started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter Twenty-Three

And so on this cold spring morning, Zac and I end up huddling in the backseat of Ross's expensive black car. He had called someone and this mysterious man appeared with his car. Ross was impeccably rude to the man, didn't even say thanks or nothing. We just hopped in the car.

"You could've at least thanked him," I whisper to Ross. He's squished to my right while Zac is on my left. "You're so rude."

Ross has an appalled look on his face. "Why should I thank him?"

"Well, if you haven't noticed, it's kind of, like, eight-thirty in the morning and it's freezing. Poor guy was probably sleeping or eating breakfast with his family and you just called him out here and made him drive us to Walmart."

"Again," Ross says, "why do I have to apologize?"

I jab my elbow in his ribs. He groans to my pleasure.

"Because it'd be the human thing to do," I tell him.

"You're awfully abusive lately," he says. "Winging that door out at me, breaking my ribs, etc. Maybe I should get you some help."

I start laughing sarcastically. "You're the one who needs help. Now, thank the kind mystery man for coming out here.

I'm pretty sure he has better things to do than drive us around." Ross says nothing for a moment and then catches me glaring at him. "Hurry up."

Ross sighs and his eyes shift nervously. He leans forward and taps the driver. The man casts a slide glance at him as if asking what Ross needs. Ross licks his lips and sighs again. How hard is it to say a simple thank-you?

"Um,"Ross starts, "listen. T-thanks for driving us."

The driver turns his head around completely – faster than anyone I've ever seen whipping their head around. I'm surprised he doesn't have whiplash or something. The man starts coughing and looks up at Ross with confused eyes. "Uh, thank you, sir."

"See!" I say, smiling. I had no idea Ross would actually do it. "That wasn't that hard, now was it?" Ross looks back at me, trying not to smile but he does anyways. "You make Mama proud."

His smile slips off his face.

Wait. Did I say something wrong?

I turn to Zac, who's staring at Ross with concern on his face. Zac with concern on his face to Ross? What am I missing here? Ross faces away to the window, resting his cheek on the window. Did I do something wrong?

"It's best not to talk about family around him," Zac whispers moments later. And so the rest of the car ride continues in utter silence.

"Thanks for the ride!" I tell the driver when we pull up at the almost empty parking lot of Walmart. It's a little warmer outside when I unbuckle myself and stand outside. There are about five or six cars in the parking lot and Walmart's logo is lit up except for the t.

Ross and Zac start walking to the entrance at different paces. Zac is basically running to the store while Ross has his hands stuffed in his pocket and walking slowly. I catch up to him. I feel like I owe him something due to my horrible mouth in the car.

"Hey," I say, stuffing my own hands in my pocket.

He looks like he's breathing in the air and then turns to me. His face isn't really telling me read him. "Hi," Ross replies, puffs appearing when he talks.

I'm not much of a talker so we just settle with that instead of making it any more awkward and walk to the entrance in step. After we get inside, I grab a cart with Zac and start going through my mind what the fridge needs. We definitely need some milk, bread, and eggs – the usual first.