la mid-conversation. With his heart racing, he turned toward Audrey, his f

udrey asked this time more softl

ng. You know this shopping mall I work at? They want to throw a party, and I sug

worked to will the calmness down into his limbs, his lips curling into a well-rehearsed smile. It was an instant

She moved in closer, placing her hand on his arm. "You know, baby, you don't have to explain it t

ng a kiss on her forehead. "You know

uilt that had formed in his chest twisting tighter. When they finally par

f sight. At the soft click of a door shutting, he leaned back against the kitchen counter,

to the bathroom in the quietest manner possible, his heart going into palpitations merrily. He suddenly sn

sin came over and gave me a scare. That's who you heard. I

A smirk twisted his lips. "I'm one bad sweet guy," he snickered, running a hand t

comforter beside Audrey, his mi

ce. *Who was that woman? * The voice she had heard did seem near and inhaled with such closeness that t

wing inside of her, about which she would

irbrush and sent it across the room. It slammed against the wall with a loud thud, but

s racing. The sump of unshed tears began to cloud her eyes as she dug again into her dress

she screamed frustratedly,

asmine flung in, her eyes wide with alar

oundings: shattered glass and pillows everywhere. Jasmine stood th

l that threatened to boil over inside. "It's nothing, I just. I got really angry because. one of my friends." She f

dissipate. "That's terrible... I'm so sorry she's dealing with that." She le

yla's mind for an explanation. "You might

probably know her. You're always telling me about yo

ght of her lie intensified

pression turned skeptical. "Mila? I don't

casual-sounding. "See? I told yo

h quiet suspicion, yet didn't press the issue further. "W

iting her lip.

eeze. "Okay, well, I'll just leave you to clean up n

grumbled. Her he

knew her sister doubted her. The door softly clicked shut with just a hin

is wrong with me? Why did I blow up like that?* A weak laugh escaped her a

them in the dustbin. She checked the time-it was late. *Tomorrow I will sort this out with hi

w and soft. Axel lay awake, looking up at the ceiling. Then, his phone softly buzzed

chat window an

in; she just appeared out of the blue. She's in town for a few days, and tha

at how easily lies fell off his tongue. He could do this game as long a

ulled the blankets up over him. Lying like that his mind started to wander

nce at his phone then c

'Mila' didn't sit right. She knew all of Jayla's friends, old and new, and had never heard any of the

h more immediate: she had to focus on the biggest night gala of

mmaging through the expensive dresses hanging neatly inside. Her fingers b

immered just enough to hint at its presence without overwhelming anything. It had set h

grabbing her Versace wild leopard Athena medium

just a hair. *At least I have got this sorted, she thought to herself as

a mad rush: what took place last night, the fight with Axel, the jealousy surging through her, the lie she had fed Jasmine. Yet, tho

ly came over so suddenly and caught me off guard. Not

lanation of who he was. Immediately, her mind replayed the woman's voice-that sharp question about the beach. It didn

er thumb along the screen

ll on for today. C

ht. She didn't like that she'd lied to Jasmine, but she couldn't let this ruin her day. Axel had ex

at least, and settled on a light sundress in soft, perfect for the warm summer's day with her favori

abree

the expanse of it. She could hear the waves crashing far away and the gleeful sounds of children playing close to the s

ted white T-shirt. As he neared her, he lifted his han

n closer, pulling her into a

s she found herself smili

to be swept up in the rhythm of the day- her earlier worries of Axel's cousin slipping through as they went for a

ad in weeks. Light from Axel's jokes and the teasing during the volleyball game, the easin

he waited until they were sitting on the blanket-the sun reaching

ed in a soft tone. "That woman I

"Yeah, my cousin. She's just ever been the dramatic type. Came in asking all ki

ould let the lie seep into his features. Easy smile, casual tone-j

wly eclipse the doubt. "Yeah, guess

eyes softened at the merger with hers. "Gl

ing his hand in resp

hlighting the glint of the Chanel dress as she twirled before the mirror. Mauve, beige, and ecru col

mine delicately threw her essentials inside- lipstick, her ph

ut seeing James tonight and all her old school friends dancing and laug

ing had fallen warm and agreeable as she crossed the lawn to the waiting car outside. H

he driver, her heart alre

e itself, she was greeted by the twinkling light o

abrics and chandeliers hanging high above crystallized ev

e interior was strikingly beautiful: high ceilings, crystal glass chandeliers, people dressed well, milling about and laughi

p toward her, looking fit as dapper as ever in his tailored suit. He smiled broa

. "You look stunning. This is g

y threatening to spill over. "You don't look so bad yourself. Ready to

few of her old school friends just near the dancing floor, and upon seeing them, her face lit

lmost at once as old times were rememb

e floor, spinning and twirling with James in the middle of the floor, the lig

gy of the gala, reconnecting with old friends

mine glanced at her phone, realizi

ant the evening to come to a close, she knew she needed to get goin

Jasmine said, tapping him on th

small smile dancing on her lips. "Nah, I'm a grown woman, remember? I can get home

get home." Promise, Jasmine said, waving across the group of friends as she made her way out of

reached the corner of the parking lot, a

kness, their eyes locking on hers i

But Jasmine's heart quickened, the knuckles of one hand k

, returning in a voice perfectly even, perfectly firm. I

-she turned into his grasp and connected a square punch to his jaw th

ot take them altogether. One of them hit her with a strong push, sending her crashing onto the gr

struggled to rise again, her heart pounding in her chest. The men

ed gasps, and she did the best she could to

Jasmine knew she