Once Upon a Liar

by Elbie Dee

  You want to hang out tonight? I replied to her text. I was excited, and ready for my new adventure with Ms. Alynn.

  I threw my phone on top of the comforter and twisted my legs to get up from the bed. I walked into the bathroom, and released myself before washing my hands. I knew a good hot cup of tea would wake me up so I could begin getting ready for my night out. I entered the hallway, but paused in the center when something felt odd. The energy in my home was different before my nap.

  Brushing the feeling off after convincing myself it was only new beginnings, I continued down the hall and into the kitchen. I took a tea bag from the pantry before pulling a small pot from the broil pan on the stove. After water I ran from the sink and filled the pot, I turned the faucet off and turned around to put it on the stove. I set the dial to high before unwrapping the Lipton tea bag, and drowning it in the water. As I watched the water begin to boil, I still couldn’t shake the new energy off. It felt like a bad one… almost as if spirits were watching me.

  “Didn’t I tell you to leave my family alone?” my eyes grew wide. After months of not hearing from him at all, Bradson’s voice coming from my living room didn’t sound good at all. It wasn’t a coincidence that he showed the day I cursed Brilese out. I didn’t think of her telling him what I did until afterwards. It was too late to turn back and I just as I accepted the thought of him beating my ass, things got a little worse.

  “The bitch doesn’t listen,” said Brilese. Right then, I knew my time on Earth was over.

  8

  Alynn

  Sure! What would you like to do?

  I replied to the text from Merrisah as I laid on my bed inside of my dorm.

  When I saw Bradson in Brilese’s car the day at the gas station, I knew the friendship between her and I had been paused. For the first week after our spat, anger grew upon me as I felt like I was used and betrayed. Instead of wanting to end my friendship with her, I wanted to end her bond with Bradson. He needed to get out of her life! All he did was make her a bitter, and anger filled bitch.

  Since it had been a few months, it was time to put plans into effect. Brilese became cold hearted within the blink of an eye, but I knew deep down she still cared about me. The first plan to befriend her enemy would set her on fire, and I was ready to see jealousy rage from her pertaining to me.

  * * *

  A month prior…

  It was a typical Wednesday morning for me, as I woke up to the sound of Jared and Katie’s morning show coming from the speaker on my small alarm clock. As usual, I hopped out of bed and over to my desk to shut the alarm off. I let out a groan as I stretched, before carefully walking out of my room in an attempt to avoid creaking sounds. I tiptoed down the carpeted hallway as I passed my roommate's doors.

  Once I entered the kitchen, I pressed the brew button on the coffee machine to start the grounds I filled the night before. The water began to drip into the pot before I walked back into my room to take my morning shower. I closed my bathroom door, and turned the nozzle in the bathtub to the hottest setting. Pleased with the temperature, I lifted the lever until the water started to jet from the showerhead. I closed the curtain, and slipped out of my light grey Champion sweats before lifting the plain white, Fruit of the Loom t-shirt over my head. After I took my undergarments off, I hopped into the steaming shower. I lathered my body with Dial body wash, and washed my hair with Suave Professionals before rinsing off, and hopping out.

  I stood in front of the tub on top of the baby blue colored, plush shag rug and reached my arm out as far as I could. I managed to pull the towel from the rack on the backside of the door from in between two fingers. I placed it on top of my head, and shook the towel all over until my hair was halfway dry. Then, I began to dry my body. There wasn’t a drop of water left after I thoroughly ran the towel from top to bottom.

  I opened the bathroom door, and walked my bare body into my room. After I was in front of my five drawer chest, I pulled out a black laced set from Victoria’s Secret. I snapped the size B bra around my back and lifted the thong to my waistline. Next, I reached and grabbed a pair of white and navy blue, polka dot socks from the same drawer. The socks were snug around my calf muscles before closing the drawer, and walking to my closet.

  I decided a pair of black denim Levi’s and my black and off-white sweater would be a good fit for the chilly February day. I wiggled my arms into the sleeves of the sweater before sliding the jeans over my thighs and snapping them at my waistline. I reached once more into my closet, and pulled my black and white Converse high tops from the floor.

  After I was clean and completed my outfit, I snuck back into the kitchen. I pulled my lavender colored Zak thermal from the middle shelf, before filling it with the freshly brewed coffee. After placing the empty pot in the sink, I walked to the fridge and got my french vanilla cream from the shelf behind the retainer bar. One third a cup later, I capped my thermal and returned the creamer to the fridge.

  “Ah,” I quietly released, after taking a sip to be sure the flavor captured the needs of my taste buds. It was perfect.

  After grabbing my phone and keys from the room and locking it, I was ready to head out. I picked my teal EastSport bag from the floor next to the front door before heading out into my breezeway. I walked freely to the other side of the parking lot to get to my car once I reached the pavement.

  Slow down, Alynn. I scolded myself once the coffee inside of my cup began to twirl around.

  Placing my right leg into the car first, I plopped down onto the beige seat. My left leg followed the, and I reached over for the handle to close the door. I started my car, and pulled out of the parking lot.

  My phone played inspirational sermons on Youtube through the stereo while the USB was connected. As I listened, I sipped my coffee while I cruised down the road toward Starbucks on Tryon Street. I saved five dollars a day by bringing my own coffee, but enjoyed their freshly baked, everything bagel with a side of cream cheese. Just as a usual day before classes, I found myself pulling into the parking lot of the shop four minutes after they opened. I parked in front of the doors of the shop and grabbed my belongings before getting out of the car.

  “The usual?” my usual cashier, Anthony asked.

  “Yes,” I replied. Everyone who worked there knew my order, including the cooks.

  “Here you go,” Anthony said, after he handed me the wrapped bagel

  “Thanks!” I cheerfully replied before taking it from his hand.

  Since I was always the first one in the shop, my choice of sitting in the corner seat near the windows always was available for me. I sat my thermos and bagel on the small round table before taking my phone from my back pocket. I was comfortably in the seat, and began to scroll through all of my social media feeds. As usual, nothing on the sites changed. The same people did the same thing and posted the same memes.

  Ding!

  Since no one ever came in the door for the first twenty minutes I was there, the sound of the door opening caught my attention.

  “Welcome to Starbucks. How may I take your order,” I listened, as Anthony greeted the customer who was approaching his counter.

  “May I have a Toasted White Chocolate Mocha?” the girl dressed in Ugg boots, and a North Face jacket replied.

  “What size?” Anthony asked.

  “Grande,” she concluded, before handing over the ten dollar bill to pay for her order.

  For the first time in my young life, I felt the universe was reminding me of how things would fall in place in due’s time. A smirk approached my face as I remembered why the girl looked so familiar. It was Merrisah, and I finally had the chance to catch up with her. The moment she walked out of the door, I grabbed my things and jetted for my vehicle.

  The second she got to the end of the parking lot and was heading for a right turn, I backed my car from the spot and began to follow her. She went to the gas station first, and then made her way to Walmart. With nine o’clock approaching, I began to get impatie
nt. I waited in the parking lot of Walmart as time began to tick. There wasn’t a way I could leave. I needed to follow her to her place so I could keep up with her schedule for a few weeks.

  Finally, I noticed her come out of the door holding a few bags. I watched her load her vehicle, and hop into the driver's seat as I cranked my ignition. I followed her out of the parking lot and down three blocks until she pulled into a gated apartment complex. Without wanting to be seen, I passed the complex to make a Uturn the moment I was out of sight. Reapproaching the complex, I was able to get a view from the gate as I watched her walk up the stairwell to one of the buildings. Once things were set in stone, happiness took over me as I drove down the road back toward the college.

  * * *

  “Hey! What are you doing tonight?” I asked, after I dialed Dezire while I waited for Merrisah to text back.

  With two hours passing since I replied to Merrisah, I wasn’t sure she was still up for a night out. My mind was set and had gotten dressed, so I called Dezire. Since her and I hadn’t spoken much lately, it would be a good time for us to catch up. If Merrisah would reply, then the three of us could hang out together. Honestly, that’s what I hoped for. Dezire still worked with Brilese, and I knew there was a large chance of Dezire informing Brilese. She would be jealous in no time, and come running back to me.

  “Nothing. I have to work in the morning,” Dezire quickly replied. Her sentence was spoken so fast that I had to take a minute to break down her words before replying.

  “We can meet halfway! That’s only twenty minutes down the road!” I offered.

  “Dezzie, is mommy coming yet?” a soft voice came from the background of Dezire’s end, and a voice I knew too well.

  “You have Brilese’s kids!” I screamed, after hearing Karleiyah ask. “That’s why I haven’t spoken to you! You and Brilese are best friends now, huh? I introduced you two! Take her side, and fuck off from my life!” I concluded before hanging up the phone.

  I was aware of the co-worker situation between Deizre and Brilese, and even knew they spoke outside of work from time to time. But when I heard Karleiyah in the background, I knew I had been totally replaced. Brilese didn’t trust people with her kids! She must have grown a special heart for Desire for her to be allowed to babysit! What was so good about her that I didn’t carry? Why did she keep her friendship with Dezire, but completely kick me out of her life?

  With rage running through my bloodstream, I checked my messages to see if Merrisah replied. Unfortunately, she hadn’t even read the message yet. I grabbed my keys and phone before rushing out of the dorm. In fear of her ignoring me too, my plan was to see if her car was at home. If it was, then I could figure she’d probably be napping before a long night with me. I wasn going to be pissed if it wasn’t. I needed this plan to take effect… immediately.

  9

  Brilese

  “Do you see what I see?” I asked Bradson, as we were pulling out of the complex where his kid’s mother resided. I wanted so much to beat Alynn’s ass, even though I had no idea what she was pulling up to the gate for.

  “Is that Alynn?” Bradson asked as we approached the gate, and stared Alynn in the fucking eyes from each of our windshields.

  “Hell yeah!” I replied, as the gate started to horizontally slide open.

  I jumped out of the passenger’s seat of my Lexus, barely having enough time to unbuckle my seatbelt. I ran as fast as I could up to her car. I got to the hood and heard a gear shift from under it, before her Toyota started to move backwards. My fingertips grazed her drivers side door handle as she slammed her foot on the gas pedal before backing out, and speeding down the street.

  “Fuck!” I screamed as I punched my fists onto my thighs. I had no idea what she was planning to do. She could have friends who lived in the complex, but it was highly unlikely. All of the girl’s she partied with, and even men she fucked, were located on campus most of the time. I knew she didn’t have her own apartment yet. She told me a while ago that she wanted to wait until the school year was over, and the new one had started. Besides, she didn’t even fucking work! Her parents were comfortable with money, but there wasn’t a way in hell they’d be able to pay a thousand dollar rent each month for her ass!

  “Maybe she has friends here, babe. You two aren’t talking, so someone’s gotta replace you,” Bradson implied, as I took my seat back in the car.

  I tried to think as positive as Bradson. We were about to head forty minutes down the highway to get back home, and I sure could use the mental rest. My heart was hurt, emotions were flared, and my head began pulsating…. But I couldn’t help the instinct I had about Alynn. Her guilty conscience showed when she saw me. Her and I had stopped talking, but we didn’t have any beef. The possibility of her ignoring me would have seemed normal, but she would have never fled from me the way she did.

  “Turn around and go back!” I yelled, and caused Bradson to flinch.

  “Don’t do that shit again! You know I have PTSD!” Bradson screamed back at me. Normally, he knew not to raise his voice, but I was aware of his health complications.

  “I’m sorry. For real, go back to the complex,” I replied in a lower tone.

  “For what? It’s over with,” he said, referencing to the conversation we had with Merrisah.

  “Something’s not right with Alynn,” I stated. He cut his eye toward me as he continued straight down the two lane road. “Bradson, I feel it. Alynn is planning something! I just don’t know what,” I continued.

  “We’re not going back. Fuck her! You know Alynn couldn’t hurt a fly if she wanted to!” Bradson concluded the conversation as he bared to the right, and hopped on the ramp to the highway.

  I stared out of the window with my elbow resting on the door panel, and my fist propped under my chin. The trees flashed before my eyes as we drove at seventy miles per hour down the highway while thoughts pondered me. The more I tried putting Bradson’s words ahead of my own instinct, the more anxiety I began to face. She may not have the heart to hurt someone, but everyone grows a cruel bone at some point in their life. I knew it was her time. I knew she was trying to come for me in some way, and I needed to stay a step ahead just in case.

  * * *

  Bradson and I pulled up to Merrisah’s complex around four in the afternoon. Without hesitation, Bradson let his window down and typed the password into the code box. The gated opened, and he drove into the complex. Passing the first building on the right, we came to a stop when we were directly in front of the second building which numbers read, 2165. Oddly, those were the same numbers to his pin on his phone if he didn’t use facial recognition.

  “Is that the car you saw this morning?” Bradson pointed to the Mercedes he stopped behind.

  “I don’t know. It’s hard to tell from the back,” I replied honestly. He shifted the gear back into drive, and crept forward until I was able to get a side view of the vehicle.

  “That’s it! How the fuck does she know where I live?” I said with certainty.

  “We’re about to find out,” he stated.

  He released his foot from the brake pedal, until we were forward enough to be able to back into the unoccupied space next to the Mercedes. Bradson hopped out of the vehicle alone after putting my car in park, and pressing the button to turn the ignition off. He came up with the idea that he’d offer the excuse of wanting to spend time with his children. We both agreed she missed him, and wouldn’t turn his offer away.

  I was supposed to give him ten minutes to get settled into conversation with her, and then he’d make an excuse to step out for a call. Anyone who knows him is fully aware that he hates to conversate on the phone in front of others. He always thought it was poor mannerism and pure disrespect toward others. He would make a call outside of her door, but he’d be calling to signal me to come. She’d most likely have her ear pressed against the metal door to try and get information out of his phone call, so we came up with a random sentence to use as a code.

&n
bsp; “This is Bradson. I just received an email from someone at your facility,” he said when I answered my phone.

  It had only been two minutes since he left the car, before calling to inform me to come. I pressed the end button on the phone and shoved it in the door panel. I quickly opened my door halfway and held it while I put a leg on the pavement, and exited the vehicle. I slammed my car door shut forcefully, which caused my shoulders to raise up to my ears while cringing my teeth. I sprinted down the sidewalk, until I stopped in my tracks to peek around the brick wall. I slowly moved my eyes until I saw Bradson standing at the top of the flight of stairs, before he used his hand to motion for me to come up.

  I tiptoed up the wooden steps, and met him in front of Merrisah’s door. He put his finger to his lips to inform me to quietly walk in behind him, as he reached for the knob. After cracking the door open, we carefully snuck into the apartment. He pointed to the couch to direct me to have a seat. I did just as he suggested. He remained quiet and I followed his lead as he sat next to me.

  “Where is she?” I whispered, hoping he’d be able to read my lips. I was confused as to what we were doing. She had to have been in the apartment somewhere. After he placed his hands in a prayer position and rested his cheek on them, I picked up on the drift that she was asleep. I nodded my head as I wondered.

  How did he get in if she’s asleep? I thought.

  Originally, I was going to drag her across the apartment until she finally got it through her brain not to mess with me, my man, or my life! So much pain had been caused because of her… but I decided to change my plan once a few red flags were raised.