Confessions of a Third Wheel

Chapter 6: No V-Necks

Connor told me everything that happened tonight. He waited for  her in the Italian restaurant.  He even had to eat alone while everyone else had their own dates. Also, he hoped she would come at the ice cream parlor. He waited almost the whole night for her and she never even showed up or at least texted she couldn't make it. The worst thing was Connor bought Pepper this cute bracelet with salt and pepper shakers-designed pendants. He made a lot of effort and sacrificed time to be with her, but she never even came.

I was thrown of at first because Pepper is my best friend and I know she would never do that. Yes, she may be a bit pushy, or a little unreasonable, but she's a kind, loving, caring person inside. And I guarantee that she would never do that on purpose.

"Connor, I'm sorry, but I'm sure there's an explanation to all this." I tried comforting him.

"Yeah, I guess..." He said sounding not so convinced.

"Hey."

"It's just that...I've never felt like this to anyone. I know I've dated a lot of girls before but, I was never serious."

"And this time?"

"I really really really really really really really like her."

"This is out of the topic, but I imagined Carly Rae Jepsen saying what you just said." I laughed.

He was smiling for awhile, but then it immediately faded. As awkward it may sound, Connor is a great guy. I don't really know why I'm helping him because I don't really like him. Also, I should be with Pepper right now instead of him, but there's this thing that Connor radiates; a weird and powerful aura. It makes you clingy as a friend. I'm emphasizing the friend.

"Zoe, do you think all this is stupid?" He genuinely asked.

I was shocked to be honest, "I-I don't know." There was a silence after and we were just both stating at the ground like it was fascinating as heck. 

I spoke up, "do you like her?"

"I think I've expressed that." He chuckled.

"Right. Then, if you do, the Connor I know would never let a girl reject him."

He just smiled and we locked eyes. For once, I actually saw him as a normal guy; not the star quarterback; not the very proud one. It was just Connor; the guy who really loved Pepper.

*

*

*

The following morning was a bit tense. I wasn't sure how I was going to explain how Connor got here in my room. It would've been easy with Zach and Zayn, but with Dad around, it would seem impossible.

I was hoping that Dad slept in this morning so that I could escape, but when I got to the kitchen he was there making breakfast. The eggs were on our plates and he was just frying the bacon. The toast had a minute left in the toaster. It smelled great in here, but I knew that once I enter with Connor it would be horrible.

"Morning, Dad!" I greeted and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Hey, you want some breakfast?" He turned around to see Connor beside me and his mood had 360 degree turn.

"Zoe, who's this?" He asked holding back his really mean comments on Connor's hair color or his eye size, or any weird comment he has.

"Dad, this is Connor. He's just a friend and he needed my help last night. It was raining hard yesterday so I let him stay."

"Oh. Did your brothers know?"

"Uh...well, you see...they've met him before, but they didn't know he was sleeping over."

"Zoe has been really kind to offer me a place to stay the night." Connor inserted with his voice sounding more manly and his choice of words were definitely carefully chosen. 

"I see..." Dad replied still unconvinced by our story. We were all just stating at each other and Dad eyed Connor from head to toe. I knew that his overprotective mode would be off the walls right now.

"You should head to school before you get late. But before that, Zoe change your shirt." Dad ordered. I was wearing an olive green v-neck shirt with denim capris folded at the end right on my knee.

"Dad!" I groaned.

"Zoe.  Don't push it." Dad warned. I rushed upstairs and got a sweatshirt I could remove later at school . I got down with my bag sling on my shoulder and I ran out the house with Connor trailing behind me. We waited for the bus and it took around ten minutes.

"Zoe, you think you can set me up?" He asked me with a pleading smile.

A/N: CLIFF HANGER!! I'm so thankful for 40 reads. Thank you and to the new readers, I hope you're liking it. Comment, vote, share. Help me get to 50 reads?? Also, read my first book DANCE OFF. Please!!!

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