Page 22 of Fragmented Illusions

Not perfect.

Not perfect.

Someone is going to find out now.

“You doing okay, Fal?” Grace asks me from across the table. I lift my head from staring at my barely touched plate of food in front of me and meet her gaze. Her dark brows are drawn inward, and her voice is softer compared to everyone else’s—but that could just be Grace. She’s quieter than the rest, similar to me, but still talkative.

I smile widely, feeling the makeup at the corners of my mouth crease and I slightly cringe because of it. Today is absolute shit, but I only need to hold it together for a little while longer—just through lunch.

I need to keep up appearances.

“Yeah, Gracie, I’m okay.” I nod before continuing. “I did not sleep much. I was up all night studying for a test,” I lie gracefully. It has become such a habit; they just roll right off my tongue.

Sarah then cuts into the conversation with her loud laugh. “I feel that! I haven’t slept it daaays.”

“That’s because you have been at a guy’s house every night. And it’s Tuesday,” Natalie throws in, and we all giggle as Sarah gasps, throwing her hand over her chest.

“How dare you call me out on my hoe life. Rude!” She laughs again then throws her head back and ties her brown hair in a ponytail quickly. “But true.” She pops a cherry tomato from her salad into her mouth.

I smile as everyone continues to laugh and talk. I try to follow along with the conversation but something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. I whirl around in my chair and dart my eyes all over the restaurant.

My heart thuds against my ribs painfully as I strain my eyes, searching for what IknowI saw. I grip the back of my chair as a tremor works its way through my hands. My fingers slip against the metal again and again from all of the sweat coating my palms.

I scour the restaurant, my eyes surveying every single person in my path, but I don’t see a goddamn thing.

What the fuck?

“Fallon!” I blink a few times and turn to the voice calling my name. Nat.

“Yes?” I ask, my voice hoarse.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, and I stare at her for a second too long before answering.

I smile wide, showing my teeth, as I glance at everyone seated at the table around me. Natalie, Sarah, Grace, and Sophie are all staring at me with almost the same faces. Furrowed brows and frowns to match.

I almost laugh at their expressions, but I manage to hold it in as I meet each and every one of their gazes. “Nothing is wrong. I thought I saw something, but it was nothing. It must be because I’m tired,” I say confidently.

Nothing’s wrong.

Everything is just fine.

Perfect, even.

It’s bad enough you’re lying to everyone.

There is no point in lying to yourself, Fallon.

You’re losing it.

Admit it already.

Did you even take your pills this morning?

The voice taunts me with its cruel words and its cruel intentions, filling me with things I don’t want to think about.

But… wait. I didn’t take my medication this morning.

Fuck.