Chapter 17: Chapter 17

ZACH POV.

I stared straight at my food because the atmosphere was always stifling whenever my parents forced me to eat breakfast with them and the wisest action to take was to avoid their gazes because once I made eye contact, it was like a code for them to start their condemnation and digging.

Their gaze dug into me and anxiety in the form of stones lodged in my throat making me sweat until I couldn't take it anymore. I looked up at them, meeting their intense stare square on and bracing myself for whatever they were going to throw at me.

Noah was also playing around with his food, his face scrunched up in a frown.

Mom- Chloe was the first to break the silence. "You came home looking happy last night, and one of the maids told us they saw you doing some research on one of your projects last night," she said and I sneered, unable to help myself.

"Now you have the maids spying on me, you should just hire a private investigator to follow me around all day then".

Mom glared and the look my father gave me could freeze hell over.

"Never speak to your mother like that. You've already disappointed us more times than we can count, so she being interested in whatever you're doing should not be met with your smart mouth" father said in his cold calculative voice.

I grunted, staring at the food that suddenly looked like poison. When will I learn to fucking keep my mouth shut?

"I'm sorry Mom. I was just doing my assignment " I muttered, the words burning like acid through my throat.

My mom exhaled. "I think that's already been established, but why the sudden change? Is this something I should be worried about"

For the love of God how was doing my assignment something to worry about. I wanted to curse but I stopped myself. When I was bad they had a problem with it and when I tried to be good they still had a problem with it. It was so fucking hard to please them and it messed with my head. "Nothing, I just feel like being a responsible student for once and living up to Dante's perfect image" I added with enough venom in my voice that was not lost on them both.

"He's in love!" Noah blurted all of a sudden and I would have choked him but that would only add to my list of other fuck ups. "There's this nerd he recently met in school, so he's trying to study so he doesn't look foolish while he's with her," he said, then stared at me challengingly.

I wanted to punch him because he was so fucking petty.

"Is that true because we all agreed to no girlfriend until you're done with your study? We don't want another fudging scandal" Mom emphasized, the veins on her neck straining in stress.

"Noah is just being stupid. I'm not dating anyone".

"You better not! If you get involved in another scandal then it's off to military school for you, at least then I won't have to worry about you for a long while and with your track record of messing everything up, you might even get yourself k... "

"Sergio!" Mom called in warning but she didn't have to. I could figure out where he was going with his beautifully craved speech. "He didn't mean that but please, no more girlfriends".

"Whatever, and you don't have to stop him from saying that to me. It's not like you two haven't said worse" I said with a dry chuckle.

Noah suddenly looked very uncomfortable and he deserved it for running his mouth.

My dad sighed dropping his fork. "Look, Zach," he said and I knew he was ready to use his manipulative card that always left me confused like I was the real reason why I got all the hate they threw at me.

"We love you a lot and just want what's best for you. Do you think I feel good when I have to say such hurtful words to you, I promise I don't? It kills me inside but you also need to change, you need to help us see what page you're on. On that note, if that nerd girl really makes you happy, or makes you want to be a better man then you can court her" he said and I jerked to face him. Noah also mirrored my expression, which was mostly our jaw-dropping in surprise.

"What?" I wasn't even surprised that the question had come from me, Noah, and Mom.

"Of course. If you promise to improve".

"Our son will not date the daughter of a nobody, especially not a nerd," Chloe said, her eyes cutting dagger at father.

"It's just dating Chloe, it's not like he's going to marry her. That's just how kids socialize these days.".

"It's not," I said but it was like I didn't exist to them.

"I don't care about that, we both agreed that no more girlfriends!".

"Let's just... Just let him be... "

"Is this how it's always going to be huh? Just because I'm not his birth mother, that means I have no right to decide what's best for him" she said, standing from the dining furiously.

"Mom, come on, you don't need to bring that up every single time" Noah cut in with a groan.

I stood up and walked towards her, ignoring the others who watched me as I took her hand. "You're the only mother I know and no matter what happens, you'll always be my Mom," I said and she calmed down enough to smile thinly but it was something.

"Can we eat one breakfast in peace?" father said, frustration lacing through his words. "And Zach, go back to your seat, you don't need to be so dramatic all the time".

I inhaled sharply, his voice grating on my last nerve but I complied with his instruction. I sat down, my gaze boring Into my food. I was so tired of trying to figure him out. I didn't know what the fuck he wanted from me, but it was eating away at my soul.

"Noah, how's your writing coming along," mom asked, her tone much more loving and softer or maybe I was magnifying every minute detail because I was feeling angry at the moment.

Noah cleared his throat. "It's all good. I'll be publishing my first book next week" he said and mom squealed. Dad smiled at him, his eyes crinkling at the edges.

"I'm proud of you son. Keep it up." He said and Noah smiled brightly while I bristled inside.

******

I stepped out of the house and Noah rushed after me, his brows furrowed together as he mulled over whatever it was that was bothering him in his head. Noah reached out a hand to stop me and I halted In my step.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen at dinner".

I shrugged, turning to face him. "Don't bother about it, they'd have found a way to tear me down even if you didn't offer them help" I said and he flinched, his eyes dimming in remorse. Fuck! I didn't want to hurt his feelings. "Hey, it's no big deal. You did that because you were jealous right?" I teased, waggling an eyebrow and the sad look lifted as he smiled.

"You wish! Why would I be jealous of you. Even if Vega likes you which won't happen in a million years, but if she does, I'll still be able to find someone prettier, like Arielle".

I scoffed because there was no way he was comparing Arielle to Vega. "I think you need to go get your eyes checked."

Noah shrugged then looked at me weirdly.

"What?" I asked because maybe I might have developed a phobia of being stared at for too long, especially by my family members.

"Nothing, it's just that you look so happy when you talk about Vega and I hate to be a spoilsport but you do realize that she's in a relationship right".

I frowned because I realized I'd truly forgotten about that, but Vega deserved better, and I knew I wasn't better but I wanted to be for her, I wanted her to smile at me the way she did just yesterday. I never pursued anyone, but with Vega, I wanted to throw all my rules out of the window, I wanted to be vulnerable, and I wanted to do everything I can to make her mine.

"Vega deserves better than someone who isn't fully devoted to her"

"Oh yeah, and can you be fully devoted to one girl with your track record".

"Yes, I can and I will," I said and Noah just scoffed. I guess I'd have to prove it to him then.