Page 1 of Fragmented Illusions
Chapter One
Fallon
“Fallon! Hurry the hell up, we’re gonna be late!”
I take one last look at myself in the mirror and force a smile. My fiery red hair hangs loosely down my back in wavy curls. My eyes are lined with black, my lashes long and covered in glitter, and my lips a deep, blood red.
I trail my eyes back down my body to make sure not a damn thing is out of place. My tight, black leather bodysuit is positioned perfectly, and my matching black leather pants are just as perfect. My outfit hugs every small curve perfectly.
Perfect.
You fucking wish you were perfect.
No one knows who you really are.
All you’re doing is playing a game—especially with yourself.
I squeeze my eyes shut as tight as I can and spin away from my reflection. I count to three to force away the painful memories It always dredges up.
One.
I’m stronger now. I’m better.
Two.
You wish you were.
Three.
I turn back around and smile at myself. See? I’ve got this.
My eyes dart to the pointed fangs covering my canines. The perfect Halloween costume. A sexy vampire—cliché, I know, but the epitome of perfect.
Must always be perfect.
“I’m coming!” I yell to Sarah who I can hear talking boisterously to everyone in the living room. Forcing myself away from my reflection, I exit my bedroom and saunter down the hall, walking easily in my knee high, four-inch heeled leather boots.
Sarah, Nat, Sophie, and Grace all stop talking at once and turn their heads to gape at me.
“Daaaamn,Fal. Look at you, girl!” Natalie squeals as I make my way into the living room. I smile timidly as they all continue to stare at me, their chatting starting back up and creating a loud hum throughout the room. Their attention focused solely on me makes me happy I spent the extra time to perfect my appearance.
I can’t look out of place, not once. Not ever.
Everything has to be perfect, always.
“You guys…” Heat floods my cheeks as they continue to gush over me. Though I feel embarrassed, I do love it. This year is the first year I have ever had positive attention on me.
My freshman year of college was a bad one. I don’t talk about it, and no one here asks about it, but that’s because no one knows a thing. I transferred here, to Westwood University, this year—my sophomore year—a completely new person with a new personality and a new past.
Everything is brand new and perfect. I can’t have the problems of what used to be tainting my new life. The life I always wanted for myself. The life I created by changing myself entirely.
“Okay, okay, stop talking about me.” I giggle as I switch the conversation to be about them. I’m still not used to such attention and it’s taking me a bit to get used to—if I ever could.
“Look at you guys!” I gush as I focus on each of their costumes. Natalie is dressed as a witch, with a long, skin-tight purple and black dress which compliments her dark, beautiful skin. The dress has a slit going up her left thigh, and with it, you can see her knee-high black boots with purple bows attached. Her black hair hangs to the middle of her back, natural and curly with a black hat to match the rest of her outfit.
Sarah is dressed as the devil—no surprise there. She has on a glittery red bodysuit, sheer red tights with a long, pointed tail attached at the back. She’s wearing simple black heels, and on her head is a headband with red horns and small red feathers to complete the outfit.
Sophie—Sarah’s twin sister—is dressed as the opposite. An angel. Her body suit is white and covered in white rhinestones with white and silver feathery wings gracing her back. She has on white leggings as well as simple black heels to match her sister, I assume. Her long, blonde hair hangs down her back in tight curls. On her head is a headband with a halo attached to the top with thin wire so it rests above her head to give the appearance it’s floating.
