CHAPTER FIVE:
PRETTY LIES

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

ALICE CULLEN HAD BEEN waiting at The Carver Cafe for over an hour. Sitting in the corner booth furthest from the door, she was joined by Edward and Bella, who were in town with her when she got a vision of Shay visiting her workplace, distress rooted in her eyes as she sat opposite her long-time friend, Cora. Alice had wanted to see if she was okay, the frustration in her eyes sending Alice's heart plummeting to the pit of her stomach, but so far, the brunette beauty was yet to show up.

"Are you sure she's coming here today?" Bella asked as she sat uncomfortably on a cheap leather seat.

"Yes," Alice insisted, her eyes leaving the entrance to peer at her human sister. "She should be here any moment now, Bells."

The moment the words left Alice's mouth, the door swung open, a gust of wind propelling it towards the brick structure of the building. In stepped Sebastian Chambers, who's eyes glared daggers at the linoleum floor beneath his feet as his sister followed close behind him. Shay Chambers looked exhausted as she nudged Sebastian's side with her elbow, pressing a twenty dollar note into the palm of his hand and muttering for him to buy whatever he wanted for his lunch. He sent her a half-hearted grin in response, though his eyes were still narrowed as he moved to a booth just two spots down from where Alice and her siblings were sitting, watching the exchange curiously.

Alice couldn't tear her eyes away from Shay as the brunette in question watched her brother take a seat, grabbing the menu to choose what he wanted to eat. Shay looked like a frazzled mess that afternoon, her frizzy hair pulled into a messy bun atop her head, stray curls gathering around her face. She wore a faded pair of denim overalls that stopped half-way down her thighs, a plain grey short-sleeved shirt tucked underneath the material. Her dirty white trainers squeaked against the ground as she moved over to the counter where a surprised Cora was staring at her, though to Alice, she looked absolutely beautiful. 

"Chambers," Cora greeted as Shay sat down opposite her, releasing a tired sigh as she slumped against the bench. "You do realise you're not rostered on today, right?"

"Mhm," Shay muttered, peeking up at the older woman through squinted eyes.

"Well, why aren't you at home relaxing?" Cora frowned, eyes darting to where Sebastian was giving his order to one of Shay's co-workers. "And why isn't Seb at school?"

Shay sat upright in her seat, glancing at her brother before turning back to face an unimpressed Cora, "He's sick."

Cora rolled her eyes, "He doesn't look sick." Shay simply shrugged, causing the older woman to sigh. "Shay, you can't just let him have days off. I know it doesn't happen often, but the school knows you're the one raising him, and you don't want to give them a reason to call in Child Services." 

"I know, okay?" Shay grumbled, running a hand over her face. Across the room, Alice was watching her with worried eyes. 

"Well, if you know, why is he not at school then?" Cora asked, worry of her own forming as Shay remained silent. "Has something happened, kiddo?"

"Our mother's back in town."

Cora's eyes widened, and just like that, the lecture about Seb's education was forgotten. Cora had witnessed firsthand the struggle that Shay and Sebastian went through with Melody. The woman in question had once been a good friend of hers, until Connor died and Melody pushed away everyone who wanted to help her. So Cora turned her attention to Shay and Seb, who hadn't just lost their father, but their mother as well. Cora gave Shay a job the instant she asked for one, even though money was tight and she couldn't really afford to hire another worker. She and her husband took care of Sebastian when Shay was struggling through her last years of high school and could find no one else to help her out. Cora knew the kids had struggled without their mum, so it made her furious hearing that Melody was back just as they were getting on track with their lives. 

"For how long?" she asked, biting back a rude remark about the flighty Melody Chambers. 

"A week," Shay grumbled bitterly. "Seven days too long, if you ask me."

"And she's staying with you?" Cora continued, Shay nodding though she didn't look pleased with the thought. "Why don't you tell her to leave, Shay? She has no right being in your house."

"It's in her name."

"Technically, it's in your father's," Cora muttered.

"Well, he isn't here to kick her out, is he?" Shay snapped, though she immediately regretted it as she watched Cora's eyes flash with pain. Much like Melody, Connor had been Cora's good friend. They'd known each other since they were toddlers, and his death had hit her hard. "I'm sorry, Cora."

"It's okay, kiddo," she mumbled, reaching out to interlace her hand with Shay's. "I know how hard this is for you."

"It's just seven days," Shay muttered, and in her head, she told herself that her mother would be gone soon and everything could go back to how it used to be. "Then, she'll be gone again, and we can move on just like we have before. It's not the first time she's dropped by like a casual stranger, and it won't be the last."

Cora gave her hand one last squeeze, before moving to find Shay something to drink. She accepted a coffee with a grateful nod, hands curling around the warm mug as Cora glanced back over at Sebastian, who was frowning as he tucked into the plate of pancakes he'd ordered with Shay's money. Sebastian had taken it even harder than Shay when his mother started distancing herself from them. He'd just lost his dad, and his mother was following right behind him. It made him sad, and angry. How could she leave them, her kids, like they meant nothing to her? So Sebastian latched onto Shay, ignoring the woman who'd given birth to him as his big sister took over the mother role he desperately needed in his life. Every time he saw Melody now, it made him feel sick to his stomach. Shay knew it, Cora knew it. Anyone with eyes could see that the young boy resented Melody with everything in him.

"How's Seb taking it?" At Cora's question, Shay let out a sigh, following her friend's gaze to her brother's defeated figure. She hated seeing him upset, which only made her anger towards her mother that much stronger.

"He just wants her gone," Shay shrugged. "We both do."

"You're more than welcome to come and stay with me," Cora offered, though she knew Shay wouldn't accept no matter how desperate she got. "You know Raymond and I don't mind your company."

Raymond was Cora's husband, and much like his wife, he viewed the Chambers children like they were his own kids. Shay knew he wouldn't mind them staying in his house, but she also knew she couldn't just hide every time her mother was in town. Eventually, Shay would have to tell the woman she wasn't welcome anymore, but for now, she'd push through and pretend like everything was fine.

"Thanks for the offer, but we're okay."

Cora sighed, though didn't push her to accept. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Sensing that Shay didn't want to talk about her mother anymore, Cora looked for a new topic of discussion. And she found it sitting in the corner of her cafe, watching Shay with soft eyes. With a grin, Cora turned back to Shay, who was sipping from her coffee with an oblivious scowl tugging at her eyebrows.

"Who don't you go and say hello?" Cora asked, to which Shay frowned in confusion.

"To who?"

Cora nodded over at Alice's booth, causing Shay to follow her gaze curiously. Her eyes locked with Alice's golden ones, and in an instant, the girl with the pixie cut was looking away from her, embarrassment coating her features. Shay smiled, though quickly smothered the look as she turned back to Cora, who raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well?"

"She looks busy," Shay shook her head. "Maybe later."

"Oh, please," Cora rolled her eyes. "You're just too scared, Chambers."

"I am not," Shay insisted, ready to get up there and prove her wrong. But she stopped, glaring at Cora's amused smirk. She let out a sigh, knowing Cora was just trying to trick her into speaking to Alice. And unfortunately for Shay, her trick was working. "Fine, can you watch Sebby for me?"

"Just go over there," Cora cut her off, knowing Shay was stalling for time.

The brunette shot her a nervous glance, before crossing the cafe with hesitance. Alice, who'd already heard their conversation, ordered Edward and Bella not to make Shay uncomfortable as she arrived at their table, shooting them a tiny smile.

"Fancy seeing you three here," she greeted, tucking her hands into her pockets awkwardly. "You mind if I join you?"

"'Course we don't mind," Alice assured her, moving over on her side of the booth and gesturing to the empty space beside her. "You can sit next to me."

Shay's heart soared, but she ignored the feeling as she sat down next to Alice, opposite a grinning Edward and Bella. 

"How are you, Shay?" Edward asked her, though he and Alice already knew the truth.

"I'm good," she said on instinct, missing the frown on Alice's face at her blatant lie. "What about you guys? You're graduating soon, aren't you?"

"We are," Alice nodded, plastering on a happy smile when Shay glanced at her bashfully. Her eyes lit up with an idea, and she spared a brief glance at Bella as she said, "In fact, Bella and I are going on a shopping trip this Friday to choose our outfits for the ceremony."

"We are?" Bella frowned, though she was quickly silenced by Alice's warning glare. "Right, we are."

"Would you like to come with us?" Alice asked, staring at Shay with hopeful eyes.

Once again, Shay's heart soared, her cheeks warming at the thought of spending more time with Alice. And Bella, of course. Bella seemed like a lovely girl, but there was something about a day with Alice that made Shay's body preen with excitement. She quickly suppressed her grin, giving a faint shrug in response so she didn't seem over-eager.

"Sure, sounds like fun," she said. "I'm not intruding, though, am I?"

"No, we'd love for you to join us," Alice assured her, before she looked to her sister for her support. "Right, Bella?"

"Of course," the brunette in question nodded, sending Shay a kind smile that had Alice nodding at her thankfully. "It'd be good to get to know you better, Shay."

"Then it's settled," Alice hummed, eyes lingering on Shay as she sat back in her seat, at ease alongside them. "Bella and I will come and pick you up on Friday." She hesitated for a moment, only encouraged to continue by Edward's smirk. "We should exchange numbers, you know, so you can send me your address."

"Oh, sure," Shay muttered, though deep down, she was freaking out. A pretty girl just asked for her number. Swapping phones with Alice, they each added their own contact, before giving the devices back to each other. "Well, I should probably be going now."

Out of the corner of her eye, she'd notice Sebastian rise from his booth, placing his empty plate on the counter before he turned to look at her impatiently. Sure, Shay may have wanted to stay and spend more time with Alice, but she could do that on Friday. For now, her brother needed her, and that was more important than her crush (is it even a crush?) on Alice Cullen.

"See you Friday then," Alice told her, though she was also disappointed to see Shay go.

The brunette in question shot them one last smile before she ducked over to her brother, who looked like he wanted to question what she'd been doing talking to the Cullens, but was too distracted by the wicked woman waiting back at his house to pay attention to his sister's love life. The Cullens watched Shay and Seb disappear outside before Edward and Bella were turning to grin at Alice, who was looking out the window to make sure Shay got to her car safely.

"Smooth," Edward chuckled, and if Alice was human, she was sure she'd be blushing like crazy.

"Oh, shut up, Edward," she hissed, to which he simply threw his head back in a laugh.

One thing Alice knew for certain, she couldn't wait for Friday. Little did she know that Shay was feeling the same way.