Page 13 of Tell No Lies

The warning text to sign on came five minutes before seven. I smiled at the message and sat at my desk to turn on my laptop. When the screen came to life, there was a strange icon on the desktop. I looked closer and realized it was an envelope, just not one that I’d ever seen. I was debating whether or not to click on it when the video chat icon lit up, signaling an incoming call. I quickly accepted it and forgot about the envelope.

My screen divided in three as Mckayla, Talia, and Alexis joined the chat. Talia was standing in front of her bed with her hands on her hips. On her bed sat a pile of clothing at least two feet high. Her face was distraught, and I soon realized the gravity of this call. It was a serious situation.

“This is a disaster! I have no clothes!”

I bit down on my lip, trying to keep my smile from showing.

Alexis wasn’t as considerate. “Are you joking me? Look behind you! It looks like a tornado ran through your closet and dumped everything in one spot.”

Talia glared at her computer, but it wasn’t as threatening as it would’ve been in person. “I’m serious. I don’t know what to bring. Have you guys packed yet?”

Mckayla jumped in. “I’m almost done. I have two pairs of shorts, two swimsuits, four shirts, and a hoodie. I think that’s most of what I need.”

I ran through what she’d said again. “You need something to sleep in.”

She jumped up from her chair and ran to her dresser. After pulling out a pair of sweats and an old surf-team shirt, she turned and threw them into her duffel bag. “Thanks, Aubrey. I completely spaced.”

“No problem. I’m going to go grab what you said you were bringing. Two shorts, two swimsuits, four shirts, one hoodie?”

“Plus pajamas!”

I nodded and crossed my room to my closet. I could hear the murmurs of the girls talking as I repeated the items in my head.

When I came back into my bedroom, I dumped the clothes on my bed and searched for a duffel bag. Luggage seemed excessive for this trip. I looked around for a few minutes but couldn’t find my dance bag I used for competitions.

I put it off for later and sat back down at the computer. “Is there anything else I need to bring?”

At the same time, the three of them turned from what they were doing. I smirked at how similar they acted.

Talia spoke as she lay on her duffel bag, trying to zip it. “Bring whatever toiletries you need, sandals, and shoes you can hike in.”

My eyebrows shot up.

“Just in case! Geez, it won’t kill you.”

It might.

Alexis must have agreed with me. “If by hiking you mean walking around the shops, I agree. Aubrey, pack your best shopping shoes.”

On my way through the bathroom, I collected my toothbrush, my toothpaste, and minimal makeup into a toiletries bag. I stood in my closet, debating what shoes to bring, when I spotted my dance bag on the top shelf. I jumped up to grab it and missed. Scowling, I tried again. This time I hit it just enough to knock it down. Success!

I tossed some sandals in with my running shoes, grabbed my smaller travel bag off the bathroom counter, and added it to the duffel bag. The girls were still talking to each other when I came out, folded my clothes, and stuck them in. I don’t know what Talia packed, since my bag was barely halfway full when I was done.

Mckayla was having Talia empty her bag to show us what she packed. I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t believe it.

“Alright, you guys. I’m all packed, and I have some homework to finish. Mckayla, are you driving, or do you want me to?”

The girls turned to their computers. “I’ll drive,” Talia said. “I can pick everyone up so we only leave one car at the marina.”

“Sounds good. Night, girls!”

They each said goodnight, and I ended the call. I closed my laptop and pulled out my notebooks to finish my assignments due the next day.

As I was finishing up, my phone vibrated on the desk. I picked it up and saw a new message from Mike.

Mike “The Babe” Thomas: Are you packed?

Why was he checking up on me?