Chapter 25: Chapter 25
Vega POV.
"Stop thinking so hard Vega, "I told myself as I tossed around on my bed that felt more like rocks instead of the warm fluffy comfort it was supposed to be.
"Why do I feel so guilty tho? It's not like I did anything wrong" I muttered as I dragged my lazy bones off the bed since sleep, rest, or whatever made one relax didn't seem on the menu for the unpredictable future. I mean it had been a shock when Andrianna had told me to my face that I was responsible for making Markus confused, but I'd always thought he was not interested in girls so what harm could my little teasing do?
Turned out my teasing really almost ruined my best friend relationship, and ultimately our friendship but I couldn't help but feel that Markus did not deserve Jake for even falling for me, or was it really my fault because I messed with his head?
"Oh my god, can I just have a normal day like the rest of the humans on the planet huh" I shouted, muffling my voice with the pillow as my legs trashed around the bed? I tossed the pillow to the wall and got up, then paced around my room because my life has become a rollercoaster ride that was not fun anymore, especially with the recent way getting close to Zach has been affecting me. I mean he was so real that it was hard to say that he was faking it, but I also really needed to win the bet, I couldn't lose all of my money. Then there was also Andrianna who had been acting a bit off recently especially today when she had seen Ray. It was as if she hated the thought of him being near me or him talking to me and it made me wonder if she thought I would flirt with Ray and try to take him from her. Well, there I go earning my reputation of being a flirt cause even my friends were cautious around me now.
"For the love of God, why am I even thinking about this" I groaned out in frustration, then almost tripped on my feet as I heard the knock on my door. "What is it" I snapped in irritation, then facepalm when my mother's voice came through.
"Excuse you Missy, is that how you were thought to answer the door".
"I'm sorry Mom" I rushed out then yanked the door open and I'm not surprised to see her glaring with her arms crossed. "I was in a mood".
"I also get in a mood but you don't see me snapping at everyone who knocks on my door".
"No one knocks on your door and we both know that" I muttered dryly and she scoffed.
"I see you're still in a mood. Well, your boyfriend is here asking of you, says you two made plans to cook" Mom said with her finger making air quotes at the word boyfriend, and a look in her eyes that made me want to vanish into thin air.
"It is not what you think Mom, and I was going to tell you, it just skipped my mind with lectures and stuff," I said knowing that my excuse sounded very weak.
Mom watched me for a beat, then laughed, before she got serious. "Stop looking so damn guilty Vega, I mean I should have expected that you'd keep this from me but we both know you are old enough to date".
"I didn't mean to keep it from you, it's just that it hasn't been long that I and Zach started hanging out and he's not like my boyfriend, boyfriend yet".
Mom raised an eyebrow. "Really? So if he isn't your boyfriend then what is he to you because I have to say I was kind of shocked when I saw Dante's son in our house professing to be in a relationship with you".
I smiled, crossing my fingers behind my back. "Well, we're kind of getting there."
Mom smiled. "I'd have thought you were lying but I see you really want to be with this boy and I have to tell you that I approve of him. He's been nothing but polite and sweet, and also very handsome".
I smiled too, getting lost as I pictured him in front of me. "Very handsome, his eyes are so beautiful".
"They are" Mom agreed, then we both seemed to snap out of whatever moment it was we were having. "Well he's in the kitchen, and please, you both, don't burn the house down" she warned and I laughed. Of course, that would be her main concern. "And also don't do anything I wouldn't do" she added with a wink and I groaned.
"Mom! Please stop" I got out even tho I was smiling.
"Ok, ok, but I'm serious. Keep it PG 13 ok" she teased, laughed, and walked out of my room.
I inhaled deeply, then exhaled as I stared at the door. The memory of him kissing me slammed into my head from nowhere as if just knowing that he was near was a trigger for me.
I touched my lips, remembering how his had felt against mine, the heat, the sparks, and everything I'd experienced that I didn't believe was possible for me to feel. My room got warmer, desire pooling low in my belly as I stepped out of my room and headed toward the kitchen.
This was a really bad idea.
*****
Zach smiled when he saw me and my heart flipped again making me halt at the door.
"I brought the ingredients this time," he said, holding up a grocery bag then grinned when I shook my head and walked towards him, took the bag from his hold, and looked through the content.
"Not bad, but did you get this yourself tho" I glanced up at him, forcing my eyes not to stray to his lips or any part of his body for that matter.
His lips puckered in thought and I cursed myself for staring for too long because he caught me and I was rewarded with his infamous smirk. Gosh, so darn cocky.
"I'm not gonna lie, I stole this from my Mom's kitchen".
I gasped and he laughed mischievously, a dimple Popping out on his cheek. I was a sucker for it, I could admit that to myself.
Zach was different when he wasn't surrounded by crowds. He looked more carefree like his happiness was real because I've noticed that he could be smiling sometime in the real sense of the world, but if you looked at him, his eyes held a deeper sadness that couldn't be rid of.
"Don't look so shocked, I'm sure she won't notice" he assured and I nodded.
"Hope so. I don't want any news article about me being an accomplice to your groceries theft ok" I joked, picking out the stuff and dropping them on the kitchen counter. I felt his stare before I turned to face him.
"I'm sorry about kissing you without your permission earlier." He got out, his brows furrowed together. "I thought about it and you were right, I shouldn't have just assumed you wanted me to do that".
I stared at him, surprised he was apologizing at all. I huffed out a sharp laugh. "Am I still having this conversation with Zach right now or have you been possessed by a virgin spirit?" I asked because Zach Dante never said sorry for making a move on a girl.
Zach sighed crossing his arm and he suddenly looked dejected, the green of his eyes losing their sparkle.
"I didn't come here to cook you know. I've just been feeling so..." He struggled for words, then ran his finger through his hair in frustration. "I guess I deserve this tho, after the death of my Mom, I went off the deep end and built up this reputation of being a freaking playboy," he said chuckling, albeit bitterly.
I gaped at him. His mother was dead? So the Mom he was always referring to was Noah's mom, his Stepmom. But why was he telling me any of this?
"I'm sorry about your mother" I whispered, reaching out to offer comfort but he pulled away before I could touch him.
"You don't have to be, it wasn't your fault. Shit happens".
"Is that why you became a player?" I asked, curious to get more inkling of how Zach Dante's life really was.
He shrugged, then turned to face me. "Maybe. I was so freaking mad when she died but the real reason is that I knew no one could ever love me for me. They were always after something, those girls. No matter who I got with, I always felt used and they let me know it too, so I stopped giving a shit but it didn't quite take the ache away or made me feel good about myself, even tho I defended myself with the excuse that I took good care of those girls, respected them, told them upfront what it was they were getting into... Gosh," he paused, dragging his hands through his hair. "I can't believe I unloaded all that on you".
I couldn't believe it either and it made my heart clench because without meaning to, I was going to be one of those girls who would crush more pieces of his heart if I haven't already.