IP stands for Impossible Promises and us a book in writing. Please read the other chapters ( found either in the studio or in my old account, @rewritethestars ) before reading this one. Thank you! Chapter 5: Lies I kind of got used to being alone. It was rather nice, actually, the solitude of sitting in my bed, with the curtains drawn around it and drawing. I drew Collin, before I had realized how much I missed him. I'd been so focused on Father I almost forgot about my darling dog! It was late afternoon, so I decided to go outside and roam the gardens. I came to a pleasant bench and sat down. Then I decided to sketch the willow tree in front of me. I was detailing the leaves when I saw someone sit beside me out of the corner of my eye. I couldn't tell who, for I couldn't see their face, but it was a pupil because she was wearing the uniform. I closed my book hurriedly and stifled a gasp as my eyes were greeted with the sight of a tall, dark haired girl who I knew to be Francesca. Nobody ever sat next to me - nobody was mean exactly anymore, they just ignored me now. Why was anyone, let alone the most popular girl in the school, sitting next to me? "Hi, Elizabeth," Francesca greeted, showing some unusual signs of self consciousness as her deep blue eyes flicked toward me, then back to the floor. I gulped, and said nothing. "Nice drawing." "Thanks..." I looked down at my feet. "I told the others I'm in the toilet." 'She's come to take to me? No, no...' I pushed away that radical thought, 'She just wants some time in the garden.' "How did you get here? Into the school?" Francesca inquired. "I honestly don't know. It doesn't make sense. Father disappeared and then my life just got a bit crazy, really," I managed. "Francesca deserves to be here. My cousin. I never met her. Her parents were terribly rich, but mine aren't. I should be helping them with the farm and my younger sister, Poppy." "You're Francesca, you're rich. Everyone knows you are ..." "Everyone's heard my lies I use to cover up my guilt. Why father hasn't been to India or Africa or anywhere other than England and Wales - he was brought up in Wales. Francesca passed away a while before school started. I didn't know how, but I heard she was dreadfully ill. But my uncle had paid the bill, so I became Francesca." "What's your name?" I asked. "Martha. Nothing fancy. I don't like it." "I like it." "I don't know what to do. Lies are my life now and I can't be honest or I'll end up ignored and..." "Like me?" I suggested, casually. "Sort of... Can you help me? Do you have any advice?" "Well... If it helps, I'd rather be me and hated than loved as someone else."
