7 A chemical plant?

"when a million miles from nowhere,

Is still too close to home.

You're with a hundred thousand people,

And you still feel all alone."

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-ELIZABETH-

"Full name?" Mark is seated across from me on a round table next to a large window, in the candle lit restaurant. I must say, it's a lot fancier than I had anticipated.

"Elizabeth James." I lie.

"Age?"

"Twenty-two." the truth.

"Home town?"

"I actually grew up in New York." the truth.

He narrows his eyes for a moment as if thinking before continuing, "What do your parents do?"

My body tenses "You ask a lot of questions."

"I'm just trying to get to know you." He shrugs.

"I never knew my mother and my father" I take in a shallow breath "Worked at a chemical plant." I lie.

A chemical plant? Really?

"Why what happened to your Mom?"

"She died when giving birth to me." This isn't really a lie; my mother really is dead to me.

At first, I thought it was just in her character to not be loving, but she should've been there for me when Dad died. She should've searched for me. But she didn't, she let me go.

"Oh, I'm sorry" he looks down at his plate.

"It's okay, it's not like I knew her" I shrug.

Marks eyes travel away from his plate and to my purse seated on the table, then back up at me at me. He tilts his head before saying "One more question."

"Jeez, are you some sort of FBI agent?" I giggle.

-MARK-

Shit. Am I that bad of an undercover agent?

"Just curious." I lie.

She nods in approval, so I continue "How can you afford all of your expensive stuff. Like that bag, those pearls, your earrings and those shoes?"

She looks taken aback "You're very observant."

"Anyone with eyes would be able to tell how expensive you look, and we both know you work part time at a library, there's no way she pays you that much. So, how can you afford it all?"

She leans over the table and motions for me to lean in closer to her, so I do.

"It's all fake." She whispers and leans back to take a sip of her wine.

Obviously, I don't believe her, "And I don't suppose your car is too?"

She removes the glass from her lips "Second hand." She looks back at me "Any more questions, Mr. Curious?"

Something inside me tells me she's lying, but a bigger part of me refuses to doubt her.

Her answers are perfectly possible, right? And she has no reason to lie, right?

She puts the wine glass back on the table elegantly and says "I need to go to the bathroom, if you'll excuse me."

My curiosity grows at how well mannered she is, as if she's been fine dining all her life.

I nod at her and she gets up from her seat. Before turning around, she says "Don't go anywhere." And winks.

"I'll be right here" I smirk.

She turns around and walks away, swaying her hips slightly.

She's so fucking attractive without even trying. Her mere existence is alluring.

But I can't help but think she's hiding something.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts by my vibrating phone.

I pick it up and see a message from Frank.

Dumbass: Mark you need to get down to our station right now, we have a lead on Alice McAllen.

Me: Right now?

Dumbass: RIGHT NOW.

"Fuck." I sigh and look in the direction of the bathroom, Liza still hasn't come out so I get up and go to pay for our meal.

"Good evening, sir." the guy at the desk says. He's young, about Alice's age and looks friendly. It's annoying. no body needs to look that happy all the time.

"When the lady I was here with gets back to the table tell her I'm really sorry I had to leave, also make sure you watch her shit." I say while paying him for our food.

"Sure thing." He nod's before giving me my receipt.

"If you don't tell her and if her shit goes missing, I'm coming to your house and shoving that name tag up your ass."

His eyes widen and he nods his head again, this time in fear.

I smile "Thank you." I love having power over people, and who said an FBI agent isn't aloud to innocently threaten people here and there?

I turn on my heels and walk out of the restaurant feeling guilty for having to leave Elizabeth. But the sooner I find Alice, the sooner I can get out of this town.

-ELIZABETH-

I stand in front of the mirror gripping onto the sink tightly.

Never in my life have I ever lied so emotionlessly. I thought that this 'new identity' thing was going to be easy, but it's not.

It's not when I'm with him.

I have lived twenty-two years of my life as Alice McAllen, daughter to Miranda and Henry McAllen. Now all of a sudden, in the matter of a couple of weeks, I have had to make myself a completely new life.

I just looked him in the eyes and told him my Mother is dead and my Father worked in a chemical plant. A chemical plant? That couldn't be further from the truth.

What has become of me?

I take in a deep breath and let go of the sink.

Standing up straight, I give my cheek a hard slap and say, "Liza. Get it together."

I give my other cheek a slap and take in another deep breath in "Okay let's do this" I say while walking out of the bathroom.

The table comes into view as I continue to walk, however it's missing an extremely important element: My date.

I walk the table and turn my head all ways to see if he's around somewhere.

As I look all around the restaurant, I see someone walk towards me, he's around my age and is dressed in a tuxedo, obviously insinuating that he works here.

"Good evening ma'am."

"Hi." I smile.

"The man you were here with left, he says he's awfully sorry he had to leave so early."

My heart sinks slightly in disappointment "Oh okay." I smile.

"I'm really sorry ma'am"

"It's Liza and don't be sorry." I smile weakly.

he nods and let's out a breath of relief.

"How much is the bill?" I reach over to grab my bag on the table.

"Oh, he paid already."

"Really?"

"Yes" he nods.

"I don't believe he tipped you though?" He doesn't seem like the type to tip people.

"He didn't, but that's okay" he smiles.

I take my purse out of my bag and pull out a one-hundred-dollar bill, "Here" I hand it over to him.

"No that's way too much for a tip, I couldn't accept."

"It's not too much and you will accept it."

He sighs and takes the bill, "Thank you so much ma'am."

"It's Liza"

"Well, thank you so much Liza" he smiles.

"Of course." I smile "I'm new around here so i'd be happy to make friends."

"Well sign me up!" he playfully salutes, he then lets out a breath, "You're a lot more approachable than your date."

"He has a weirdly chilling vibe to him doesn't he?" i say remembering the first night we met.

He nods with wide eyes.

I giggle before looking at his name tag "I'll see you around Derek" I smile.

"Bye Liza" he waves as I walk away.

After letting out a deep breath I make my way out of the doors of restaurant.

I stand outside in the cold, waiting for a taxi.

When I was Alice McAllen, guys were lining up to get with me. I was turning guys down every other day, even while I was with Brad. But now, I was literally ditched in the middle of my date. I can't help but feel my pride wounded and my already broken heart, a little more shattered by the rejection.

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Song: Living the lie by Dio.

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