One Way To Find Out

Chapter Nine: Suspicions

"Are you and Zayden a thing?" A throaty voice questions, I glance at the boy who dare ask such, what kind of insinuation is that? The bemusement on my face must be clearly visible, but that doesn't ring a bell in his head as he simply stares at me blankly, almost like waiting for a reply.

"What? No of course not, we're just friends." And I so happen to have a tiny crush on him, I wanted to say, but I knew better not too. I hope my cheeks aren't giving away my secret, but all the hope is gone once he leans back on his chair and raise his brow slightly.

It's very peculiar to see him showing other expressions instead of his signature blank look, he looks more strange than spotting a neutral face.

"Yeah right, I need to leave." I him murmuring lowly, as he begins to stand up from the table and head to the front door.

"Wait! Isn't it too late to walk home? Zayden can drop you—" my sentence is cut short by his voice.

"I live down the street." He briefly throws at me, I cringe as I remember that he does really live in the same street as Zayden's, so the need to drop him of with a car is just absurd.

Controlling the urge to facepalm myself because of my stupidity and forgetfulness, I send a weak smile — more like a grimace to Taylor and as expected he says nothing, resuming his journey out of the house.

I don't understand what got into me, but I see myself striding hurriedly towards the boy. Too curious to know why he treats me rudely, even though he just met me.

"Taylor, let me walk you out." That halts his rapid walking speed, I hold my breath and burn with mortification, but that doesn't stop me from asking the question that's been at the back of my mind the entire day.

"Why do you treat me like that?"

A sign escapes his mouth as he moves forward again, but he's moving slowly.

"Like what?"

"Like I'm the last person you want to deal with?" It comes out more like a question instead of a statement, with only a few steps away from the front door, I patiently wait for his reply before he can step out of the Lakewood's homely house.

"Look, I'm really tired and I don't want to deal with this , bye." With that said he turns the knob and walks out, I hear footsteps heading this way — probably Zaydens'.

"Hey, is Taylor gone?" His honey vocal says, as he comes to view, hair nicely pointing in all directions, he folded his long sleeve shirt up his elbows. Nodding my head to answer his vilification, I yoan and walk up to the staircase.

"I got something for you up there, you done doing the dishes?" I smile smugly just to add cockiness on top, I groan as he nuzzles my already messed up hair, I slap his boyish hands off from my head.

"I'm done doing your dirty work, next time I won't fall for that devious pout."

"Yeah yeah, whatever." I know too well, he would do them again, because let's face it his too nice for his own good.

Opening his bedroom door for me as if he is my personal butler, bowing down a bit too much. I chuckle at his act of exercising his chivalrous ability on me, I normally don't say anything about girlfriends, but as I friend you have to tease a little even when my heart aches at the thought of him with someone else but me.

"How lucky your girlfriend will be to have such humble man." I giggle while my inside is churning with anxiousness of the possibility of him liking someone. Walking up to the bathroom, I pick up the pink toothbrush and smear the paste on it and wash my mouth.

Zayden is sitting on top of the concrete basin counter, smiling sheepishly at the shower, I halt the progress of disinfecting my teeth and look at him weirdly, suppressing any ounce of hurt.

I have no clue why I whispered to him, "Do you have a girlfriend?" the disbelief is strongly put in my voice as I eye him and I don't miss the taint of pink on his cheeks and ears.

No, please say no.

"I wouldn't say girlfriend, but it's something like that."

A true friend would have leapt out of ecstasy knowing they'll tease their friend nonstop about someone they like, but I can't find it in me to honestly feel the slightest bit happy for him.

Forcing down the lump forming on my throat, I fake the jovial smile.

"No way!" I place my unoccupied hand in front of my mouth, the blush begins to run all over his face. He avoids looking at me, because he's too shy or maybe he can't bare to see the agony in my eyes.

The invisible punches are no match to the curiosity growing in me, I want to know who is this girl who made the person I secretly love to fall for her.

"Who is she? Do I know her? Is she in our school? When did you start loving her?" Abandoning the act of brushing my teeth, I fully face the boy who has no clue of how much pain he's causing me.

"I'm not in love with her yet, I mean yeah I like her a lot and I even considered taking her out on a date, but I need your help with that." He at last glance at me with a timid smile on place.

Mind goes overdrive as I overthink what he just said and I hate the thoughts clouding my mind. Zayden is a good person, he never does something for his own benefit alone, he's too considerate sometimes. I feel so disgusted thinking that he brought me here just to tip him about asking a girl out.

I blink profusely, to keep my eyes from brimming with salty tears. I'm too afraid to say anything as I might spur unwanted words.

"Are you gonna help me or not, Lia?" The seriousness covered with nervousness shakes me back to my present, where the boy I love seeks for my help so he can woe a girl who is not me.

"Only if you tell me her name?" I manage to choke as calm as possible, but it comes out more hurried like I've ran a marathon — well my heart is galloping uncontrollably.

He sighs before standing straight and handing me the pink toothbrush, urging me to resume washing my mouth. I snatch it fiercely than intended, but he doesn't say anything about that.

"It's Annabelle, the girl in my Gym class."

I try to recall any Annabelle I've came across at school, but I can't think properly due to the headache caused by this turmoil. Ending the silent torture of wanting to know how she managed to lure my friend.

"Stop frowning like that, we'll talk about this tomorrow, I'm worn out. Let me go fix a bed for myself." He says.

With a gleeful slap on my shoulder he walks out of the bathroom joined to his bedroom, closing the door behind him like he knows I need the time to myself with no interruptions as I process everything and digest it all.

I knew one day, he would find someone, but I never thought it would be this soon. An adamant tear involuntarily slides on my hallow cheek, before I begin to ball my eyes out I wipe it briskly.

I can fake all the happiness for him, but my heart aches with dread of having to look at him speak so admirably about another person.