Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Aurora
“No,” I flop down on the couch and tuck my legs in close, pulling the blanket off the back of the couch.
“Why not?” Zac asks grabbing a handful of popcorn and pushing it into his mouth, dropping half of it on the floor.
"Because I’d like to sleep peacefully tonight and that is already a struggle, that’s why.” Reaching out for the controller, he tucks it in closer to his chest and turns his body away from me.
“Please,” Zac chuckles swatting away my hand. “This isn’t even scary.”
I can only stare at him.
“Seriously, how do you find this scary?” He scoffs. “It’s hilarious.”
“Says the guy that listens to murder mystery podcasts.” I roll my eyes at him, ‘“and is fascinated by unsolved crimes.”
He shrugs not even attempting to deny it, before settling in and hitting play.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I ask and notice how his shoulders tense. “Do you have human remains hidden in your closet or behind the frozen pizza’s in your freezer?” I chose to ignore the obvious tension he’s been carrying. He’s been different that last few days, staring off as if lost in thought.
“How do you know I have frozen pizza’s in my fridge?”
“Because you are a guy and guys don’t cook.”
“Some guys cook,” he doesn’t look at me when saying this, only continues to watch the opening credits to the horror movie he’s chosen.
“So you can cook?” I already know the answer to this, he burns everything.
“I said some guys, babe,” his voice is low and steady, “never said it was me.”
He grows quiet and settles back into the couch cushion, bringing his hand to his mouth and pressing his knuckles to the center of his lower lip. He sits in this same position throughout the entirety of the movie with a perplexed look on his face.
He wore the same lost expression through the dinner a few nights ago and every other time we’ve hung out over the last several days.
I’ve wanted to ask so many times about the faint bruise on his jaw, but there is something about the sadness in his eyes that makes my heart ache.
I sit by his side wondering if I should ask what’s on his mind. But instead I give him the time to ponder over his thoughts.
Zac is generally so free with his feelings. Or maybe he’s not and he’s only fooled me into believing he is the most uncomplicated one in the bunch. Maybe I don’t know him the way I think I know him.