Unspoken Truths

After lunch, we headed back to school, chatting as we walked.

"Guys, what if we go shopping after school?" Olivia suggested, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"I think we should! It's so boring at home—I need to have fun!" Victoria agreed enthusiastically.

Olivia turned to us. "How about you two?"

"What else can I do but agree? Right, girls?" Amelia exclaimed, her usual energy bubbling over.

Victoria laughed. "That's right, Amelia."

Then Olivia’s gaze landed on me. "How about you, Luna? Wanna join?"

I looked at them, forcing a smile. I always told myself they were my friends, but deep down, I knew the truth. Still, I stayed quiet, pretending not to notice.

"What now? Are you coming or not? You're taking too long just staring at me!" Olivia huffed, rolling her eyes.

I snapped out of my thoughts. "I'm sorry. Yeah, of course, I’ll come," I said, forcing another smile.

The final bell rang, and we left school together, heading toward the mall. Olivia led the way, as always, walking with the confidence of someone who knew she was admired. Victoria and Amelia followed, chatting excitedly about the latest trends, while I trailed slightly behind, lost in my own thoughts.

Inside the mall, the bright lights and polished floors reflected the illusion of perfection we all pretended to uphold. Olivia pulled us toward a high-end boutique, her eyes lighting up at the sight of designer bags and dresses.

"This is so cute!" Victoria gushed, holding up a dress against herself.

"Luna, you should try this on!" Amelia said, shoving an outfit into my hands.

I stared at it for a moment before nodding. "Sure."

I played along, laughing at their jokes, pretending to enjoy every moment. But in reality, I felt like an outsider in my own group. They called us the "Perfect Queens," but perfection was just a mask—one I wasn't sure I could keep wearing.

After what felt like hours of browsing and trying on clothes, we finally stepped out of the store, shopping bags swinging in our hands. Olivia was beaming, showing off her latest purchase—a limited-edition designer purse. "Ugh, I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat," she announced.

"Ooh, let’s get bubble tea!" Amelia suggested excitedly.

Victoria nodded. "Yes! I could go for something sweet."

We made our way to a nearby café, settling into a cozy corner booth. The girls continued chatting, scrolling through their phones, occasionally showing each other pictures of celebrities or new fashion trends. I sipped my drink quietly, listening but not really engaging.

Then Olivia turned to me. "Luna, you're so quiet today. What's up with you?"

I hesitated. "Nothing, just tired."

She raised an eyebrow. "Tired of what? Shopping? Hanging out with us?"

The way she said it sent a sharp pang through my chest. "No, of course not. I just didn’t sleep well last night."

"Hmm. You should really take care of yourself, Luna," Victoria said, her tone light but her eyes studying me closely.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, I will."

The conversation drifted back to their usual gossip, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Olivia was still watching me, waiting for a slip-up. I kept my mask on, pretending everything was fine, but deep down, I wondered—how much longer could I keep up this act?

As we finished our drinks, Olivia suddenly sat up straighter, her eyes gleaming with an idea. "Let’s take a picture," she said, already pulling out her phone. "We need to update our socials."

Victoria and Amelia immediately perked up. "Yes! Perfect lighting here," Victoria said, fixing her hair.

I forced another smile as Olivia positioned the camera. We all leaned in, striking the perfect poses, flashing practiced smiles. The camera clicked, and just like that, our perfect image was captured. A lie wrapped in filters and flattering angles.

"Cute! I’ll post it now," Olivia said, typing away.

I glanced at the screen as she added the caption: *Another perfect day with my favorite people. #Besties #PerfectQueens.*

I swallowed hard. Perfect. That word again. I should’ve been used to it by now, but each time I saw it, the weight on my chest grew heavier.

As we walked out of the café, my phone buzzed with a message. My heart sank as I read it.

*Dad: Don’t be late. We need to talk.*

I clenched my jaw, stuffing my phone back into my pocket. I had a feeling I knew what this conversation was going to be about, and I wasn’t ready for it.

"Luna, you okay?" Amelia asked, nudging me.

I forced yet another smile. "Yeah, I’m fine."

Another lie.

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