Good Little Liar

Rachel opened the door and rolled her eyes at the scene she saw in the locker room. Nate was straddling a long bench between two rows of lockers. A bucket sat between his legs out of which he was sipping scotch from a ladle. He made flirty faces as he watched three Constance girls dance and sing to “I Feel Pretty” in their underwear.

Suddenly a strong arm wound around her waist and the familiar smell of Polo Sport and cigarette smoke announced Shane’s presence. “Miss me?” he crooned in her ear.

Rachel pushed him off her trying hard to look and sound disgusted, “Hardly.”

She was a good little liar.

He took a step towards her grabbing a hold of her hand. He leaned his face in close to hers daring her to stop him from kissing her.

And she wouldn’t have. Not that she didn’t want to - the girl was just too proud to give in, no matter how damn sexy Shane was. But, she wouldn’t have been able to. He was just too irresistible that close up. Luckily, one of the Constance girls saved her. The only time their many acts of stupidity will ever be considered heroic.

“Hey,” she yelled pointing at Rachel, “aren’t you that girl?”

Rachel, Shane and Nate stared at her waiting for her to add something. Nate started laughing and soon the girl was too caught up in her own fit of giggles to even remember what she had just said. Rachel had seized her opportunity to get a good five paces away from Shane.

“So, love,” he said lighting up another cigarrette, “what are you doing here?”

She crossed the room and took the ladle from Nate, who was still unnecessarily cracking up, and quickly swallowed a splash of scotch. It was extremely bitter and instantly nauseated her. She knew she was going to have to get out of there soon to find a private place to vomit.

Rachel reached down to smooth out her dress and answered Shane’s question, “Isabell’s eternal longing for you.”

He raised an eyebrow urging her on.

“My queen wishes for a private meeting with you,” she half whispered in a mocking confidential tone, “of the romantic nature.”

Nate let out on huge guffaw. “Oh, Oh!!” he slurredly yelled, “The Supreme Bitch wants to suck your face!” Once again he started laughing hysterically.

Shane took a big drag of his cigarette, “For real?”

Rachel swayed slightly feeling her stomach turn, “Basically.” She paused and swallowed hard trying to keep the vomit down. “Anyways, I already told her you wouldn’t do it, but she still made me come. So, I’ll just go back and tell her I was right.” She turned and walked quickly towards the doors her heels clinking slightly on the floor.

Just as her hand pushed down on the knob Shane stopped her. “Wait,” he said calmly, “what makes you think I’m saying no?”

Rachel turned too quickly to face him. Not only did she let him catch a glimpse of the hurt expression on her face but her nausea doubled. Make that quadrupled. “You know why,” she spat.

He smirked. “You have made it very clear we’re never going to happen. And I can’t wait around forever, isn’t that right Nate?”

Nate pointed at him with the ladle, “That’s true.”

Rachel paused trying to read what was really going on behind Shane’s emerald eyes. But, it was too difficult with the whole room spinning. So she just smiled. Her most charming, carefree, do whatever the hell you want smile and coolly said, “Fine.”

Then she turned tipsly on her heels, left the locker room, and ran as fast as she could down the hall to the bathroom with a fresh new reason to throw up.

Updated: 12/23/03

Feeling the rush of relief vomitting brings on Rachel retreated to the sitting room adjacent to the bathroom where she dramatically collapsed on a plush red velvet sofa.

"Why me?" she whined pittying herself, all the while hating herself for it.

Her cell phone rang, it was Annjulette, the "Supreme Bitch" (as Nate so eloquently put it).

Rachel held her breath and counted to ten to keep hereself from crying before answering with an indifferent, "Hello?"

Annjulette was giggling on the other end, obviously drunk. "Rachiellia!" she screamed giddily. "Wait! That's not your name...I know this..."

"Annjulette?" Rachel asked, slightly annoyed.

"No, no, Rachiellia, that's my name! Rachikl...no..Ratcheral..no..Love! I shall call you Love!"

"Whatever. Where are you?"

"In the men's room of the arts pavillion, having a wee little party."

Rachel heard something smash in the background.

"Sorry, pottery class taking people!" Annjulette drunkenly yelled.

Fresh tears threatened to spill from Rachel's eyes. It was just so typical: Annjulette having crazy fun partying it up in the fucking mens room, and Rachel all alone trying not to cry.

"Did you want something?" Rachel asked sniffling.

"Why, yes Love I did!" Annjulette exclaimed, sounding what else? Ecstatic. "Did you find sexy, sexy Shane?"

Rachel was tempted to say no, but her instincts got the better of her. "Yes."

"And when should I expect him."

"I don't know."

"Well why the fuck not?"

"Because I don't think he knows where you are."

"Well go tell him, Lovey!"

Then Annjulette hung up and Rachel tried to pull herself together. It was time to face Shane again.

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