Lying to you

I stared at the phone once again. Although I was grateful and really excited, it just seemed wrong, and it looked too expensive.

"I didn't know you had a secret admirer," Matilda teased, bumping my shoulder, but my mind had wandered off. Contemplating on who would have sent it, I wanted to be sure and rule out all possibilities. Just like before, the only one I could think of was Owen. He was the only one aware that I had lost my phone, or could he have told Jake?

No, he wouldn't. He promised.

I gently placed the phone back in the package, sealing it back the way it was.

"Do you know who sent it?" Matilda asked.

My gaze faced her. "No," I lied. "but I can't accept this," I spoke softly, watching as a frown formed on Matilda's face.

"Are you nuts!" She yelled. She pulled my ear, and I winced in pain. That really did hurt; she knew it, yet she pulled harder. "That was given to you as a gift because he or she, obviously a he, knows you needed that phone. You can't give it back."

"Can you let me go?" I asked as she tightened her grip on my right ear. She rolled her eyes, letting out a smirk before losing her grip. "You are crazy," I glared at her, my hand gently massaging my ear.

"That's what you get for being stupid. Do you know how much this costs, plus you lost your phone? Don't be a fool; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you don't want it, you can give it to me; I would happily accept."

"It's too much, Matilda. I really appreciate it, but it's just a lot for 'a friend'," I said, hoping to have sparked some words of wisdom into her head, but she spoke otherwise.

"Who cares? It's a gift. It's free. It's not like he's asking for a one-night stand or something…"

"Matilda!" I scolded, my brow furrowed. Why would she think of that? In fact, she could think of anything, but having s3x for a phone is just going overboard.

"I didn't say he was," she stared at me, trying hard to stop herself from laughing.

"Why would you think that? And how do you know it's a he? It could be from a girl. After all, there are many girls from a well-off family attending this school."

"No girl in their right mind would spend this much money on a phone to give another girl unless they are gay, which you aren't." She spoke confidently, wrapping her arms around her chest.

I couldn't help roll my eyes by the fact she was right, but I still couldn't tell her it was from Owen. Mainly because I wasn't sure, but also because she would freak if she finds out. I can't deal with her constant teasing, at least not now. Too much had happened.

"How did you lose your phone in the first place?" She asked. A question that I so much dreaded and wanted to avoid.

I knew I had to lie to her again. That, I hated. We've always been honest with each other, and I was breaking that promise we made. To be fair, I had never actually been honest; there were many things she didn't know about me.

"It fell in a pool," that's wasn't the truth, but it's also wasn't a lie.

She shook her head.

"All you had to do was swim and get it, or can't you swim?" Her questions kept coming, and they hit me like a knife piercing through my skin.

I stared at my best friend. The picture of the past flashed through my mind, and I became teary once again. I just couldn't help it; I never wanted to remember.

It was all Jake's fault. If only I hadn't gone for the stupid date in the first place, it wouldn't have happened. I wished I didn't agree to this in the first place, but then again, it's almost over. Only a few days left for the concert, and all this would be in the past.

"Are you okay?" Matilda asked, slipping me out of my thoughts. "Are you crying?" Her voice echoed, ringing in my head. That's when I noticed a drop of tear slipping down my cheek. She leaned in closer to my face, her right hand gently caressed my cheek, wiping the tear. "You are!" She spoke with a mix of concern.

I shoved her hand quickly and stepped back, wiping my face to stop more tears as they poured out.

"Are you okay? Did—Did I say something wrong?" She asked, her hand stretched out to hold mine.

"I am fine." I forcefully pushed her hands off mine.

"Are you sure? Piper, you can tell me if something is wrong. I am your friend, remember?" I felt a rush of annoyance flow through me. I was pissed for no reason. There was a reason, though.

"I said I am fine!" I yelled. She looked shocked and hurt by my reaction. "Just leave me alone." I muttered, walking out of class with the package in my hand.

Hot tears spilled down my cheek. I started with fast steps, trying to avoid Matilda calling me from behind. Then I increased my pace by running as fast as I could. The memories didn't stop coming, and I didn't stop running. I wanted to tell her. I wanted to pour my heart out and lash out all my frustration. The pain I held deep down, locked in my heart. I wanted to tell my best friend, but I couldn't. All these years, I kept this from my best friend.

How could I? How could I tell her I am a twin, with the other gone and never coming back…

I kept running, my hand clutched to my chest. I wasn't looking at where I was going as my hand was over my face; I didn't want anyone to see.

Lost in my thoughts, I turned a corner, dashing through the hallway, and then I collided with a solid figure, causing me to stumble backwards.