‡ Promise 27: Lies & Secrets ‡

-As told by Tommy-

ody needed a break from driving Lily to and from school, so I volunteered to drive my truck there and back. Jody had given a weak excuse, claiming that school and work at her mother's bookstore was weighing her, that driving back and forth to Lily's was an errand she couldn't fit in her schedule for the next three days. But both Lily and I knew that was crap.
The real reason was that she was too afraid, rattled, to be so close to the demon that lived next door. And it's not like Lily and I didn't understand it. I felt the same way and Lily couldn't even stand the school assembly. But Jody is just a little more fragile than us, more innocent to the things of the unknown, so we did understand. She didn't have to make up a lie for us. I guess, she felt embarrassed for being so afraid.
"What are you thinking about?" Lily asks, as I turn my truck a corner, getting closer to the school. "Jody." I answer, deftly, and then blush when I realize I told the truth, "I mean... I..." "Oh." sings Lily, a grin on her face, "I see now." "It's not like that!" I frown, concentrating hard on the road. "What?" she grins, "I only said 'oh'." "S-shut up." I frown, trying not to blush again. It's seems as though Lily is tougher than the either Jody or I. That day, she was a wreck and devastated about Julia's murder. And then she came back to school, still half herself, and very pissed all the time. And now, almost suddenly, she was her usual self.
"How do you do it?" I sigh, more to myself, but Lily responds. "Do what?" she asks. "Oh, nothing." I said, pulling into the school's parking lot. "Well," she grins, "Don't worry. It won't be long until I get my truck." "It's not a problem." I said, turning off the engine, "I don't mind driving you around." We leave the truck and head into the school together, knowing that Jody would be waiting for us at the lockers. "Oh, my god." grumbles a freshmen, "Tommy is dating the witch." "W-what?" I choke. "Ignore them." waves Lily and speeds up ahead towards a smiling Jody.
That's the hundredth time I heard someone say that Lily and I were a couple. But that's crazy! I mean... she is cute, in her own way. But our personalities are the opposite. The world of monsters and demons are the only things we have in common. And seems to be the only thing we can really talk about together. It's funny, I realize that I have more to say around Jody, and how we talk about everything except one thing. Nothing supernatural is allowed in Jody's sphere, only things of logic and explanations, and I find that annoying sometimes. But also kinda cute too.
Jody smiles towards me and I get this funny feeling on the back of my neck. What am I thinking? Jody's my friend! I shake my head, snapping myself out of whatever that's trying to cross my mind. "Tommy?" frowns Jody, "Are you okay? You look pale." "Oh," grins Lily, leaning on Jody's shoulder, "That's the dead-man's stare. I think he's had a visit from cupid." "Really?" giggles Jody. "I did not!" I shout, "Stop saying that!" "Oh," nods Jody, pointing at me, "He just turned several shades of colors. I think you may be right, Lily."
I quickly turn around, hiding from their view, feeling my face turn hot. "She's wrong!" I growl, balling my fists. "Well," hops Jody, behind me I can hear her boots squeaking, "Who is she?" Lily snickers. "It's no one!" I frown, my back still turned, "You girls are annoying! I'm going to hang with the guys!" I storm away, leaving the two giggling girls behind, but I'm not really angry. Just embarrassed a lot and wanting to hide.
As I burst into the boy's bathroom, I wondered if Lily was telling Jody that I like her. And then with that, I was rattled by what my mind was wondering, and it's shocking new truth. "I like Jody!?", my mind screamed, "That's sick! Jody's like a sister to me!" But my mind quickly countered with the fact that Jody isn't really my sister, not by blood. We are of no relation, so therefore she's just like any other girl. But it still feels weird and sick, I've known her since we were kids, we grew up together like siblings.
My head was swimming and everything seemed so chaotic. When did this happen? How did this happen? What sparked this all of a sudden? Had I always felt this way about Jody, but kept it hidden? I didn't have an answer for any of these questions. All I knew for certain is that I like Jody. I felt another shock wave of guilt and confusion. "Now what do I do?" I sigh, covering my eyes in frustration. The bell rings and I gain my composure for class.
But I'm not really paying attention to assignments or the teachers, my mind is preoccupied with Jody and the millions of questions. What do I say to her? How do I act around her now? What would she say, if she knew that I like her? Would our friendship survive? If I acted on it, and asked Jody on a date, would it ruin everything? How would she react? She might laugh at me. Or get really pissed off and hit me. Or she might run away crying and never speak to me ever again! I can't let that happen. I need my best-friend and I don't ever want her to hate me.
"Woah," says Jody, snapping me back to reality, "She must be really hot." I was standing like a zombie, outside of the cafeteria, not remembering how or when I got there. "Yeah," I said, smoothly, "She is." "So there is a girl!" she shrieks, hopping again, "Who is she? Tell me!" I look into Jody's huge and excited blue eyes. And I can't bring myself to ruin our friendship, not over a tiny crush, so I tell her only half the truth. "I can't tell you." I sigh and then look towards the floor. "What?" frowns Jody, "Why not? We tell each other everything." "Well," I shrug, "Not this time." "Well, that's no fun." she huffs, but grabs onto my arm.
"Come on," Jody nods, "Lily's waiting for us, at our table." She drags me to the table, where Lily sits amused, at the sight of Jody and I with arms linked. "So," she smiles into her macaroni and cheese, "I see it worked out, huh?" "Not quite." I frown, hoping she'd take the hint, "Some things are better left alone." And it seems as Lily understands. "Huh?", Jody looks from me to Lily, "What's going on?" "Nothing." we both said and I take a seat. "Oh, I hate this!" hiss Jody, plopping down in a seat next to me, "You guys always have secrets and leave me out!"
"No," Lily waves, "It's not like that. It's just car-talk. I'll be getting my truck soon, you know?" This was a total lie and I'm surprised by how fast Lily came up with it. And it sounded believable... a little too believable. "Oh." blush Jody, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-" "It's okay." grins Lily, "We still love you." Jody giggles. "So," I said, wanting to get away from the lie, "How about we study again, on Thursday, my place?" "Oh, right." says Jody, a little relieved that it wasn't suggested to be at Lily's, "Lily hasn't been to our houses yet."
"Um," Lily says, twirling her fork in the mashed potatoes, "I can't. My parents are having a dinner guest on that day. I have to be home, after school, to help prepare." "Someone you know?" asks Jody. "No." she says, shifting in her chair a little, "Some kind of business thing with my mom." "Wow," shrugs Jody, "That sucks. I use to hate the dinner parties my mother use to throw. Just a boring chatter at the table, about book storage and discounts." Jody may not have noticed, but I knew that Lily was hiding something and not telling the whole truth. But I don't say anything.
Driving her back home, that afternoon, I decided to bring it up. "Was that the truth?", I ask, breaking the silence, "Are you really having a dinner party?" "Yeah." Lily frowns, "It's the truth. I'm not trying to ditch you guys or anything." "And it's a business guest of your mother?" I ask, one brow raised. She looks away and gives me a weak, "Yeah." "Okay," I sigh, stopping at a red light, "Whoever it is, it's your business. But I want you to do me a favor." "What?" she asks, suspicious now. "Don't tell Jody." I said. "Don't tell Jody what?" she asks, searching for the rest of the sentence, confused.
I give Lily a look that said, "You know what?". "Oh!" she remembers, slapping her forehead, "That. Yeah, sure, whatever." "I mean it." I say, firmly, "Don't breath a word." "I won't," she waves, "Don't worry. I won't tell Jody about your crush. My lips are sealed." And I knew then, that my secret was safe. Along with the many other secrets that Lily was hiding...