started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"It's just," he explains, "you look really beautiful." Ross's hand moves a strand of hair that covers my right eye. "The sun's shining down on your bare face and you're dressed in this huge shirt too big for you and you're smiling and I don't know,

it's just, really great to look at. I enjoy looking at you."

I blush and hit his hand. "Stop it. You just want to mess me up."

Ross smiles. "Really, if there was a painting of Mona Lisa and a painting of you, I'd probably pay to look at you all day instead."

I start coughing. I don't know how else to respond. In movies and books, boys say cute things but in real life? Not so much. So when a boy actually says that to you, what're you supposed to say back? "You too?" How are you supposed to respond? Nobody ever teaches you that.

Grabbing a jug of water that's on the table, I grab a cup and pour water and start chugging it down like I'm in the desert. What else am I supposed to do? I've never really been good at this romance stuff. In a way, I guess it's good that Melody stole Cody way from me because if we'd actually dated, he'd probably run away from my awkwardness.

Ross laughs.

He actually laughs. I expected him to look at me strangely or maybe even ask why I was so weird whenever he did something or said something romantic. But no, he laughs and he leans back, and covers his mouth as he laughs, like he's afraid his laugh will get too loud and bother the bearded men cult two tables away.

"You are too funny," Ross says as he leans back to the table. "Come here." And then he just holds my face and leans in too close. I open my eyes wider. He cups my face with both hands and my cheeks squish against his hands. I must look like a fish. "No escape now, huh?"

"Wait," I mumble but I don't think he hears me because my face is too squished.

"You're so adorable." Then, Ross kisses me. It's not long or slow. It's a quick peck and then he backs away and stares at my squished face. "Too cute," he murmurs before going back and kissing me quick again. And again.

I must look so hot with my fat cheeks squished so hard that they touch my nose.

Ross gives me one more kiss before Sally comes up and announces, "Here are your two orders." She's toppling plates on plates. I'm surprised they don't fall. She looks between us. "Sorry, was I interrupting?"

I back away so fast I probably pulled a muscle. "No, no, no!" I push my hair behind my ears. "Of course, not. Thank you for the food."

After setting down the plates in front of Lee and I, she smiles and says, "Enjoy your meals, kids!" She's about to turnaway and but she adds, "Oh, and the jukebox works if you kids wanna use it, by the way! It's brand new."

"Thank you, it's fine," I tell her, grinning. Sally nods and walks away to talk to the bearded men that haven't ordered yet.

Ross picks up a knife and fork. "We could be having the Pancake Supreme, but, nooo, we had to get this plain, stupid, normal breakfast."

"Don't be so immature," I say, smiling. I'm still recovering from the series of kisses from just two seconds ago. I'll never get used to it. Or used to Ross, for that matter. Before I launch myself into thoughts, which lead to negative thoughts, which leads to reality, I pick up my utensils as well and dig in.

Ross and I eat in silence and just talk about small things. It's relaxing and probably the best way to start my morning.

Simple and bright.

"Joel is probably calling the cops right now," I say. "I wouldn't be surprised if the FBI came out of nowhere and surrounded this diner right now. One time, I forgot to tell him I was going over a friend's house for a sleepover when I was, like, nine, and he biked around looking for me. It was so embarrassing when he barged into the house all sweaty and muddy in front of my friends."