Lies

"Faith?"
Faith turned to find a familiar face standing before her. Faith's stomach sank and her hearts beat was so strong it reverberated through her entire body. Her mouth was dry, palms instantly sweaty and her mind turned blank.
"Dani-elle.." She breathed.
"I thought it was you." Danielle smiled awkwardly as she fidgeted with the seam of her slinky black dress. She was still as beautiful as Faith remembered.
Faith tried to catch her breath as she nodded, "You look ... beautiful."
"So...um...," Danielle paused to compose her fidgeting fingers before going on. "Are you still working with Starplex?"
Faith nodded, "Yeah I am...it's still going great. Are you still with Melross?"
"Yeah, well I'm still a lawyer but with Milsons now."
"Oh wow! They're such a great firm - even I know that!" Faith giggled nervously before bursting; "Congratulations!"
"Thanks! Yeah Mum was really pleased when I got it."
"How is your Mum?"
"Oh good..." She sighed with a sarcastic smirk, "still with Dad."
"Oh." Faith chuckled knowing the full family history of that statement.
Just as Faith was tempted to ask about Charlie, Danielle's phone began ringing.
"Sorry, it's probably Charlie..." She said flatly as she rummaged through her bag to find it. As she was about to put the phone to her ear she said, "Yeah we're still together."
She had read Faith's mind.
"Hello? Yeah hi honey... I'm just leaving now... Is there anything you need me to get on my way home? Okay...yeah okay I'll see you soon... Love you."
She hung up and turned to Faith awkwardly, “Sorry."
"Not at all..." Faith couldn't believe she still felt crushed even after so many years.
"So you better get going." Faith really didn't want to know about Charlie so it was best if she needed to leave.
"Yeah I better." She obviously didn't want to talk about Charlie either.
The words 'I miss you' sat on Faiths lips. She knew they wouldn't do any good. She took a sip of her champagne and swallowed her words with it.
"It was good to see you." Danielle said as if reciting learnt lines.
"Yes you too." But in reality it wasn't.
Faith found herself still mesmerised by those eyes. Those big blue eyes she had loved for over a decade. Danielle leant forward and hugged Faith with stiff arms before leaving without saying another word. Faith found it hard to let go. She wanted to cling to Danielle as though her fingers were desperate hungry mouths aching for crumbs. The whole encounter had been stiff and polite but Danielle's eyes said it all. They had exchanged unspoken truths.
Nothing had changed. Danielle was still ‘straight' and set to marry Charlie. Faith was still a 'party girl' set to be a big time producer one day. Both stories were lies.

Mishelle