started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter Three

"Just a small, er, white lie?" I say. I brace myself.

Mom looks at me. "Honey, you didn't do anything harmful to anyone,right? No gossip? You know we can't deal with that again. You almost got suspended last year-it can't happen again."

This shuts me up. I obviously can't tell Mom now.

"Of course not, Mom!" I chirp. "I just forgot to tell you that instead of getting an A plus in History, I got an A minus." I laugh it off like a joke. There goes another lie to cover up my other one.

"Phew," Mom says, sighing and clutching her heart. "Had me worried fora second."

"Yep," I say. "Nothing to worry about here." I force a smile. "I'm going to go work on some homework now, okay? Call me out when dinner's ready."

"Of course," she says.

I hop off the stool, grab my bag, and jog to my room. I throw my backpack on my bed as soon as I reach it. I close my door. Picking up a pillow, I start screaming into it. I'm in a deep mess.

A piano tune starts playing. My phone.

I throw my pillow back on my bed and grab my phone out of my pocket. I flip it open. "Hello?"

"Laura!" Tess yells. "Laura! Oh, thank god you're okay."

"Um," I start, "of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" A shiver runs down my spine. Something's wrong.

She sighs. "You mean you haven't seen it yet?" I stay quiet. She takes my silence as a no. "It's everywhere, Laura. Go on your computer right now! Every source says you're in a relationship with Ross Lynch."

"What!" I scream. I cover my mouth hoping Mom didn't hear. Immediately, I scurry over piles of dirty clothes on the floor and take a seat at my desk. I fire up my computer.

"Do you know what happened?" Tess asks over the phone. "How did this information get out? I thought you said only our high school and our town knew."

"That's right," I say. Then, I pause and think. Trevor. The reporter.

"Shoot. Shoot. Shoot." "What's wrong?" she asks.

"I might've, could've, maybe slipped it to a reporter." My computer starts and I immediately get on the search browser and go through the trending topics: Ross Lynch wins over another business. Kanye West pregnant? Ross Lynch dating small-town girl? I click the third trending topic.

"What!" Now, Tess screams. "Why? How?"

"I'm sorry!" I plead. "Melody was standing right there and I didn't know what to do. I didn't want her to find out I was lying." The article opens up on the computer. "Hold on."

I read over the article.

Ross Lynch, big time billionaire, dating a small-town girl, Laura Marano

Laura Marano, a girl from small-town Brownwood, New York is supposedly dating Ross Lynch-one of the youngest and most handsome billionaires to live in this world today. How did this happen? Well, fellow reporter Trevor Winters from Teen Gossip had caught up with Laura just this afternoon. It is said that if they last they could be bigger than any other famous couple in the world today.

There's a picture of me next to the article. My eyes are half closed and I look like a person that's high. Cameras hate me.

Below the article are the questions I answered for Trevor. I groan. I should've gotten into my car when I had the chance. This is entirely my fault. If only I didn't let Melody bother me so much.

"Hello?" Tess says from the other line. "You still there? Did you read the articles?"

"Yes," I sigh.

"It's already number three for most trending topics! Imagine it by tomorrow morning. You're going to be famous, Laura!" Tess exclaims like it's a good thing. "You'll be the next big thing."

I groan even more. "This is horrible. How do I fix this?"

"How will Ross react?" Tess suddenly says. "I mean, he is famous and everything. He probably catches up to recent gossip. What if he gets mad and ships you off to Siberia? Where you'll freeze to death with tigers?" She continues to ramble.

"Listen," I interrupt, "I got to go. I need to read more of the articles. I'll see you tomorrow for the fieldtrip, okay?"

"Okay," Tess chirps. "I'm here if you need me."

I smile. "Thanks." I put the phone down after hanging up and search similar articles. I scan them quickly and even read the comments. Most comments are saying how people are surprised.

Others are rage and hate comments.

I read over comments saying why he'd date an ugly girl like me when he could have anyone he wanted. I read how this must all be a scam for publicity. I read them all.

I prop my elbows on the desk and put my head between my hands. I close my eyes.

I never meant things to get this far, I say over and over in my mind. I stay like this for a couple of minutes before my phone's piano tune rings throughout my room again.

It must be Tess.

"What?" I say when I pick it up, my eyes still closed. My head is throbbing from a headache. Nobody's speaking. I can hear breathing though. "Hello?"

There's a cough on the other side. "Hello." That isn't Tess, definitely not. It's a deep, silky voice. The same type of voice that doctors use before they stab you with needles.

I jolt up. "Hello? Who is this?" I check the caller I.D. but it says "Unknown."

"Hello miss," the person says. "I am Ross Lynch."

"Shit," I say without meaning to.

Oooh Cliffhanger! Posting next chapter soon, so get your devices ready!!! 📱
●Bella●