Started With a Lie

Chapter Twenty-Three

            Suddenly, the doors open to the Dunkin Donuts entrance and there’s Mark… with the cart full of food. What is he doing? He pushes the cart inside and my eyes are wide. There’s cereal and junk food and sweets in the cart. There’s so much it’s all about to almost overflow and topple out. I rush to the cart and catch a bag of chips that were about to fall.

            “What the hell, Mark?” I say, still staring at all the food. “Where did you get all this? Did you buy all this? And why are you in here with the cart?”

            He’s grinning stupidly.

            “Well, I couldn’t resist. This is the most fun I’ve had in days. You should’ve seen the look on the cashier’s face. She was so surprised!” Mark exclaims, his eyes lighting up. He catches my worried face. “Don’t worry, I paid for all of it so you don’t have to worry,” he adds.

            I hit his arm. “Mark! You stupid idiot. Where are going to put all this and what’re we going to do with all of this food?”

            Mark continues grinning. “We’re going to eat it, of course.” He has the mind of a six year old. “Loosen up, Ivory. It’s fine!”

            Lee makes his first statement in all of this. “Um, how about we sort this outside, okay?” His eyes flicker to the cops staring at us, and Ben, whose eyes are wide. I hadn’t noticed them before.

            I smile nervously and say, “We mean no trouble,” before I push the cart backwards with Mark and step into the parking lot. “You are still in trouble, mister,” I tell Mark who just starts smiling and actually skips to the car. The driver is still inside, taking a nap.

            Lee taps against the driver’s window. “Hey, open up the trunk,” he orders the drive that jolts awake and nods.

            Mark and Lee, who finally work together, place the groceries in the trunk. I’m surprised they all even fit. While they do that, I step inside the car, glad for it’s heat. Shortly after, they both step in the car. I pass Mark his coffee and then Lee’s. I gasp when there’s whip cream in my cup. Smiling, I drink and grab a chocolate donut. There are only two – one for Mark and one for me.

            “Why’d that guy only give you whip cream?” Lee asks, irritation bleeding in his words. What? Did he like whip cream too? Too bad, because I have no plan of sharing,I think sourly. “And where’s my donut?”

            I stuff the donut in my mouth and mumble, “I don’t know.”

            He scoffs, crosses his arms, and faces away from me like a little kid.

            And that’s why I only got Mark and I donuts.

            “Hey, Ivory,” Mark calls. I turn to him. “Thanks for getting me breakfast.” At least someone knows how to be thankful. I nod because my mouth is full and I don’t want to look like a pig. “Hey, you have some chocolate on your face.”

            I feel Lee turn slightly.

            Mark reaches his hand to my face and wipes my bottom lip with his thumb. I don’t know if it was me or if it was my imagination but it felt like he did it awfully slow. On purpose. He brings his thumb up to his lips and licks the chocolate off.

            “Ew, Mark!” I exclaim and giggle. I giggle? What the hell?

            He laughs and continues stuffing his own face with the chocolate donut and sips his coffee in between. I do the same and quickly glance at Lee through the side of my eyes. His jaw is clenched and his cheeks are lightly red. He’s angry. Anyone can tell.