Kody Keplinger - Lying Out Loud

“Well,” Amy said, pulling out her textbook, “they haven’t said anything to me about any of those things.”

“Yeah. I know. I’m just paranoid.”

“If you’re really that worried about it, we could just tell them,” she suggested. “They won’t care that you’re staying, Sonny. I’ve told you. If you just tell them you were kicked out —”

I shook my head. “No. It’ll be too complicated. They’ll want to talk to my mom and … just no. It’s better if we keep things the way they are.”

Amy sighed. “Okay,” she said. “I still don’t see what the problem is, but it’s your choice. A few weeks ago I would’ve said there’s no way we could keep it from my parents for this long, but clearly that’s not the case.”

“I am a magnificent sneak,” I said. “The Russians should hire me as a spy. In fact, for all you know, maybe they already have.”

“You just told me like three things that could’ve given you away,” Amy pointed out.

“But they didn’t!” I declared.

Amy shook her head, giggling.

“I should stop worrying about it, though,” I said as Mrs. Perkins entered the room and began scribbling instructions on the whiteboard. “Your parents figuring things out, I mean. It’s been a few weeks. If they were going to find out I was living with you, they would have by now. I’m probably in the clear.”

“We know Sonny’s been living here.”

So maybe I’d spoken too soon.

It was the next day, Saturday, which meant I’d been secretly living in the Rushes’ house for almost a month. I’d really thought I was in the clear, but when Mr. Rush had asked Amy and me to come talk to him and Mrs. Rush in the living room, I knew we were busted.

“What … what are you talking about?” Amy squeaked. Poor thing. The guilt was all over her pretty little face. She had the worst poker face I’d ever seen.

“We’ve known for a while,” Mr. Rush said. “Contrary to popular belief, my wife and I aren’t totally oblivious.”

“You’ve left a few clues,” Mrs. Rush pointed out. “And we’ve heard you sneaking in at night. You’re not exactly the quietest person, Sonny.”

“We also seemed to be running out of food faster than usual,” Mr. Rush added.

“Why didn’t you say anything before?” I asked. “If you’ve known …”

“We were hoping you’d come to us with whatever was going on when you were ready,” Mr. Rush said. “But it was becoming clear that might not happen anytime soon.”

I leaned back against the couch cushion¸ pulling my socked feet up and hugging my knees to my chest. I was holding down the wave of panic rising in my stomach.

“So now we have some questions of our own,” Mr. Rush continued.

“Yes,” Mrs. Rush agreed. “Like, Sonny, why have you been living here for the past few weeks? You know you’re always welcome here, but you secretly moving in is something else entirely. We’re concerned and we’d like to know what’s going on under our own roof.”

“I … I …” I swallowed. Come on, Sonny. You got this. You’re good at this. Just lie. Lie, lie, lie. “I don’t know. It’s nothing, really. Home is just boring, so …” Damn it. Not my best work. But my heart was racing and my palms were all sweaty. “I’ll just go home. It’s fine.”

But the idea of going back to my house made the panic even worse.

I started to stand up, but Amy caught my arm.

“No,” she said. “Tell them, Sonny.”

Mr. Rush raised an eyebrow while his wife frowned with confusion. “Tell us what?” she asked.

But I’d lost my words. I could always come up with an answer. I had a lie ready for anything. And I’d lied about this, about my mom, a thousand times over the years. It should’ve been easy. But this lie was a little bigger — it involved more people with more potential to poke holes in whatever I said — and I felt suddenly stuck.

I couldn’t think of a lie to tell. Not one that wouldn’t involve more questions. I needed a second to think.

Luckily, Amy bought me a little time.

“She was kicked out,” she told her parents. “She didn’t want to tell you, but her mom kicked her out. So she’s been staying here.”

“What?” Mr. Rush said. “Why would she kick you out, Sonny?”

I stared at my feet, the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck. I couldn’t see their faces, and I hoped they couldn’t see mine as I shoved out the only lie I could think of.

“Pot,” I muttered.

“Really?” Amy whispered. “You didn’t tell me that part.”

Amy had been begging, in her indirect sort of way, for details of my ejection from my mother’s home for weeks. I’d always changed the subject or said I didn’t want to talk about it or pretended I hadn’t heard her ask. The less I talked about my mom, the better.

“Marijuana?” Mrs. Rush said. “That … doesn’t sound like you, Sonny.”

“No,” Mr. Rush agreed. “It doesn’t.”

“I … I only used it once,” I managed. “But my mom found out, and …”

“And she kicked you out,” Mr. Rush finished the sentence for me. “Well, I wouldn’t be thrilled if I were her either, but that seems like a bit of an overreaction.”

“That’s why she’s been staying here,” Amy said. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you two sooner. But can she keep staying here? Please?”

“Sonny’s always welcome,” Mrs. Rush said. “But I think we should speak to her mother about —”

“No.” My head shot up. “No, that’s a bad idea.”

“It’s been weeks since she kicked you out,” Mr. Rush said. “Surely she’s realized what an overreaction this is.”

“We should talk to her. Try to convince her …,” Mrs. Rush began.

But I was shaking my head so hard it hurt. “No,” I said again. “I’ve … I’ve tried. She’s really strict about this stuff. She’s not having it.”

“Does she at least know where you are?” Mrs. Rush asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. I mean, where else would I be?”

Amy squeezed my hand.

“We should still call her,” Mr. Rush said. “Just so she knows for sure that you’re safe and —”

“I’ll do it,” I said quickly.

“Are you sure?” Mrs. Rush asked. “She might want to speak to us about —”

“If she does, I’ll tell you,” I said. “Just let me do it. Please. That is, if you’re going to let me stay here?”

Amy’s parents glanced at each other, then back at me.

“Sonny, of course you can stay here,” Mrs. Rush said. “In fact, you should’ve told us sooner. We wouldn’t have been upset.”

“That said, we don’t condone illegal substances in this house either,” Mr. Rush said. “So if you are going to continue staying here, no pot.”

“No problem,” I said.

Truth be told, I’d never smoked pot in my life. Not for any moral or ethical reason (clearly my morals were all over the place), but I just hadn’t had much of an interest. I liked to be able to think quick on my feet. All the better for lying, my dear. A drug that slowed down the brain, even just for a little bit? No thanks.

“You have the same curfew as Amy, then,” Mrs. Rush said. “All the same rules.”

“And you have to call your mother. Right after we finish up here,” Mr. Rush said. “I know you think she knows where you are, but I’d rather not leave her guessing. She still cares about you. She’ll want to know you’re safe.”

I nodded.

But I wasn’t so sure he was right.

Mrs. Rush got to her feet. “I better go get the guest room set up, then.”

“That’s okay,” I said. “I don’t mind staying in Amy’s room.”

“Are you sure?” Mrs. Rush asked. “It’s got to be a little crowded in there for the both of you. A slumber party is one thing, but full-time …”

“We don’t mind sharing,” Amy assured her.

“Well, I’m at least going to clear the closet so she can hang her clothes up,” Mrs. Rush said. “Good lord, Sonny. Have you been living out of a duffel bag this whole time?”

I nodded.

She shook her head and gave me a hug, as if this was the saddest thing she’d ever heard. Once she let go, she headed for the stairs. “Amy, honey, why don’t you go put some fresh towels for both of you in the bathroom.”

“Okay.” Amy stood up, gave me a fleeting glance, then followed her mother up the stairs.

Which left only Mr. Rush and me.

There was a long silence at first, and it was so painfully awkward that I had to say something or my brain might explode.

“Thank you for letting me stay.”

“Don’t even mention it,” he said. “You and Amy have been best friends for how long? We might as well make you living here official.” He smiled, but there was a sadness in it. “Sonny, are you sure you don’t want me to call your mother?”

“I’ll do it,” I said. “I’ll tell her where I am.”

He nodded. “But if you do need to talk about something, don’t hesitate to come to Mrs. Rush or me. I know that probably goes without saying, but …”

“Thank you,” I said. “I will.”

“Good.” He stood up. “I’m going to go get dinner started. Call your mother, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

I still had Amy’s cell phone, and when Mr. Rush left the room, I pulled it out. I stared at the keypad for a long time before dialing the familiar number. One I’d dialed over and over and over again in the past few weeks.

“Sorry, but the number you have dialed is disconnected or is no longer in service.”

I hung up and put the phone away, blinking back tears.

“The closet and the dresser are empty,” Mrs. Rush announced as she made her way back down the stairs. “They’re all yours.”

“Thank you.” I stood up. “I’ll go put my clothes away.”

“Did you call your mother?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. She said she’s not ready for me to come home yet, but she’s glad I’m okay. She says thanks for letting me stay.”