The Truth About Faking

going to let her decide. Even if it means he might lose his job. Lose his church. I know he will. It’s the way he always is with her. Whatever she wants to do, she does. He won’t stop her.
    “I just, I can’t be something I’m not,” she says leaning back and looking at him. “And I can’t go back on my word.”
    He smoothes her hair away from her face. “This could turn into something. More than what it is now.”
    “More than nothing?” Her voice is rising again.
    “Don’t get angry with me,” he says quietly. “I’m on your side.”
    Mom sighs and puts her head on his shoulder. I watch as he holds her a few moments, rubbing her back.
    “I’m going to ask Paul to lead the service tomorrow,” Dad says. “I’ll take the day off and let this die down.”
    “I’m going to take a bath,” Mom says, standing up.
    I watch as she breezes past my room, and I hear her door click. Dad slowly walks to his study. I’ve been lying on my stomach in front of my door watching the whole thing and now I roll onto my back. My eyes are damp as I stare at the ceiling. Watching the two of them just then, the way they talk and interact, I can only think of one thing. I sit up and grab my phone.
    Meet@creek? I type.
    BRT.
    No one even notices me walk out the door, get on my bike, and ride off into the night. I’m at the creek sitting beside our tree with Jason in less than ten minutes. It’s dark, but it’s early. And the sounds of kids playing in yards and dogs barking can still be heard off in the night. It’s all so normal-sounding I can almost believe what just happened at my house is some crazy dream I had. Only it isn’t.
    “So? What happened?” Jason reaches forward and laces our fingers. I look up at him. He really does care. And after such a short period of time.
    “My mom’s actually going to let them kick her out of our church.”
    “What? What the hell are you talking about, H.D.?”
    I suddenly feel exhausted. “Trent’s mom called one of the elders at our church and said my mom is having an inappropriate relationship with Ricky.”
    “Trent’s mom?” Jason looks confused. “What does that even mean?”
    “I guess that they’re having an affair or something.”
    Jason strokes my hand. “And they believed that? Haven’t they noticed how she is with your dad?”
    “I don’t know,” I say, looking down. “All I know is they all came to our house tonight to talk to her about it, and Mom got all mad and said she’d have to think about whether or not to deny it.”
    He’s quiet for a moment, and then Jason says the words that are killing me. “Like she’s going to let them think it’s true?”
    I can’t answer. I sit there staring at our hands, listening to the sounds of kids playing, the currents trickling by, and I can’t think of a thing to say. That’s exactly what she’s going to do. And in front of the whole church. We’re all going to be publicly humiliated. And if that’s not bad enough, Dad could lose his job or be reassigned. We’ll have to leave Shadow Falls. All my friends, my home, Jason. I can feel my eyes start to burn as the tears spill over onto my cheeks.
    “Whoa, H.D.” Jason pulls me into a hug. “Don’t cry.”
    But I can’t stop. Especially with him being so sweet. If Dad gets reassigned it could be to a whole other state. I might never see Jason again.
    A sob jerks me, and he kisses my head. He’s holding me so that my cheek is pressed against his chest, and I can smell that citrusey-wood scent in his clothes. I pull closer to him trying to forget all this stupid drama. We stay that way for several minutes until I slowly sit up and push my hair back. I wipe my face with my hands.
    “She’s so selfish,” I say. “She looked at those men saying those things and she just forgot all about us. Me and Dad and what she’s doing to us.”
    “She just lost her temper—”
    “But it won’t change anything,” I interrupt him. “It never does. She’s going to stick to her guns and Dad’s going to let her. He always does.”
    I look at Jason and fresh tears fill my eyes. I really am starting to care for him. It’s amazing how fast being with him has become my new dream, and now it could all be taken away just as fast. I put my head in my hands again.
    “Harley,” Jason whispers. He reaches up and smoothes my hair back. “You’re getting too upset about this. I’m sure your dad’ll talk to her, and they’ll get it