started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter Twenty-Five

"I swear to god, if you take that piece of cake, I will end you, Zac Marcelo!"

"Woof! Come get me, Marano!" Zac yells back to Joel, holding up a fork as if to say 'back off, I have a weapon' even though it is just a plastic fork.

"Don't you dare!" Joel yells.

"Watch. Me." Zac stabs the last piece of the chocolate cake and puts it into his mouth. The piece is two times bigger than his mouth and it flows out of his mouth in a horrendous way. But it's funny so I giggle.

"You find this stuff funny?" Ross says from my side. He's completely looking away from Zac, disgusted. Ross sighs. "That boy has no table manners, I swear."

"I can hear you, Lynch," Zac says, glaring at him. Cake is still smeared over his mouth and is dropping out of his mouth. It's hilarious and I smile. Ever since Joel came home, Zac's been wild and looser. I like that he's able to be himself around us. I wish Ross could do the same. Even though out on the porch he was himself, I wish he could be more open around other people too.

"I'm still going to kill you!" Joel yells in rage and tackles Zac, who is still messy with cake all over his shirt now. "You can't just steal the last cake piece that I bought!"

I double over laughing, grabbing my stomach. I look to see if Ross finds this funny and when I do, he has this intense look. He's looking at me in this strange way. It feels like I'm going to throw up—the good kind of throwing up. Well, there's no good way of throwing up but it feels like something warm is tickling the inside of my stomach. Ross just smiles with teeth and it's so genuine and I haven't seen it in so long that I find myself smiling back wide.

While Zac and Joel tackle each other, Ross slyly reaches for my hand under the table. He rubs the back of my hand, tracing lines. It drives me nuts. Even after kissing for some time on the porch outside, I still can't get enough. Our twenty-four hours begins now. Hours filled with endless kisses and hugs and no worries.

Just for a day though.

"I'm going to get washed up," Zac says. I turn away from Ross and I's hands and up at Zac. The playful demeanor is gone and he's staring at Ross's hand over mine. His eyebrows are drawn and he looks hurt. I don't want to hurt Zac but I can't let him think he has a chance with me and then be with Ross too. I need to tell him straight out that I like Ross—love him even.

"I'll help," I say, getting up. There's no better chance to tell him that I'm kind-of-sort-of with Ross at the moment. Ross gives me a worried look and I smile to let him know I'm not going to do anything crazy.

Zac walks down to the bathroom down the hall and turns on the faucet silently. He takes o his shirt and puts it under the water. Normally, I would totally be swooning over his killer body but I feel like not even Channing Tatum would be as appealing to me anymore now that I know Ross actually has some sort of feelings for me. He hasn't told me clearly enough how he feels for me, but the kisses say enough.

"What're you smiling about?" Zac asks.

I realize I must look like an idiot, smiling at the ground. "Oh, hm? Nothing, nothing. Do you need help washing your shirt?"

"No, it's okay." He smiles but it doesn't reach his entire face. "Can you just hand me some soap? Or do you have a washing machine?"

"Yeah, it's next door." I take his shirt. "You wash up, I'll go put it in." Zac nods, but his eyes are bothered. I still need to talk to him.

After pushing the button to start the washing machine, I get up and crack my knuckles and turn around. Suddenly Zac's there and I jump back, startled.