011 - LIES

011

LIES

NOVA

"Two, three, four, five... I think this one is perfect." Chloe grins, as she stares at the three outfits that she's laid out on the bed. "What do you think?"

I shake my head, not looking up from my phone. If she asks me one more question about her clothes again, I might actually leave her here and go and join the boys downstairs in their video game.

"Come on, Nova. You've been glued to the phone for an hour."

I finally look up at her. Yeah, she's definitely exaggerating. I haven't been here for an hour. I sigh, dropping my phone on the desk beside me and standing up so I can take a proper look at the clothes.

"Will you promise to leave me alone after I help you pick out an outfit?"

She nods rapidly which is weird. But still, I take a look at her choices. Hot damn. Her dresses are pretty good looking. I'd kill to get a blue dress like the deep blue that's in the middle.

Chloe and I look nothing alike with our hair and eyes colour but we have the same body build. I still remember wearing most of her dresses last time when we visited.

Nothing's changed, I see.

Without thinking, I point at the blue dress. "The one would look amazing on you." I say.

She folds her arms, looking at the dress and then at my face. A small smile spreads across her face. No. It better not be what I'm thinking.

"I thought so too." She nods.

"Chloe no." I step back. "What is it you plan on doing?"

She shrugs. "Mom said you've been too busy on your phone these past few days and..."

I frown. Aunt Joan didn't. Of course she can say that. What the hell does she expect me to do? I did a bad thing. I did the worst thing I could ever think of and instead of owning up to my mistakes and facing whatever it is I could have faced, my mom hid me here.

It's a school week and I can't just jump into the school my cousins go to. And I certainly cannot be here and be ignorant. I mean... I need to know what's happening at school.

Mom advised I take out my SIM card and stuff and I did just that. But I got a new one, thanks to Marcus and I rejoined the Ridgeview School Group on W******p.

They can't blame me for staying glued to my phone for the tiniest bit of information. If I wasn't so nosy, I wouldn't know that Enzo's been preparing for a speech that his lawyers gave drawn. A speech that'll paint me the enemy and my brother as well.

"Nova..."

I blink. "So what? Your mom has prohibited me from using my phone?"

"Mom would never."

Then what?

"She just thinks we should go out more. Marcus and Kol can drive us... It's not a party. It's just shopping. We'll get nice things and..."

"Where?" I ask immediately.

She presses her lips together. "It's not anywhere near your home. It's just... a little bit close to your school." She uses her fingers to emphasize the meaning of small.

I don't even know what to say to her at this point. I'm guessing her mom knows nothing about this. It's her idea. It's hers. I can also sense Kol behind this. Marcus wouldn't know. He's the most mature. He wouldn't even think about it.

"My mom brought me here for a reason, Chloe."

She starts nodding. "And I know. We'll be quick. We'll be as fast as you can think of. Come on, you know how much I want to see the dresses they have in the..."

"Dresses?" I ask, my eyes widening. Oh, she cannot be serious. She just said dresses. So this is about dresses? She's willing to drag me into the fiery pits of hell that my brother has unleashed in waiting just because of some dresses.

"Are you being serious right now?"

"I need to pick out something for..."

I hold a hand and that shuts her up. "You have cute dresses. I don't own half the clothes that you own. I'm sorry, Chloe. I'm not going with you."

"It's fine. I get you." She says. Even though she's not frowning, her countenance has dropped.

"I'll just tell Marcus to take me." She says.

Yeah, she should do that. "Do be careful, okay?"

She fakes a smile. "Yes. I just pray I don't run into Noah and mistakenly tell him you're here."

Fuck you, I almost tell her but I inhale, watching her realize how silly she just sounded.

"That was a bad joke, obviously." She says.

"It's not funny, Chloe."

She nods. "I'm sorry."

I watch her leave and then I take my phone and start scrolling through the group chat again. It's not like I have anything doing.

It's funny how time passes while you're busy on your phone. It's been an hour since Chloe left. My back is sore and I can feel how stiff my spine is. Staying on the same spot for a long time will do that to you.

The door rattles and I look up to see Marcus, holding a phone to his ear. I didn't know he was home. I thought he had driven Chloe to get the clothes she wanted to get.

"What do you mean she's there?" He asks, frowning. "But how?"

Now I'm curious. I sit up in the bed, looking at Marcus whose phone conversation is clearly upsetting him.

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

Marcus ends the call and looks at me.

"What's happened?" I ask.

"Chloe told you she was going to get clothes?"

I nod. "She said she'd ask you to drive her."

Marcus tilts his head. "Mom said nobody leaves. She didn't ask me shit. Kol isn't home too."

"Is that bad?"

"You know who called me just now? Noah. And he's seen them. Your brother is on his way here with my sister and brother."

What the actual fuck?