

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I drowsily walked to the bathroom. The night was extra cold and the curtains flapped noisily letting slivers of moonlight into the dark room. The only comforting sound right now was the sound of Christy snoring lightly.

I carefully stepped around the room to the bathroom, doing my business and coming back.

Tap tap tap

I ignored the eerie sound and focused on getting to my bed that was just a few meters away.

Tap tap tap

The sound amplified and no matter how I tried to clamp it down fear started to trickle in.

I considered waking Christy up but on what ground, some make-believe sound, no I should just calm down and go back to bed. I moved forward again putting in more determination than I needed to get to my bed.

The sound was quickly replaced by a feeling and without thinking too much I decided to go downstairs to find out which of my sisters had woken up. it will be one of my sisters, right? I’m just overreacting this is just me checking not walking into my impending doom.

I let out a blood curling scream when I saw a black hooded figure sitting lone on the sofa. Somehow the air didn’t pick up the big sound waves I just produced instead; a large calloused hand clamped my mouth shut. The familiar scent started to take over my senses and without much work I started to relax. I stood there in shock, surprise and anger. The hand didn’t move until I had visibly relaxed in its grip.

“Gabe?” I whispered his hand still hovering close to my mouth in case he needed to take swift action. His grip loosened enough for me to turn around to see him fully.

We were dangerously close, our eyes locked with some sort of mental padlock that we had willingly put there. Our nose was almost touching as he looked down at me with such intensity that drove me to the brink of insanity.

The black hood masked the top half of his face adding to this unbelievable beauty before me. I took in a much-needed breath when his lips slightly parted. The small action made my knees weak and breathing become shallow.

A slight brush on my invisible flaming cheeks added to the intensity of the moment and I found myself leaning in for more.

What was he doing to me?

The sound of thunder jolted me back from the small bubble we had created. It didn’t deter Gabe though; his eyes were still trained on me. I finally registered the close proximity or more appropriately, the consequences of our close proximity and pulled away.

The anger, surprise and shock came back in full force as soon as I pulled away. I composed myself and looked back at him.

“what the hell, you scared me to death and what the heck are you doing in my house in the middle of the night” I said in one breath as ferocious as my body will allow me.

“this is me having a nice life”

“haha very funny” I snorted.

“you are being watched Tamar”.

“aren’t we all?” I asked exasperated.

He sighed as if I was the one with too much trouble.

“so, because you think I am being watched you suddenly appear in my house like a freaking ghost in the middle of the night?”

He looked away.

“oh my God this isn’t your first time is it?” I asked my voice a whisper.

“since when?”

“how come I never knew?” I asked confusion etched on my face.

He took in a breath but he still maintained his impassive expression.

“since you left and you never knew because I blocked you from noticing my presence, all of you” he said gesturing to the silent house.

“today didn’t work out did it?”

“you are here so…” he shrugged.

“why is today any different?” I asked curiosity taking over the need to be livid with this man standing before me.

“either your senses are getting stronger or someone is amplifying them for you”

“what gibberish are you saying?”

“has anyone been around you” he asked totally ignoring my question.

“of course,” I answered surprised by his question.

“that’s not what I mean” he said his tone edging towards annoyance “I mean anyone different”.

“no” I answered curtly.

“I know right now that what I am saying does not make much sense but believe me, they are watching you”.

“that’s the problem, who is they? You never answer me, you talk like I don’t know what I am doing and then you lie, you lie to me”.

“stop shouting you will wake the whole house” he reprimanded.

I stilled knowing that he had just made a point but then I remembered and pure rage boiled through my veins.

“you are doing it again” I screamed even louder.

“doing what?” he asked genuinely confused.

“tell me I was never meant to see that particular entry, was I? that statement you made in the car was never meant to be made, was it?”

His jaw clenched and at that moment I knew I was getting somewhere.

“I stumbled on something important, asked you about it and you tried to salvage the situation by making casual conversation but then what was casual in your own eyes was the key to the pandora box I have been trying to open.

I asked the next question, you panicked internally, and tried to shut it down”.

His jaw clenched and I knew that I had hit bulls’ eye.

“you flooded me with those books, not for me to find answers but for me to be distracted” I chuckled sardonically.

“give the simpleton something to do right?”

“seriously tone it down the whole house is sleeping”

As soon as the statement left his mouth my hands found his face and I slapped him so hard my hand throbbed with pain.

“you blocked the whole house remember?” I shouted and the silence that enveloped us was just an assertion to my statement.

“I am not saying it again. Leave my house and my life! And if you come back, I will call the police and if the police can’t do anything, I will handle it myself”.

At that moment I felt powerful, pure strength course through my veins, fear and trepidation pushed back. I disappeared up the stairs to my room without turning back.

the urge to find a mirror and fast pulsated through me. Something had changed and I knew it. It was not only the fact I had confronted someone or anything. Well, it was part of it but the shift was evident and it was so present that it manifested physically.

I picked up the mirror that was safely tucked away for special occasions being careful not to wake a still sleeping Christy and I wondered how effective whatever Gabe did is.

With shaky fingers I picked up the mirror and looked at the girl that was staring back at me and shock made me drop the mirror. This girl was completely different from the girl I used to know. She had blazing golden eyes.