Finding Ourselves Together (READ REVAMP VERSION - IN WAVES)

24 | Rooftop Confessions

"It's not sweat, we were swimming." Nate clarified with a laugh. I suppose coming out of the shadows together ­– and appearing all tired and damp – could give people the wrong impression about what we had been doing.

As Blake expressed his disappointment for us not inviting him to swim, I noticed Oli comforting a sad-looking Clara in the near distance. She was talking softly while he held her shoulders, her head drooped and face crestfallen. Something had undeniably happened in our absence.

"Is she okay?" I asked Blake with concern. He twisted around and sighed, turning back and appearing as if he was in between a rock and a hard place.

"Yeah she'll be fine. You're not gonna like this, though." He jerked his head to the side and brought my attention to the other direction of the party.

"You're so funny, Rob!" Lacey Scott squealed at my brother, who was whispering in her ear with a goofy grin plastered to his face. He held onto her hips as she continued giggling, hanging her arms around his neck like he was a big tree she was attempting to climb.

It was already happening before I could stop it; my blood pressure rose at the sight, as did my temper.

"Giuro che l'ammazzo!" I spat out and deserted the others, storming through the crowd and not breaking eye contact with the pair. "Roberto!"

Rob took a few seconds to recognize my angry voice, the flustered grin wavering from his lips as Lacey planted kisses on his neck. I was just coming into earshot when I heard him mutter and start to peel her off. "Shit, she never calls me that. You better move out of her line of fire."

"Che diavolo ci fai qui?!" I stopped right in front of him and blurted my words, frustration spewing out like the air from a slashed tire.

"Calmati." He responded lethargically, Lacey still in his grip as she clung onto his chest. I was taken aback by his Italian, first thinking that he was showing off in front of her, until I realized I was probably speaking it again as well. "I had major FOMO, what was I supposed to do?" Rob continued in English this time.

"Stay at home and cover for me like you were supposed to! Like how I've done for you countless times!" My voice cracked from exasperation as his pinhead-sized attention span fell to Lacey again, who was looking at me judgmentally, her flawlessly contoured face staring me down in distaste.

"I'm getting a drink while you deal with this." She irritably told Rob before clapping her hands on his jaw and yanking him down to her lips, sucking him into a full kiss with tongue and hair-pulling.

I grimaced and shifted my burned eyes away, waiting for her little show to end.

"Don't take too long." She whined when they came up for air. She then turned and pushed past me, but not before Rob reached out to pinch her butt as she left. I watched him with a scowl as he giggled like a cocky idiot from her blushing reaction.

"What?" He looked at me with lively eyes, not letting my seriousness affect his mood. "Oh, c'mon! It's Lacey fucking Scott!" He chuckled in disbelief.

I was well aware of Lacey Scott's reputation. A cliché if there ever was one ­– the popular head cheerleader blessed with golden genes that were accentuated by filthy wealth.

"Alright, look..." Rob groaned at my unfaltering resentment towards him. "I waited for Mom to get back from work and go to sleep before I left. Non sono stupido."

"You're right, I must be the stupid one!" I snapped, having to tell myself not to switch back to Italian again. "Because for once I thought you could actually be a good brother! Now take me home."