Krystal

Stupid parties. They always made me morning sick. I groaned as I flipped a pill into my mouth.

“Hangover?” I looked at through the open door to see my brother.

“Shut up.” I snapped before turning toward the bathroom mirror.

“You know, if you didn’t drink so much…”

“Says the smart loser.” I responded before brushing past him.

“Exactly.”

“You know Joseph, arguing with you would be a lot better if you didn’t agree with me.” I snapped before heading down the stairs.

“Good morning.” My mother greeted me, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Morning.” I responded, grabbing a bottle of water. “I’m going out for a while. I won’t be back until late.”

“Okay. Have fun.” She said airily, waving me off. She then picked up her briefcase and began sorting through papers. I guess when you’re the CEO of a big company, family didn’t matter. Joseph didn’t like it. He refused all of the gifts, wanting to trade it all in for family. In the beginning, I thought that it would work. He tried and tried, but it only brought him pain. Yet he still kept on. I, of course, was the week one. I got decent grade and they gave me a big allowance.
I walked out to my car, taking a sip of my water before jumping in. I would pick up Hayley and some of the other girls and go out for a while. Sometimes we stalked at night, but since their boyfriends were playing this huge game, everyone had to go out in the daytime. It was a very rare occurrence.

“Penny!” Hayley called, waving at me. I waited for her to get in, then we picked up the other girls. The conversation was the normal “hair, make-up, and clothes”. I actually felt bored with it, though I never said anything.

“Hey!” One of the other girls called as we pulled into the parking lot. “I heard that there was this new store that sells the newest designer fashions!”

“They wish.” Hayley said with a smirk. “My daddy’s store always sells the hottest stuff, always. Otherwise he wouldn’t own it.”

“She’s right you know.” I agreed, looking at the crestfallen girl with a ‘I pity you’ look. And I really did. She was feeling all of the, uh, joys of being popular. It was hard. But you had to stick through.

Everyone hopped out and headed inside the mall, ready for a day of shopping.
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Worst day of shopping ever! I thought as all of us girls sat in a line in the back of a store. One of the girls was shaking with fear. See, apparently one of us shoplifted. It wasn’t me, I know that much. I had no need, obviously, with the money I got. I wasn’t sure about the other girls though. I just hoped we got off easy. I wasn’t known as the most truthful person, so people may think that my truths were lies. Just like the boy who called wolf.
I winced as the door opened, and our parents filed in. My father, one of the town doctors, walked in, looking annoyed. Of course he had been on his lunch break with his buddies. Wrong time to call him.

“So, who did it?” I looked at Hayley’s father. He was not happy. He was not only head of the town, he owned many stores, including this one.

“I don’t know.” Hayley murmured. “Maybe Penny?” She looked at me pointedly. Of course.

“No sir.” I said, shaking my head. “I would never steal.”

Stealing was wrong in my book, no matter what. I was lucky to have been in the popular crowd, for our first test had been to shoplift. But Hayley liked the audacity I had to refuse, so she took me under her wing.

“How do we know? You may be lying.” She sniffed. I really hoped that she didn’t do it. Otherwise her father would put it on me. He may have liked me, but not enough to not frame me for his daughter’s actions.

“But I honestly didn’t do it.”

“She’s right.” The security guard who had pulled us aside walked in. “It was her who did it. I just finished looking at the security tapes.” He pointed at the shaking one, and I instantly felt bad for her.

“I-I-I’m sorry.” She cried.

“Well sorry isn’t good enough. You are banned from this store.”

Yes, Hayley’s father was harsh.

“The rest of you may go.” The security guard signaled to us. I followed my father outside.

“Can I trust you to go home and go nowhere else?” He asked, not looking at me.

“Yes.” I said miserably.

“Good.” He replied. “We have a lot to discuss.”

I watched as he walked away, feeling guilty.