started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter Fifteen

I sit on the cold floor of Ross's bedroom, enclosing my arms around myself—trying to warm myself as much as possible. But,I'm pretty sure all the anger I'm feeling is enough to heat me up.

Fiancé?

What part in all of this was so difficult to understand that he couldn't even tell me he had a fiancé? I blame myselfmore. How could I even put my feelings and trust in such a guy. I knew he was trouble...why didn't I stop?

I press myself to the door when I hear Ross opening the front door. I hear voices but they're muffled and I can't reallymake out what anyone's saying. Finally, they move from the door and into the living room and I can finally hear correctly.

"Oh, Ross!" a female voice squeals. I hear bodies and clothes clashing. They're hugging. "It's been so long! I missed youa lot."

"I missed you too, Tracy." Ross sounds happy—happier than most of the times I ever spend with him. He's alwaysarguing or yelling at me when I speak to him. Tracy's a lucky girl. I'm already jealous. I grumble to myself.

I hate Ross.

Screw him, actually.

He has pissed me off millions of times, treated me like crap a million times. I'm not going to be that type of girl thatalways chases the boy that will never treat her right. I'm going to be smart about this. I don't need Ross and he obviouslydoesn't need me.

I keep pressing my ear to the door anyways. Yeah, I hate Lee, but I'm curious. Who is this Tracy girl that has got Ross'sboxers in a twist?

"You want some tea?" Ross offers.

"No, it's fine," Tracy giggles. It sounds so girly. Mine sounds like a whale choking on it's own spit: another point for Tracy. "I just came for a quick visit. After I'm done packing and all that, I'll actually come over for a proper visit."

"Oh, that's right," Ross says. "How was France?"

"Beautiful, just beautiful." Wait, she's even been to France? I bet she knows French and a whole bunch of otherlanguages. I bet she's also filthy rich. "I'm really going to miss France, but it's great to be back in America. I get to see you,don't I? How could I not miss my fiancé?"

I wince. So it is true. Tracy—or whoever she is just confirmed it. Ross had been playing with my feelings. He knew how Ifelt—I mean, I was pretty obvious. God, he even tried to kiss me! And I kissed him (secretly)!

I feel so numb. Is this how girls feel? The ones on the Internet who always complain about being the rebound orsecond choice? The ones I roll my eyes at whenever I see one? It's great to know that I've become one.

Ross and Tracy chat for a few more minutes before I hear them kissing and saying goodbye. I hear a door open andclose—the front door, I'm guessing. I swing open the door and head to the guest room, avoiding Ross at all costs. Mysuitcases are already there. I throw on some clothes and shove my sweats into the closest bag.

"Laura?" Ross calls.

I roll my suitcases to the living room. Act natural, I tell myself and take a big breath before I appear in front of Ross. "I'mready."

"For what?" He looks at my bags. "Where are you going?"

"I need to get back to Brownwood before my mom notices I'm gone," I say, crossing my arms. "Our deal is done, too.Take me home."

Ross scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "About earlier—" My confession. Oh god, my confession. I got shot downwithin ten seconds. Literally. I push down the blush that I can feel creeping slowly up my neck.