started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter Twenty-Two

He's quiet and when I open my eyes, he's smirking. "Virgin eyes?" He chuckles. "Why? Do I intimidate you?" Zac steps closer.

Shoving his shoulder, I push past him without looking at him. "Shut up. Just put some clothes on. I'm going to Walmart to get some breakfast. I'll see you later. Tell everyone else why I'm gone when they awaken."

"I'll come with you." There's still a smirk in his tone.

"It's fine."

"No, I insist, Laura."

The way he says my name sends my heart into a frenzy. What the hell? I think. Zac's just a friend, Laura. Get yourself together. Just because you saw him half naked doesn't affect anything. You're Ross's girlfriend to him.

"Fine," I say, not wanting to continue this discussion before I think anything else weird. "Be ready in five." I go upstairs and slip into my room. Madam Jong is still sound asleep – probably the most sleep she's gotten this week due to work. I grab some clothes and change in the bathroom.

When I'm dressed in my dark jeans, long-sleeved white shirt, boots, and a thick coat, I step out of the bathroom. My make-up is minimal since we're only going to get groceries. Slipping into my Doc Martens, I accompany Zac in the living room...only he's not alone.

Ross is there, arms crossed, and grumpy as ever. His hazel eyes catch my brown ones. "And where are you two sneaking off to?"

Zac, who's sucking a lollipop, sighs. "Ross, I've told you, like, ten times that we're going grocery shopping."

"I don't like associating with you."

"Well, guess what? You just did."

Ross doesn't even turn to Zac. His eyes are only on me, which makes me crumble under my appearance by the second. I try hard to put on a poker face and continue to seem mad and uncaring.

"Well?" Ross says to me. "Where are you going?"

"Ask Zac," I say, knowing it'll tick him off.

I grab an apple from the counter – the few foods in the house – and take my scarf from the kitchen table. "Zac, let's go if you're ready."

He jumps from the couch. "Always am." I didn't even notice how quickly he got dressed. He's wearing casual clothes.

I'm surprised because I thought all businessmen – like Ross – always looked formal unless they were sleeping. Obviously not from his jeans and his brown coat and his boxers earlier.

Ross doesn't speak again as Zac and I leave.

It's freezing outside. It's only 8 a.m. and it feels like the weather in Antarctica. For Pete's sake, it's almost May yet it feels like the beginning of winter. I remember how Tess and I joined the Spring Dance committee a couple weeks ago.

Holy shit. Tess.

How could I forget about her? Immediately, my hands reach for my phone, which is deep in my jacket pocket. How could I forget my best friend who's stuck with me through thick and thin? My phone is off and I turn it on. There are about twenty-two missed calls and ten voicemails.

I walk to the car but call Tess as I get in the driver's seat. Zac looks over, a worried look on his voice but I nod to say it's okay. He nods back. I listen to the ringing as I click my seat belt in.

"Zac, hold on a minute, okay?" I ask him.

"Yeah, it's fine. I'm free all day."

Tess answers on the last ring. She usually answers on the middle ring. And then I remember it's really early in the morning and she's not the chirpiest person in the morning. When I hear her voice, first thing I say is, "I'm so sorry for waking you up, Tessa."