Liar Liar

Angel Cisneros

Crushed bodies and red cups clouded Summers vision. She

stood in a corner of the crowded living room, awkwardly gazing at

other people. Music blared in her ears and the scent of sweat
made her nose tingle.
She wasnt a fan of parties, and she didnt know why
everybody else was; you just stood there talking to other people
and got high. Everyone already did that at school.
Today, Summer was here involuntarily. She had just recently
moved in with her aunt and uncle, and immediately after she had
finished unpacking, they had dragged her out to an enormous
mansion six blocks away, stating that a neighbor was having a
party and Summer had to go to socialize with other people her
age.
Summer was reluctant to go she was used to being a lone
ranger and had told her aunt that it was a school night, before
her uncle reminded her that it was winter break. Despite her weak
excuses, she ended up there anyways.
She knew that her aunt and uncle had good intentions: they
just wanted her to make friends - when she had lived with her
parents, they had basically shut her out from the rest of the world
- but there was a reason for her isolation.
Summer hadnt even been ready for a party. Her blond hair
was in a messy braid, her Pink Floyd t-shirt was a bit wrinkled,
and her jeans were ripped along the edges.
Not that anyone noticed: everybody else looked pretty much
the same. She waved the memories of the afternoon away as she
pulled her phone out hastily to check the time. It was only seven
thirty.
She shoved it back into her pocket when someone bumped
into her, making her phone fly out of her hand.
Whoops! Sorry! Summer heard a voice say behind her. She
turned around.
A figure bent down to pick the phone up, and stood back up to
give it to her, but not before it could ask, Hey do I know you?
This caught Summers attention.
She faced the figure. It was a red-haired girl with emerald eyes
and small, orange freckles. The girl was wearing an orange J.
Crew jacket, a pair of glimmering stiletto heels, and smelled
lightly of sugar and roses.

She was basically screaming, Im rich! A look of confusion was

displayed across her face. I swear Ive seen you somewhere
before! She said, mystified. A magazine? TV?
Summer felt her blood rush and heard her heart pounding. Her
palms started sweating and her temperature spiked up. This was
the reason she was such an outcast.
If one random girl recognized her, then maybe the whole
school would know who she was before school even started.
Maybe they already knew that Summers parents were a pair
of drug addicts who loved drugs more than their own daughter,
and that just a week ago, they were caught getting stoned at a
New Years Eve party and were thrown in jail.
The story had briefly entered the news, and Summers face
was on the report as the daughter of the arrested couple. She
had wanted to die when she saw the story on CNN. That was
probably where the girl recognized her from.
I think youre confused, Summer casually responded, terror
silently gushing inside her. Youre probably thinking of someone
else. She hoped that the lie would be enough to get the girl to
back off.
The girl just shrugged and inched closer. I think Ive had too
much booze. She gently placed her cup down on a nearby table.
Im Madison, she said with a grin.
Summer. Nice to meet you. Summer responded.
Realization surged into Madison. Hey! Youre that new girl! My
parents told me about you! Madison beamed. Youre the niece
of Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, right? It looked like she had
immediately sobered up.
Summer nodded. Yeah. Im going to live with my aunt and
uncle for a while She answered. She mentally formed a story in
her head. My parents are fighting a lot. Theyre thinking of
getting a divorce, and my aunt thought that itd be better for me
if I stayed with her for a couple of months.
In reality, Summer had moved in with her aunt and uncle
because she had no other choice. After her parents had been
arrested, authorities had tried to whisk her away to foster care,
but luckily her aunt had intervened, stating that she could take
care of Summer herself.

Her made up story was pretty decent, she had to admit. She
pretended to be gloomy and faced the ground. My life sucks
she softly said with a hint of anger.
She felt Madisons hand on her shoulder. Its okay Madison
whispered, suddenly solemn.
No its not, Summer thought. It was easy for someone like
Madison to say that. She probably had a perfect life with a loving
family and bright future ahead of her. Summer had two criminals
and a future in McDonalds.
But still, Summer had always wished to have a normal life with
normal parents instead of two felons. She had always fantasized
of living a life with normal parents, but had always snapped back
to reality in a couple of minutes.
Then, before she could stop herself, she smirked and said, Im
just kidding!
Time seemed to freeze. Madison looked perplexed. Even
Summer was a bit surprised by her own words. She continued, not
knowing what else to do. I dont actually live with my aunt and
uncle, and my parents arent actually getting a divorce. She
laughed, as if it were a joke.
I moved here with them about a week ago. My dad is some
type of nuclear physicist and other nuclear physicists wanted his
help here.
Madison lit up. Oh my god! My dad is a nuclear physicist,
too! She merrily replied.
Panic swelled inside Summer. He is? She nervously
questioned.
Madison looked thoughtful for a moment. I think so. Well, he
wears a white coat to work, so he must be something like that.
Summer laughed, and in that moment, all her fears were
soaked up with an imaginary sponge. Who cared if she lied?
Madison was probably too drunk to remember her by tomorrow.
So do you compulsively lie to all new people you meet?
Madisons reply was unexpected. She looked slightly ticked off.
Summer blushed. Sorry my therapist says its a bad habit
that I have she trailed off. Then, eager to change the subject,
she said, My mom is a lawyer. We got a deal on our house
because one of her clients was a real estate agent who was going
bankrupt, and he sold us our house at a great price.

Madison looked at her suspiciously for a moment, then

exclaimed, Wow. Youre so lucky! You must also be super rich,
too. She offered Summer her hand. Dance?
Summer didnt even have to think. She followed Madison to
the middle of the crowd and they both started to rave.
Maybe parties werent so bad after all.
Sooner than later, Summers aunt had called and said that she
was going to pick her up in a little while. Summer had been
surprised to find out that she had actually had fun.
The ride home was silent, and when Summer finally started to
drift away in her sleep, she thought about being the rich, fabulous
Summer she had been tonight.
She knew the chances of her ever living like Madison were
next to nonexistent, but it didnt hurt to dream.
+++
Chirping noises floated through Sumers brain, forcing her to
groggily wake up. The noise was coming from her phone an
alarm. Summer groaned, and was about to get up to silence it
before she realized with a startle: she didnt have an alarm. Her
uncle always woke her up.
Adrenaline shot her upwards. She looked around. She was in a
large room with pink walls and thick, white curtains.
There were neat little cabinets and a vast vanity set next to a
flat screen TV. She was lying in a king sized bed with a mahogany
backboard and velvet sheets.
This was very different from the small, plain white room she
had in her aunts house.
Where the hell am I? Summer whispered to herself. She
swiftly got up and noticed that she was wearing a silky robe. She
never wore silky robes. Panicked, Summer rushed to the nearest
window and peered outside.
Tall, extravagant houses with freshly manicured lawns covered
her view. A woman walking two labradoodles ran across the
street, headphones in her ears.
Summer hesitated and stood still for a moment.
This was a dream.

Yeah thats what was happening right now. She was

dreaming. She slapped herself across the cheek, forcing herself to
wake up. When that failed, she lightly pinched herself. Nothing.
She rushed out of the room that clearly wasnt hers and
stepped into a stretching hallway with white doors and tall
windows. The thick carpet felt warm and comfy against her bare
toes, but her worry rushed her down the stairs and into the
kitchen.
There were black cabinets on the brown walls, and granite
countertops were filled with spices and dishes. A steel stove sat
next to a steel fridge. But most startlingly, a woman with short
blond hair and dark black eyes stared at her.
Summer stood, immobile. Mom? She asked, fear seeping out
of her voice. Her mother turned around, black framed glasses
perched on top of the bridge of her nose. She was wearing a tight,
black skirt and a blue blazer over a white blouse.
This was very different from the wide-eyed, jittery mother she
knew. W-where am I? Whats wrong with you? Summer
practically shouted.
Her mother sighed and grabbed a mug from a cabinet. Very
funny, Summer. Im not in the mood for this right now. A new case
showed up in my desk yesterday, so I might come home later.
And so will your dad. Hes on the verge of discovering a new
physics secret or whatever.
Her mother grabbed a piece of toast and spread butter on it
with a knife. Physics secret? Why was her mother not in jail?!
Where was her orange jumpsuit?!
Summer peered around, facing family photos in frames
perched atop a small table. The photos captured images of
Summer standing next to a man in a white lab coat. Her dad.
But her dad was a high school dropout!
You know the rules, her mother continued. You cant have
any friends over. You cant have a party. Ill be back by six.
Summers brain was lagging. She must be in a nightmare. Her
mother sauntered to the front door and opened it.
Summer had a million questions bursting form her head. What
was happening right now? She stood motionless, trying to solve
what was happening. But her shock was keeping her like a statue.

I love you! Her mother shouted. She quickly closed the door
and sauntered off.
Summer tied to slowly click pieces together. Memories came
flooding in. Of the party yesterday. Of her conversation with
Madison. Comprehension hit her like a bullet.
Oh my god.
All the lies she had told yesterday were true.