TO TRAP A LIAR

(SERENE'S POV)

I sat in my bed, going through the documents I had obtained about Claire Summers and the Sunset Hotel. I reread them again and again and still couldn't believe it.

I actually didn't blame or judge her, but what my brain couldn't let go was Jonathan and her. 

“That bitch I will tear her to pieces.” My sister roared, she was a lawyer and she had gone through the documents, there was no way I could sue Lastwill. I didn't even care about him anymore. 

My phone vibrated and I struggled to find it.  

I had dumped my bag the second I got home and hadn’t touched it since. I had to lean all the way over the bed to grab it. My body aching from the pain of the previous night.  

“Hello?” I asked tiredly, my voice came out dry. 

“Serene?” Claire’s overly sweet voice vibrated through the phone. 

“Serene, are you there?” she asked again, her voice now panicked.

I leaned back against my pillows and sighed. "Yeah, I am," I muttered. 

"Oh, thank God!" She gasped, dramatically. "Are you okay? You completely bailed on my party yesterday! Did you get lost? Did something happen to you?"

I stared at the screen in anger,  so that's the excuse she intended to use, that I got lost and somehow ended up in a brothel. 

"I am not fine, Claire," I replied, my voice dangerously calm. "I am in the hospital."

"Oh my goodness, Serene! What happened?” She asked anxiously, but underneath her pretence, I could hear the excitement in her voice as she awaited my impending downfall. “How on earth did you end up in the hospital?"

The phone shifted, and suddenly it was Jonathan’s voice. “Serene are you fine,” he asked so sweetly that I almost believed him. 

But hearing him right next to her woke me up from that fantasy. A wave of nausea hit me as the disturbing images of what they might have done together flashed in my mind.

"Serene, my love, talk to me." His voice rang through the phone, his tone softening like it always did when it came to me.

"Jonathan," I said slowly. "What are you doing with Claire?"

“Ahhhh……” he stammered, searching for words. I closed my eyes, a bitter smile breaking across my face remembering this  was the exact same nervous reaction he always gave whenever I pointed out how uncomfortably close they were.

"He got so drunk and spent the night with me," Claire answered for him, like she always did.

“Spent the night with you.” I repeated her statement, the words echoing in the room, finally seeing  the reality she had been telling me all along, I was just too blind to believe it.

"Ah, wait….that's not what I meant!" Claire quickly corrected her statement. "I mean, he slept over at my place!" She paused, laughing nervously. "Serene, how could you even think like that? Jonathan and I are literally siblings!" She explained awkwardly and I kept quiet.

"Serene, please, what happened?" Jonathan’s voice came through. "Which hospital are you at? I am coming right now. I was so worried when you didn't show up yesterday." His voice was soft, like he would never betray me.

“And yet, you didn't show up, not even once," I said softly into the phone. 

"What?" He asked, shocked. I had never complained before. I had always been the quiet, understanding girlfriend.

"I checked my phone," I continued, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Not a single missed call from you."

"My phone died... and I couldn't find you anywhere.” He spoke in a defensive tone. “I panicked, Serene. That is the only reason I was drinking."

"Really." I asked but it wasn't a question.

"Serene, don't start making a scene," Claire spoke almost triumphantly. "Jonathan cares about you so much. He is going to forgive you no matter what happened, so there is really no need to guilt trip him." I could almost hear the joy and victory in that tone she used.

"What are you talking about, Claire? Forgive her for what? What happened yesterday?" Jonathan asked in panic, but there was fear, am sure he was aware of how crazy she is.

I waited, holding my breath, eager to hear how she planned to expose me.

On the other end it was quiet, then slowly as if afraid to speak, she explained. "You see, Jonathan... Please don't get angry"

"Why?" Jonathan barked, the softness now completely gone. "Claire, why?"

"Yesterday... I might have given Serene the wrong address."

"What are you talking about? Don't play games with me, Claire!" His voice turned icy cold. "Which location did you send her to?"

"Let go of me!" A struggling voice came through the speaker.

I glanced across the room at Athena. She was leaning against the wall, listening intently, her arms crossed and her dark eyes narrowed. We didn't move.

"I sent her to the Sunset Hotel instead of the Moonset," Claire answered, her voice  struggling. But we could hear her dry coughs accompanied by a heavy thud. 

"What did you just say?" Jonathan asked, his voice now deadly.

"Am sorry!" she answered timidly.

"Serene? Serene, my love, are you still there?" Jonathan called into the phone.

I smoothed my blanket, and asked innocently. "Jonathan? What is going on? Why are you so angry? What is wrong with the Sunset Hotel?” When I got no response, I  added “Please don't hurt Claire. I am sure it was just an honest mistake."

There was total silence now. "What do you mean?" Jonathan asked, his voice carrying a little bit of hope. "You don't know what kind of hotel that is?" He asked desperately.

 "Oh, come on, Serene, there is no need to lie!" Claire shipped in desperately. "Jonathan loves you so much! Just tell the truth, he will forgive you!"

"Forgive me for what?" I asked innocently.

"Serene, please, just tell me what happened yesterday," Jonathan begged, his patience running low.

"Well," I sighed, lying without skipping a single beat, "a passing car splashed me with dirty puddle water on my way to the party, it had dog waste in it. It was so disgusting I couldn't bear it. I got so overwhelmed you know my issues, I fainted and ended up in intensive care. Athena has just brought me home from the hospital.

I explained without missing a bit, a tiny part of me wondered why I was lying, but hearing Lucy's sharp and panicked voice through the speaker made every second worth it.

"You... you... you..." she stammered helplessly.