The Truth About Faking

again,” I say.
    “Yeah. I like spending time with you.”
    “I like spending time with you, too.” I smile.
    We’re sitting in front of his house, and I decide to go for it. I smile and lean across toward him. Maybe if we have a better kiss, he won’t be so anxious to go home. Maybe he’ll suggest we drive around some more. Maybe find a secluded spot. Our faces are an inch apart. I blink again, and he leans forward and kisses my cheek. Again with the cheek!
    “Night,” he says and jumps out of Mom’s truck.
    I exhale and watch him jog to his door. He goes inside and I sit there for a moment feeling like the biggest loser. Makes no sense.
    Again, I wonder what Jason’s doing. He’s probably still at the game with Shelly, and here I am alone. Headed home. I look at my watch. The game’s over. But it’s still too early to be home alone on a Friday night.
    After parking the truck, I drop my purse on the front porch and kick off my shoes. My bike’s nearby, so I ride it out to the creek. I pedal hard to work off my frustration. Forget Mr. Right. I don’t care anymore. Trent’s a handsome, well-dressed, lavender-eyed dud, and I’ve pushed Jason straight to Shelly. My life is just perfect.
    I hop off my bike and leave it at the road, running up the little rise to where the tree sits beside the creek. It’s completely dark, and no one’s here, so I slip off my sweater and unzip my dress. I’ve been thinking about this ever since Truth or Dare. I’m not actually going to skinny dip, but I’m definitely going for a swim. I want to wash all of the bad feelings and broken dreams away and start over as something new. What that means, I don’t know, but maybe I can find out.
    I hide my dress and sweater by the tree and jump in the water. It’s warm, and the currents swirl around me. It feels wonderful, and I remember that time Mom and I went to a hot springs place that was supposed to be so great for natural relaxation. This is a little like that, only not so bubbly.
    I’m just starting to relax when I hear voices and panic. It sounds like Jason and Shelly. I cannot let them see me here like this. I swim to the bank, but a dark figure is running toward me. I duck and try to hide in the shadows at the edge of the water.
    “Come on, Jason!” It’s Shelly. She’s running, and I can tell she’s planning to do exactly what I’m doing.
    “You know, you shouldn’t jump out of the car like that.” His voice is a lazy complaint, and my eyes narrow. He’s not fighting the peep show too hard. “You could get run over.”
    “How else could I make you stop?” Shelly says.
    She’s down at the creek bank now, still in her cheerleading uniform, and I watch as she slips off her shoes. Crap!
    “What are you doing?” Jason says as she starts to pull up her top.
    “Skinny dipping!” She smiles.
    “Wait, wait.” He says calmly. “Are you trying to get us arrested? It’s too early for skinny dipping.”
    “It’s dark. Nobody’s going to see us.”
    “Shelly, this is a neighborhood. People walk their dogs…”
    “What are you? Chicken?”
    “OK,” he says. I slide up in the water and watch as Jason pulls off his t-shirt. Mmm… I’ve seen that chest before. Just then I hear a sound. It’s Mr. House Alarm across the street, and he’s pissed.
    “Hey!” He yells. “You kids better get out of here before I call the cops! I’m sick of you pranksters acting like you can disturb the peace all night!”
    Shelly shrieks, scoops up her shoes, and runs to the car laughing. But Jason dashes in the opposite direction toward the creek. Toward me! I shrink back further into the brush.
    “Don’t leave. I’ll be right back,” he whispers loudly. I freeze. How does he know I’m here?
    I watch as he pulls his shirt back on and jogs to his car. They drive off, and I stare after them unsure what to think. I wait until House Alarm goes back inside and creep onto the bank. It’s a warm night, so I’m not cold in my wet underwear. Nobody’s around now, so I wait a few minutes, letting myself dry some, before I put on my dress. I do pull my thin cardigan around me, though.
    The currents are making their usual, soothing noise, and I try to do like Mom says. Clear my mind and relax. Not worry about things like Trent and whoever he’s been texting that makes him so happy. The fact that he isn’t interested in me, and the fact that I’ve spent a year building a fantasy-life around someone who only wants to