Believing Lies

by Rachel Everleigh

  “Um, but if you did, I’d tell you,” she quipped.

  “True.” I took a bite of my cereal and immediately spit it back into the bowl. “Are you messing with me today?” I accused.

  “What?” Her whole face scrunched in confusion.

  “First the coffee tastes like crap, and now my cereal tastes like it’s coated in slime.” I pushed the bowl away from me, completely disgusted. “Did you do something to them? Tell me the truth.”

  She gave me a questioning look. “Of course I didn’t. I’m drinking the same coffee and already ate a bowl of that same cereal. They tasted just fine to me.”

  “You could have done something after you poured yours.” I knew that I was being ridiculous, but I felt the need to point out that it was a possibility.

  She gave me a you’ve-gotta-be-shitting-me face and said, “Instead of thinking I’m a diabolical genius out to mess with your breakfast, have you considered that your taste buds might be off because you’re just getting a cold or something?”

  I considered her words. “Now that you mention it, I have been feeling a bit worn-out, so I suppose that would be a more logical explanation.”

  “What’s a logical explanation?” Adam questioned, reappearing.

  “Sienna’s cereal tasted funky to her, and she thought I messed with it. I was explaining that I didn’t, and that she’s probably getting a cold.”

  “Do you feel sick?” he asked me, a look of concern on his face.

  “No. I was just saying that I’m a little worn, but I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “Okay, but maybe you should take it easy, just in case.”

  Sophie barked out a laugh. “I don’t think you’re helping her in the Taking It Easy category.”

  “Fair point.” Adam looked into my bowl and scrunched his nose. “I still don’t understand why two grown women eat kids’ cereal every morning.”

  “Because it’s delicious,” we replied in unison.

  “Well, at least it normally is,” I added, sourly.

  “I haven’t eaten cereal that’s the color of a rainbow since grade school.”

  “If it’s been that many years, how do you know that you won’t like it now? You should try it again,” I challenged.

  “Sure. Why not?” He picked up my spoon and took a bite. I watched in horror as he chewed and swallowed the cereal that I had just spit back into the bowl minutes earlier.

  “This tastes like puke,” he said as soon as he swallowed. He scraped his tongue on his front teeth with a scowl on his face.

  Sophie let out a loud snort. “Funny you should say that.”

  I shot her a death glare, which, unfortunately, Adam noticed.

  He narrowed his eyes. “Do I even want to know?”

  Shit. “Um . . . It’s . . . I . . . I didn’t mean you should try mine. I meant you should pour yourself some. You see, um, I kind of spit my bite of cereal back into the bowl,” I said sheepishly, praying that he wouldn’t be completely grossed out. I knew I would be if I ate someone’s spit out food. Heck, I wouldn’t even eat my own spit out food.

  He looked at the bowl and looked at me. I was so relieved when he simply shrugged and said, “No worries.”

  ***

  I spent the rest of the day getting things ready for the start of school tomorrow. For the first time since we started dating, Adam and I slept at our own places. I was feeling tired and wanted to feel refreshed in the morning, so I went to bed early. It was odd how lonely I felt falling asleep without him next to me.

  Even though my first class wasn’t until ten o’clock, I started my day a couple hours early because I’d promised Courtney that I would meet her at Mel’s Diner for breakfast. She was already waiting in a booth when I walked in. While we ate, I filled her in on the condensed version of my weekend. She reported that she’d been texting back and forth with Zach and they were going to go out tonight. I was really excited for her. He seemed like a nice guy, was easy on the eyes, and, best of all, was friends with Adam and Conner. The idea of us all being able to go on group dates was appealing.

  It was the same old first day lectures in all of my classes. I knew a few girls in each, but no one I’d really call a friend, so I mainly kept to myself. I chewed my pen cap during my fourth and final class of the day while the professor went over the syllabus. I was famished, and the clock seemed to be moving extra slow in an effort to force me to make a meal of my pen. As soon as class ended, I bolted for the door, anxious to get to the dining hall.

  Standing right outside the door, leaning up against the brick wall, was Adam. His mouth spread into a sexy grin when he saw me, and I bit my lip as I smiled back. As soon as my mushy insides solidified once more, I walked to him.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” I flirted.

  “I heard there was some super-hot girl in this class, and I thought I’d come see for myself.” He glanced around the hallway. “Oh well, looks like I was wrong.”

  My mouth dropped open in mock offense. “Ass.”

  He pulled me to him and gave me a kiss. I was pleasantly surprised that he was kissing me in public. I’d been wondering how he would act once we were around others. He deepened the kiss, and I started to blush.

  “Damn, Korbell. Give the girl some air,” said a masculine voice behind me.

  I was embarrassed, plain and simple. I wasn’t usually a fan of PDA, but with Adam it was a little hard to resist. I turned to find a very muscular guy with black hair and a handsome face. He had tattoo sleeves, which were pretty amazing, and a pierced eyebrow. Had he been in my class?

  Adam gave the guy that high five, hand clasp thingy boys do when greeting each other. “Hey man, long time no see.” Adam looked at me and tilted his head toward the guy. “This is Drake.” He looked at Drake and said, “This is my girlfriend, Sienna.” Holy Moses! He just introduced me as his girlfriend!

  I wasn’t the only one shocked by the introduction. “Whoa. That’s not a word I ever thought I’d hear come out of your mouth.” Drake extended his hand to me. “Nice to meet you, Sienna.” I shook his hand and returned the sentiment.

  “How do you two know each other?” I asked Drake.

  “I was a bouncer at The Turning Point last year.” I could totally see that. He definitely looked the part. “But I want to know how you two met? I must say I’m still pretty surprised to know that someone actually tamed this guy.” His eyes appraised me. “I have to admit, he has really good taste.”

  “Walking a fine line, Drake,” Adam said briskly.

  “That’s the best line to walk, Korbell. But seriously, how did you meet?”

  Adam answered, “Her cousin is dating Conner. We met over lunch the day they met.”

  “Does your cousin go to school here too?” Drake asked me.

  “Yeah. Her name’s Sophie Trudeau.”

  “No way!” His eyes widened for a fraction of a second. “I had a class with her sophomore year. Hot redhead, right?”

  I giggled. “Yeah.”

  He let out a low whistle. “Damn. I knew I shouldn’t have gone home during summer. I missed out.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Got any other cousins?”

  Adam punched him in the shoulder lightly. “Don’t be a jerk.”

  Drake laughed and switched the subject. “Are you going to the party at Zach’s Saturday?”

  “Yeah, I’ll see you there.” This was the first I’d heard of it. Maybe Adam didn’t want me to go with him.

  “Right on. Catch you later, man.” Drake said. He then looked at me and winked. “Once again, very, very nice to meet you, Sienna.”

  I softly laughed and smiled. “You too.”

  After he walked away, Adam took me by the hand, and we made our way out of the building.

  “He seemed pretty nice. He winked at me, so he must have that same eye spasm condition you suffer from,” I teased playfully.

  “He winked at you?” he asked, irritation in his voice.

  “Before he left. What’s the big deal?�
�

  He shook his head as if brushing away his thoughts. “No big deal. He’s a great friend and a decent guy.” It sounded as if he was telling himself that more than telling me.

  “Why Adam Korbell, are you a little jealous?” I asked in a sing-song voice.

  “Maybe.” He squeezed my hand. “So Princess, I think I need to sleep at your place tonight.”

  “Do you? And why is that?” I tried to sound coy.

  “Because last night I had no little spoon,” he said dramatically, clutching his hands over his heart.

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re not funny. In fact, now you’re just beating a dead horse.”

  He stopped walking and faced me. “Seriously. I want to sleep with you tonight.”

  I raised my brow. “Define sleep.”

  “Are you still feeling worn-out?”

  “Nope,” I let my mouth pop around the word.

  He flashed me a cocky grin. “In that case, I think you know the definition.”

  I was going to give him a quick kiss, but as soon as I went on my tiptoes, my stomach growled obnoxiously.

  “Easy tiger,” he joked.

  “I like your idea, but can we make a pit stop for something to eat first?”

  “Sure thing.”

  We walked into the dining hall still holding hands, and I was probably exaggerating, but it felt like every girl in the room was staring at us. We got some burgers and sat at an empty table. It was only a few minutes before a few guys Adam knew came over and talked to him. Each time he introduced me as his girlfriend, and each time they seemed surprised. Everyone brought up Zach’s party, and I was slightly discouraged when Adam didn’t make any mention of including me. I pushed it to the backburner. Get a grip. He doesn’t need to include you in everything he does.

  My stomach finally sated, we left to go back to my apartment. Even though it was only six o’clock, I was ready to sleep and then sleep.

  ***

  I woke up abruptly. My room was still dark, and Adam was asleep next to me. For a second, I was confused as to what had caused me to wake up so suddenly, but then it hit me. And by hit me, I meant the worst nausea I’d ever experienced. With not a second to spare, I grabbed my small trash bin from next to my bed and vomited.

  Needless to say, that woke Adam up. Most guys would’ve bolted or just froze. I wouldn’t have blamed him for doing either. However, he didn’t. He gathered my hair and pulled it out of my face with one hand and rubbed my back with his other. Even though I was “busy,” the gesture didn’t go unnoticed.

  “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. That was so embarrassing,” I muttered out as soon as I finished.

  He let go of my hair but continued to rub my back. “Nothing to apologize for, Princess. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. I think so.” Nope, I’d spoken too soon. I bolted from the room on a mission to reach the bathroom toilet. Thankfully, I made it in time and was finished before Adam walked in.

  “You don’t look okay.” That’s an understatement.

  I went to the sink, swished some mouthwash, and then slumped to the floor. Adam dumped out the contents of my trashcan in the toilet and rinsed it in the bathtub.

  I chuckled nervously, the nausea beginning to pass. “You are uncommonly unfazed by this. Why aren’t you grossed out?”

  He looked at me with sincere compassion, kneeling down to my level. “You’re sick. It’s no big deal. I guess this kind of thing just doesn’t bother me anymore.”

  “Anymore?”

  “Come on, Princess. Let’s get you back to bed.” He scooped me up effortlessly and carried me back to my room. I held onto his neck and nuzzled into his chest. Just when I thought I had him figured out, he would show me a whole new side of him. And each time he did, I fell in love with him even more.

  Adam tucked me in bed, pulling the covers up to my chin as if I was a child. “Do you want me to sleep in here or on the couch?” he asked softly, pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.

  “Couch, please. I don’t want to get you sick.” How selfish would it have been to tell him to stay with me knowing he could get sick?

  He smiled and climbed into the bed. “I think that ship has already sailed.”

  My stomach settled down enough to fall asleep in his arms. I didn’t wake up again until morning when Adam’s phone alarm went off at eight o’clock.

  He stretched and untangled himself from me. “I’ve got class. Are you feeling better, or should I skip it?”

  “Don’t skip it. I’m fine. Just a little under the weather.”

  He looked skeptical. “Okay, if you’re sure. Text me if you need anything, and I’ll come back.”

  I nodded. “I will. Thanks.”

  He got out of bed, dressed, and kissed me on the forehead before leaving. I didn’t have any classes until two o’clock, so I went back to sleep. I wasn’t sure how long I was asleep before Sophie woke me. She was sitting next to me on my bed, holding toast and a glass of water.

  “Hey, you.” She was using her mom voice. “I just got back from my class. Adam sent me a text that you were sick. How are you doing?”

  I sat up and took a quick inventory of my body. All systems seemed to be back on track. “I feel fine now.”

  “Eat this anyway.” She basically shoved the toast into my mouth.

  I looked at my clock. It was already noon. “Wow. I need to get up and ready for class.”

  “Take it easy. I stopped by Courtney’s this morning to see if she wanted to get a bite to eat before class, and she was super sick. You probably both have the same bug, or maybe you two got food poising from Mel’s Diner. The food may taste good, but the place is kind of a dive.”

  “I guess. I’ll stop by and check on her later. Since I’m feeling much better now, hopefully she will be too.”

  After several more reassurances on my part, Sophie finally left me so I could shower and get ready.

  I sat through two back-to-back lectures, and my stomach cooperated the whole time. Afterwards, I headed to the dorms to see Courtney. When I knocked on her door, Cassie answered, looking like death. She immediately crawled back into her bed as I shut the door behind me. Courtney was curled up in her bed, snoring softly. Her skin was a funky shade of gray, and she was sweating. The entire room reeked.

  I quietly asked Cassie, “Is she feeling any better? Are you sick too?”

  Cassie remained laying down and looked close to tears. “She’s still pretty sick, but at least she’s, like, sleeping now. I think I’m getting it. I hate being sick,” she whimpered.

  I felt really bad for them both. It wasn’t food poisoning since Cassie wasn’t with Courtney and me at Mel’s, so it appeared to be the stomach flu.

  “I’m sorry, Cassie. If it makes you feel better, I had it, and I feel fine now.” I gave her a tiny smile. “At least it doesn’t seem to last too long.”

  “I, like, so totally hope so,” she groaned.

  Courtney started to stir. “I’m going to head out before I wake her,” I whispered to Cassie. “Tell her I stopped by, and call me if you need anything.”

  She nodded. “Kay. Thanks, Sienna.”

  I drove home and plopped down on the couch with a thud. Although I wasn’t feeling sick anymore, I was feeling worn-out again. My phone buzzed with an incoming text. I smiled when I saw it was from Adam. I loved that simply seeing his picture and name on my phone brought an instant smile to my face. I hoped that would never change.

  ADAM: Feeling better?

  ME: Yes. R U feeling ok? I hope I didn’t get you sick

  ADAM: Not sick. Can I come over?

  ME: If you want to risk it. I may be contagious

  ADAM: I’ll take my chances. X

  He showed up twenty minutes later, holding a large container of chicken noodle soup. Sophie was staying with Conner tonight, so we had the place to ourselves. We watched movies, snuggled up together on the couch, and took it easy.

  ***

  At dawn, I woke to another
case of horrible stomach sickness. It was almost an exact replay of the previous night, including Adam taking care of me in the same sweet manner. I didn’t have any Thursday classes, but he had an early class, which he skipped on my behalf. Even though he objected, I forced him to go to his ten o’clock class. I was starting to feel better again, and I already felt guilty that he’d skipped his first one.

  Sophie got home around three o’clock, and by then my early morning sickness was a thing of the past. We went together to check on Courtney. Like me, she was also feeling better. Cassie still felt a little rough, but Courtney was taking care of her.

  After our short visit, Sophie and I went to the drug store. I wanted to get some Gatorade because I was feeling a little dehydrated, and Sophie needed a few things too. I threw my Gatorade in the cart and also grabbed a new toothbrush. Sophie steered us down what I referred to as “the female aisle” where she grabbed two large boxes of condoms and tossed them in the cart.

  I let out a laugh. “Think you got enough?”

  “Laugh all you want, but one of them is for you.”

  “Oh.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Did you think that I didn’t notice you used most of the ones in my bathroom?”

  I giggled. “I’ve never bought condoms before. It feels a little naughty. Plus, the cashier will probably look at us like we’re tramps.”

  “Hah. I couldn’t give a shit less about how the cashier will look at us.” She picked up a pregnancy test from the shelf and waved it in the air. “I’ll buy an entire truckload of condoms in front of the whole damn city if it means that I don’t have to buy a single one of these.”

  “Agreed.” I grabbed the test out of her hand and put it back on the shelf.

  She added a box of tampons to the cart. “I’m gonna need these in a couple days. Do you need a box?”

  “Ummm . . .” The Jeopardy theme song started to play in my head. I furrowed my brow and began to count backwards. I’ll take “Oh Shit. I’m Late” for $500, Alec.

  Sophie waved her hand in front of my unblinking eyes. “Hey. Snap out of it.” I blinked. “I asked if you needed a box?”