Started With a Lie

Chapter Twenty-Five

    I back away from Mark immediately. Mark sees what Lee thinks. “Please think about what I said, Ivory,” Mark says. “I’m not finished yet. Another time.” He kisses my cheek and leaves, casually pushing Lee’s shoulder. HE KISSED ME. In front of Lee!

    I can already tell how bad it must’ve looked. Shirtless Mark, my hands on his shoulders, his hand in my hair. “Lee,” I start, “It’s not what it—”

    “Your friend’s here.” And then he’s gone.

    I follow him out, trying to grab his hand. “Lee,” I plead. He shakes my hand off of him, giving me the cold shoulder. I want to shoot myself. I should’ve pushed Mark away earlier, damn it! After all the confessions Lee made on the porch, he probably thinks I don’t take him seriously and I just mess around with boys. He opened up for me a little bit and I ruined it.

    Don’t give up yet, I tell myself. I did not just go through a ton of shit just to lose Lee for all the wrong reasons. I pull a brave face and walk to see who the friend is.

    “Ivory!” the voice squeals. I’m suddenly hugged tight. I see a blur of red highlights. None of my friends have highlights though. The person backs away and I see it’s Candy.

    “Oh my god, Candy!” I squeal just as equally loud. I hug her tight. “I haven’t seen you in forever! Well, it’s been a week but that’s too long!” I pull back. “Oh my god, you got highlights? They look great. You look mega hot.”

    “Thanks, Iv,” she says, blushing. “You look not so bad yourself.” Then she comes close and whispers, “And your brother, holy shit! He’s ten times more hotter than when he graduated high school! You think you can set me up with him? I’ve been crushing on him forever and—”

    “Okay, too much information,” I giggle. Candy’s always had this huge crush on Brent since she’s known me. Maybe I could pull a few strings to help my best friend. “Maybe later, but we have so much to catch up on now!”

    “Damn straight!” she says, pulling me over to the kitchen where everyone was. I see Lee and feel a pang when he turns away from my gaze. I see him wipe his eye as if he’s itching it. It hurts so much to know that I’m the reason he’s upset. I want to apologize but not in front of everyone. I’ll have to find a chance later so I just put on a big smile because my best friend in the whole world is here.

    We sit down at the table where the cake is—was. Now all there’s left are crumbs and a huge mess. It was a huge cake and yet we finished it. Boys.

    “Aw, I missed the cake!” Candy frowns.

    “It’s okay, it was chocolate anyways,” I say. She hates chocolate cake. It either has to be strawberry or cheese cake.

    She scrunches her face. “Glad I missed it then.” She reaches over the chair and pulls out a present. “I got you something.” Candy pushes the package over. It’s wrapped in mini santa wrapping paper. “Only had Christmas wrapping paper, sorry.”

    “You didn’t have to!” I say even though I want to tear the paper apart and see what she got me. I hear Mark laughing at my enthusiasm and I want to smile back but I’m a little mad that he even did what he did in front of Lee.  Lee is still ignoring me and Brent just stands there, smiling. “What is it?”

    “You’ll see,” she replies. “Just open it.”

    I don’t need to be told twice as I rip the wrapping paper open.  It  is a bright pink box. The suspense is killing me. What could’ve Candy gotten me? I  lift the box open, already grinning, knowing I will love it.