"Oh my gosh! Roni, I thought you were sleeping over at Anthony's tonight." I said to her, clearly taken aback.

The small voice in the back of my mind, the one that normally spoke when no one wanted it too, started shooting thoughts into my head and I was suddenly overwhelmed with guilt at what I had just done and what I was about to do.

"Who is this?!" Roni demanded angrily.

"This is my friend Darcy." I responded cautiously, trying and failing to put my dress back on while Darcy sat on the couch with me as her shield.

"Really! She's your friend?! And since when do friends of the same sex, or even friends at all, have sex with each other huh?!" Roni asked as she folded her arms.

Darcy kept quiet and so did I. There was no way that either one of us could talk our way out of it. Before I had the chance to spit forth a lie Roni interjected once more.

"You know what, I don't even care and I sure as hell don't want to know."

She looked Darcy directly in the eyes. "By the time I get back from the kitchen I want you gone."

With that said Roni stormed off into the kitchen leaving us both in deep shock. I felt a slight movement behind me and turned just in time to see Darcy get up. She wasted no time in pulling on her jeans and hoodie before murmuring an apology and hurrying to the front door. My sense came back to me just as she reached the door but by the time I got up to stop her she had already shut it behind her. I let out a frustrating breath as I heard someone enter the room.

Turning around I came face to face with my friend. She stood at the kitchen door, hands folded and the look that said 'I would cut a bitch' on her face.

"Do you want to explain to me what I just walked in on?" Roni asked, her voice low and steady.

"I-"

"Are you a lesbian?!"

I stopped myself before I could explain. The look on her face and the way she asked the question made me aware that I was in deep shit. I now had the answer to my questions. She was homophobic. How could I have expected anything less? Of course she was homophobic, everyone else in this town was.

Everyone knew everyone and everyone stuck to their beliefs and if anyone ever tried to defy them, there would be dire consequences. The sad part was that these people didn't understand the meaning of leniency. Once you betrayed them that was it, you were officially and outcast and they threw you away like you were nothing.

I don't know, maybe I am nothing.

"I'm waiting for an answer."

My head snapped up as I heard her tone. Stuttering, I tried my best to explain. "N-No... I-I... We... It... It wasn't what you think."

"Then what was it huh. Please, please explain it to me because what I just saw was two girls about to have sex. So if my mind is playing tricks on me... Please make me wrong!"

"Roni-"

"I swear to you Carol, if you don't start talking..."

"I- we-." I stopped.

I didn't know what to say or how to explain it. How do you go about explaining something like this. The last thing I wanted to do was lose my best friend and yes, maybe she was homophobic but she was still mine. We practically grew up together and I would hate to know that I lost her because of this. I would hate to know that I lost the love of my life because I had acted stupid and compulsive.

Taking a deep breath, I began my lie; something I had perfected over time. "Roni before you start to freak out let me explain. First you need to sit down okay. I can't talk with you like this." I said calmly and watched as she took a seat.

"Good, now we're getting somewhere." I went and sat beside her. "I know that what you just witnessed was a bit strange and very traumatic but I can assure you that it definitely isn't what you think."

"Then what is it. What was that Carr?!"

"We were just playing, you know, fooling around. It was a dare, but not just any, it was a triple dog dare and you know I don't back down from those."

"A dare?" She looked at me skeptically.

"Yes! We were watching American Pie and she said that I couldn't make out with her. I said I would never do such a thing but she kept pestering me. Then she triple dog dared me. I didn't want to wuss out from that but trust me... I hated every minute of it."

She looked at me with doubt and I put on the best reassuring face I know.

"I promise it's the truth."

"So she's a lesbian?!" Roni asked slowly. Allowing the knowledge to sink in.

"Well-"

"And she was forcing you into this!"

By this time I knew I had really gotten in deep. I had already dug a hole I just never expected to slip and fall in.

"Roni-"

"We have to tell your parents.

No, we have to tell the council.

Oh my gosh Carr, she could have...

What would have happened if I didn't walk in!"

Roni was walking around the room blabbering to herself and with each sentence I felt more and more lost.

"A lesbian, oh my gosh." She shook her head. "I need to call my dad."

When she pulled out her cellphone I knew the situation had gotten way out of hand.

"Veronica! No, wait." I said snatching her phone and putting it behind me.

"Don't tell on her okay. Just... Let's talk about it."

"What! No, she forced you into doing this."

"Roni stop!" I shut my eyes tightly.

"Please let's just let it go okay. It's not worth it."

"Fine whatever. Just promise me you'll stay away from her okay. People like her are very dangerous and they do unimaginable things."

"Okay."

I got up to go to my room and cry my eyes out but a delicate hand on my wrist stopped me. Before, it used to feel so wonderful against my skin but now all I was feeling was pain. Immense pain and it hurt, it hurt because it came from the one person that I couldn't bare to lose. So now I was left to hide who I was.

"Promise me." She says "promise me you'll stay away."

"I promise."

I pulled my hand away from hers and quickly walked to my room. The door closed behind me and the tears started to flow. It felt as though hiding who I really was everyday in my life was a struggle. I was tired of the tears and the lies and the pretending but I knew that if I ever tried to change that, the outcome would be so bad that what I'm experiencing now would be classified as safe and pain free.

I threw myself onto the bed and wept like I've never wept before. Not only did I lie to my best friend and roommate but I also lied on someone who never deserved it. I pulled my pillow over my face and screamed into it. When I was satisfied with myself I threw the pillow aside and stared up at my ceiling. I opened my mind and allowed all thoughts to flow freely. I allowed the pain, torment... Everything from my past and present to come in and I laid there deciphering them, formulating a plan. After what felt like hours, I came up with one. Grabbing my phone I dialed my emergency contact.

On the third ring someone answered.

"Hey baby face. Missed me already?"

"Hey Brian." I said cheerfully.

"Sup baby."

"I know I said we would only have our relationship on campus but I'm a girl and what comes out of our mouths can't be held against us."

"So what you saying?"

"I'm saying that..." I took a deep breath.

"I want us to pick up where we left off."

I heard the silence on the other end and my heart slowed its erratic beating. I needed him now more than ever. If my plan was ever going to work I needed him to say yes.

"Carr baby..."

I held my breath.

"I thought you'd never ask."

I let out my breath and laid back onto my bed.

"You don't know how happy you've made me."

"Well baby, I aim to please."