LIAR…..

James Danvers

Wow, riding that time seems faster than it was the last time. I move my right hand to unbuckle myself and then go to move the bar from in front of us and lift it up so that Z and I could get out. I lift it up and start to move my hand when I realize that Zarah hasn't let go of my hand. I take a quick glance at her and her eyes seem to be wide open but still in shock from the ride. I know I should tap her and let her know that the ride is over but I don't want to. I don't know why but just feeling her hand on mine, I felt like there was nothing to worry about. I saw her head slowly move down to our hands as she quickly pulled hers away. I could see the look of embarrassment on her face. I don't know why but I'm pretty sure that I began to blush as well. I moved my left hand from in between us and quickly put my right hand on my neck, slowly massaging my neck.

"Hey, are y'all just going to keep sitting there like a bunch of dumbasses?"

Kiara's shout scared me enough that I moved my hand from Z's. I step out of the coaster car and. Put my hand out for help Z get out. She took my hand and carefully stepped out of the coaster car.

"Why thank you kind sir," she said with a smile.

"It is a pleasure fair lady," I responded.

We both laughed as we walked out of the covering. We kept walking behind Kiki, keeping the same pace.

"Hey look! It's an Asian pop up shop," Kiki shouts!

"Looks like they are selling food."

I watch as Z takes a big sniff of all the flavors swirling in the air. As I do something catches my eye. A woman standing at a game booth with a floral dress on and a slightly large sun hat. She wasn't over skinny but not heavy set either. She was kind of in the middle. Something about her seemed so familiar but I don't know what. When she turned around I realized why she felt familiar. It was Cassidy! What the hell was she doing here? She told me she was going out to eat with a few girlfriends of hers that went to college in the area then going back to the hotel! She spotted me and began walking over to me.

"Hey why don't you and Kiki get started placing the order and I will come and pay. It's all my treat."

"Ok!"

Zarah ran over to Kiki, told her the news and began to look at the menu together. Cass got closer and stopped about 4 feet away from me. .

"Hey babe, I didn't know that you were going to be here," she said with a smile.

"Yeah, I did. I texted you. If anything I should be saying that."

I tried to add a slight chuckle at the end. Cass gets pissed off sometimes very quickly. She looked at me confused so I continued.

"You told me that you were going to go out with a few girlfriends that go to college in the area to lunch and then go back to one of their houses to relax for a while."

An awkward smile came across her face. She knew what I was talking about but it also seems like there is something that she isn't telling me.

"Oh yeah, about that, see the girlfriends that I was going to meet up with said that they were not feeling too well and they didn't want to get me or y-you sick so I told them that we would be back and we could meet up then."

She gave me a small smile. I really want to believe her but I don't know if she is telling me the truth. She came closer and put her hands on my shoulders.

"Look I just forgot to tell you, Okay? But I am here now so why don't we go find your sister and go on some more rides and get some food."

I was about to open my mouth to respond when Zarah jogged back over.

"Hey Kiki and I know what we want but the guy kicked us out of the line since we didn't have the last order or payment."

As I was about to respond to Z, Cass began to open her mouth.

"Well, you didn't tell me that you were also bringing her along with you," She said in a huff.

"Z and Kiki are kind of a package deal, you can't get one without the other."

Cassidy gave me a glare. I don't understand why she doesn't seem to like Z so much.

"Look why don't you give her a ride home and then come back and we can do something together with your sister?"

I turned my head to see the look on Z's face. She was shocked and to be honest so was I.

"No."

"What?"

"I said no. For one it's not fair to Z since I invited her to come here and I wanted to spend time with her just as much as I do with my sister. Also coming back and forth is a waste of gas and the last time I checked you refused to pay for it. So unless you're driving and willing to pay for gas then she stays."

This was the first time I had ever stood my ground like this with Cass. I have no clue how she is going to respond. She looked angry, very angry.

"It's not my fault you invited her without my permission!"

"Your permission so what do I need now to hang out with a friend?"

"Yeah, you bet your ass you do if it is going to be her! She is a little bitch that you obviously can not see that she has feelings for you and is trying to take you away from me! As far as I'm concerned she can live her life alone. She deserves it anyway. Sounds like everyone she touches dies anyway."

My face dropped with shock. How could she say something like that? I looked over and saw that Zarah is no longer standing next to me. Damn it! How could I just lose her like that?

"Hey, Kiki, come here," I shouted across the way. Kiki heard my voice, poked her head up, and then came over to me.

"Z ran off."

"What! How and why did that happen?"

"If you want to know, ask Cassidy. I need you to stay here while I go look for her. Try calling her cell and connect it with me if she answers."

Kiara nodded her head while Cass just gave me a dark stare. I ran off through the crowd of people trying to find her.

It's already been about 20 minutes and I still can't find where she went. I stopped for a minute. There is no way Z would make it easy to find her, especially if she doesn't want to be found. So the question is, where would she go to be alone where no one else would bother her. I thought about it when it hit me. The back of my truck. She used to hide in there all of the time, it was the one place where she felt safe is what she told me. I begin to run as fast as I can to my truck and sure enough there she is sitting in the back.

"Hey."

"Hey," she responded, seeming upset.

I hopped up on the tailgate and slid back to where she was. I could see that she was bothered by Cassidy's comment. I open my mouth to talk to her but she begins to talk before I do.

"She's right isn't she? You think she is right, don't you?"

"No I don't."

Z has never been one to cry. I could tell that she was holding back some tears.

"It's ok to let things get to you sometimes. You don't always have to stay strong. Not for me or anyone else."

She shook her head.

"Mom's dead, Dad is always away, you're at college, and Kiki likes to party hard. Everyone I know seems to have distanced themselves from me."

"Wait, wait, wait for the parent and Kiki thing I get it. What I don't get is you adding me into e in that mix."

Z looked at me, incredibly confused. She turned her body towards me and looked me in my eyes.

"What do you mean? You went off to college…"

"Yeah but not to leave you."

"I know that. I mean, you went off to college and then barely talked to me."

"I was busy. I had starting exams every year and mid-terms, and finals. I did my best to text you when I could and still do."

"But why haven't you come to see us then? Kiki and I have been here waiting. You had spring break and Christmas break, and other holidays to come and see us. But you didn't. You stayed away."

Unfortunately she was right. Every break I had I was spending time with my friends. Partying. Something just felt different this time. I have no clue what it was but it was different.

"You are right. I haven't been around a lot and I have had plenty of chances to do so. Look, I'm sorry. I will admit that maybe my priorities were not always in line but that doesn't mean that I care about you or Kiki any less. It just means that I had my priorities mixed up for a bit."

I smiled at her, hoping that she would return it. She stayed with her head facing down. I begin to hear doorstep and someone calling out Zarah and I's name.

"Oh there you both are. I have been looking for you for the last 20 minutes."

"I thought I told you to stay with Cassidy."

"You did. But she wouldn't stop talking so I went back to the shop to place an order with the money I did have on me but he ran out of ingredients because you both took so long."

I give a small chuckle towards Kiki. I look back over at Z and she appears to be smiling too. Thank God. I was running out of ideas to make her smile.

"Well I have an idea."

I slide forward and jump off the gate and then put out my hand to help Z get down. She passes my hand and gets off by herself. I wonder where she learned to do it before.

"How about we go to the best cheesecake place in town?"

Zarah smiled and looked very excited.

"Okay then, let's get going."

I pushed up the tailgate and walked around to the driver's side of the truck. Z ran around to the passengers side and got in before I even opened my door. Kiki opened her door and got inside while I did the same. I got in, put on my seatbelt, and started to drive off. As I pulled off I was Cass in the rear-view mirror. Why would she say something like that to Z? It makes no sense, especially after I told her about what she has been through and means to me. I can't think about that right now. I made Z smile again and that's all that matters.