Free How to Tell a Lie by Delphine Dryden

push that possibility to the back of her mind, where she could examine it later if she chose to.
    The laptop cast its glow, pulling her in as the loading progress bar crept across the page. She logged into the voice chat program and watched as her screen name joined the list of names already signed on. Seth, his brother and four of the others from the previous Friday. Another two names she didn’t recognize.
    “Hey, Ally’s here,” said a voice that sounded like Drew’s.
    “Hi, everyone,” she said quietly into the headphone mic , hoping she wouldn’t have to talk any louder to be heard.
    The hot pink text of a private message was flashing in the chat window even as the main screen of the game came online.
    Notmyrealname : Thank you for playing! I was worried you wouldn’t.
    Aeiou : This was my excuse to get out of going to the local dive and singing karaoke with people from high school.
    Notmyrealname : And here I thought it was because you enjoyed the company. I’m wounded, madam.
    In the voice chat Drew was telling another bawdy joke, and some girl was complaining about the high price of ingredients for health potions in the game. Seth reminded everybody to start heading toward the dungeon they would be raiding. Allison mounted her character up on the winged horse she preferred to ride for longer trips and steered her in the direction of the road to the dungeon. She was just a short distance away, fortunately, leaving her plenty of time to get there and still chat with Seth.
    Allison scanned her last reply and wondered why she had worded it that way, turning their interaction into an excuse, a way to avoid something else rather than a goal in itself. The thought felt uncomfortably like a hard truth about herself, something she didn’t want to think about.
    Aeiou : Ulterior motives. I showed you mine, are you planning to show me yours?
    Notmyrealname : Only in the game.
    On screen, their characters were among a small group standing just inside the dungeon entrance, waiting for the rest of the party to arrive. As Allison watched, the robe, pants and boots disappeared from Seth’s wizard. The cartoon figure danced a jig, wearing just his cloak and pointy hat along with a Speedo-sized pair of shorts. She giggled and typed in a quick command, disrobing onscreen and making her character prance around Seth’s like a well-armed pole dancer while other characters slowly drifted in.
    “What the hell are you two doing?” Drew demanded. “Can we have some focus, here?”
    Allison hastily ended the dance. She shifted her concentration to keeping herself and her friends alive as they began to work their way through the layers of horrifying creatures. Their ultimate goal was to get to the center of the labyrinth where the biggest monster of all lay in wait.
    At least she tried to concentrate. Seth was in fine form in the game, but also managed to keep her thoroughly distracted with a string of comments in private chat that had Allison alternately giggling like crazy and squirming in her chair with pent-up need. By the time the final “boss” was defeated and the loot divided, she felt ready to explode.
    Notmyrealname : That giant man-snake had designs on you, snow elf. I could tell.
    Aeiou : Jealous much?
    Notmyrealname : Not particularly. I’m secure. Once you’ve had wizard you never go back.
    Aeiou : I haven’t exactly “had” wizard, of course. And that snake was pretty well built.
    Notmyrealname : Well, if it’s a well-built snake you’re looking for…
    Aeiou : So you say through the safety of the internet.
    Notmyrealname : Ah, no wonder I’ve been limiting myself to cyber sex in your case. We must never do this in person, princess, it would spoil everything.
    Aeiou : I believe I’ve expressed that same sentiment.
    Notmyrealname : But doing it online is a definite must. Speaking of which, are you naked?
    Aeiou : Not a chance. I’m in a damp, chilly basement, wearing ratty jeans and a sweater and wrapped