Page 10 of Web of Lies
The knock comes again, heavier this time like someone is pounding their fist into the wood. Setting my phone down next to my computers, I walk towards the door cautiously. I wasn’t expecting company; I don’t have friends here. Yet. I have no idea who it could be, but I guess that’s all a part of the adventure. Strangers becoming friends and all that jazz.
My palms sweat as I reach for the doorknob. On second thought, I suppose I am waiting for my student advisor to come and whisk me away for a tour I don’t need. But I can’t come out and say, hey, I memorized every inch of this campus because I’ve obsessed over it for the last eight months. Yeah—that won’t tip anyone off. So, I play the lost puppy dog part and answer the door with a warm, inviting smile.
“Ohhhh! Syrupy waffles, it’s you!” Her happy shrieks set my teeth on edge. It’s like forcing a screwdriver into my ears—repeatedly. If her voice doesn’t kill me, her happy-go-lucky personality will do me in.
Her ass-length blonde ponytail bounces and sways, swishing back and forth with the rhythm of her hands clapping together in a frantic beat.
I’m not sure by how bouncy she is if her body could stay still at all. She giggles and dances, staring at me with wide eyes. Her perfectly pressed red and white cheerleader’s uniform moves with her, giving her theI have school spirit vibe. A black panther roars on her chest with its claws and teeth bared underneath the letters E.P.
“Oh, Kaycee! We are going to have so much fun today! I can’t wait to show you around this place. It’s so beautiful, ahhhhh.” Finally, she stops bouncing, looking toward the ceiling with a dreamy expression
A small smile pulls at her lips, and her mind seems to slip away to another planet. Maybe the planet she truly belongs on because no one in their right mind acts like this. Her hands fold together in a silent prayer and for an awkward second, I don’t think she will move again. Maybe her true alien family finally came back for her after all. But then she bounces again, toe to toe, clapping her hands, proving to me she’s alive.
Damn, no alien invasion today.
I eye her every move with caution and listen to her every giggle. I wonder what kind of drugs she’s on or if she needs some. Ritalin? Is that still a thing? My parents were hell-bent on not putting me on that kind of stuff when the doctors thought I had ADHD. My mom said it would make me a zombie and rot my brain. Maybe this blonde-haired cheerleader rotted her brain with ADHD medicine? Or she’s rotted it some other way?
I blink a few times, realizing I’ve lost myself inside my thoughts. She stares at me with that wistful smile again. “I’m sorry, who are you?” I ask, shaking my thoughts away, trying to pout my lips as innocently as I can. Because, of course, I know who Piper Hurst is, who doesn’t?
“Oh, sugar on my toast! I’m such a nincompoop sometimes! Forgive me! I’m Piper Hurst, your student advisor!” She shrieks, popping my eardrum.
I understand how she’s a peppy, bouncing cheerleader with the hopping and shouting she’s doing. A strong rock forms in the pit of my stomach, and I realize I won’t enjoy her company. Not. One. Bit. But I’ll grin and bear it and hope I can escape her clutches. ASAP. Or I might just turn and run from this school.
I grin as real as I can as she slaps her forehead. “Great to meet you, Piper,” I say, and she bounces on her toes again.
“So, are you ready!?” she asks again with such enthusiasm. And me? I want to jam a pencil in my eye sockets and wear them as eyeballs.
“For what?” I ask, leaning on the door jamb. Her eyes widen in horror, and she brings a hand to her mouth.
“It’s time for breakfast! And we havesomuch to see today, silly! I must show you the classrooms, the football field, and especially the maze! OH! MY GOD! You’re going to L-O-V-E the maze! It’s so beautiful on the outside! And only on the outside! Never—I repeat, NEVER go on the inside. It’s so vile there. Unless there’s a party,” she shrieks again, bouncing around. “OH, bouncing bananas. I can’t wait! Let’s go! Breakfast is the best meal here! They have everything: muffins, pancakes, French toast, ahhhhh!!” I gape at her excitement. It almost seems like overkill, so bright and early in the morning.
“The absolute best parties happen at the maze. There’s a house in the middle and let’s just say, it doesn’t get used by the staff. I don’t know how those pesky West twins got their hands on the keys, but holy guacamole, it’s amazing!” I blink, and Piper is wandering around my room like she owns it. Her nose lifts into the air at the boxes still piled up in the corner.
Grabbing my phone, I prepare to herd her out of my room. Her eyes are practically vibrating as she takes in my possessions, cataloging them away inside her chaotic brain. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s don’t underestimate anyone.
“I—uhm—I can’t wait for you to show me around. Should we go? I’m starving,” I say with a tight smile, pointing toward the exit. Piper comes up beside me, shaming my height with hers. She’s a tower standing above me, ready to wrap her arms around my body.
“Holy potatoes, Kaycee, you’re so going to fit in here! I can feel it in my bones, and you and I will be BFFS!” I cringe as she pulls me into a tight embrace. Swaying our bodies back and forth, humming under her breath, and finally, let’s go. I take a deep, steadying breath and calm myself. My skin immediately itches from the contact, but I don’t dare tell her. Keep all your cards close to your chest. Never reveal your weaknesses. So, breathing through my anxiety, it is.
“Ah—yeah. Um—I’m not really a hugger, more of a fist bump kind of person,” I say, holding my fists up, and she bumps hers against mine with a laugh.
“Duly noted! I shall never lay another hand on you again! Now, let’s eat!” She squeaks again.
Lead forms in the pit of my stomach at her words. Duly noted? Crap—ominous dread creeps through me. I handed over vital information to someone I only know from my internet research. Granted, I don’t like hugs or touching, but the way her eyes narrowed in on me at my admission makes the acid in my stomach burn.
“You coming, Sleepyhead?” Piper asks with an amused smirk, tilting her head. I blink again, looking into the hallway, where she stands with her hands on her hips, assessing me. Fuck my life, Piper may act like she snorted something off the toilet, but she’s observant.
“So, I hear your daddy is a writer or something?” Ah, she’s the one fishing this time. By the way she speaks, she knows anything and everything about my family.
“Something like that,” I reply. “How about your family?” I ask, deflecting back to her.
Her parent’s record online was pretty suspect, filled with darkness. But her? Her record online was squeaky clean, much like her annoying voice. Piper’s the student council president, school dance coordinator, student advisor to incoming students, and she’s even the captain of her cheer squad. How on earth does this peppy, C-average student manage it all?Drugs—it has to be drugs.
“Oh, prickly pineapples, my daddy is the absolute best! He helps all the little people!” She gushes, bringing her hands up under her chin with pride beaming from her eyes.
“Help them how?” I ask, looking over at her. We cross the courtyard towards the dining hall, keeping our stride in sync.
“Oh, silly! He raises lots and lots of money! Doing anything and everything he can to help the less fortunate. He’s the cat’s Christmas pajamas, wrapped in paper, with a sparkly bow!”What the fuck did she just say?“He helps bring so many people together!” She squeaks again, and I swear a tear falls down her cheek from the pure joy of talking about her father.
