started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter Ten

 I pick up some flour that I had used for my pasta and throw it at him. He'scaught off guard and his face gets white powder all over it. I start cracking up as hestands still for a couple of moments, rendering what just happened in his brain. Ibet he never thought he would get flour thrown at him. I giggle at the thought. 

I'm so busy laughing that I don't see flour flying across the kitchen and onto mychest. I look down at my sweater. Ah man! This was brand new, too! I think angrily. Igrab a fistful of flour and rub it all over his suit. Once I see his expression, I regretdoing so. Note-to-self, never anger a rich guy by ruining his expensive suit. 

"You are so going down, Miss Laura Marano!" Ross says. He used my full name. He'sprobably fuming with anger on the inside. He starts to lunge at me but I startrunning to the other side of the kitchen. "Get back here!" 

"Why would I ever listen to you?" I laugh, running once again as he tries to grabmy arm. It's a close centimeter but I move quickly on time. Before I know it, we'rethrowing flour and everything we can find at each other. It's so much fun I don'teven realize the mess we're making. 

Ross is running towards me but he slips over some broken eggs on the ground.It's the most hilarious thing I've ever seen. I laugh for ten minutes straight as hischeeks redden. Thinking it's time I help him up, I rush over but being the clumsyperson I am—I trip on top of him.

 I can feel the vibration from Ross's laughter as his chest falls up and down. Mycheeks are red as I try to grasp any last piece of my reputation. But then I wonderwhy I care. I start laughing along with Ross. It was pretty funny. 

We're laughing and laughing until our sides start aching. After, I just lay on topof him. The mood changes instantly.

 I get on my knees. "Oh, I'm sorry! Didn't mean to sit on you."

 Ross awkwardly laughs and gets on his knees too. "It's fine." His eyes set on mineand the magnetic force is back. I want to kiss him. We're inching closer before hepulls away. "We should probably clean up." 

Rejection. Pure rejection. It burns.

 Y-Yeah, we should. My mom will kill me if she finds the kitchen in this shape," Isay, hoping his doesn't catch the sadness and disappointment in my voice. I standup and start picking things off the ground. 

"I'll get the kitchen," Ross says. "You go clean up." He's being surprisingly nice.His eyes show nothing but kindness. Does he feel guilty? "Just bring me somethingto put on." 

I nod slowly and head out of the kitchen. I bite my cheek in the hallway to stopthe tears from falling out. Ross rejected me. He doesn't feel the way I feel. I knew it. Isthis how he felt when I pulled away earlier? It feels so cruel. 

Stepping into the shower, I let my tears out as I clean the flour and egg off mybody. I wash myself twice before heading into my bedroom to change. When I try tofind something to wear, I curse Mom for putting all my comfortable clothes in thelaundry. All I have are undergarments. 

I walk to Mom's bedroom in my bra and underwear and pick out one of her t-shirtsand shorts. They're both big and baggy on me, thankfully. I kind of feel happyshe decided to put all my clothes in the laundry. It gives me a chance to show off mybody to Ross—one of the only things I'm proud about myself. 

"Here," I say once I reach back into the kitchen. It's only half clean. I throwhim some of Dad's old clothes. "They used to belong to my dad." 

"Thanks," Ross smiles genuinely. "But you don't have to give me your dad'sclothes. I mean, they're special to you, right?" He starts running his eyes over mybody.

 "It's fine," I grin, noticing his eyes and how Ross actually listened when I wasrambling about my dad earlier on. It's a shame he doesn't like me. The thoughtbrings a frown back to my face. I feel tears coming on. "Um, you go shower. I'll takecare of the rest."

 I don't want him to see me crying again. I don't want to appear weak.

 Ross nods and walks out of the kitchen. I mop up the floors and parts of thecountertops that he had missed. Everything else seemed to be cleaned up prettygood. Again, not too bad for a rich kid, I think. When I hear the shower turning off, Imicrowave our dishes and set it up at the island. 

When Ross returns, my jaw drops for a split-second. It always surprises mewhen I see Ross without a suit. He looks like a normal teenager without it. 

"I-I heated our meals if you're still hungry," I say. I get us some water with iceand place everything at the island. I take a seat.

 "I would love to continue our little fight—which I was winning—but mystomach feels like it's eating itself alive," Lee grins, taking a seat besides me. "Ihaven't even tasted your pasta yet."  

"Well, be prepared. You are about to be blown away." 

I don't start eating his soup. I watch for his reaction. Ross spins some pastaonto his fork and into his mouth. His eyes widen a fraction, but I catch it anyways. 

"Told you it would be delicious," I brag. Satisfied with his reaction, I continuedrinking his delicious soup without containing myself. "And you said you wouldactually win this contest." 

"I never said it was delicious. It's okay. Could use better spices, though." Ross continues eating my pasta, pushing his comments aside. 

"Denial," I point out. "Besides, if you had tasted it while it was fresh off thestove, you would've said otherwise. I make a mean meat sauce. You can't deny that,can you?" Ross just chuckles. "Hey, who taught you this? It's pretty good for a richkid."

 "Um, my father," Ross says. His voice is low. I've never seen him talking aboutsomething that's ever made him vulnerable. I realize Ross's never opened up to me. Itold him about my father, but he's never told me about his. "It's an old Britishrecipe."

 "I knew you were British!" I say, trying to lighten the mood. "I could so tell. Ihave skills. Just like my amazing cooking skills that you keep denying." I don't wantto push Ross into telling me about his father when he doesn't want to talk about it. 

"Whatever you say." 

The rest of the dinner we switch jokes and talk about random things like theweather and what not. It's a comfortable conversation with light-hearted quirks. Itfeels nice. I push away all negative thoughts and just enjoy the moment. 

I hope it stays like this.

Chapter dedicated to @MonaR5 thanks for reading! xx Bella