When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez Page A

back against the wall, her knees hugged to her chest. She alternately rubbed her injured leg and rolled the wrist that saved her face from hitting the floor.
    Emily stood and pushed the door back in place. “What are
you
doing here?” she asked after returning to her spot on the floor. “You hardly ever come to parties.”
    â€œRight. I should have kept that up, too,” said Elizabeth. “First, I thought it was a stupid Halloween costume party, and then I thought this was the bathroom. Now, I’m hurt. I should have stayed home as usual, but no, I let Tommy drag me here. He’s going to pay for this.”
    Emily took a good look at Elizabeth. Her hair was in pigtails. She wore ripped jean shorts, fishnet stockings, a black-and-red dog collar, and black knee-length leather boots with rows of metal buckles.
    â€œDon’t you always dress kind of like that?”
    â€œI had on a white lab coat and NCIS badge. I left it in the car when I saw no one else was dressed. I brought this, though, figuring I’d need to drink to get through the night.” Elizabeth reached for the large cup she managed to save during the fall. It read “Caf-Pow.” She sucked hard on the straw.
    â€œYou look like her,” Emily said with a smile.
    â€œYeah, well, I figured it would be easy enough. I own the same freakish clothes.”
    â€œI think she’s beautiful,” said Emily.
    Elizabeth squinted her eyes at Emily but didn’t say anything. After a few quiet moments, Elizabeth asked, “Why are you in here reading?”
    â€œI didn’t want to come to the party, either.”
    â€œWhy not? Kevin’s here.”
    â€œDid he come with you?” Emily asked.
    Elizabeth nodded.
    Just then, Emily’s phone buzzed, a text from Kevin, asking where she was. She responded that she was in the bathroom and would find him later.
    â€œI know it’s none of my business, but why did you wait so long to tell your friends? I mean, Abby’s shoving her tongue down Sergio’s throat in the middle of the kitchen. Did you really think they’d care?”
    Emily thought for a moment.
Why
had
she kept it a secret?
    â€œAt first, I thought they’d be mad because I didn’t tell them right when it happened. And then, I blasted Kevin for flirting with Sarah, but I guess I overreacted. And, I’m
always
worried about slipping up because of my dad.”
    â€œYou’re a liar,” said Elizabeth.
    Emily flinched. “What?”
    â€œI don’t mean you’re lying about what you told me. I’m sure all of that is true, but you’re still lying to them.”
    Emily looked confused, but Elizabeth went on, “Lying’s the worst. People freak out—I mean, like screaming, punching, crying kind of freak out—when they’re lied to. Like when someone asks, ‘Are you okay?’ and she says, ‘I’m fine.’ And theperson asks, ‘Are you sure?’ and she says, ‘Yes, leave me alone.’ Lies. All lies.”
    â€œYou’re right. I lied to you that day in the bathroom,” said Emily. “But you lied to me in the locker room.”
    â€œMaybe, but let me finish my story. Now, if this girl told the truth, she’d say, ‘I’m thinking about dropping out of high school and joining the circus because I’m pretty sure shoveling elephant shit all day would be better than sticking around here.’ But, instead, she lies to make it easy on people. And you know what? It doesn’t matter because they know she’s lying and she still gets labeled the ‘troubled child’ who needs fixing and everyone becomes focused on her instead of the lie that set her off in the first place.”
    With wide eyes, Emily asked, “Are you okay?”
    â€œI’m fine.” Elizabeth smiled and sucked hard on her straw.
    â€œYou’re lying,” Emily said with a