Lie.

Truth.

Lie.

The words bounced around in my head, and my eyes drifted from side to side, as if I was following them.

Truth.

Lie.

Lie.

Lie.

"Nothing." Lie. I refocused on Zane's eyes. This wasn't just Catch Seren in a lie, Zane. This was Get Seren to tell the truth, Zane.

"You can tell me." Zane said gently. The way he was looking at me made me want to.

Could I?

Truth.

Lie.

"There's nothing to tell." Lie.

Zane nodded his head, not like he was agreeing with me. Like he was acknowledging that he knew I would say that.

"I heard your conversation last night." Zane started, his eyes searching every inch of my face. "When he asked to drive you home. He asked if you could talk about everything."

I nodded, unsure what to say. There wasn't any use denying what Zane had witnessed.

"Last night," Zane continued when I didn't answer. "I was about to leave your house. I didn't know if you would be okay with me staying. I was about to open the door when I saw Jax's car in your driveway."

Zane studied my face for any change, and I thanked every god I knew of that I was numbingly high. I thanked them because I was sure I would have given my fear away otherwise. I could feel it, moving through my skin like uncontrolled electricity.

"He seemed to see my car and leave. I didn't want to leave you after that." Zane said, and he reached out and grabbed my hand. "Look, Seren. I know he likes you. Did you guys have a fight about something?"

"No." Lie.

"If he's taking things too far..." Zane started. "If he's making you feel uncomfortable. If he's not taking no for an answer..."

It's almost like the truth was on the tip of my tongue. He didn't take no for an answer. It was there. It was teasing me. It wanted to come out.

But that's the problem. Once it was out, it was out. There was no putting it back. Once it was free, it was gone. And it would be my word against Jax's. Who would believe me?

My phone rang, both startling me and saving me from making the decision. Zane glanced down at the ringing phone, the look in his eyes was like he begging me not to answer it.

"Austin." I said simply, shrugging.

"Yeah, he called you about five times last night while you were asleep." Zane muttered, knowing the conversation was over. For now.

"Austin?" I answered the call. "Yeah. I know. I left with Zane. Okay. Sorry. See you later."

"Later?" Zane raised his eyebrows at me.

"Later. At some point." I said, shrugging again.

"Everything okay?" Zane asked. I blinked at him in response. Nothing was okay, but I didn't know what he was referring to. "With Austin." He clarified.

"Oh. Yeah. He just wanted to know I was okay. Couldn't find me after we left last night." I explained, looking at my hands.

"Seren." Zane said.

"Yeah?" I didn't look up from my hands, which were fidgeting with the duvet on the bed. Zane placed both of his hands over my own, halting the movements.

"You can tell me anything. I won't judge you." Zane said. He sounded sincere. I looked up to his face. He looked sincere. I believed him.

But I still couldn't.

"Okay." I attempted to smile.

Zane's door swung open, catching us both off guard.

"Zane- do you... oh. Seren, sweetie. I didn't know you were here." Zane's mom said as she walked into the room, her eyes darting between me, her son and our conjoined hands in between us.

"Mom. You couldn't knock?" Zane replied as he let go of my hands.

"Sorry." Rachel's face broke into a grin as she turned towards me. "Seren, did you sleep here?"

"Oh, no. I came over this morning." I didn't want to mention that we both came, together.

"Right. Okay." She looked at me with a knowing grin, like she was catching me in a lie. "Zane, can I talk to you out here?" She gestured to the hallway with her head.

Zane sighed before getting off the bed and leaving the room with his mom, shutting the door behind him. I don't think they moved farther than outside the door, because even though they were speaking in hushed voices, I could still hear them.

"Mom, she didn't stay here..." Zane started explaining.

"It's fine, Zane. Just a heads up next time. Did you finally tell her?" Rachel asked him.

Tell me?

"Mom, stop. I told you it's nothing." Zane muttered. I could picture him rolling his eyes.

"Oh, whatever." Rachel replied. "Just... take it slow. Okay?"

"Mom, we're just friends." Zane rushed out.

"Yeah, yeah. Alright. I'll be upstairs. Is she staying for dinner?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know."

I tried to act like I hadn't heard anything when Zane entered the room.

"Sorry. My mom is weird." Zane said as he came back to the bed. "Movie?"

Spending the day with Zane should have been easy. It felt like it would have been easy, if I wasn't thinking about Jax in my house. Even though the pills were keeping my anxiety attack away, I couldn't quite push the thoughts of him away completely.

We watched a movie, and Zane stroked my arm. We watched another movie, and Zane held my hand. I talked him into watching Grey's, and Zane rubbed my back. We ate pizza, and Zane tried to make me laugh. He almost succeeded. He would have, if that letter wasn't in my mind.

"You want me to drive you home?" Zane eventually said, when the sun disappeared from the sky. I felt my stomach sink. I didn't want him to drive me home. My dad wouldn't be back until tomorrow. What if Jax came again tonight?

"Can I stay here?" I asked Zane quickly. The words were out of my mouth before I realized I was saying them. "For the night?"

Zane's eyebrows furrowed together, like he was surprised and uneasy at my question.

"It's okay if you don't want me to." I said, noting his reaction. "I can go home."

"No, it's okay. You can stay here." Zane rushed out and titled his head at me. "I can sleep on the couch."

I instantly felt a rush of relief at his words. I didn't know what I would do if I had to sleep at my house by myself.

"I'll just go let my parents know. I'll be back." Zane said as he got up from the bed. He reached into his closet, throwing me a pair of track pants. "Are those okay? Do you want a shirt too?"

"These are fine. Thanks." I smiled at him. I was so thankful, he would never know.

After I changed, and Zane returned from upstairs, Zane grabbed a pillow from the bed. I got comfortable under the blankets, and he went to leave the room. He turned around at the door, looking at me.

"You want me to lock the door?" Zane asked.

"No." I didn't need him to. I trusted him.