Lies My Girlfriend Told Me by Julie Anne Peters Read Free Book Online Page B

horror or grief. That’ll come later.
    I tell her, “She died on February second. That Saturday morning.”
    Liana’s eyes slit. “You’re lying. Swan’s alive. I talked to her yesterday.”
    You texted her, I want to say. You never actually talked. “Check the news reports.”
    “I read about that girl who died. But there were no pictures, and her name was different. At the time I thought it was strange for two people to have such unusual first names. The last name was different, too, though, and she went to a different school.”
    I can imagine Jewell and Asher not wanting Swanee’s picture splashed all over the news and in the paper. What school did Swanee tell Liana she attended? I wonder. “She gave you false information,” I say. “Her real name is—was—Swanee Durbin. And she went to Arvada.”
    Liana’s eyes bore into mine. “So who’s been texting me?”
    I open my mouth to tell her the truth, but what comes out is, “Someone’s been texting you?”
    “Joss,” she hisses.
    “No. She wouldn’t.” She couldn’t because I have the phone.
    “Is this one of Swan’s pranks? Because it’s not funny. It’s cruel and evil. And so are you and Joss for going along with it.” Liana whirls and sprints off, disappearing into the gym.
    Oh, God. I slump against the wall, closing my eyes. I should be proud that I found the courage to tell her, but all I feel is sick to my stomach.
    I have to drive all the way home in first gear, riding the brakes, to maintain a speed of three miles per hour. No doubt the transmission will need a total overhaul. It’s almost dark by the time I pull into the driveway. Mom and Dad are both in the kitchen, looking pissed. “Where have you been?” Dad asks. “We’ve been calling you for the last four hours.”
    Four hours? I check the microwave clock and see that he’s right. It’s almost eight.
    I’m not about to tell him I’ve been in Greeley.
    Mom seethes. “I even called the Durbins.”
    That gives me an out. “Sorry, I didn’t hear their phone ring. And my cell was on vibrate.”
    “Alix, I told you they need time to themselves.”
    “They’re not home. They went to Hawaii.”
    Mom and Dad exchange a frown.
    “To regroup,” I add. “I told Jewell I’d water her plants while they were gone.” Where did that lie come from? “Plus, it’s quiet over there, so I can study.”
    Up in his room, as if on cue, Ethan begins to cry. Dad heads for the stairs.
    “Did you even once think to call us, that we might be worried about you?” Mom says.
    I did think to call, but then other priorities intervened. “I said I was sorry.”
    She gives me her classic “you’re the most irresponsible person on the face of the planet” look. Then adds, “We ate without you.”
    Like it’s the worst punishment in the world to miss our family meal.
    I look up Liana Torres on Facebook. Naturally, her profile is set to private. All I can see is her recent activity, which is a change in her profile picture. She’s gorgeous. A pang of jealousy shoots through me and I can understand why Swanee would want me to break off my relationship with Betheny, even if it was only friendship.
    If I want to learn more about Swanee through Liana, the only way is for her to accept a friend request from me so I can check out her albums and read her wall and time line. She might initially add me, until she figures out I’m that lying bitch who showed up at her school to tell her the truth about Swanee. I could fake a name, like Swanee did. Or use Alixandra. Or remove Swanee Durbin as my girlfriend.
    Forget it. That will remain permanent on my Facebook.
    Thinking about the hatred in Liana’s eyes when she thought Joss was playing a joke on her brings tears to my eyes. Why did I lead her on, let her believe Swanee was stillalive? Why didn’t I just call after the first text and let her know what happened on Swanee’s run?
    It was selfish of me to want to know who Liana was. In time Swanee