Started With a Lie

Chapter Twenty-Two

            Candy sounds like she’s crying. “I’m still sorry I couldn’t be there for you. But, if you need anything and I mean anything, I’m your girl, Ivory. I’ll visit you next time – or any time you want me to go visit Mrs. Flores with you. Doesn’t she like tulips? I’ll even bring those.”

            “Thank you so much,” I say again. Mark is staring at me with a warm look. “Listen, I have to go but I will call you as soon as I get an update. Sorry again for waking you up so early. I know you’re not the best in the morning.”

            I get a laugh out of Candy. “It’s fine. Call me, okay?”

            “Of course,” I promise. “Bye, Candy.” She bids goodbye as I hang up. In the car mirror, I see my face is a mascara-mess. “Oh god, I look like a monster.” I chuckle lightly.

            Mark hands me a handkerchief. He always seems to be carrying one. I smile thankfully and take it in my hand and wipe my face. I wince at my make-up free face. I look like a mess. “You look fine, Ivory,” Mark says.

            “Thanks,” I tell him, “for lying.”

            We both chuckle before someone taps against my window. I turn my head and jump, hitting my head on the car roof. I scream in pain. Lee is bending over my window in a suit and scarf, smirking slightly. I roll down the windows. “What the hell, Lee?”

            “Unlock the doors.”

            I rub my sore head. “No.”

            “Stop being immature for once, Ivory and just open the doors,” Lee says, crossing his arms. He has a smirk on his face. He’s not even trying. Winning arguments is so easy for him. Well, I’m tired of his antics. I’m not giving in this time.

            I start the engine and mirror his smirk. “I don’t think so.”

            Lee looks a bit shocked but it flickers past and his face is back to the cold, same marble expression he always wears. “Seriously, open the doors.”

            I put the car into reverse. “Not this time, Lee.”

Mark chuckles beside me. We’re a good team. I’m about to move the car when the engine suddenly dies. No, I think. Not now. Not when I’m finally showing Lee off for the first time. Lee starts to watch in amusement. I rev the engine up again. It dies quickly. I try again. And again.

“Shit,” I cuss under my breath. I look over to Mark, his smile fading. There is no way I’m going to look like a loser in front of Lee. The engine has completely died. Probably because of the dead battery or the stupid weather. I cuss under my breath again, knowing we’ve lost this round.

Irritated, I avoid Lee’s gleeful face and open my door, slamming it into Lee’s balls. He stutters before bending down and clutching his goods. Mark barks out in laughter, clapping his thighs. At least I got to do that.

Now what? I still need to go grocery shopping.

Mark steps out of the car, chuckling to himself still, and stands next to me. “That was quite the feisty move. You never cease to surprise me,” he says between chuckles. He wipes a tear away.

“Thanks,” I smile but it falters. “But, what do we do now? There’s basically no food in the house and Madam Jin is probably going to wake up and think I’m some broke poor girl that can’t even feed her breakfast. I promised her gourmet food if she slept over. She’s going to be so disappointed.”

His arm is around my shoulder. Mark grins, “It’ll be fine.”

“I hope so,” I say and we both walk back to my front door, leaving Lee in all his pain. I start unlocking the door but then Lee says to stop.

“Wait!” he cries, still bent over. His face is red and it lightens up my mood. Actually, him in pain always lightens up my mood. “We need food. We can use my car.”

            “Your car?” I repeat.

 I know. I haven't updated in two months. I haven't updated all summer. I haven't done this or that, blah blah. I mean it's sad. I don't even have a social life. But here's the next chapter. Kind of a filler for the next chapter where the drama starts. Hehe. I hope you all haven't deserted me yet. But ohmyharry, my boyfriend got a lip piercing and idk how to respond. You probably don't care and prolly not even reading this, but oh well. I hope you all had a good day and I somewhat made it 1% better. 

Please keep voting, fanning, sharing, & commenting. 

It means SO much. And my stupid neighbors are illegally setting off fireworks so I have so run. Thank you again. 

xoxo, 

Gossip girl. 

And just want to remind you how hot Mark is. Look to the side.