The Art of Lying

Part II - Chapter 1: The Mask Slips

The next day, I was back in school. It was discouraged, but I wanted to be there. Despite my mask, I enjoyed being there with my friends. However, what had happened the previous night troubled me. I'd been told that my lower back had been cut intricately. Nothing lasting, but I'd have a scar there forever. Until it stopped bleeding, I'd have no idea what that scar was. The bandage was still wrapped around my lower torso, and was slightly too tight for comfort. It still stung, though painkillers helped. The day seemed tedious. Run of the mill, I seem to recall thinking. It's almost amusing how wrong I was. Or, at least, it would be.

I had a friend at school. Aaron, he was called. Aaron was tall, broad-shouldered and soft-spoken. He was a good guy, but didn't notice it. I get a lot of people like that. Fair-haired, pale blue eyes and a little odd, he was rather attractive as a friend to me. Nothing special to look at, Aaron was happy being single, rather odd for someone my age, as you'd expect. He always looked kind of dishevelled, like he'd got dressed in a hurry, giving him even more of an air of cosiness. We talked a lot, and he was good fun to be around. The reason I mention him is that Aaron was the only person I never had to wear my mask around. I could talk to him about serious stuff. And he never told anyone. I was closer to him than just about anyone.

Aaron was waiting for me at school. He was stood outside the dining hall, the usual, lazy smile on his face. I walked over to him, away from my usual group of friends. "Hey." I said, his lazy smile inspiring one on my own face.

"Hello." He said, in his quiet tone. "Nice day." He commented, looking up at the sky. Small rain droplets were splashing around us.

"It's raining." I commented, chuckling.

"I like rain." He looked at me, his smile becoming more focused. "It's cleanses the soul." I smiled softly at him.

"You amaze me." I said, keeping the gaze, an unusual feat for me, exclusive to Aaron. I found it intensely hard to keep eye contact with most people, though it was solved by a simple solution: Focus on a spot or some sort of mark near the eyes. It'll mean the person thinks you're focusing on their eyes, while you can feel comfortable. I studied his face intensely, though I'd memorised every feature long ago.

"I can't imagine why." He shrugged his shoulders, and I looked down, smiling at the floor.

"Yeah, well." I mumbled, rather embarrassedly.

It was the end of school. Nothing had happened, as I'd predicted, and my mind was in comfort, expecting the day to have no more unexpected turns. Again, I couldn't perceive how wrong that statement would be. I was wandering off the bus, making especially sure to avoid the street where the warehouse was located, when my phone buzzed. This was unusual. Very few people had my number. My mum, my brother and Aaron, and he hardly ever text. So I took out my phone, expecting a text from my mother, saying she was late. To my surprise, it was Aaron. 'Hey, you wanna come over? -A' The message consisted of only those five words. I smiled, and quickly tapped back 'Sure, sounds fun. - J' He texted me back the time he'd pick me up from my house. I went home and got changed, thinking nothing of it.

Now, I'd like to preface what comes next with a small explanation. While I've said that Aron was not one to show any interest in anyone, neither had I. I just didn't think that way. I didn't have time for it and, to the best of my knowledge, I didn't want to. At this point, my mind had no preconception of anything like that. I was happy single. Now, I suppose this spoils what comes next, but still... It doesn't happen like you might imagine.

I was travelling to Aaron's house. It was a farmhouse, rustic in nature and fantastic. It was so calming there, and I loved it. The views there were amazing. It overlooked a range of hills, and was on a rather large hill itself. The house itself was a thing of beauty, rustic and comforting. Inside, it was large, and a lovely atmosphere was contained inside, with a constant smell of oak around the place. I loved it and revelled every chance I got to go there. Aaron's parents were nice, similarly soft-spoken people, and kind in nature. I loved the place, and the family along with it.

When we arrived at Aaron's, I happily wandered into the kitchen, the first room in the house, after the outhouse. It was lovely. I greeted his parents, and made polite conversation with them. Soon enough, we wandered into the living room, where we sat on the sofa, slightly huddled together, and looked at his laptop. Around the room, there were examples of brilliant drawings, sketches, and finished works. I'd seen them all, but they never failed to amaze me. They were really good. The detail in them was immense. The surrealism in some of them was intense, and they captivated my attention. "You really like them, don't you?" Aaron's voice suddenly broke my attention on one of the best on the wall. I blushed and stammered a bit, unsure of exactly why. I never acted like this. Not around anyone.

"Y-Yeah, I do." I answered, slightly lamely. He chuckled softly, turning his powder-blue eyes towards the sketch.

"I like that one." He commented. "I was proud of it." The sketch of it was of a rose, and an insanely detailed one at that. Dashed with colours of red and green, it looked unfinished... But still beautiful in that effect. "It signifies the unfinished-ness of love." He shrugged, seeming to read my mind. I blinked, never having thought he thought like that. He looked so casual, his eyes still focused on the sketch.

"It's brilliant." I agreed. "I love it." I glanced sideways at him. He hadn't even moved.

"You know..." He began, surprising me. His voice had lost the dreamy edge it usually possessed. "People think we don't feel, James." He continued, glancing at me. "But we do. We feel stronger things than they ever will. Sadness, happiness... Love." He fully turned to me. I felt my heart hammering against my chest, and I was completely unsure of what to do, this situation was not one I had ever been in before.

"I-I guess." In hindsight, that was possibly the lamest response I'd ever given.

"They don't understand, though." There was sadness in Aaron's tone now. His glance was floorward, and I frowned softly.

"Aaron... What are you saying?" I asked quietly, almost whispering.

"I'm saying... To anyone else... You don't feel anything, James." He looked at me. I could see the beginnings of tears in his eyes, and my own, confused face reflected there. "But I know you do... I just don't know how much." He was speaking in a whisper, and his gaze moved downwards again.

"Hey..." I whispered, trying to put on a comforting tone. I tilted his chin to look at me, and we remained like that for a second, before, in a unanimous movement, we moved closer, and kissed. I pulled back, breathless, despite the instant nature of it. He blinked at me.

"You... Feel like that, too?" Aaron asked, his voice full of hope.

"I-I... Don't know. I've never thought about it." I said, truthfully. "I..." I began, but he cut me off with another kiss.

"Don't think..." Aaron whispered, pulling back. "No masks, remember?"